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 

My Frugal Miser - October 2024 Income

October continues the trend of five-figure months.

I received rent from both rental properties in Alabama. I also received one Realty Mogul distribution and a small monthly distribution from Open Door Capital.  I paid the property taxes and fire dues for one of the Alabama rentals.

In October I worked one meeting job and a one day transportation gig.  I made up for it with Amazon routes, but as a bonus, Amazon cancelled many of my routes after the hurricane and paid me for most of them.

Last month I said I only had one meeting left in the year.  Thankfully, things have turned around.  I finished that one meeting (Geneva, Switzerland).  But I was contracted for an 18 day series of meetings in Chicago and have a couple of smaller things in December with the guy who got me into the industry.  I don't make as much with him, but every bit helps when it's slow.  

October Income: $10,175

$3,022 Meeting Jobs
$0 Gig Apps (Rideshare, Food Deliveries, etc.)
$1,868 Amazon Deliveries

$2,921 Rental Income (Rental Expenses: $1,494)
$2,362 Interest Income

$0 Other Sources

Investment Accounts Change in Value:  ($36)

My investments were unchanged in October.

My Frugal Miser - October 2024 Expenses

 Thanks to luck at the casino, total expenses in October were less than $400 (take away the "fun" category and I spent just under $2,500 last month).  

• Hurricane Milton hit Tampa hard.  We spent three nights in a hotel (expensed to the household category) and had to replace all our food because we lost power for 3.5 days.
• I added a fair amount of clothes to my wardrobe.  I worked a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland which required black button up shirts.  I also bought a new jacket and a couple of nicer shirts for non-uniform days at work.
• One of my cats had a respiratory infection and ear mites.  When did vet bills get so expensive?!?

Fun

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

• I found a way to offset the fun category:  Chumba Casino sweepstakes entries.  In October I earned $650 sending in sweepstakes entries.  It's an easy hustle and it's fun.
•  I received the refund from the cancelled day of the South Star music festival - a day after I disputed the charge with my credit card, so I temporarily have received all my money back instead of just half.  I'm waiting for the credit card company to claw back the disputed amount.
• Finally, the exciting part:  I won over $2,000 on our Carnival Cruise playing blackjack!

October Expenses:  $364

$271 Auto (service, gas, insurance, AAA, etc.)

$0 Bank Fees (annual fees on credit cards)
$327 Clothing/ Personal Care

($2,851) Fun (vacations, movies, gambling, alcohol, concert tickets) income this month

$675 Food

$15 Health and Dental

$406 Household/Home Repairs

$91 Unreimbursed Job Expense

$107 Reimbursed Job Expense

$0 Interest Expense

$408 Miscellaneous (cat sitter, gifts)

$19 Taxes

$199 Utilities