My husband has a long commute and a backlog of vacation days to use up, so he took this past Monday and Tuesday off from work (I already had the days off). Because his commute is long, he saved a tank of gas by not going to work those two days. Yes, it would be better if he didn't have that long commute in the first place, but we can't afford to live where he works at this point. For example, our mortgage (including taxes and insurance) is what most people pay for an apartment in that area.
That point aside, we used this time to get stuff done around the house. We built our garden boxes, ran errands, did yard work and so forth. It was nice to do this on Monday and Tuesday because places were less crowded. For instance, we needed to get new tires and an oil change and had that done in less than two hours.
Although we'd like to take a more relaxing vacation later, this was really productive for us. It saved us from having to rush around on the weekends when we'd likely get less done, and lets us feel a bit more relaxed...at least until we come up with another project!
I learned to cook AFTER I left home because we had nothing either (and no oven at home). Very simple things. the MORE WITH LESS cookbook from the Mennonites is great, international cookbook, using simple ingrediants.
Some of the points are good, but I get very frustrated when I see "get a job closer to where you work." It's never that easy, especially during a time when businesses are laying off thousands of people every month.
All else being equal, smaller houses are cheaper to heat and cool.
All else is rarely equal. Newer homes tend to be bigger, but they're also able to be _much_ more energy efficient with modern HVAC systems, insulation and materials. A 2,500 sf LEED certified house is cheaper to heat than a 1,200 sf victorian. The most energy efficient way to go is to find a 1,000 SF home of modern construction or retrofit the heck out of an old home, but good luck...all the new houses in my city are hayoooooge and some things are PRICEY to do to an older home.
Factor in some money saving activities that require space, and it can skew things even more. I wouldn't have room for all my tools and spare materials if I didn't have a fair amount of storage space, but I certainly save a lot of money by doing my own car and home repairs. Not to mention the homebrewing equipment, room to store stuff bought in bulk, room for our own washer and dryer and other stuff that we didn't have room for in our 400sf apartment.
That said, having low intensity of use space is dumb and wasteful.
Thank you for putting things in perspective, and giving us a heads up on critical issues like this. We do pay less for gas than Europeans and their adjustments will be used by smart people here. We have to accept the reality - and do what we can -when there is nothing to be done. To badly paraphrase the Police, 'when the world is coming down, you make the best of what's still around'.
I feel schaudenfraude (sp) for people selling SUVs. The ones I know are very arrogant, mean people.
Cars have played a major role in our current social makeup. Too much of the overall product is undesirable for society as a whole. They are a major polluter of our cities and the world with their larger than needed size and power. Why do consumers who only use their cars a few hours per week need 'luxury' transportation anyway? Persuasion.
On TV during the previous oil crisis a spokesperson from the Automobile Association was defending why they aren't marketing more smaller cars. "People couldn't just sell their cars and buy smaller ones." The TV commercial which immediately followed the newsbyte was for a flashy full size SUV.
If some of your paperwork is late, just send it in as soon as you can. As long as the IRS gets it well before the end of the year, I expect you'll still get your rebate eventually.
On the not-actually-a-dependent:
The IRS updated its FAQ a while back, I assume to reflect the language in the law. It now doesn't say anything about whether you were claimed as a dependent--it talks about if you could be claimed.
If you checked the box that said you could be claimed, but that turns out not to be true, I expect you can still get your rebate. What you'd have to do is file an amended return (a 1040X, I think)--basically, change your return to uncheck the box.
Have you used Avenu on JewelOsco.com? It loads electronic coupons onto your Preferred Card. This week they were doing $1 off Cinnamon Toast Crunch and $1.25 off the granola bars.
Paul, did you ever taste this stuff? I'm diabetic so I bought a couple of Glucerna shakes when they first came out, hoping they'd be good "work food" to keep in my desk. I don't even want them for free. :-)
If I checked the box saying that I could be claimed as a dependent, but in reality wasn't and couldn't be claimed as my parents dependent would I still get the stimulus?
I'd just like to second that more expensive schools are not as scary as they seem. I'm about to graduate (one more week, ack!) from a private university which had a slightly frightening price tag, but I received so much in the way of grants and scholarships, that only about half of it had to be covered by loans, so it worked out to about the same as an in-state school. And I know I got a much better education here than I could have in a state school.
Small class sizes (my smallest class was three people, my largest, an extremely rare 60), one on one attention with your professors (not TA's), which equals out to glowing recommendations letters and the sort of individual attention that is worth more than any price.
I'd like to check out this guide for getting ready to pay for graduate school, thanks for the review!
There are I believe three states, including Nevada where I live, who have it written in their statutes that the state gas tax will rise to cover any drop in the federal gas tax to cover any missed revenue. so the residents of these states will receive no benefit, no matter how small.
