Recent comments

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Look Forward to Tax Time? (Your Chance to win $20!)   16 years 13 weeks ago

    I like it okay--it really doesn't matter whether I like it, so I don't generally think in those terms.

    I get a paper form. And then as each form arrives, I pencil in the amount on the relevant line, or if I will have to add numbers from several forms, then I pencil it in nearby. That way I don't have to spend several hours on it all at once.

    I never know if I'm getting a refund or paying more, so wondering about that helps keep me motivated.

    I'm very glad I can do them myself and don't have to pay someone who may or may not be doing a thorough job.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Look Forward to Tax Time? (Your Chance to win $20!)   16 years 13 weeks ago

    Personally, I like not having it over my head anymore. I like knowing that I've got a handle on how things were supposed to go over the year in terms of quarterly tax payments. However, some of the banks and workplaces I deal with delay sending me information. For example, one of my banks isn't sending out 1099s until February, and if last year is any indication, I won't be getting my w-2 from the university until around the same time. I've got most of my records in order, but until I get the official ones, I can't really do much. I'd much prefer being able to finish early, rather than later.

    On the plus side, I've finished up a degree, paid off a student loan, and this is the last year I'll be filing for having worked in 2 states... I hope.

  • Make Your DVD Player Region-Free in Seconds   16 years 13 weeks ago

    Hi all,
    I want to change my JVC UX-G68 to be multi region, can anybody help me with this? i have been soo frustrated not being able to play many DVDs
    your comments or suggestions are highly appreciated.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Look Forward to Tax Time? (Your Chance to win $20!)   16 years 13 weeks ago

    I used to ... until this year ... when my tax filing involves two states, a relocation, house selling and buying, stock options craziness and lots of loans. All this and my document storage/organization is not up to the standards I set for myself over the years.
    I guess I will have to resort to asking for help filing this years taxes.

  • Don't Go to College to Learn   16 years 13 weeks ago

    Have you read Robert Kiyosaki's "Rich Dad" book series? It's really exciting. I believe it when someone says "college is not for everyone" and I think it's not for me. I want to be like Robert Kiyosaki and start a business part-time while I do my temporary 9 to 5 job.
    The business I plan to do is to be an independent distributor for a Multi-Level Marketing company (also called Network Marketing or Direct Selling). It is a wonderful business system. Anyone thinking of doing a business should look into MLM.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Look Forward to Tax Time? (Your Chance to win $20!)   16 years 13 weeks ago

    It's a time to reflect on the financial results for the past year and plan for the new one.
    I like the puzzle-solving aspect of preparing the return, and volunteer with AARP Tax-Aide to help out those who are overwhelmed by the complexity.
    I just hate writing a check when I know much of the money will end up in the pork barrel!

  • What Can Retailers Do With Their Unwanted Merchandise?   16 years 13 weeks ago

    There are many ways to go about preventing lawsuits and/or returns from donated items. There are companies that can be built on overstock/damaged/discontined items. That would be only GOOD for the American economy.
    You say that these companies are taking a "write off", but in reality they're getting reimbursed for the damaged/unwanted goods from insurance companies. They can take a "write off" without messing up their bottom line, they just have to claim it as a loss of income on their taxes. What they're doing now borders on insurance fraud. They are presenting and paying out insurance reimbursements as profits to their investors. It's insurance money NOT PROFIT. And is NOT the reason insurance was ever established.
    Misuse of insurance is one of if not the most economically damaging acts committed in America. Insurance is EVERYONE's money put together, not just these companies.
    For the good of our country these insane acts as well as ridiculous settlements paid out by insurance companies to lawsuits need to stop. It has already caught up to us, and now we are being buried by it.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Look Forward to Tax Time? (Your Chance to win $20!)   16 years 13 weeks ago

    I absolutely HATE tax time. I hate preparing the taxes because it is SO time consuming (even with having everything organized throughout the year!), and or course I hate that I almost always have to pay slightly more than anticipated.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Look Forward to Tax Time? (Your Chance to win $20!)   16 years 13 weeks ago

    Actually DOING our taxes is incredibly tedious, but it's nice to get them done early every year. Can't argue with a refund check!

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Look Forward to Tax Time? (Your Chance to win $20!)   16 years 13 weeks ago

    I'm glad to see there's someone besides me out there who enjoys doing them -- I really find it satisfying to fill in all the little boxes! I definitely like to see how all my plans have worked out, in a structured final snapshot format. I think of it all like a video game -- tax time means I've beaten another level, and it's time to see my results. Did I get a new high score? Did I finish all the quests and hit all the bonuses? Do my results give me any hints about strategy for the next level?

    Maybe describing money matters so lightly is heretical on a finance blog, but life is an awfully long game to play if you're not having fun...

