March was likely the most expensive month of 2017 because I had to pay my 2016 taxes. A portion of the $7,536 was a repayment for the ACA credit I took for health insurance. Ouch. I guess the flip side to the check I wrote the IRS is that I owed so much because my income was much higher last year. I sold several profitable stocks, and my Amazon Flex income was outstanding. We spent a week working in DC, and restaurants are expensive there. We ate in the apartment for several meals, but those $20+ restaurant bills add up fast. My spending on fuel was high. Discover Card had a 5% cashback promotion during the first quarter so I stocked up on fuel gift cards.
The other two unusual charges included the $500 annual maintenance fee I pay for my self-directed IRA and the $1,200 I spent on an Angie's List deal for 40 hours of handyman work. I am hiring a contractor to help me get the bathroom remodeled and do some other repairs.
March Expenses: $12,223
$1,401 Auto ($583 gas, $20 repairs/maintenance, $798 depreciation)
$500 Bank Fees (annual self-directed IRA fees)$22 Clothing
$0 Computer
($367) Entertainment (movies, gambling, alcohol) income this month
$421 Food
$57 Gifts Given
$1,184 Household/Housing/Home Repair
$28 Health and Dental Insurance (prepaid 2017 health insurance premiums in December 2016)
$0 Investment Expense
$689 Interest Expense*
$689 Interest Expense*
$218 Medical/Dental
$0 Miscellaneous
$0 Personal Care
$0 Subscriptions
$7,536 Taxes
$182 Sharing Economy Expenses (dedicated phone, tolls, car washes, etc.)
$182 Sharing Economy Expenses (dedicated phone, tolls, car washes, etc.)
$279 Utilities
$74 Vacation
*Interest expense includes student loans and the loan on my car. As both rates are below 2%, I am completely comfortable paying the interest each month and investing the money that I would otherwise use to pay off these loans. In March, I paid $620 to E*Trade for "hard to borrow" interest on a short sale of Sears Holdings stock.
*Interest expense includes student loans and the loan on my car. As both rates are below 2%, I am completely comfortable paying the interest each month and investing the money that I would otherwise use to pay off these loans. In March, I paid $620 to E*Trade for "hard to borrow" interest on a short sale of Sears Holdings stock.
