I have set three goals to achieve in 2024. I’ll review my progress towards the goals monthly. This is the first review.
My first goal is to add $10,000 to my savings. I haven’t made any progress on this goal. I’m hoping that I will find a job this month and be able to make at least a small contribution to my savings to get this goals started.
My second goal is to lose weight. I did manage to lose six pounds in January. I’m satisfied with that progress. I’ve gone backwards so far this month, but I feel confident I can get back on track and make more progress on this goal
My third goal is to run a half marathon or marathon. I didn’t really make any progress on this goal last month. I have joined a gym this month and aim to run on the treadmill most days. I’ve got a long way to go on this goal. I will make progress this month.
I’m off to a slow start on meeting my goals. That was expected since I was in Thailand in January. Living there helps my goal of losing weight, but it doesn’t help my other two goals. I will make better progress this month.
January’s expenses were a little high, mainly due to having to pay my annual bar fee of $410.
Entertainment expense was for one month Amazon Prime subscription, one month Hulu, one month of Peacock and a visit to the movies.
Rent was $115 for our apartment in Chiang Mai.
My transportation expense was only $1.71 for a couple of songthaew rides.
My food expense was $259.65 That is divided between $125.23 for groceries and $134.42 for restaurants. This expense will be much lower this month since I’ll only be buying food for myself.
I paid $9.95 for a replacement sim card. I lost my US sim card when switching from my Thai phone service.
Utilities came in at $114.38. This was for electric and internet in the U.S.
The household expense was mainly for my annual bar fee, but it also included a haircut, a gift, and some household items.
Travel expense included $214.62 for 2 domestic round-trip tickets in Thailand. I paid $16.54 for a Bangkok hotel. And I paid $196.91 for some long-distance taxi rides and some shorter transit rides.
I provided $115 of support to my wife.
This month’s expenses should be lower since I’m not expecting any large expenses other than my car insurance renewal. How was your month?
December was not a good income month since I was in Thailand and unavailable for work most of the month.
Dividend income came in at $20.47.
Interest income was $174.51.
I received $9.60 in cash back.
I made $22.09 in job income. That was the payout of my PTO. I’ll try to line up a job for when I return to the U.S. Since I won’t get back until January 29th, I won’t get paid this month even if I am able to work the last couple days of the month.
I made $220 from mystery shopping. I also got a free meal. They offered me increased pay to do some shops that were about to miss their deadline so I completed some shops that wouldn’t normally be worthwhile.
I made $21.09 from other selling.
I made $39.47 from surveys. Unfortunately, I am not allowed to complete the surveys when I’m in Thailand. I still need something to make income while here in Thailand. It may not matter now since my wife should be coming to the U.S. in the next few months.
Although, I won’t have any job income this month will be a better income month due to cashing in a couple of I-bonds. I’m hoping I will have more income than expenses this month.
December’s expenses were higher than normal due to having to make a payment to the visa agency that is helping with my wife’s visa application.
Entertainment expense was for one month Amazon Prime subscription, one month Hulu, and a couple visits to the movies.
Rent was $116.18 for our apartment in Chiang Mai.
My transportation expense was only $4.88 for a tank of gas and $4.79 for local transportation. It doesn’t take much to fill up my wife’s motorbike’s gas tank.
My food expense was $241.14 That is divided between $88.36 for groceries and $152.78 for restaurants. That is reasonable since it is for 2 people and we eat out almost every day. I expect this month’s expense will be about the same.
I paid $7.13 for one month of Thai phone service. This month I’ll pay the same amount for another month of service.
Utilities came in at $26.72. This was for electric and water for our Chiang Mai apartment. My mom paid for electric and water for my U.S. residence as a Christmas present.
The household expense was for gifts, deodorant, tp, a haircut, toothpaste, 2 power strips and some other miscellaneous items. This should be slightly lower this month.
Travel expense included $44.79 for a flight from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, $5.60 in taxes and fees on an award ticket from LAX to Springfield, MO and $21.79 to select my seat and get a meal on my Air Asia flight from Bangkok to Tokyo. I also paid $95 for my Chase Sapphire card annual fee, $1.43 for a train from the Taipei airport to my hotel and back, and $3.24 in currency exchange fees.
I provided $0 of support to my wife. When I’m staying with my wife in Thailand any money I provide is accounted for in the appropriate category rather than using the generic support category.
The Visa category expense was $792 for a second and final payment to the visa agency. A small amount of that was for getting a certified copy of a document here in Thailand that is needed for the visa application.
This month’s expenses should be lower since there won’t be a large visa expense. How was your month?
