My Frugal Miser - September Expenses: $3,059

Just under half of my spending last month was vacation related.  I spent $690 in Ecuador and $619 for a 7 day cruise we are taking in December.  The cruise is a real bargain:  $25 per day per person, plus taxes.  I will receive $50 cash in the casino and a $100 onboard credit as a shareholder bonus.

I was only billed $10 for Internet (I thought it was $20 when I signed up) - what a bargain!  The electric bill was pretty high ($113), but I expected that since we haven't insulated the ceilings or walls yet.

Most of September we were in Ecuador, but the financial impact was minimal.  In a way, the cost of going there was offset by the savings from not working on the house.  I confess though that we only put off the inevitable expense of repairing the house.  I will blog about the cost of the Ecuador trip separately.

September Expenses:  $3,059

$224 Auto ($31 for gas, $193 for August and September depreciation)

$0 Bank Fees

$0 Clothing

$0 Computer

$101 Entertainment (movies, gambling, alcohol)

$174 Food

$37 Gifts Given

$533 Household/Housing/Home Repair
$0 Home Insurance

$245 Health and Dental Insurance

$0 Investment Expenses

$514 Medical/Dental

$146 Miscellaneous

$143 Personal Care

$0 Subscriptions

$0 Taxes

$145 Utilities

$1,309 Vacation and Recreation

Notes:

• I forgot to record  the odometer at the end of August, so the depreciation is for two months' driving.
• Personal care expenses will be going down soon.  I spend $100/month on Healthy Wage (a bet that I would lose weight) and $43 on Weight Watchers.  Unfortunately I'm using neither of these but will stay on until the 6 month wager is over.
• Home Expenses were for repairs and a new vacuum cleaner.  I don't have a mortgage on the new house because I paid cash for it.