I try to make it so that I get no refund, but if I do, I put the money to pay off a chunk of my student loan debt. Always feels good to take off several months' worth of payments at once.
Our $2600 tax refund is currently earmarked for buying stuff to landscape our backyard, which is mostly dirt right now. Plan on expanding our patio and putting in a fountain, shed, small lawn, dog kennel, some bushes, and maybe an herb garden.
Our refund will go straight to our car payment. It is the last debt we have (besides the mortgage) and we want it gone-gone-gone! The refund should clear it out and put us on the path to increasing our retirment savings as well. I can't think of a better way to start the year!
It's been nearly 2 years since my own BK was discharged, and I've managed to get my credit score back to above 660. It's taken time, but between a few bad credit credit cards, and no late payments, my score has risen.
Its going against my auto bill. I plan on getting that bill paid off. Its the bill with the highest interest rate that I have right now, and would be the most beneficial to pay off.
I'd spent a lot of time to tweak my allowances to get it just right. I don't expect anymore than $5 back this year. My tax savings in each paycheck goes straight to a savings account -- I will be spending this money on a house some time in the future.
I am one of those people who believe that in order to find someone who is good enough to take on important responsibilities, you have to stand in their shoes and become a master or gain a better level of understanding and practice what makes them perfect.
In my years of entrepreneurship career i've practiced this rule of thumb and found it to be greatly effective. Of course, in those days there was no internet, and no good websites/blog like this one. However, i still feel that if you are going to start and run a small business, you must take some accounting courses meant for entrepreneurs and non-finacial managers to be able to build your business strong enough to afford an accountant. Hey, lets face it. Not everyone starts off with a huge capital under their belt.
Over the years i've taken many online courses and find them to be really effective too. Great post!
Whether urgent care is cheaper than the ER depends on your insurance. My previous insurance changed the same copay for urgent care or the ER.
I've only gone to urgent care once, for strep throat that developed late on a Friday evening. With my doctor not open on the weekends I was stuck either waiting until Monday or paying for the urgent care. I went to urgent care first thing Saturday morning. I waited about 20 minutes (apparently I wasn't quite first thing enough). The employee who did my initial throat culture said it came back negative for strep but the PA (or possibly nurse practioner, I don't remember) wasn't convinced (I had all the signs of strep, including the nasty white things in the back of my throat) so she gave me a prescription for the meds and I was one my way. It was much more expensive than my regular doctor and I don't feel that the care was as good (I did feel like I was just being moved along a conveyor belt), but the final outcome was good and it was better than suffering through the weekend.
Everyone should do what makes them happy with their return but I will be saving mine. I just recently bought a replacement HDTV for my other one that went out and I have to get my car repaired. So the money I get from my return is going straight into my savings.
There's a country song, popular in the mid-90's (and still one of my favorites)... here's the chorus:
"Love grows best in little houses,
With fewer walls to separate;
Where you eat and sleep so close together,
You can't help but communicate...
And if we had more room between us,
Think of all we'd miss...
Love grows best in houses just like this."
So we tried getting a premium channel free for a sample period to try it out. Mentioned switching to U-Verse (since we have already been considering it due to the many issues we have had in the last year with Comcast).... to no avail. Bottom line - what they were willing to provide was a premium channel at a discounted rate per month.
I am five years into my bankruptcy, and I have to admit, when I filed I felt really hopeless. As the years have passed, I've refocused and I know that I can still have a positive financial future. The thing I was most worried about was finding housing (without a co-signer), but I wanted to live in a small building, so when I found a suitable apartment, I was upfront with the owner and told him about my situation. He did his due diligence in checking out my income and references and realized that I would still make a good tenant despite my bankruptcy and credit score.
I have a credit card again, but I pay it off every month, and it's actually helped to improve my score somewhat. I'm now saving for a down payment on a house and plan to buy the year that the bankruptcy falls off of my report. And slowly, my score is creeping up again. I've learned a lot about financial responsibility since filing, and for that I am grateful.
This may apply to some of the other common ailments above. I called my doctor's office after hours about a UTI and, because I've had them before knew that's what it was, the nurse staffing the after hours phone called in a prescription for me - no need to see a doctor.
When I was a kid I remember my mom doing the same for earaches (my brother had them frequently) and maybe when I had strep. This may depend on your medical history and your relationship with your doctor. I'm not sure if the middle path (going to the lab for a sample/culture ordered by the after hours nurse without seeing a doctor at UC or ER) is possible, but if it it that would also avoid the office visit copay.
This may apply to some of the other common ailments above. I called my doctor's office after hours about a UTI and, because I've had them before knew that's what it was, the nurse staffing the after hours phone called in a prescription for me - no need to see a doctor.
When I was a kid I remember my mom doing the same for earaches (my brother had them frequently) and maybe when I had strep. This may depend on your medical history and your relationship with your doctor. I'm not sure if the middle path (going to the lab for a sample/culture ordered by the after hours nurse without seeing a doctor at UC or ER) is possible, but if it it that would also avoid the office visit copay.
