Cause I'm the Tax Man

So...I got my tax refund, but it was wiped out by the local taxes I owed for 2007, and 1/4 of 1.5% of my estimated taxes for 2008. No fair! I have to send in quarterly taxes now, which I'm not used to. That's where one of my savings accounts comes in. I've made one into my local tax account. I'd rather make it my HDTV savings account, but oh well. Guess taxes are more important, since the tax man will get you eventually if you're not paying your taxes. Sometimes, I wish we'd have a fairer tax system (no, not the fair tax...I don't see that happening anytime soon). It'd make life easier for a lot of people, I think.

Tags: taxes, HDTV, savings accounts, fair tax

Shopping Online

I get soooo many e-mails from stores I've bought things from online. It's getting to be overwhelming, actually. And it makes me want to spend money I don't have! But one of the e-mails I get is actually helpful. It lists coupons and deals from just about any store I can think of. Sometimes, it will list Kohls coupon codes, among other stores' codes, that you can use to get online deals. Why I didn't think of this idea, I'll never know. But I do rely on it a great deal to get my online discounts, when the one store I want to have an online sale doesn't send me an e-mail the one week I want to get something there.

Tags: Kohls, coupons, coupon codes, e-mail

The Real Estate Crunch

You know, on NPR, I heard there was a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio where almost every house was empty due to foreclosure, or being very close to foreclosure. That is totally scary. And I see all of these new home sites going up around where I live, advertising homes from $800,000 to $2 million. What?!?!?! Who can afford all of these? It's insane. People get an adjustable rate mortgage so they can get the house they want. But with record lows in interest rates, you can bet they aren't going to go down, but up. I've also heard that real estate flipping (buying a house and quickly reselling it) isn't as profitable as it once was, because no one wants to buy a house right now...not even ones that have been foreclosed on. I know I don't, not until stuff has settled a little. And, I just moved in here, so it won't be for another year or two that I even begin to look. So I'll just sit tight and watch how this all pans out. I just hope the interest rates aren't much higher than they are now, that's for sure.

Think the Real Estate Bubble Has Burst

With the real estate market in a tailspin, I wonder if those who own a real estate franchise are starting to get nervous, especially the smaller ones. I think I'd be on the verge of a nervous breakdown, knowing me. And, I see all of these houses up for sale for months, rather than weeks, even in "hot" areas of town. That has to suck for the people who want or need to sell and can't because the subprime lenders are all going under. Why people got ARMs, I'll never understand. I mean, if you know you're only going to be in a house for 5 years, fine. But with record low mortgage rates...um, they're probably only going to go up! Even I, who is an idiot when it comes to finances, knows this and would NEVER get an ARM. Anyway, it's a huge mess, and I hope it works itself out so that I can buy a house in the future and not have to worry about getting taken for a ride from some lender.

The Sad State of My Finances

Every year, I think, "I'm going to get my finances under control." And every year, I get some sort of financial reporting software...or an update to what I have, at least (Quicken 2008 anyone?). For about three months, I'm really good about getting all of my spending information entered (or downloaded), but then I just let it go. Why? I'm not sure. I think it's because I get depressed about how much I'm still in debt. Or, it's my ADD when it comes to doing stuff that I hate...more like procrastination, I think. I always have and probably always will be a procrastinator. But some people are and still are able to control their finances. Wish I were one of those people...

Health Insurance Woes

Okay, I've been in this epic battle with my doctor's office about a $200 bill that they never submitted to my insurance agency. They say they did, and never got reimbursed for it. I told them to resubmit, and they won't. I'm not gonna pay it because it's totally covered according to my insurance agency. So now it's gone to a commercial collection agency. What the hell?? He's in my insurance plan, and I only visit once a year for my RLS. I have no idea what happened, or why they didn't get paid...but for them to do this to me is insane. If he wasn't the best when it came to RLS, I'd find another doctor because of this. Seriously.

Thank God for Tivo

You know, I keep seeing more and more ads that make it sound like a payday loan is the way to go, if you have an emergency and need more cash all of the sudden. First, I'd ask any friends and family before I had an "emergency" loan that would require me to pay astronomical interest rates. I guess if you can afford to pay back the loan all in one lump sum, it's not so bad. But if you can't (which most people who would go for these sorts of loans), then it can often be something in the 3 digit range...OUCH! No thanks, I'll pass...and fast forward through the ads so that I don't have to watch these loan sharks prey on the desperate (Tivo rules!).

Tags: payday loan, interest rates, Tivo

Not Having to Sort Change...Priceless

Before I discovered the wonders of having a check card that works like a credit card (I love you, check card!), I was always awash in a sea of change. Every now and then, I'd wish I'd had a coin sorter. But then, I ended up taking all of my change to one of those Coinstar machines at my grocery store and just get a voucher. Made things a whole lot easier than rolling up coins and taking them to my bank to get some paper money that didn't weigh a ton in my wallet, haha.