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Look Forward to Tax Time? (Your Chance to win $20!)   16 years 13 weeks ago

    I usually split whatever dough comes in three ways...1/3 to a family wish list item (or saving for big ticket need), 1/3 to saving, and 1/3 to debt.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Look Forward to Tax Time? (Your Chance to win $20!)   16 years 13 weeks ago

    Tax time for us is neither here nor there, but rather another chore to take care of, like cleaning the bathroom or hand washing the sweaters. Definately not something we look forward to, but it feels so good when it's done! We usually break about even.

  • How to Buy and Prepare Fresh Fish   16 years 13 weeks ago

    My husband is a chef ....so his tips are:
    NEVER order fish out in a restaurant on a Monday! (And we live in California and he still keeps me to that rule (unless you see it coming out of the ocean) :)
    Know your fishmonger!
    Use your nose. Fish should have NO smell.

  • Cooking great meals with your car engine. The heat is on.   16 years 13 weeks ago

    Hey, a friend of mine said you could heat up a canned soup? Is that true? Can't seem to find any info on it.

    vgershik@gmail.com

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Look Forward to Tax Time? (Your Chance to win $20!)   16 years 13 weeks ago

    I do it because it has to be done, but I neither dread nor look forward to it. I usually owe just a little or sometimes break even. I don't understand how some people get huge checks and spend like it's free money. It's YOUR MONEY, people, spend wisely.

  • How to Make Moonshine   16 years 13 weeks ago

    Love this site. I'm doing my first fermentation for moonshine, using Whole grain sweet feed. 5 gal bucket 4 inches sweet feed at bottom, 5 lbs sugar, and yeast. Boiling water added half and finished with cool water. Letting stand and I'm 4 days into it. Smells great so far....This is the best info I've ran across about moonshine. Thanks

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Look Forward to Tax Time? (Your Chance to win $20!)   16 years 13 weeks ago

    I look forward to tax time every year. Sometime after Halloween I start to get excited. In fact I think I get more excited about doing my taxes then I do about getting presents for Christmas. I can't wait to pull out all of my receipts and process everything to find out if I can get enough deductions to outweigh the standard deduction. That doesn't happen often but when it does I am stoked. This process also helps me know how much money I spent over the year and get a chance to see how much money I was able to give away (donations). It helps me think about how thankful that I am to hae been able to give that much money. I always wish I could be the person who can just write a check for a couple thousand dollars to some charity or something, which is something I don't even come close to being able to do right now. But all those smaller donations do add up during the year and I get pretty excited see how much I was able to give away. I also like doing my taxes because more often than not I get a tax refund. When that happens I feel like I won the lottery. All the more reasons to get excited.

  • Best of Personal Finance Roundup: 20+ Amazing Fitness Blogs to Inspire You   16 years 13 weeks ago

    Thanks for the mention Linsey!

  • How to Buy and Prepare Fresh Fish   16 years 13 weeks ago

    I just go to Chinatown and have it gutted and cleaned right there. Fish/shellfish is always fresh and cheaper than places like Whole(paycheck) Foods.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Look Forward to Tax Time? (Your Chance to win $20!)   16 years 13 weeks ago

    I don't look forward to filing my taxes because almost every year, I miscalculate the amount I should be paying in taxes. I'm a student with a taxable fellowship, but taxes aren't taken out, so I pay estimated taxes. I try to estimate how much I need to pay in taxes every year, but because I get paid in uneven chunks and because the school fiscal year runs July-June, sometimes my January-December pay is higher or lower than I estimate. I nearly always end up owing taxes, which is painful, since I pay large sums of money every 3 months in estimated taxes. Somehow it's more painful when you have to write that check than when it comes out of your paycheck and you never see it in the first place.

    I'll be so happy when I graduate and get a job with regular, steady pay :)

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Look Forward to Tax Time? (Your Chance to win $20!)   16 years 13 weeks ago

    I typically break even, however, I hate the gathering of papers and filling out forms.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Look Forward to Tax Time? (Your Chance to win $20!)   16 years 13 weeks ago

    Nope, of course not. It just means more work for me. :P

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Look Forward to Tax Time? (Your Chance to win $20!)   16 years 13 weeks ago

    I do think that the way TurboTax shows a constant counter at the top of what you owe so you can watch it go down (or up) as you go through the process is genuis.

  • 5 Benefits of a Task Management System   16 years 13 weeks ago

    Thanks for the post and for all the great links and ideas... I'm always trying to find a good way to control my to do list and always end back with paper and pen. I have a nice top 10 to do list system that works pretty well.

  • Flying With Valuables? Keep Them Safe And Carry A Gun!   16 years 13 weeks ago

    When you travel with a gun you have to go to the security officials and ask for your luggage, with identification. This is why your bags won't get lost.