August 9, 2026
The complete archive · 2022–2026
All the stories.
None of the polish.
Real estate, reselling, financial independence, grief, wins, messes, and everything that happened between the spreadsheets.
May 2, 2026
I Woke Up to Canceled Flights… and a Bigger Realization
I didn’t expect to wake up this morning and feel like the ground shifted again—but here we are. I opened my phone, half awake, and the first thing I see: Spirit Airlines is shutting down. And just like that, two trips I had booked over the …Read the story →
April 1, 2026
I Built the Hustle. Now I’m Rewriting the Exit.
For a long time, my life made perfect sense on paper. Buy low. Sell high. Move fast. Repeat. And to be fair—it worked. Really well. There’s a certain thrill in knowing you can walk into a pile of overlooked, underpriced, or straight-up igno…Read the story →
January 13, 2026
A Life Update, and What the Disappearing Middle Class Looks Like
Lately people have been asking how I’m doing, so here’s the honest update. Things are… okay. I’m in the middle of a full “clean-the-house” eBay inventory liquidation — pulling stock out of closets, storage bins, and corners that haven’t bee…Read the story →
June 9, 2025
Spring Recap: Travel, Renovations, and a Shift in Perspective
The past few months have been a blur—in the best way possible. In April and May, I took a much-needed trip to China and Japan. It wasn’t just sightseeing (though the street food alone deserves its own post)—it was a chance to unplug, reset,…Read the story →
March 30, 2025
Rolling with the Punches (and the Wins)
Yesterday, Facebook Marketplace decided to suspend my profile for selling “fakes.” The item? A bottle of Versace fragrance. Bought *directly* from Macy’s. With receipts. No questions about authenticity on my end—but it didn’t matter. They s…Read the story →
November 5, 2024
Life Update: Shifts, Growth, and a Pickle Costume
Hey everyone! It’s been a while since I shared a big update, so here goes: First off, I’ve consciously pulled back from posting on *The Frugal Gay*. This decision wasn’t made lightly, but it was crucial for my own well-being and sanity. Som…Read the story →
August 21, 2024
I'm still here
It's been a while since I've been able to give a brief update: I'm back in Dallas and trying my best to stay out of the heat. August is the toughest month in Texas if you ask me. I bought rental #23 in June. I also did a double down on ebay…Read the story →
May 22, 2024
May Update: Building Foundations and Embracing Opportunities
Hello Subscribers, I hope this message finds you well. It's been a productive month, and I'm excited to share some updates with you. Firstly, I'm thrilled to announce that I have a single-family property under contract! This property is cur…Read the story →
April 21, 2024
Are high interest rates helping? Or hurting?
Ahoy, fellow adventurers! Welcome back to another edition of Tom's Tangy Tidbits, where we dish out the juiciest updates from the world of Tom AKA The FrugalGay Tax Troubles and Triumphs Tax season is coming to a close, my friends, and let …Read the story →
March 11, 2024
February Recap: Milestones and Transitions
February marked significant milestones and transitions in my journey. It was a month characterized by substantial progress and pivotal decisions. Firstly, I celebrated the acquisition of rental property #25, a testament to continued growth …Read the story →
January 31, 2024
Renovation Chronicles: Turning Challenges into Opportunities
By Tom Brickman Nearing the completion of a 10-month renovation journey, my investment of time, effort, and $80k is transforming a house into a portfolio gem. The hurdles were many, from sluggish utility reinstatements to unexpected issues,…Read the story →
January 15, 2024
A Week in Review: From Hoarder House to Vegas Getaway
Last week was full of activities and reflections for me. I began by assisting a client in the monumental task of clearing out a hoarder house they purchased in December and crafting a renovation plan. Having sat vacant since 2021, our goal …Read the story →
December 29, 2023
Reflecting on 2023: A Year of Challenges and New Opportunities
As we approach the end of 2023, I find myself compelled to reflect on the experiences and lessons this year has brought. With just three days left in the calendar, it's time to close the chapter on some aspects of my journey and eagerly ant…Read the story →
December 12, 2023
The Highs and Lows of My 2023 - A Year in Review
By Tom Brickman Highs Launching The Katie Lee Airbnb In June 2023, I embarked on an exciting journey with the launch of my Airbnb, The Katie Lee. The highlight was hosting the People Magazine Investigates production company, marking the beg…Read the story →
December 4, 2023
The Frugal Gay Chronicles: A Week in Review
Weekly Update: Unveiling New Merchandise! This week at The Frugal Gay, we're thrilled to announce the release of our latest merchandise. Dive into a world of style and advocacy as we bring you fresh and fabulous items to express your Frugal…Read the story →
November 29, 2023
Weekly Updates: No Spend November, Family Visits & New projects
This week has been another stressful one. I had my family come down to Texas for a surprise visit. I found out 6 days prior to arrival. Hosting 4 family members for 6 days wasn't easy but as I hugged mom this morning as she left for the air…Read the story →
November 22, 2023
And just like that....I've left House Money Media
It's been a rough year. I haven't hidden that. Last week my partnership with House Money Media came to an end. Though it seems sudden to those who listen & enjoy the podcast, it wasn't. I was told I could forfeit a large percentage of the 3…Read the story →
July 27, 2023
House Money Media
It's been a busy 3 months. I've been working on 3 projects. I've been working with 2 clients on purchasing first rental properties and I've partnered up with Alan Corey @realestatemaxi and Lauren Keen Aumond @Adultingiseasy and formed House…Read the story →
April 23, 2023
The New Bio:
I was recently told by a potential partner that my bio was boring 😴. So here is a refreshed version to sound more exciting. Meet Tom, the man who broke free from the mundane 9-5 grind and turned his life into a thrilling adventure! Hailing…Read the story →
April 10, 2023
8 best tips for getting started selling on ebay
I wouldn't be where I am today if I didn't get creative early on. Ebay was my answer. Though it has its ups and downs. It has been a safety blanket for me. Here are some tips 👇 1. Research and understand the market for the items you plan t…Read the story →
April 10, 2023
Time for a 1st quarter check ✔️ in
I can't believe we are 10 days into April. Today I made time in my schedule 📅 to sit down and provide an update. I just got back from a family trip into the woods. Luckily we all returned 🙌 😊 in one piece. It was a challenging visit thou…Read the story →January 19, 2023
Why do I invest in Toledo Ohio?