I also think it's funny to hear the politicians complain about the price of gas when they have it in their power to allow more drilling to occur and refineries to be built, but they will not allow it.
a friend I work with e-filed but just realized while cleaning house the envelope containing her w2 slipped down the side of the couch cushion and was never mailed to the irs. She has already recieved her tax refund on time but did not get her stimulus check direct deposit on time but tax refund direct deposited on time will she get her stimulus check with out having mailed the w2?
But I also dream about having children and LOTS of dogs, so I don't think it's going to happen. We live in a 900sqft apt now and it feels just right for 2 of us + 1 dog, even a tiny bit too big. But kids and more pets change everything. When we eventually buy a house we want it to be small, we believe in siblings sharing bedrooms! But I still have a little wish of having a Tumbleweed house in the backyard as a guest cottage. :) This is a great topic! I also agree with greener pastures - it's amazing to think that so many of the world's families all share one room/shelter together. I guess the kids learn the birds & the bees a lot sooner this way...
I bought the best buy box. It seems to work fine but the volume and channel buttons on the remote aren't raised much and are difficult to find.
Also, it only displays the guide info of the show your watching and the next upcoming tv show. I read that whats displayed is up to the tv station, but now I'm curious if other boxes show info for the next few hours.
I also am curious about universal remote controls working these and other boxes.
But, ever little bit counts! They are offering this out of the goodness of their heart, who are you to kick that in the face. Will nobody think of the children!!!
I also am a big fan of Aldi. Since we live in a rural area, I only shop once a month to save on gas. The week I shop, I check store sales online and make my list. On the day I shop, I get out the amount budgeted and bring along my calculator. I get everything first at Aldi, and then I go to the other stores and pick up items on sale and a few things that Aldi doesn't have. I try to make my meals around what is available at their store, though. This took a few months to tweak, but I feel that if anything, we are saving on fuel and I have learned to be creative by making do with what is available in the house instead of making a store run.
Thanks for the article...great topic!
My husband has a long commute and a backlog of vacation days to use up, so he took this past Monday and Tuesday off from work (I already had the days off). Because his commute is long, he saved a tank of gas by not going to work those two days. Yes, it would be better if he didn't have that long commute in the first place, but we can't afford to live where he works at this point. For example, our mortgage (including taxes and insurance) is what most people pay for an apartment in that area.
That point aside, we used this time to get stuff done around the house. We built our garden boxes, ran errands, did yard work and so forth. It was nice to do this on Monday and Tuesday because places were less crowded. For instance, we needed to get new tires and an oil change and had that done in less than two hours.
Although we'd like to take a more relaxing vacation later, this was really productive for us. It saved us from having to rush around on the weekends when we'd likely get less done, and lets us feel a bit more relaxed...at least until we come up with another project!
I learned to cook AFTER I left home because we had nothing either (and no oven at home). Very simple things. the MORE WITH LESS cookbook from the Mennonites is great, international cookbook, using simple ingrediants.
here's an idea:rice and beans goes a long way.
Some of the points are good, but I get very frustrated when I see "get a job closer to where you work." It's never that easy, especially during a time when businesses are laying off thousands of people every month.
All else being equal, smaller houses are cheaper to heat and cool.
All else is rarely equal. Newer homes tend to be bigger, but they're also able to be _much_ more energy efficient with modern HVAC systems, insulation and materials. A 2,500 sf LEED certified house is cheaper to heat than a 1,200 sf victorian. The most energy efficient way to go is to find a 1,000 SF home of modern construction or retrofit the heck out of an old home, but good luck...all the new houses in my city are hayoooooge and some things are PRICEY to do to an older home.
Factor in some money saving activities that require space, and it can skew things even more. I wouldn't have room for all my tools and spare materials if I didn't have a fair amount of storage space, but I certainly save a lot of money by doing my own car and home repairs. Not to mention the homebrewing equipment, room to store stuff bought in bulk, room for our own washer and dryer and other stuff that we didn't have room for in our 400sf apartment.
That said, having low intensity of use space is dumb and wasteful.
Thank you for putting things in perspective, and giving us a heads up on critical issues like this. We do pay less for gas than Europeans and their adjustments will be used by smart people here. We have to accept the reality - and do what we can -when there is nothing to be done. To badly paraphrase the Police, 'when the world is coming down, you make the best of what's still around'.
I feel schaudenfraude (sp) for people selling SUVs. The ones I know are very arrogant, mean people.
Cars have played a major role in our current social makeup. Too much of the overall product is undesirable for society as a whole. They are a major polluter of our cities and the world with their larger than needed size and power. Why do consumers who only use their cars a few hours per week need 'luxury' transportation anyway? Persuasion.
On TV during the previous oil crisis a spokesperson from the Automobile Association was defending why they aren't marketing more smaller cars. "People couldn't just sell their cars and buy smaller ones." The TV commercial which immediately followed the newsbyte was for a flashy full size SUV.
There's a good documentary out called "Who Killed the Electric Car" The title speaks for itself.
