My Frugal Miser - How I'm Saving Money in 2026

So, the plan is to simplify life for 2026 and get back to being super-frugal. Here's what's happening:  I've Started Chopping Stuff:

• Credit Cards:
  • Kicked the Chase Southwest Airlines Premiere card to the curb (saving a hefty $229 annual fee).
  • The AMEX Business Gold Card is next, but I'm snagging the January and February $20 Grubhub credits first. That's a $375 annual fee gone!
  • Ditching the United Quest card because the annual fee is jumping to $350, and they stiffed me twice on a promised $40 rental car credit. Not cool—I'll use other cards with easier perks.
• Subscriptions/Services:
  • Canceled the security camera's online recording fee, which saves $4/month (the cameras still work, though).
  • Signed up for a free Amazon Prime trial and bailed before I had to pay the regular rate.
  • Switched internet from T-Mobile Home to Mint Mobile Minternet—same service, but I'm saving $20.

How I'm Saving Cash Every Day:

• Electricity: I'm using a smart meter to time the water heater to only turn on overnight when the electricity rate is low. It's working, and I make sure to turn it totally off when I'm out of town.
• Grocery Hunting: After the gym, I hit up the Walmart Market for those "yellow stickers" (discounted stuff). Mid-morning seems best for getting cheap meat, deli items, and produce. Last week's score? Twelve cans of refried beans for a quarter each!
• Tracking: Once December closes out, I'm going to compare this year's spending to last year's to find other places to cut back.

My Frugal Miser - Getting Simple for 2026

Life's gotten too complicated, so I'm simplifying things in late 2025 and 2026!

The big reasons for this are:

• My mom's dementia is making me realize I need to not over-complicate my own life.

• I almost got the power cut off at a rental property because I missed the first bill—too much going on!

• Too many accounts, subscriptions, and "irons in the fire" mean I'm missing important stuff.

What I've ditched so far:

• Canceled a $4/month subscription for security camera features I never use (the cameras still work, though).

• Got rid of the Southwest Airlines credit card. The annual fee is jumping from $149 to $229, and they're calling old benefits "new." No thanks!

What's next on the chopping block:

• Credit Cards: I spend way too much time debating which card to use. I'm focusing on canceling the ones with annual fees first.

• The AMEX Business Gold card is definitely going this time (I snagged a retention bonus earlier, but now I'm cutting ties for real).

• I'm still playing the "points" game, but I'll only sign up for new cards for the bonus and then cancel them once they've served their purpose.

• Real Estate Syndications in Personal Accounts: I got into these in 2019 to simplify things, and while they cut down on the hassle of owning rentals, the returns have been awful.

• I have 12 personal investments and 4 in my self-directed IRA.

• As the 12 personal ones mature, I'm moving the cash back to my brokerage account.

• Syndications in the IRA still make sense for tax reasons, but I need to get better at picking good deals.

I've got plenty to do, and I haven't even mentioned everything. Clutter-control is a big one that I'll have to talk about in a future post.

My Frugal Miser - November 2025 Income

November was another mediocre month for income.  I only worked two meetings (started a third at the end of the month).  One of my rental properties is still vacant.  I'm probably going to look for a new management company to take that one over.  I received rent from the Birmingham condo and two distributions from Realty Mogul.

Open Door Capital continues to pay interest on the promissory note.

November Income: $9,517

$4,351 Meeting Jobs
$0 Gig Apps (Rideshare, Food Deliveries, etc.)
$293 Amazon Deliveries

$2,142 Rental Income (Rental Expenses: $396)
$2,165 Interest Income

$566 Other Sources

Investment Accounts Change in Value: $13,845

My brokerage accounts were up in November.  I locked in a nice gain on a PUT against Microstrategy.

My Frugal Miser - November 2025 Expenses

November was a very expensive month because I paid the annual property tax bill and spent a lot in the "Fun" category.

• I prepaid for 12 months of home internet.  We are switching to the new home internet from Mint Mobile, which will be $30/month.  We currently have T Mobile, which is the same network used by Mint, and will save $20/month with the switch.
• Bank fees were crazy high.  I paid the annual fee on the Platinum AMEX and a cash advance fee due to a mistake I made by using the wrong card to access cash.
• In Personal Care, I booked a Black Friday deal with my reflexologist.
• I paid the annual property tax bill.  This was over $7,000.

Fun (aka Personal Travel)

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

• Carnival ran a Black Friday "level up" promotion.  Their loyalty program is changing in 2026 and by booking two cruises before the change takes effect I will lock in Diamond status for life.
• I've been calling Personal Travel "Fun" because it usually is, but this is also where I include any travel that isn't for work.  My mom's health is failing, so I've been spending as much time as I can in Richmond.  I've been staying in Hilton-branded hotels so that I can reach Diamond status, and I prepaid for several nights in December because the rate is much lower if you pick the prepaid, non-refundable rate.
• I pay for two AMC A-List subscriptions each month.

November Expenses:  $13,431

$334 Auto (service, gas, insurance, AAA, etc.)

$1,553 Bank Fees (annual fees on credit cards)
$181 Clothing/ Personal Care

$3,316 Fun (vacations, movies, gambling, alcohol, concert tickets)

$388 Food

$187 Health and Dental

$13 Household/Home Repairs

$0 Unreimbursed Job Expense

($407) Reimbursed Job Expense income this month

$0 Interest Expense

$182 Miscellaneous (cat sitter, gifts)

$7,102 Taxes

$583 Utilities