Why do I invest in Toledo Ohio? Here are my thoughts 👇 Strong rental demand: The city has a relatively low vacancy rate, which means that it is easy to find tenants for rental properties. This leads to a more stable investment with higher …Read the story →
January 1, 2023
Does All Debt Have to be Damaging?
By: Justin Brown-Woods I gripped the steering wheel and began to sob. Why was I such a failure? Why had I broken the promise to my wife that I would be a provider and protector? It was November 2019, and we were expecting our firstborn in a…Read the story →
November 1, 2022
Time for a check-in 🎃
By Tom - The Frugal Gay It's been a fantastic busy month. I'm squeezing in an October check in in-between passing out candy. September was wild also, I won a Plutus award. I met multiple other content creators at Fincon, I turned 40 and I h…Read the story →
September 26, 2022
I'm broke - but I want to get in the real estate game
By Moriah Joy Chace As a 24-year-old, owning a building of apartments is a little far-fetched for me. I have a moderate income, crushing student loan debt, and I still live with my darling mother. When I first started thinking about real es…Read the story →
August 29, 2022
3 Ways To Invest In Real Estate (Blog by The Wealth Building Dad)
3 Ways To Invest In Real Estate By : @BlackWealthDad - Twitter https://thewealthbuildingdad.com/ 90% of Millionaires invest in real estate. I know what you are thinking! I’m broke, I barely have money, and 1,0000 other reasons why you can’t…Read the story →
July 31, 2022
How The Frugal Gay came to be
I started and abandoned The Frugal Gay a few times over the past 9 years. In March of 2021. I decided I'd go all in this time. It wasn't to build new income. My goal was to get the word out to others in my community- you don't need to live …Read the story →
June 16, 2022
I made the mistake of eating at 2 chain restaurants this month
I have unsubcribed from most email list at this point. A few weeks ago after a hour session at the custom cabinet maker a friend and I both agreed a cold drink at Chilli's and some free chip's and salsa were sounding good. We ended up order…Read the story →
June 9, 2022
Real Estate Investing — The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
As someone heavily invested in real estate, i am vested and i take the good with the bad. There are many potential benefits: income potential, tax breaks, and building equity, to name a few. But there are also some risks involved in real es…Read the story →
May 17, 2022
These are the 11 things I learned the hard way when I started
These are the 11 things I learned the hard way when I started investing in Real Estate. 1. This is a business Your tenants are not your friends. Make sure you understand this. At the beginning I had tenants paying month after month late. Th…Read the story →May 7, 2022
I'm closing on 2 new single family properties in the next week
I'm closing on 2 new single family properties in the next week. These are 5 things I'm doing to get ready for closing day 1. Getting Insurance ready to go This is where loyalty doesn't pay off. I have used a few different brokers this time …Read the story →
May 7, 2022
I woke up with big expectations
I woke up early this morning. My expectations were to tackle the day. Gym, unpacking, listing on ebay. However I hit a wall shortly after the gym. I just am kind of rolling on fumes. With that being said I felt while I try to recover from m…Read the story →
May 7, 2022
What's Frugal really?
Inflation, house prices, food prices.... these are the times that being frugal can actually pay off. Being thrifty or frugal in times of recession is indeed a wise choice and everyone can benefit from learning thrifty ways, even those who l…Read the story →
May 6, 2022
The Frugal Gay....and just like that
Over the past 14 months I've been networking, investing & laying the ground work for The Frugal Gay brand. Social media post, podcast interviews and daily zoom calls have all been in preparation of my brand The Frugal Gay. Who I am - I'm To…Read the story →
May 4, 2022
I sell bras on eBay & buy real estate with the profit... yes real
These are the 6 things I did to start flipping merchandise to buy more Real Estate I went to school debt free. I stayed employed full time through College. My employer offered tuition reimbursement. I would flip merchandise from good will a…Read the story →
April 26, 2022
I'm a brand ambassador for a small appliances company
I'm a brand ambassador for a well known small appliance manufacturer in the US I get free small appliances shipped to me 2-3 times a year I give an honest review & get a free small appliance About 6 years ago I took advantage of a Black Fri…Read the story →
April 22, 2022
I hit Million dollar networth while working at a movie theater
I hit Million dollar networth when I was 31 I did this while working at a movie theater making on average 55k a year These are the 6 things I did to grow my wealth 1. I stopped listening to family members who said I was wasting time buying …Read the story →
April 11, 2022
I wish I knew this before buying my first piece of Real Estate
I remember it like it was yesterday. I was 21, working full time at Gap and about to start my senior year at The University of Toledo. I was tired of working & going to school full time. I cashed out my Gap stock I had purchased over the pa…Read the story →
April 11, 2022