But not because "the gas companies will raise the price."
Demand will go up when the price goes down. There won't be enough gas to fulfill that demand, so the price will go back up until supply and demand are in equilibrium.
If your grocery dollar is stretched too thin this month, consider asking your local food bank who will be receiving these donations if they need any more volunteers.
My fiance and I are doing this for the Ballard Food Bank in Seattle for a few hours on Saturday - what a great reward for no cost but our time!
I expect that, if you checked the box on your return that you can be claimed as a dependent on your parent's return, you won't get the rebate. If you didn't check that box (or if the box isn't there any more--it's been a long time since I paid attention to that part of the tax form), then you might get the rebate, but I expect the IRS would ask for the money back, once your parents file their return claiming you as a dependent.
I'm afraid I'm not enough of a tax expert to do more than just guess, though. Sorry not to be more hopeful or helpful.
Yes, if interest rates stay down but inflation stays high, then the I Bonds are winners. I don't think that's the most likely scenario, but it's certainly possible.
One strategy would be to go ahead and get into I Bonds now, with an eye toward moving to other investments after rates go up. You wouldn't be able to move the money until you'd held the bond for 12 months, and if you didn't wait at least 5 years you'd have to give up 3 months interest (that is, suffer the full effects of the last 3 months inflation), but that might well turn out to be a winning move.
Basically, an I Bond guarantees that you'll stay even. That's better than falling behind, but it's not great.
At the moment, I'm betting that ordinary cash holdings, like money market mutual funds and internet savings accounts, will turn out to do better over the next year or five, even though they're doing worse over the next month or three. I could well be wrong, though.
I was recently involved with a person selling the MMA software. I crunched the numbers, using their example, versus investing their software cost and only the same amount of money they did. That was approximately 2785 every 3 months. Using a best case, and unrealistic scenario of putting all of my cash into the Heloc on the 1st day of the month, and pulling out of the Heloc on the last day, thus achieving the absolute lowest average daily balance, no matter how you look at it - doing it yourself always works out better. What they don't say in the video, is that there is a balance in the Heloc of around 11,000, and you still pay more interest because of that generated using the Heloc. Also, when is it EVER a good idea to take money from a lower interest loan and put it into a one with higher interest. The only advantage is the Heloc, where in case of an emergency, you still haad funds available.
Financial Aid is one of those massive, swirling black clouds hanging over our heads this time of year, but it doesn't have to be that scary. Read this book, talk to your child's school counselor and other parents who have been through the process and you'll be ok. We just went through it and it turns out that the most expensive college my son applied to didn't cost us any more out-of-pocket than the state schools.
Just beware that this "Stimulus" is actually a LOAN from next years tax refund.
The way that I understand this thing working is such:
If you will get more than $600 (I am single) on your federal return next year - lets say $800 refund, you will infact only recieve $200. Because you were Loaned the $600 this year.
The Benefit - is that if you were to recieve $200 return next year, then you get to keep the $400 as a bonus - But I am pretty darn sure that Uncle Sam will classify that is Income on the following year.
So - if you are like me - I claim no deductions, and therefore put a fair chunk of change away each month (not a smart thing to do - I know) but I always get $800'ish returned. I will only recieve $200 next year. So I will be getting with my Payroll department, and adding some deductions, that way - They take less money - but not too much - just enough to make it so that I claim the extra $$.
When I was in high school my Girl Scout Troop would canoe on the Colorado River. We would make 'bathing suit tops" out of two bandanas. Fold each in half on the diagonal; tie the 'tops' (the 90 degreee angle corners) together with the smallest knot possible; tie one set of long ends around your body; pull the other set of long ends up, twist if desired to take out the edge slack, and tie behind neck. And no, there will be no pictures.
Thanks for the information ! I was wondering about the odor but it doesn't seem to be so terrible if there are no fruits, just a regular sugar wash as you say. I'll have to monitor this closely. Thanks for the tip about the dryer sheets, I hadn't thought of that, I'll see if they could help out too. Man, no one mentioned a 5 gallon container being on the kitchen counter for 2 weeks ?? Fun---ny !! :-)
I have two friends: one with 8 children who live in a 1300 square foot house; one with 13 children who live in a 1000 square foot home. I have 2300 square feet and only six children. It's a challenge. My friends have huge yards where their children spend the majority of their time. I live in a suburbian subdivision with a small yard. If given a choice, I'd much prefer the small, uncluttered house full of love and a BIG yard.
We moved up to this house from a 900 square foot apartment that we had until child number six was born, though, so I am well aware of the small-living challenges!