This may apply to some of the other common ailments above. I called my doctor's office after hours about a UTI and, because I've had them before knew that's what it was, the nurse staffing the after hours phone called in a prescription for me - no need to see a doctor.
When I was a kid I remember my mom doing the same for earaches (my brother had them frequently) and maybe when I had strep. This may depend on your medical history and your relationship with your doctor. I'm not sure if the middle path (going to the lab for a sample/culture ordered by the after hours nurse without seeing a doctor at UC or ER) is possible, but if it it that would also avoid the office visit copay.
This may apply to some of the other common ailments above. I called my doctor's office after hours about a UTI and, because I've had them before knew that's what it was, the nurse staffing the after hours phone called in a prescription for me - no need to see a doctor.
When I was a kid I remember my mom doing the same for earaches (my brother had them frequently) and maybe when I had strep. This may depend on your medical history and your relationship with your doctor. I'm not sure if the middle path (going to the lab for a sample/culture ordered by the after hours nurse without seeing a doctor at UC or ER) is possible, but if it it that would also avoid the office visit copay.
Definitely all good things to remember when shopping a warehouse stores. I have found that, especially for the quantities of items that I use (single and live alone), I can get better deals combining coupons and sales at grocery and big box stores on many things. I also don't have to worry as much about spoilage that way.
But there are some things that I regularly buy at my local Sams for cheaper than at other stores. These include chocolate chips and some baking ingredient staples (if I'm not buying around the holidays). Honey is much cheaper at Sams as is cat litter and a few other things.
I sometimes find books or DVDs that I'm interested in for cheaper prices as well (Sams has the best prices I've found for recently released mass market paperbacks. They can also be counted on to usually have the Firefly DVD box set in stock for less than $20. Since that's a gift that I tend to give to people, I appreciate that.). They also have good and affordable cakes, which are especially good for big group/church events.
And one other myth: You can't share an account with someone outside your immediate family. At least at Sams, the "Spouse card" does not have to go to your spouse. I share a Sams membership with my sister - who lives in a different state and has a different last name. We were together when we initially signed up and specifically asked about that. The employee had no problem with us splitting the membership. We have to deal with one person writing a check to the other come renewal time, but that's a small inconvenience.
regarding myth #2 - sure, your friends can shop, but (at Sam's, where i worked for a few years) they cannot buy. you must buy for them. they can't even pay cash at the more strict stores.
I try to make it so that I get no refund, but if I do, I put the money to pay off a chunk of my student loan debt. Always feels good to take off several months' worth of payments at once.
Our $2600 tax refund is currently earmarked for buying stuff to landscape our backyard, which is mostly dirt right now. Plan on expanding our patio and putting in a fountain, shed, small lawn, dog kennel, some bushes, and maybe an herb garden.
Our refund will go straight to our car payment. It is the last debt we have (besides the mortgage) and we want it gone-gone-gone! The refund should clear it out and put us on the path to increasing our retirment savings as well. I can't think of a better way to start the year!
It's been nearly 2 years since my own BK was discharged, and I've managed to get my credit score back to above 660. It's taken time, but between a few bad credit credit cards, and no late payments, my score has risen.
Paying down debt. Almost completely debt free!!! Yeah!
If I get a refund I will buy myself more time by applying it to what I owe from last year :)
Its going against my auto bill. I plan on getting that bill paid off. Its the bill with the highest interest rate that I have right now, and would be the most beneficial to pay off.
I'd spent a lot of time to tweak my allowances to get it just right. I don't expect anymore than $5 back this year. My tax savings in each paycheck goes straight to a savings account -- I will be spending this money on a house some time in the future.
Not sure if I'll be getting a refund, but if I do it will go straight towards our car loan.
I am one of those people who believe that in order to find someone who is good enough to take on important responsibilities, you have to stand in their shoes and become a master or gain a better level of understanding and practice what makes them perfect.
In my years of entrepreneurship career i've practiced this rule of thumb and found it to be greatly effective. Of course, in those days there was no internet, and no good websites/blog like this one. However, i still feel that if you are going to start and run a small business, you must take some accounting courses meant for entrepreneurs and non-finacial managers to be able to build your business strong enough to afford an accountant. Hey, lets face it. Not everyone starts off with a huge capital under their belt.
Over the years i've taken many online courses and find them to be really effective too. Great post!
I don't tend to get much of a refund back, but if I do, I'm saving it towards FINALLY moving out of my parents' place and getting married!!
Whether urgent care is cheaper than the ER depends on your insurance. My previous insurance changed the same copay for urgent care or the ER.
I've only gone to urgent care once, for strep throat that developed late on a Friday evening. With my doctor not open on the weekends I was stuck either waiting until Monday or paying for the urgent care. I went to urgent care first thing Saturday morning. I waited about 20 minutes (apparently I wasn't quite first thing enough). The employee who did my initial throat culture said it came back negative for strep but the PA (or possibly nurse practioner, I don't remember) wasn't convinced (I had all the signs of strep, including the nasty white things in the back of my throat) so she gave me a prescription for the meds and I was one my way. It was much more expensive than my regular doctor and I don't feel that the care was as good (I did feel like I was just being moved along a conveyor belt), but the final outcome was good and it was better than suffering through the weekend.
