My Frugal Miser - January Expenses: $12,996

January was another fairly expensive month.

I have switched from Quicken to a customized spreadsheet to manage my finances.  As part of that transition I have consolidated some categories.  I am also now reporting business expenses.  Previously I did not include rental property expenses. It's all designed to simplify managing my money.

• We spent a week in Birmingham working on the empty townhouse.  I had to replace the cabinets and countertops, which was a $6,000 expense.
• Food spending was high. We ate out every day while we were in Birmingham.  We eat restaurant food way too much.
• I switched from an ACA health plan to one called Liberty Healthshare.  The monthly premiums are higher but overall it should lower my health expense.

January Expenses:  $12,996

$209 Auto (service, gas, insurance, AAA, etc.)

$0 Bank Fees
$47 Clothing/ Personal Care

$15 Fun (vacations movies, gambling, alcohol, concert tickets) 

$583 Food

$0 Gifts Given

$1,331 Household/Mortgage Payment/Home Repair

$0 Investment Expense
$77 Interest Expense*

$0 Miscellaneous

$0 Taxes (Quarterly Tax Payment)
$0 App Jobs Expenses (tolls, car washes, etc.)
$101 Unreimbursed Employee Expenses

$110 Utilities
$8,343 Rental Property Expenses

*Interest expense includes student loans.  As the rate is below 2%, I am completely comfortable paying the interest each month and investing the money that I would otherwise use to pay off this loan.