After reading all of the comments, I have learned that neither of my college student childrent will be receiving a check. Both work jobs during the year, pay taxes but are over 17 and are claimed as dependents. I do not qualify to receive a check because of the salary limits. That's OK. I have been blessed. But my children could really use the money to help offset some of their college expenses. I feel that the Bush administration was in such a rush to get this program out there that there is a segment of society that will not get anything and could really use the rebate. I hope that once the dust settles, and it becomes apparent who did not qualify receive a check that a second "stimulus package" will be initiated that will include college students over 17 but still claimed as dependents on their parents taxes.
We're lucky in the US. Many of us have the opportunity to live in a roomy home if we choose. Not so lucky for people around the world. I'm amazed at how little of "their own" space people can live in.
if you use a sugar wash, then the only real smell is yeast. with an air trap, no spoiled fruit. there is a big difference between fermenting and spoilage. and there is a big difference in smell. so long as this is not the closet in your bedroom, it should be ok. if you use a drier sheet, like snuggles, that will more then cover it up. but really, its not bad enough to need it. i have a 5 gallon bucket on the counter in the kitchen, no one mentioned it for 2 weeks, then the wife just said something about not needing that much vodka in the house. no smell at all!!!!
Where I'm living now is something I can manage myself, a 2-bedroom brick, 1-story with oversized attached garage, a "plat" home, maybe 1200 ft (?)decent neighborhood, right on the busline (great since I got rid of my car), price was right for me, paid $75,900 for it. I'm divorced, no kids. The layout of my house is open, and I love that. I like things uncluttered, the fewer knick-knacks to clean, the better. The smaller bedroom is my office; I work from home. The other bedroom is large. I definitely love my space. I'm on a busy street corner and have an oversized front lawn. I truly enjoy taking care of what's "mine" and would never be keen on living in a small space again unless I was physically unable to take care of it or pay to have it done.
One thing that bother me about the "Sustainability" and "Green" push is the short-sightedness of the message. Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of appliances using less energy, using less water, etc., but I don't care how high your LEED rating is or how many Energy Star appliances you have, if your house takes up more than 30% of the lot (garage included), the house is too big and/or the lot too small. For that matter, any impervious surface that takes up 30-35% of the lot is bad (that includes sidewalks, paved driveways, etc.)
I don't want a big house, but it is so hard to find a small house with a small footprint. Most small houses are one story, and I want a two-story house so I can have some room but not take up so much land I can't have trees around me.
Forget Lebron he dont deserve an apology like that sooooo what his feeling might have gotten hurt sooo what thats life deal with it, thats his problem now he thinks he is superior because he got an opportunity of a lifetime to get paid to throw a ball in a hoop for millions of dollars sooooo what Lebron.
Thanks guest #94 for discussing the HELOC/lower rate advantage but also the possibility of a reset in rates.
The only other thing I'll mention is about the nuance of the fixed mortgage is that while if you pay earlier in the month, there is no advantage (unlike other loan types, presumably also the HELOC); there is also no penalty for paying later in the month (say on the 7th if the absolute deadline is the 10th). However paying later in the month on a HELOC will incur additional interest charges.
For more discussion on HELOCs and mortgages, see the Mortgage Professor's website (this guy has been a real professor btw):
I'm under my parent's tax return as a dependent (they never file it until the end of the year, don't know why but my father is lazy) but two months I received a notice in the mail saying I WILL get $300 for the rebate. But now I'm hearing dependents won't get that $300. Will I get it?
Wow, I had no idea there were so many others in smaller homes. We currently live in a 1500 sq ft house with two kids and a dog. It feels so tiny! We just bought a 3400 sq ft house and I'm already thinking we should have gone bigger. It's not a status thing - I really do get depressed in smaller, confined living spaces. Cozy is not a good thing for me.
It interesting that many blame speculators for shortages and high prices. They obviously don't understand how markets work. You state speculators bid up prices. That they do - some of them - but speculators operate on both sides of the market. As a speculator, you are free to be long or short on whatever market you choose.
I guarantee you that at this moment many speculators are betting on the price of oil to dump. They could be right, or they could be wrong and get seriously burned.
Something that the men who fought the American Revolution knew was that taxation robs liberty.
I agree giving a Gas Tax holiday is meaningless to the average American. But anytime a tax is reduced it is a good thing and people should celebrate. It happens so rarely.
I am constantly amazed at the common man's and woman's absolute trust in government. How easily they accept being told what and when to do something. I don't trust government and certainly don't trust they know better than I do how to spend my money!
But not because "the gas companies will raise the price."
Demand will go up when the price goes down. There won't be enough gas to fulfill that demand, so the price will go back up until supply and demand are in equilibrium.
9th grade economics, people.
If your grocery dollar is stretched too thin this month, consider asking your local food bank who will be receiving these donations if they need any more volunteers.
