DVM gone riding
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Post by DVM gone riding on May 4, 2011 22:34:55 GMT -5
You know if you cut the cell phone bill in 1/2 that would pretty much take care of the deficit you are running in this budget. Aren't your parents close by??? I am on my parents plan-it adds 10-15/mos to their plan but I pay them 35, its a win-win situation.
I know I couldn't do it unless I was out of work and even then I might try to justify it but unless you start making the internet make you money it really should go. I would also take away the HSA (maybe 1/2) and pay the extra straight to the higher CC to give you more breathing room if something happens-basically using the CC as back up EF.
I think I remember what happened now, you have the pos SO that is in jail right??
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braje
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Post by braje on May 4, 2011 22:36:48 GMT -5
" But I do have backup plans should money become too tight - lower HSA & lower withholding."
Can the HSA contribution be change in the plan year. I know that FSA amount cannot unless the is special event, marriage, divorce , birth etc.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2011 7:21:30 GMT -5
Daycare (8 month old & 2 yr old) - 1260
I must be out of touch with reality: How much for daycare??? Can you pay a family member to watch your two kids for less money? Clearly out of touch with reality. In 2000 I was paying over $1600 a month for a 7 year old (before and after care), a 5 year old and a 2 year old. As I said in a previous post, daycare for an infant in my area is $200 a week and up. Any why do people keep suggesting that you have a family member watch the kids? Are there people out there just sitting around waiting for someone to ask them to watch their kids so they can save on daycare? Most people with young kids have parents who are still young enough to be working.
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on May 5, 2011 10:34:23 GMT -5
Holy carp, the baby's 8 months old?! Where the E have I been?
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Angel!
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Post by Angel! on May 5, 2011 10:33:35 GMT -5
Wow, many questions. Do you use the money in the HSA each year? That's $4k a year that you're putting in the HSA that you could use now if you don't utilize it for HSA purposes. Yes, I use it. Our health plan has a $4K deductable & it would be a freaking fantastic year if I only hit $3K. I plan on needing the 4K each year. The only thing is that I started putting in 4K last year knowing this, but the company threw in a little money both years, so I actually can cut it to $0 at the end of June (or set it to $40 now) & still be covered for the remainder of the year. I would just have to restart it again next January. Thanks for the calcs, that helps. Yes, I got a large return this year. My only concern was that they keep talking about letting the child credits go back to $500, which would add an extra thousand to that number. But, given how much has already been withheld, I could set that to zero at the end of the month & I should be fine this year. In good years we get a 15% match. We haven't gotten a match in 3 years now. No end date, fixed for life. $200 is the current minimum, it drops each month. Hopefully a balance transfer. The Heloc was frozen, so nothing available there.
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Angel!
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Post by Angel! on May 5, 2011 10:49:01 GMT -5
Daycare (8 month old & 2 yr old) - 1260
I must be out of touch with reality: How much for daycare??? Can you pay a family member to watch your two kids for less money? Closest family is 65 miles away & they all work full-time. The prices are very good for here & I am happy with where they both go & they are happy. So, unless it were absolutely necessary I don't want to have to change this around. No daycare center would be lower & I have a hard time trusting a single home daycare provider unless I know them personally. DS is in a center (lowest price I could get because they do rates based on income). DD goes to a neighbors. From I previous conversation, she doesn't seem to want to take on a two year old, so I don't think I could switch DS to go with her. Plus, I then have concerns about overwhelming her & whether the result would be poorer care for the kids.
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Angel!
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Post by Angel! on May 5, 2011 10:50:05 GMT -5
Holy carp, the baby's 8 months old?! Where the E have I been? Come on, you really need to be paying better attention to my life! I expect everyone to know how old my kids are!
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Angel!
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Post by Angel! on May 5, 2011 10:52:01 GMT -5
" But I do have backup plans should money become too tight - lower HSA & lower withholding." Can the HSA contribution be change in the plan year. I know that FSA amount cannot unless the is special event, marriage, divorce , birth etc. You can change HSA anytime, unlike FSA.
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on May 5, 2011 10:59:15 GMT -5
Holy carp, the baby's 8 months old?! Where the E have I been? Come on, you really need to be paying better attention to my life! I expect everyone to know how old my kids are! lol. And do you feel that you blinked and 3 months blew past for your kids?
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Angel!
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Post by Angel! on May 5, 2011 11:00:46 GMT -5
Do you really ONLY spend 400/mos on food and "everything else" with 3-4 of you. For the most part. That is my budgeted spending, but I occassionally get an expense check from work that gets spent on something & my parents occassionally give me money (I don't ask, I think they just feel bad for me). I still try to stick to the $100/wk regardless & if I get extra money, then I take out less that wk. Those 2 things are a good part of the reason I haven't had to touch savings yet. The 2K at 0% was from the separation last October. I didn't have enough cash at the time to cover the whole thing. The 15K at 2.99% was transferring other higher interest debt to the CC. Had a car loan that I transfered & transfered a good portion of the Heloc. Other than the 2K, I haven't added anything to my debt since the end of 2006, just transfered debt around some.
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Angel!
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Post by Angel! on May 5, 2011 11:14:43 GMT -5
Come on, you really need to be paying better attention to my life! I expect everyone to know how old my kids are! lol. And do you feel that you blinked and 3 months blew past for your kids? Yes! I can't believe DD is 8 months already. Time is flying by. BTW - I signed up for Beezag & Inbox. Thanks for those. As far as the cell phone - I will start looking around & see if I can get something better.
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formerexpat
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Post by formerexpat on May 5, 2011 20:21:10 GMT -5
For 2011 and 2012, the tax credit is still $1,000. You'll have to keep an eye on the tax code - or ask your friends here about the changes after that. Looks like that and cutting the HSA will be your best moves to get some extra money for the tight budget. I'd cut it to $40 now if I were you. What if hopefully doesn't transpire; what is the impact, the back interest on that amount? If you cut your withholdings, along with changing your HSA amount then it looks like you can pay off most/all of it before August. Would hate for you to be charged all that back interest on that promo rate...as I'm sure you're aware. I'm happy to hear that you're doing well. I admire you for the challenges you are facing and with the strength that you're facing them with.
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Angel!
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Post by Angel! on May 6, 2011 10:47:34 GMT -5
For 2011 and 2012, the tax credit is still $1,000. You'll have to keep an eye on the tax code - or ask your friends here about the changes after that. That is great to know! I can never quite keep up with when things might happen, I just hear stuff & get worried because I can't afford to get caught with a tax bill at the end of the year. I will try to get my withholdings changed today. I do have enough in savings to pay off the 0% if I had to, but it would only leave me with $500. So I really need to make that a priority. Thanks!
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Plain Old Petunia
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Post by Plain Old Petunia on May 6, 2011 10:52:48 GMT -5
I doubt there is any "back interest". Deferred interest is common on furniture, appliance or electronics purchases, but not on credit card balance transfer promotional rates. The promotional rate simply ends and the regular rate applies.
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qofcc
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Post by qofcc on May 6, 2011 10:53:26 GMT -5
The best balance transfer offer I've seen recently is the citibank 0% for 21 months with a 3% fee. My DH was approved for it a couple of months ago (I've been working on rebuilding his credit) and we transferred a good portion of our HELOC to that.
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