Sharing insights since 2007 on carefully saving money, investing, frugal living, coupons, promo codes because the little things matter in achieving financial freedom!
Last week, I took my kids to the ice cream place to celebrate an awesome achievement for one of them on her math test. When it was time to pay, the tip jar was glaring at me, with big yellow letters that seemed to scream “THANK YOU!”
Ice cream for the three of us cost about $8. I gave the guy a $10 bill and asked him to keep the change.
On Saturday night, my husband and I met two other couples for dinner at a nice restaurant. The evening was great – interesting conversation, and amazing food. When the bill arrived, we realized that a service charge of 18% was automatically added to our bill, since we were a group of six. When signing the credit card receipt, I added enough to make it a 20% tip.
Years ago, when I was a law school student and worked part time as a waitress, there was this one terrible night where the kitchen was understaffed. No matter how efficient I was, my customers had to wait for their food FOREVER. I got very bad tips that night, even though the delay in serving the food was completely out of my control.
Tipping. We all have stories about tipping, and most of us feel pretty strongly about the subject. Today, I’d like to share a few stories, make a few observations, and hear what you have to say about this seemingly delicate subject. [ continue reading… ]
The IRS recommends that you keep your tax returns for a minimum of three years after filing. But there are plenty of records that go into preparing a tax return and it’s not always as clear just how long you should keep all of that paperwork. It seems pointless, in particular, to keep every last little receipt you’ve received – even if the IRS audits you, is the agent really going to want a record of that bag of burgers you picked up for dinner six months ago?
The simple truth is that while it is a good idea to maintain good financial records for a given year for at least three years after filing that year’s tax return – based on how long the IRS has to audit tax payers – there are some pieces of paper that are going to be more important and that you should make sure you keep, often longer than that three year deadline. [ continue reading… ]
Unfortunately, in life we experience setbacks. This is as true in finances as it is in anything else. I know that sometimes it seems as though it’s one thing after another. We had a flood in our basement just before Christmas, then 4th quarter estimated taxes for 2010 were due in January, and of course, we just finished sending checks to the State and the Federal governments for taxes. You probably have similar experiences: times when it seems as though one bill follows another.
Sometimes, too, we experience unexpected emergencies and catastrophes. When we have these setbacks, it can be tempting to think that we will never be able to get on top of things again. However, if you take the time to be in charge of your financial destiny, and make sure you are engaging in good financial behaviors, you might be able to weather the unexpected a little better. [ continue reading… ]
I used to think my mom was so cheap! As a teenager, I never could understand why she thought $40 was too much for a sweatshirt. Hello? Did she not see the Benetton logo? Or why she fussed so much over people leaving half empty drinks around the house. I mean, that stuffs cheap, right?
Like a lot of teens, I got a rude awakening the first time I had to try and buy groceries for a week on a limited budget. Why didn’t anyone tell me cheese cost so much? As time has gone by and I’ve become a mother myself, I’ve learned to appreciate the lessons in thrift my mom taught me. Here are four that I remember particularly well. [ continue reading… ]
Your taxes are filed. You’ve paid what’s due, and breathe a huge sigh of relief. But then, you get the dreaded letter from the IRS requesting an audit and your heart is racing. Before you panic…. take a few deep breaths. Just because you got the letter doesn’t mean you did something wrong.
Sometimes, businesses are picked at random so the government can gain economic information. And even if there is a problem with your taxes, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in legal danger. If something doesn’t add up, the IRS may just want to make sure your mistake wasn’t intentional.
If you’re one of the “lucky” who is chosen for an audit, don’t fret. The first thing you should know is that, as a taxpayer, you have rights. And you also have time to prepare. Below, you’ll find everything you need to know if you’re faced with an audit, including: [ continue reading… ]
Many people view massage as a luxury, but it doesn’t have to be. Aside from the fact that massage provides a number of important physical benefits, such as lowered blood pressure, greater range of motion, and an immune system that works better, it feels great. Still, some places charge $100 for an hour of basic massage, and that can be very hard to justify on a limited budget.
Yet, if you know the systems, you can get good massage for a lot less. Here is how. [ continue reading… ]
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