My fiance and I are doing this for the Ballard Food Bank in Seattle for a few hours on Saturday - what a great reward for no cost but our time!
I expect that, if you checked the box on your return that you can be claimed as a dependent on your parent's return, you won't get the rebate. If you didn't check that box (or if the box isn't there any more--it's been a long time since I paid attention to that part of the tax form), then you might get the rebate, but I expect the IRS would ask for the money back, once your parents file their return claiming you as a dependent.
I'm afraid I'm not enough of a tax expert to do more than just guess, though. Sorry not to be more hopeful or helpful.
Yes, if interest rates stay down but inflation stays high, then the I Bonds are winners. I don't think that's the most likely scenario, but it's certainly possible.
One strategy would be to go ahead and get into I Bonds now, with an eye toward moving to other investments after rates go up. You wouldn't be able to move the money until you'd held the bond for 12 months, and if you didn't wait at least 5 years you'd have to give up 3 months interest (that is, suffer the full effects of the last 3 months inflation), but that might well turn out to be a winning move.
Basically, an I Bond guarantees that you'll stay even. That's better than falling behind, but it's not great.
At the moment, I'm betting that ordinary cash holdings, like money market mutual funds and internet savings accounts, will turn out to do better over the next year or five, even though they're doing worse over the next month or three. I could well be wrong, though.
I was recently involved with a person selling the MMA software. I crunched the numbers, using their example, versus investing their software cost and only the same amount of money they did. That was approximately 2785 every 3 months. Using a best case, and unrealistic scenario of putting all of my cash into the Heloc on the 1st day of the month, and pulling out of the Heloc on the last day, thus achieving the absolute lowest average daily balance, no matter how you look at it - doing it yourself always works out better. What they don't say in the video, is that there is a balance in the Heloc of around 11,000, and you still pay more interest because of that generated using the Heloc. Also, when is it EVER a good idea to take money from a lower interest loan and put it into a one with higher interest. The only advantage is the Heloc, where in case of an emergency, you still haad funds available.
Financial Aid is one of those massive, swirling black clouds hanging over our heads this time of year, but it doesn't have to be that scary. Read this book, talk to your child's school counselor and other parents who have been through the process and you'll be ok. We just went through it and it turns out that the most expensive college my son applied to didn't cost us any more out-of-pocket than the state schools.
Good advice - thanks for this review!
Just beware that this "Stimulus" is actually a LOAN from next years tax refund.
The way that I understand this thing working is such:
If you will get more than $600 (I am single) on your federal return next year - lets say $800 refund, you will infact only recieve $200. Because you were Loaned the $600 this year.
The Benefit - is that if you were to recieve $200 return next year, then you get to keep the $400 as a bonus - But I am pretty darn sure that Uncle Sam will classify that is Income on the following year.
So - if you are like me - I claim no deductions, and therefore put a fair chunk of change away each month (not a smart thing to do - I know) but I always get $800'ish returned. I will only recieve $200 next year. So I will be getting with my Payroll department, and adding some deductions, that way - They take less money - but not too much - just enough to make it so that I claim the extra $$.
Oh well - they'll get you coming or going.
When I was in high school my Girl Scout Troop would canoe on the Colorado River. We would make 'bathing suit tops" out of two bandanas. Fold each in half on the diagonal; tie the 'tops' (the 90 degreee angle corners) together with the smallest knot possible; tie one set of long ends around your body; pull the other set of long ends up, twist if desired to take out the edge slack, and tie behind neck. And no, there will be no pictures.
I just saw this the other day on the IRS website... you can check the status of your rebate:
https://sa1.www4.irs.gov/irfof/IRServlet?app=IRACTC
Hope this helps!
Thanks for the information ! I was wondering about the odor but it doesn't seem to be so terrible if there are no fruits, just a regular sugar wash as you say. I'll have to monitor this closely. Thanks for the tip about the dryer sheets, I hadn't thought of that, I'll see if they could help out too. Man, no one mentioned a 5 gallon container being on the kitchen counter for 2 weeks ?? Fun---ny !! :-)
I have two friends: one with 8 children who live in a 1300 square foot house; one with 13 children who live in a 1000 square foot home. I have 2300 square feet and only six children. It's a challenge. My friends have huge yards where their children spend the majority of their time. I live in a suburbian subdivision with a small yard. If given a choice, I'd much prefer the small, uncluttered house full of love and a BIG yard.
We moved up to this house from a 900 square foot apartment that we had until child number six was born, though, so I am well aware of the small-living challenges!