Tags: check card, Coinstar, finances, money

Karma Car

Every year, I always get a new car insurance quote to make sure I'm still paying the lowest amount I can for my needs. If you can believe it, I've had the same insurance since I started driving 20 years ago. And...it's still the least expensive (and decent coverage too)! Can you believe it? I'm always amazed. Anywhere else I'd go, I'd pay through the nose for the type of coverage I have. You see, I have some pretty heavy-duty coverage, because my car seems to attract accidents...like getting hit by a taxi while parked on a street, or broken into, or rear-ended 3 times (I think it has bad karma!). But, I'll still continue to see if I have the least expensive coverage, as I'm always looking to save money!

Tags: car insurance, car insurance quotes

RockbottomPrices.com Rocks!

You know, one thing I learned from A (my "ex" now) is how to save a little money, although he will always be better at it because he's one thing I'm not...patient. One thing he liked was being able to buy direct for wholesale prices. I've been thinking about getting a new PC, a laptop specifically, and RockBottomPrices.com has one for a pretty decent price (a higher-end HP laptop for only $681.62!). I just pay $99 to join (much like joining wholesale clubs in general), and have access to their special pricing. I might just join...once I have $99 to spare (I have to pay taxes this year, so I'm going to have to tighten my belt the next month or two).

Tags: finances, save money, wholesale clubs

Online Bill Payment Rules!

I pay so many bills online now that I get irked when I have to send in a payment by mail for anything. Like, last month, I had to pay a whole slew of medical bills from when I thought I'd need to have my gall bladder taken out, but as it turns out...I didn't. Anyway, I was wishing I had some return address labels, because my hand started getting tired of writing my return address on so many envelopes (okay, only 4).

I am so lazy when it comes to paying bills anyway, that when I have to use snail mail to send them in...they're usually late as I procrastinate...a lot. But, since I don't want collectors to come after me (that's only happened once...and it was a screw up on their part), I actually paid these on time. Yay me! But, it would be soooo much more convenient if they'd all provide online bill payment. Perhaps it's too costly...but for hopeless procrastinators like me, it's a dream come true!

Tags: return address labels, online bill payment

Finances, Budgets, and Debt, Oh My!

This is yet another post that doesn't exactly entertain me, but it is weighing heavily on my mind...and that is the sad state of my finances! I can't seem to get my head above water. It's really depressing, and no matter what I do, I can't seem to get ahead.

So, I've gone back to doing freelance writing, mainly in the form of keyword articles and article rewrites, as they really don't require too much thought. However, I'd rather do this than what I've done before, and that's doing Tarot readings online (shhhhh!). I also have the option of proofing URLs for $15 per hour, which is really good and easy work...yet I can only look at URLs for so long before they all start to look the same! I hope between the proofreading and keyword article writing, that I can pull down an extra $500 per month. That would help dig me out of the hole that I'm currently in.

In the meantime, I have cut down on my spending, but unless I cut out my cable (which is basic, by the way), there really isn't anywhere else I can limit my spending. My commute is 60 miles round trip each day, and luckily I have an okay car for gas mileage (not stellar, though). I only have a cell phone, no land line. My utility costs are not exorbitant. And I've gone from getting my hair cut every month to every other month (have to get the color done every month, though...I have stubborn gray that store-bought stuff just doesn't cover). I'm about ready to switch from cable Internet to DSL through AT&T Yahoo, as it would definitely be cheaper...but only for a year! Guess I could eat out not as much...but I only go maybe once or twice a week out to lunch, and less than that for dinner.

The big problem is that I really can't afford where I live. I should live some place that's about $100 cheaper per month. Unfortunately, I can't do anything about that until my lease is up in February. Or, I can hope and pray that Lachina hires me and pays me a living salary for the type of work I do, not the bare minimum like my current company does. Because I don't want to have to "moonlight" any longer than I have to. It drains my energy, to be honest...and I don't have much to begin with!

Oh, and I have signed up with MyEnvelopes.com...again...to see if that will help me get my finances under control. My problem is that I have ADD when it comes to this...or more likely, severe procrastination when it comes to financial planning, budgets, and spending plans. Not sure how to overcome it either, as I have tried and tried to keep a system going, only to let it go after a month or two. I know, I know...it's all in my head. But I've even hired a financial "coach" and he wasn't able to help me with this. GAH!

In any case...I just wish that a big pile of money would fall in my lap, heh. That would solve all of my problems, right? No, but it still would be nice...

Tags: finances, financial, money, budgets, spending plans, debt