We had similar experiences, particularly once my husband was put on the retirement list with the Air Force. We're not even 40 years old yet and we get geriatric mailings all the time . . . funny.
I was still amused that for about two months that every time I went to Walgreens and paid for purchases with my Flexible Spending Account debit card, the "checkout coupon" printer would automatically print out an invitation to join AARP. I'm still eight and a half years away from being eligible to join. *chuckle*
In case anyone is interested, I re-examine the information from the MMA projections and the projected savings didn't look very achievable to me. So I'm holding off on this purchase until I can get them to prove the math for me. If not, then I'll most likely go for the Equity Genie product instead.
I recently used air tech to fly rt from Mobile to Sacramento on 14 hours notice and got a great rate (considering) of $635 total using Continental. Delta wanted $1,650 for the same itinerary. I got my choice of my flights and seats. I was impressed with air tech and will use it in the future.
Derren Brown does use actors even in episodes where he claims not to. It's just another trick in his toolkit. But he does it very smart (for example he will always add one clip where his trick does not work which will be either with an actor or with just any regular person) you have to give him that much.
The trick with the change in the wallet is very simple. You steal the wallet, count the money and put it back. Another (less illegal) way is to perform a trick off camera beforehand that involves the wallet and gives you a chance to count. Counting is relatively quick: It takes only a few seconds to count the bills and if there are a lot of coins you simply take them out and replace them by a set amount.
Why do I give out the trick? Well, because you will still wonder whether that dirty, brute force way can really be the secret behind such an elegant performance. :P
Thanks, Nora. Yes, that's my main point: you need to balance all these things.
A corporate match on your 401(k) contributions is often so large as to just swamp the other issues. But once you're getting the full corporate match, there are a lot of issues, large and small, that you need to balance, when deciding how much to tax shelter versus how much to invest without sheltering. I tried to cover the key ones in my piece. Several others have been mentioned in the comments above. (Thanks guys!)
I used to do this in Tucson, Nora. One thing that makes the Walgreens program easier is that you can send in all the items at the end of the month on one single form and it only takes one stamp. The extra ten percent you get back for accepting the balance on a Walgreens gift card as opposed to a check can certainly be worth it. I know one person who kept racking up the balance with the extra ten percent (which more than makes up for sales tax) until the gift card money was what she used to make the monthly free with rebate purchases. I've hear Rite Aid does this too, but I haven't had a chance to try it yet.
Another strategy I've seen people use with this program is let the balance build up on the Walgreens rebate gift card for the year and then around Christmas time when they are selling gift cards for other stores (Blockbuster, Home Depot, Starbucks) and purchase the gift cards as holiday gifts. Not bad.
As Jon Morrow points out, qualifying for loans like mortgages can be affected by the debt to income ratio.
Also, you can't usually use retirement savings plans (if I'm not mistaken) as collateral to borrow against in the case of applying for a loan of sorts, be it a mortgage or major loan for a second piece of land or a vehicle.
Just another case for having some assets outside of 401ks and Roth IRAs.
(If that was aimed at my comment) Yes, I do think about it, and take my bottles to the recyling drop-offs in town. Since there's a big recyling center just a few miles from town, hopefully the town is honestly taking them there for that and not just landfilling instead. As I said, the tap water here just tastes disgusting, even filtered, and if I didn't drink bottled I'm sure I'd end up turning to other, less healthy, drinks in buyable containers instead.
I agree with David. My husband and I also put our allowances into separate accounts and have one big account for the joint stuff. Really, we only have separate accounts so that all those little, day-to-day purchases don't have to be tracked by both of us.
Personally, I think it's better than the method of each person having a separate account from which they contribute to a household account. Better from the standpoint of encouraging financial togetherness. I think it's important for a couple to think of their joint account as primary: Deposit all your income there, pay your big expenses from there, make your big (savings, investing) financial decisions there.
