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Friday, May 6

My Frugal Miser - April 2022 Expenses

When it rains, it pours.

April was the most expensive month in a very long time.  The biggest culprit was the payment I made to the U.S. Treasury.  In 2021 I had substantial long-term capital gains, and my ignorance about tax rules got the best of me.  Somehow I thought the gain I had on Vereit stock would be taxable at the 0% long-term capital gains rate.  Boy was I wrong.  In addition to the 2021 tax bill, I need to make quarterly payments in 2022, so I did that in April for the first quarter. 

  • I paid 6 months auto insurance.  Gas prices are still over $4/gallon but that was only a small part of my auto expense. 
  • Food was low because of all the meetings I worked where I was provided food.

Fun

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

  • This is really embarrassing.  I booked a last minute cruise out of Miami.  I only spent one afternoon in the casino, but I drank too much and honestly have no idea how I lost.  Seriously, it's like I blacked out.  I remember being ahead by a few hundred dollars, and then I lost it all.  After this episode I stayed away from the casino.

April Expenses:  $32,175

$890 Auto (service, gas, insurance, AAA, etc.)
$0 Bank Fees (annual fees on credit cards)
$0 Clothing/ Personal Care
$7,370 Fun (vacations, movies, gambling, alcohol, concert tickets)
$171 Food
$31 Health and Dental
$1,050 Household/Home Repairs
$131 Unreimbursed Job Expense
$319 Reimbursed Job Expense
$0 Interest Expense
$0 Miscellaneous
$22,021 Taxes
$192 Utilities 

2 comments:

  1. That was a rough month. When I was working the tax job I saw several instances where people expected to pay 0% on their capital gains, but didn't factor in that the capital gain itself was included in their income when determining whether they qualified for the 0% rate. I'm guessing that might be what happened to you. Hopefully, you will continue to have solid income for the rest of the year so this expense won't be that big of a deal.

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    Replies
    1. Hey Andy that's EXACTLY where I messed up. I thought my other income determined what the rate was, but my other income PLUS this gain determine it. Huge difference.

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