Everyone should do what makes them happy with their return but I will be saving mine. I just recently bought a replacement HDTV for my other one that went out and I have to get my car repaired. So the money I get from my return is going straight into my savings.
I plan on stocking up on necessary items around the house and paying on debt.
There's a country song, popular in the mid-90's (and still one of my favorites)... here's the chorus:
"Love grows best in little houses,
With fewer walls to separate;
Where you eat and sleep so close together,
You can't help but communicate...
And if we had more room between us,
Think of all we'd miss...
Love grows best in houses just like this."
So we tried getting a premium channel free for a sample period to try it out. Mentioned switching to U-Verse (since we have already been considering it due to the many issues we have had in the last year with Comcast).... to no avail. Bottom line - what they were willing to provide was a premium channel at a discounted rate per month.
I am five years into my bankruptcy, and I have to admit, when I filed I felt really hopeless. As the years have passed, I've refocused and I know that I can still have a positive financial future. The thing I was most worried about was finding housing (without a co-signer), but I wanted to live in a small building, so when I found a suitable apartment, I was upfront with the owner and told him about my situation. He did his due diligence in checking out my income and references and realized that I would still make a good tenant despite my bankruptcy and credit score.
I have a credit card again, but I pay it off every month, and it's actually helped to improve my score somewhat. I'm now saving for a down payment on a house and plan to buy the year that the bankruptcy falls off of my report. And slowly, my score is creeping up again. I've learned a lot about financial responsibility since filing, and for that I am grateful.
Aw shoot, sorry about the multiple posts!
This may apply to some of the other common ailments above. I called my doctor's office after hours about a UTI and, because I've had them before knew that's what it was, the nurse staffing the after hours phone called in a prescription for me - no need to see a doctor.
When I was a kid I remember my mom doing the same for earaches (my brother had them frequently) and maybe when I had strep. This may depend on your medical history and your relationship with your doctor. I'm not sure if the middle path (going to the lab for a sample/culture ordered by the after hours nurse without seeing a doctor at UC or ER) is possible, but if it it that would also avoid the office visit copay.
This may apply to some of the other common ailments above. I called my doctor's office after hours about a UTI and, because I've had them before knew that's what it was, the nurse staffing the after hours phone called in a prescription for me - no need to see a doctor.
When I was a kid I remember my mom doing the same for earaches (my brother had them frequently) and maybe when I had strep. This may depend on your medical history and your relationship with your doctor. I'm not sure if the middle path (going to the lab for a sample/culture ordered by the after hours nurse without seeing a doctor at UC or ER) is possible, but if it it that would also avoid the office visit copay.
This may apply to some of the other common ailments above. I called my doctor's office after hours about a UTI and, because I've had them before knew that's what it was, the nurse staffing the after hours phone called in a prescription for me - no need to see a doctor.
When I was a kid I remember my mom doing the same for earaches (my brother had them frequently) and maybe when I had strep. This may depend on your medical history and your relationship with your doctor. I'm not sure if the middle path (going to the lab for a sample/culture ordered by the after hours nurse without seeing a doctor at UC or ER) is possible, but if it it that would also avoid the office visit copay.
This may apply to some of the other common ailments above. I called my doctor's office after hours about a UTI and, because I've had them before knew that's what it was, the nurse staffing the after hours phone called in a prescription for me - no need to see a doctor.
When I was a kid I remember my mom doing the same for earaches (my brother had them frequently) and maybe when I had strep. This may depend on your medical history and your relationship with your doctor. I'm not sure if the middle path (going to the lab for a sample/culture ordered by the after hours nurse without seeing a doctor at UC or ER) is possible, but if it it that would also avoid the office visit copay.
Definitely all good things to remember when shopping a warehouse stores. I have found that, especially for the quantities of items that I use (single and live alone), I can get better deals combining coupons and sales at grocery and big box stores on many things. I also don't have to worry as much about spoilage that way.
But there are some things that I regularly buy at my local Sams for cheaper than at other stores. These include chocolate chips and some baking ingredient staples (if I'm not buying around the holidays). Honey is much cheaper at Sams as is cat litter and a few other things.
I sometimes find books or DVDs that I'm interested in for cheaper prices as well (Sams has the best prices I've found for recently released mass market paperbacks. They can also be counted on to usually have the Firefly DVD box set in stock for less than $20. Since that's a gift that I tend to give to people, I appreciate that.). They also have good and affordable cakes, which are especially good for big group/church events.
And one other myth: You can't share an account with someone outside your immediate family. At least at Sams, the "Spouse card" does not have to go to your spouse. I share a Sams membership with my sister - who lives in a different state and has a different last name. We were together when we initially signed up and specifically asked about that. The employee had no problem with us splitting the membership. We have to deal with one person writing a check to the other come renewal time, but that's a small inconvenience.
You can't actually pay for your purchase if you're not a member. I always just give my mom cash and have her buy it for me!
Linsey Knerl
regarding myth #2 - sure, your friends can shop, but (at Sam's, where i worked for a few years) they cannot buy. you must buy for them. they can't even pay cash at the more strict stores.