Among the people I know, those couples that view their individual accounts as primary and their joint account as a huge monthly expense that needs to be paid tend to have more angst about money.
I'm no tax expert, but it looks to me like 401(k) contributions do work to reduce your income, making you less likely to be subject to the AMT. If you're on the edge between having to pay the AMT and not, that would be a strong reason to prefer your 401(k) over other saving and investing options. You'd want to do your own research, though, or consult a tax expert, before taking steps with that goal in mind.
Kayaking first is of course, advisable. BTW, we just came home with one of the last three pumpkins available from the closest store that sells them for carving. Getting ready to try your technique today.
As a former resident of northern California wine country, I have definitely consumed my fair share of wine, including some incredible, award-winning vintages that came in bottles with synthetic corks. The only problem I have with synthetic corks is that they're sometimes harder to remove than the natural versions.
I have no biases with respect to synthetic or natural corks. However, I won't shell out good money for a bottle of wine in the Vintages section if it's got a screw cap. I grew up thinking that the distinction between a decent bottle of wine and a cheapo bottle was cork/screwcap, and I don't think I can change that now.
I loved your line about choosing your wine by the label design, by the way.
I work a couple nights at a week at a wine bar in my city (the only one of it's kind actually, without being a steak house or something comprable), and it floors me when I get customers who don't want to drink a bottle I'm serving them because it doesn't have a natural cork. I have to go through the explaination each time that simply because the cork is different, or the bottle has a screw cap, doesn't mean it's a bad bottle. One time, I actually had a guy refuse to drink (and pay for) a $70 bottle because it had a synthetic cork. *Sigh* While we were mad at the guy, we got over it when we decided the only thing to do was enjoy it ourselves!
Paul i love the topic, as our family using horizon daily ... if your suggested claims are true and you have been working on this for a while according to this blog ... what resolve have you resorted to for your milk? have you found any out there that more than "barely" fit the organic label? i would love to jump on that wagon.
My sister and I have been hooked on the McDonalds Monopoly game for years... We'd buy McDonalds 1-3 times a week and get the game pieces.. we'd usually go for breakfast and get a ton of hashbrowns.. One year, we were playing and I had to go to the doctor in Seattle, I went to McDonalds while I was there, and I got boardwalk... but I didn't have the other game piece to win the million.. about a week after the Monopoly game was over, my sister and I were throwing away our game pieces, bummed that we didn't win.. and we were looking at each others pieces, and we both noticed at the same time that the other had the missing piece... we were so pissed off that if we had combined our pieces sooner that we would of won.. getting to the point:
The game is rigged, they distribute different game pieces in different regions.. My sister and I live in Detroit, and I went to Seattle... that is why I got boardwalk.. also.. they only distribute Boardwalk on the CHICKEN SELECTS MEAL...
I hope that this will help others, as my sister and I have given up.. Although I do still play it now and again, like.. I have boardwalk right now, and I know that I have no chance of winning since I am not going anywhere by Novemeber 13th... so anyways...
It's not toxins in plastic water bottles that keeps me from buying them. Rather, it's the waste of throwing them away. Ever think about what happens to those bottles after you're done with them? Most aren't recycled. They merely get hauled away to the nearest landfill with the rest of the junk we humans bought but didn't really need.
Another reason to max out the 401K is it lowers your AGI. If you're on the verge of getting phased out of your Roth IRA because you're close to the income limit, putting more money into the 401K can keep you eligible. Same goes for tuition credits, which you can only get if your AGI is below certain limits.
i've read most of the questions, but can't seem to find the right answer. what quantities of corn, yeast and sugar would you need for a gallon of water. i don't have much space and am not worried about making loads. all help is greatly appreciated.
We had similar experiences, particularly once my husband was put on the retirement list with the Air Force. We're not even 40 years old yet and we get geriatric mailings all the time . . . funny.