After reading all of the comments, I have learned that neither of my college student childrent will be receiving a check. Both work jobs during the year, pay taxes but are over 17 and are claimed as dependents. I do not qualify to receive a check because of the salary limits. That's OK. I have been blessed. But my children could really use the money to help offset some of their college expenses. I feel that the Bush administration was in such a rush to get this program out there that there is a segment of society that will not get anything and could really use the rebate. I hope that once the dust settles, and it becomes apparent who did not qualify receive a check that a second "stimulus package" will be initiated that will include college students over 17 but still claimed as dependents on their parents taxes.
We're lucky in the US. Many of us have the opportunity to live in a roomy home if we choose. Not so lucky for people around the world. I'm amazed at how little of "their own" space people can live in.
I'm really grateful for the option.
Lisa
if you use a sugar wash, then the only real smell is yeast. with an air trap, no spoiled fruit. there is a big difference between fermenting and spoilage. and there is a big difference in smell. so long as this is not the closet in your bedroom, it should be ok. if you use a drier sheet, like snuggles, that will more then cover it up. but really, its not bad enough to need it. i have a 5 gallon bucket on the counter in the kitchen, no one mentioned it for 2 weeks, then the wife just said something about not needing that much vodka in the house. no smell at all!!!!
Where I'm living now is something I can manage myself, a 2-bedroom brick, 1-story with oversized attached garage, a "plat" home, maybe 1200 ft (?)decent neighborhood, right on the busline (great since I got rid of my car), price was right for me, paid $75,900 for it. I'm divorced, no kids. The layout of my house is open, and I love that. I like things uncluttered, the fewer knick-knacks to clean, the better. The smaller bedroom is my office; I work from home. The other bedroom is large. I definitely love my space. I'm on a busy street corner and have an oversized front lawn. I truly enjoy taking care of what's "mine" and would never be keen on living in a small space again unless I was physically unable to take care of it or pay to have it done.
One thing that bother me about the "Sustainability" and "Green" push is the short-sightedness of the message. Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of appliances using less energy, using less water, etc., but I don't care how high your LEED rating is or how many Energy Star appliances you have, if your house takes up more than 30% of the lot (garage included), the house is too big and/or the lot too small. For that matter, any impervious surface that takes up 30-35% of the lot is bad (that includes sidewalks, paved driveways, etc.)
I don't want a big house, but it is so hard to find a small house with a small footprint. Most small houses are one story, and I want a two-story house so I can have some room but not take up so much land I can't have trees around me.
Forget Lebron he dont deserve an apology like that sooooo what his feeling might have gotten hurt sooo what thats life deal with it, thats his problem now he thinks he is superior because he got an opportunity of a lifetime to get paid to throw a ball in a hoop for millions of dollars sooooo what Lebron.
Thanks Kaye for visiting - glad you enjoyed the post.
Thanks guest #94 for discussing the HELOC/lower rate advantage but also the possibility of a reset in rates.
The only other thing I'll mention is about the nuance of the fixed mortgage is that while if you pay earlier in the month, there is no advantage (unlike other loan types, presumably also the HELOC); there is also no penalty for paying later in the month (say on the 7th if the absolute deadline is the 10th). However paying later in the month on a HELOC will incur additional interest charges.
For more discussion on HELOCs and mortgages, see the Mortgage Professor's website (this guy has been a real professor btw):
HELOC
Simple Interest Mortgages (see info on grace periods).
Hope this is useful.
*but two months ago
I'm under my parent's tax return as a dependent (they never file it until the end of the year, don't know why but my father is lazy) but two months I received a notice in the mail saying I WILL get $300 for the rebate. But now I'm hearing dependents won't get that $300. Will I get it?
I completed the survey on time, but I never got my stapler. Bummer.
Wow, I had no idea there were so many others in smaller homes. We currently live in a 1500 sq ft house with two kids and a dog. It feels so tiny! We just bought a 3400 sq ft house and I'm already thinking we should have gone bigger. It's not a status thing - I really do get depressed in smaller, confined living spaces. Cozy is not a good thing for me.
Philip #12:
It interesting that many blame speculators for shortages and high prices. They obviously don't understand how markets work. You state speculators bid up prices. That they do - some of them - but speculators operate on both sides of the market. As a speculator, you are free to be long or short on whatever market you choose.
I guarantee you that at this moment many speculators are betting on the price of oil to dump. They could be right, or they could be wrong and get seriously burned.
Something that the men who fought the American Revolution knew was that taxation robs liberty.
I agree giving a Gas Tax holiday is meaningless to the average American. But anytime a tax is reduced it is a good thing and people should celebrate. It happens so rarely.
I am constantly amazed at the common man's and woman's absolute trust in government. How easily they accept being told what and when to do something. I don't trust government and certainly don't trust they know better than I do how to spend my money!
I look around and all I see is milch cows.