My Frugal Miser - January Expenses: $3,002

Starting this month I am going to separate my personal expenses from business expenses.  I like the clarity this provides.  For example, paying interest on my debts is an expense I took on in order to generate income.  I still want to reduce it, but it isn't like I'm paying interest on a big screen TV.   For expense items that are used both for personal and business reasons (gas, for example) I will list under personal expenses.

In January I was frugal.  If you exclude one-time items (Turbotax, $80 and HOA dues, $185), I spent about $1,000.

January Personal Expenses ($1,283)

$14 Auto

$0 Bank Fees
$0 Clothing
$204 Food
$44 Entertainment (movies, gambling, alcohol)
$0 Gifts Given

$120 Household
$185 Homeowner's Association Dues

$139 Health & Dental Insurance
$3 Medical
$0 Miscellaneous
$391 Mortgage Interest (primary residence)
$0 Personal Care

$0 Subscriptions
$80 Taxes

$111 Utilities
$0 Vacation

January Business Expenses ($1,719)

$761 Mortgage Interest (rental properties)
$364 Interest on Debt (not including Mortgage Interest)
$586 Rental Properties - Maintenance & Repairs


Total January Expenses : $3,002


Notes

• Thanks to all the mystery shopping I did at gas stations, I only spent $14 on transportation.   
• I didn't have a phone bill in January.  Republic Wireless is turning out to be a super bargain as they decided not to charge monthly fees until they work out a couple kinks.  
• My food budget was for two people. I averaged $6.58 per day for two people in January. Most of our meals are at restaurants so this isn't too bad.  Mystery shopping and heavy use of Buy One Get One Free coupons helped keep our food costs low.