I was still amused that for about two months that every time I went to Walgreens and paid for purchases with my Flexible Spending Account debit card, the "checkout coupon" printer would automatically print out an invitation to join AARP. I'm still eight and a half years away from being eligible to join. *chuckle*
In case anyone is interested, I re-examine the information from the MMA projections and the projected savings didn't look very achievable to me. So I'm holding off on this purchase until I can get them to prove the math for me. If not, then I'll most likely go for the Equity Genie product instead.
I recently used air tech to fly rt from Mobile to Sacramento on 14 hours notice and got a great rate (considering) of $635 total using Continental. Delta wanted $1,650 for the same itinerary. I got my choice of my flights and seats. I was impressed with air tech and will use it in the future.
Derren Brown does use actors even in episodes where he claims not to. It's just another trick in his toolkit. But he does it very smart (for example he will always add one clip where his trick does not work which will be either with an actor or with just any regular person) you have to give him that much.
The trick with the change in the wallet is very simple. You steal the wallet, count the money and put it back. Another (less illegal) way is to perform a trick off camera beforehand that involves the wallet and gives you a chance to count. Counting is relatively quick: It takes only a few seconds to count the bills and if there are a lot of coins you simply take them out and replace them by a set amount.
Why do I give out the trick? Well, because you will still wonder whether that dirty, brute force way can really be the secret behind such an elegant performance. :P
Thanks, Nora. Yes, that's my main point: you need to balance all these things.
A corporate match on your 401(k) contributions is often so large as to just swamp the other issues. But once you're getting the full corporate match, there are a lot of issues, large and small, that you need to balance, when deciding how much to tax shelter versus how much to invest without sheltering. I tried to cover the key ones in my piece. Several others have been mentioned in the comments above. (Thanks guys!)
I used to do this in Tucson, Nora. One thing that makes the Walgreens program easier is that you can send in all the items at the end of the month on one single form and it only takes one stamp. The extra ten percent you get back for accepting the balance on a Walgreens gift card as opposed to a check can certainly be worth it. I know one person who kept racking up the balance with the extra ten percent (which more than makes up for sales tax) until the gift card money was what she used to make the monthly free with rebate purchases. I've hear Rite Aid does this too, but I haven't had a chance to try it yet.
Another strategy I've seen people use with this program is let the balance build up on the Walgreens rebate gift card for the year and then around Christmas time when they are selling gift cards for other stores (Blockbuster, Home Depot, Starbucks) and purchase the gift cards as holiday gifts. Not bad.
As Jon Morrow points out, qualifying for loans like mortgages can be affected by the debt to income ratio.
Also, you can't usually use retirement savings plans (if I'm not mistaken) as collateral to borrow against in the case of applying for a loan of sorts, be it a mortgage or major loan for a second piece of land or a vehicle.
Just another case for having some assets outside of 401ks and Roth IRAs.
Just get cable internet, buy a splitter and plug in the tv. You've got free cable tv!
(If that was aimed at my comment) Yes, I do think about it, and take my bottles to the recyling drop-offs in town. Since there's a big recyling center just a few miles from town, hopefully the town is honestly taking them there for that and not just landfilling instead. As I said, the tap water here just tastes disgusting, even filtered, and if I didn't drink bottled I'm sure I'd end up turning to other, less healthy, drinks in buyable containers instead.
Hey Linsey. Just took the preboiled seeds out of the oven . . . they really are WAY crispier this way. Much yummier. Thanks!
I agree with David. My husband and I also put our allowances into separate accounts and have one big account for the joint stuff. Really, we only have separate accounts so that all those little, day-to-day purchases don't have to be tracked by both of us.
Personally, I think it's better than the method of each person having a separate account from which they contribute to a household account. Better from the standpoint of encouraging financial togetherness. I think it's important for a couple to think of their joint account as primary: Deposit all your income there, pay your big expenses from there, make your big (savings, investing) financial decisions there.
