My Frugal Miser - December 2024 Expenses

November and December are usually the most expensive months for me.  Since I don't have a mortgage, I pay my property taxes out of pocket.  I'm optimistic that January will be significantly more frugal.

• I spent over $300 on gas.  We took a road trip to visit family (over 2,000 miles) AND I started driving rideshare again.
• Spending on food is utterly shameful.  Blame that on the holidays, as we had several restaurant meals during our road trip and I paid for others' meals a couple of times.
• I bought an Amazon gift card because Discover card was offering 5% cash back.  I divided that between House Expense, Clothing/Personal Care and Food.
• Bank Fees were for the fees I paid to use a credit card to pay my property taxes and the quarterly tax payment.
• Speaking of which, I paid $3,000 towards my 2024 tax liability.  Hopefully I'll get some of that back when I file my taxes.

Fun

We love adventures.  Spending on experiences makes us better humans.  

• We decided at the last minute to see Patti Labelle.  I bought same-day discounted tickets on Stubhub.
• I bought our alcohol-substitute powder (U Relax) and our AMC A-List subscriptions.
• Some of our fun spending was offset by the Chumba Casino sweepstakes and the annual credit on my Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

$330 Auto (service, gas, insurance, AAA, etc.)

$225 Bank Fees (annual fees on credit cards)
$626 Clothing/ Personal Care

$85 Fun (vacations, movies, gambling, alcohol, concert tickets)

$1,087 Food

$334 Health and Dental

$1,148 Household/Home Repairs

$477 Unreimbursed Job Expense

($1,898) Reimbursed Job Expense income this month

$0 Interest Expense

$488 Miscellaneous (cat sitter, gifts)

$9,634 Taxes

$325 Utilities 

My Frugal Miser - How I Did On My 2024 Goals

  Every year I set a few goals to keep me on track.  In 2024 I published goals in 4 categories:

Financial

• Increase Net Worth by $100,000
• Results:  Net Worth increased by $148,000.  Exceeded!
• Invest 30% of gross meeting income in index funds
• Results:  Achieved!
• Invest 10% of gross meeting income in more aggressive investments
• Results:  Achieved!

Health

• Exercise at least 5x/week.
• Results:  Achieved!
• Lose weight.
• Results:  Failed.

Simplify

• We have owned two mopeds since 2012.  They don't run.  It's time to either repair and use them or get rid of them.  I'll do that in 2024.
• Results:  Failed.
• I would like to eliminate 30-50 pieces of clothing in 2024, and remove at least 2 items per week from the house.
• Results:  Semi-Success.  I didn't track the count but made several trips to the local thrift store donation drop-off area.

Have Fun, On a Budget

• I will limit spending on Fun to $5,000 in 2024.
• Results:  Achieved!  I spent $4,248.
• I would like to take a few short getaways using points and miles to places I've never been.
• Results:  Neutral.  We visited Huntsville, AL for a music festival.  I'd been there before but never for fun.  We also took a trip to Asheville in July and had an amazing time, but have been there before.  Lastly, we visited New Orleans and took a cruise from there.  Again, not a new city, but was a fun trip.

I am happy with the goals I set and the progress I made.  If I hadn't set these goals, I would not have achieved some of them.  For example, it took a lot of discipline to invest 40% of my meeting income each and every month.  Knowing I was tracking it - and publishing my progress - kept me accountable.  How did you do with your goals?

My Frugal Miser - November 2024 Income

November was yet another incredible month for income.  

I received rent from both rental properties in Alabama. I also received two Realty Mogul distributions and a small monthly distribution from Open Door Capital.  I paid the property taxes for the second Alabama rental.

Open Door Capital continues to pay interest on the promissory note.  So far this is looking like a great investment.  I loaned $250,000 from my Self Directed IRA to ODC in August 2023.  I receive 10% annual interest, paid monthly, for 7 years.  

While meeting income looks great, it is understated for November, as I only received half the amount owed for the 18 day meeting I worked.  In November I received half of the income for that, plus the remaining balance due from the October meeting I worked in Geneva.

November Income: $12,866

$5,625 Meeting Jobs
$13 Gig Apps (Rideshare, Food Deliveries, etc.)
$1,035 Amazon Deliveries

$3,647 Rental Income (Rental Expenses: $2,371)
$2,320 Interest Income

$0 Other Sources

Investment Accounts Change in Value:  $8,274

Stocks were up in November.  My position in EXE, a natural gas company, did particularly well after the election.

My Frugal Miser - November 2024 Expenses

I bought a new-to-me car in November, and I paid cash.  This makes November easily the highest-spend month of 2024.

• The Elantra had a number of issues requiring costly repair.  I needed new shocks ($1,500 estimate), several fluid changes, new headlights, and there was something wrong causing the car to overheat.  I could have easily spent $3,000 to get the car back to good health.  I chose to trade it in for something newer instead.
• I bought a 2023 Kia Sportage from Hertz.  I paid $19,270 less a $350 discount for Hertz Gold Star loyalty and $2,500 trade-in allowance.  
• Why an SUV?  We have a oddly graded driveway and needed a car with higher ground clearance.  The Elantra would scrape the driveway unless you entered/excited the driveway at an awkward angle.
• I renewed the AMEX Platinum ($695 annual fee) but only after scoring a 25,000 point retention reward (worth at least $250).  
• Spending was lower on Food.  I worked an 18 day meeting in November and my client covered my meals.  Reimbursed Job Expense of over $1,000 is what I spent on food.  That will be a negative number in December when I am paid.

Fun

We love adventures.  Spending on experiences makes us better humans.  

• Following our October cruise where I won $2K+, Carnival offered a free cruise.  I chose a 12 Day Scandinavia and Baltic cruise departing London in July. 
• I splurged on our flights.  I had a companion certificate on British Airways along with a bunch of miles from when I opened a BA Credit Card.  The certificate had to be used before the end of next year.  I booked lie-flat seats for two going to London and upgraded seats on the return flight.  Even with redeeming miles and a companion certificate, British Airways charges ridiculous fees.  I spend $1,660 on fees.  The tickets would have cost over $7,000 if I had paid cash.

November Expenses:  $26,822

$21,011 Auto (service, gas, insurance, AAA, etc.)

$705 Bank Fees (annual fees on credit cards)
$41 Clothing/ Personal Care

$2,188 Fun (vacations, movies, gambling, alcohol, concert tickets)

$263 Food

$655 Health and Dental

$658 Household/Home Repairs

$112 Unreimbursed Job Expense

$1,039 Reimbursed Job Expense

$0 Interest Expense

$20 Miscellaneous (cat sitter, gifts)

$0 Taxes

$129 Utilities