There are plenty of workable solutions to the US's "addiction to oil" but they have not been made available to the average citizen. It's disgusting.
On the late W2:
If some of your paperwork is late, just send it in as soon as you can. As long as the IRS gets it well before the end of the year, I expect you'll still get your rebate eventually.
On the not-actually-a-dependent:
The IRS updated its FAQ a while back, I assume to reflect the language in the law. It now doesn't say anything about whether you were claimed as a dependent--it talks about if you could be claimed.
If you checked the box that said you could be claimed, but that turns out not to be true, I expect you can still get your rebate. What you'd have to do is file an amended return (a 1040X, I think)--basically, change your return to uncheck the box.
Bear in mind that I'm no tax expert.
Have you used Avenu on JewelOsco.com? It loads electronic coupons onto your Preferred Card. This week they were doing $1 off Cinnamon Toast Crunch and $1.25 off the granola bars.
Paul, did you ever taste this stuff? I'm diabetic so I bought a couple of Glucerna shakes when they first came out, hoping they'd be good "work food" to keep in my desk. I don't even want them for free. :-)
If I checked the box saying that I could be claimed as a dependent, but in reality wasn't and couldn't be claimed as my parents dependent would I still get the stimulus?
I'd just like to second that more expensive schools are not as scary as they seem. I'm about to graduate (one more week, ack!) from a private university which had a slightly frightening price tag, but I received so much in the way of grants and scholarships, that only about half of it had to be covered by loans, so it worked out to about the same as an in-state school. And I know I got a much better education here than I could have in a state school.
Small class sizes (my smallest class was three people, my largest, an extremely rare 60), one on one attention with your professors (not TA's), which equals out to glowing recommendations letters and the sort of individual attention that is worth more than any price.
I'd like to check out this guide for getting ready to pay for graduate school, thanks for the review!
There are I believe three states, including Nevada where I live, who have it written in their statutes that the state gas tax will rise to cover any drop in the federal gas tax to cover any missed revenue. so the residents of these states will receive no benefit, no matter how small.
I also think it's funny to hear the politicians complain about the price of gas when they have it in their power to allow more drilling to occur and refineries to be built, but they will not allow it.
a friend I work with e-filed but just realized while cleaning house the envelope containing her w2 slipped down the side of the couch cushion and was never mailed to the irs. She has already recieved her tax refund on time but did not get her stimulus check direct deposit on time but tax refund direct deposited on time will she get her stimulus check with out having mailed the w2?
It's so funny you posted this, because I also tapped my cereal stash to get my bag together for Saturday.
It is NOT a loan from next years taxes. This is a big misconception:
From
"It's not taxable, and it won't reduce your 2007 or 2008 refund or increase the amount you owe when you file your 2008 return."
That's because it's technically an advance for a one time tax credit for 2008 taxes. You don't need to visit your payroll dept.
But I also dream about having children and LOTS of dogs, so I don't think it's going to happen. We live in a 900sqft apt now and it feels just right for 2 of us + 1 dog, even a tiny bit too big. But kids and more pets change everything. When we eventually buy a house we want it to be small, we believe in siblings sharing bedrooms! But I still have a little wish of having a Tumbleweed house in the backyard as a guest cottage. :) This is a great topic! I also agree with greener pastures - it's amazing to think that so many of the world's families all share one room/shelter together. I guess the kids learn the birds & the bees a lot sooner this way...
Checked your blog. Thanks for the pics! Looked like a great way to spend a Thursday!
Linsey
This was a good move on Papa's part. I wonder how many of those folks also bought soda, breadsticks, etc.... Brilliant!
can you help me..
i need to know what foods are protien rich
went to dr today and she said i may be diabetic.
another test will be run tomorrow.
I am not happy.
:O(
I don't know what to eat...help
We checked it out and it took 2.5 hours to get a pizza! In the end, not sure if it was really worth it, but we had a blast!
Click here for images.
I bought the best buy box. It seems to work fine but the volume and channel buttons on the remote aren't raised much and are difficult to find.
Also, it only displays the guide info of the show your watching and the next upcoming tv show. I read that whats displayed is up to the tv station, but now I'm curious if other boxes show info for the next few hours.
I also am curious about universal remote controls working these and other boxes.
But, ever little bit counts! They are offering this out of the goodness of their heart, who are you to kick that in the face. Will nobody think of the children!!!
I also am a big fan of Aldi. Since we live in a rural area, I only shop once a month to save on gas. The week I shop, I check store sales online and make my list. On the day I shop, I get out the amount budgeted and bring along my calculator. I get everything first at Aldi, and then I go to the other stores and pick up items on sale and a few things that Aldi doesn't have. I try to make my meals around what is available at their store, though. This took a few months to tweak, but I feel that if anything, we are saving on fuel and I have learned to be creative by making do with what is available in the house instead of making a store run.
Thanks for the article...great topic!