Among the people I know, those couples that view their individual accounts as primary and their joint account as a huge monthly expense that needs to be paid tend to have more angst about money.
I'm no tax expert, but it looks to me like 401(k) contributions do work to reduce your income, making you less likely to be subject to the AMT. If you're on the edge between having to pay the AMT and not, that would be a strong reason to prefer your 401(k) over other saving and investing options. You'd want to do your own research, though, or consult a tax expert, before taking steps with that goal in mind.
Kayaking first is of course, advisable. BTW, we just came home with one of the last three pumpkins available from the closest store that sells them for carving. Getting ready to try your technique today.
I heard baby carrots don't have the fiber that real carrots have. But maybe thats because they are peeled.
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Can 401k contribtutions also help when you are getting close to the alternate minimum tax limits?
As a former resident of northern California wine country, I have definitely consumed my fair share of wine, including some incredible, award-winning vintages that came in bottles with synthetic corks. The only problem I have with synthetic corks is that they're sometimes harder to remove than the natural versions.
I have no biases with respect to synthetic or natural corks. However, I won't shell out good money for a bottle of wine in the Vintages section if it's got a screw cap. I grew up thinking that the distinction between a decent bottle of wine and a cheapo bottle was cork/screwcap, and I don't think I can change that now.
I loved your line about choosing your wine by the label design, by the way.
I work a couple nights at a week at a wine bar in my city (the only one of it's kind actually, without being a steak house or something comprable), and it floors me when I get customers who don't want to drink a bottle I'm serving them because it doesn't have a natural cork. I have to go through the explaination each time that simply because the cork is different, or the bottle has a screw cap, doesn't mean it's a bad bottle. One time, I actually had a guy refuse to drink (and pay for) a $70 bottle because it had a synthetic cork. *Sigh* While we were mad at the guy, we got over it when we decided the only thing to do was enjoy it ourselves!
Paul i love the topic, as our family using horizon daily ... if your suggested claims are true and you have been working on this for a while according to this blog ... what resolve have you resorted to for your milk? have you found any out there that more than "barely" fit the organic label? i would love to jump on that wagon.
thanks
My sister and I have been hooked on the McDonalds Monopoly game for years... We'd buy McDonalds 1-3 times a week and get the game pieces.. we'd usually go for breakfast and get a ton of hashbrowns.. One year, we were playing and I had to go to the doctor in Seattle, I went to McDonalds while I was there, and I got boardwalk... but I didn't have the other game piece to win the million.. about a week after the Monopoly game was over, my sister and I were throwing away our game pieces, bummed that we didn't win.. and we were looking at each others pieces, and we both noticed at the same time that the other had the missing piece... we were so pissed off that if we had combined our pieces sooner that we would of won.. getting to the point:
The game is rigged, they distribute different game pieces in different regions.. My sister and I live in Detroit, and I went to Seattle... that is why I got boardwalk.. also.. they only distribute Boardwalk on the CHICKEN SELECTS MEAL...
I hope that this will help others, as my sister and I have given up.. Although I do still play it now and again, like.. I have boardwalk right now, and I know that I have no chance of winning since I am not going anywhere by Novemeber 13th... so anyways...
Toodles, and Good Luck,
~Cloe~
It's not toxins in plastic water bottles that keeps me from buying them. Rather, it's the waste of throwing them away. Ever think about what happens to those bottles after you're done with them? Most aren't recycled. They merely get hauled away to the nearest landfill with the rest of the junk we humans bought but didn't really need.
Another reason to max out the 401K is it lowers your AGI. If you're on the verge of getting phased out of your Roth IRA because you're close to the income limit, putting more money into the 401K can keep you eligible. Same goes for tuition credits, which you can only get if your AGI is below certain limits.
i've read most of the questions, but can't seem to find the right answer. what quantities of corn, yeast and sugar would you need for a gallon of water. i don't have much space and am not worried about making loads. all help is greatly appreciated.