Thrift and Not Much to Post
I think I've written 2 or 3 posts but not hitting publish. They're full of boring nothingness or too personal, words just to get thoughts out. Using Blogger seems to work better for me as a journaling tool I guess than just a word doc or paper. I like paper notebooks, journal type pads for lists, reminders, and planning, but to sit and hand write my day to day thoughts, just doesn't seem to go anywhere.
There's not much to really share with you all. My day to day is pretty much the same. I've no news to share on anyone in my family, except for the two retirements by sisters. One is looking at getting a very part time job to get her out of the house. The other agreed to some training for the new owners admin team, three people now doing the job she did alone. Then, she said she's not going to think about doing anything job related until fall and might do something part time. I'm so happy for them both, though both are going to have quite a transition to not being 40+ hours committed to work.
I'm playing still with retirement dates myself, but for sure, within two years. Less if I can sock away in cash a set amount in my head that fills a gap. I also want to make sure my knee surgery is while I have paid time off- I earned it, and we just forfeit unused sick time, but also need to figure out best timing on that, seasonal and travel.
Thrift is important, no crucial. I had bad news, totally unexpected results when doing my tax return, a multiple thousand dollar swing to the negative from what a few tax calculators estimated. I quickly took advice and changed my withholding and added for interest income from CDs that was the culprit for the rest of the year. Hopefully I won't pay in next year since I have to file as a single and no longer can include my husband. Lesson learned (and fortunately I didn't), never spend tax returns before confirmed. Now I'm planning to have take home reduced by $350 a month. I understand taxes, and yet I don't. I've been Googling but need more time with a tax specialist, but the widow penalty is real, reduced income with higher taxes. I'm trying to not be too pessimistic about my individual circumstances and see the bigger picture, saving where I can.
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Thrift areas:
- Reserved library book for last and upcoming book club reads.
- Used $4 CVS rewards to get free movie theater size candy and personal supplies. Candy is not a need, but sure is a nice treat for a movie night and a splurge I now won't need to make. I had another $4 reward loaded on my card as well, so did the deal again.
- I'm counting as thrift while knowing I blew the entertainment budget picking up tab for dinner with my husband's best friend and wife. They've helped me so much and have taken me out multiple times. Plus, I was quicker. But, they insisted on leaving the tip and had a $5 school fundraiser discount card, so less than it would have been.
- Then, the following Tuesday I got a thank you card in the mail with a $50 grocery gift card from them, the cheeky two! This meant I really only picked up the equivalent of one of their dinners, with tax and tip. Sigh, but they really are trying to look out for me. Such great friends.
- The dog beds were tattered and I was tired of picking up pieces and tripping on raggedy cover. I saved 20% on each by ordering seperate for each dog, matching but differently sized beds, savings $19 rather than only $9.50 if placed together. They're so cute, swapping out which bed who sleeps in.
I hadn't yet thrown the tattered old bed, but grandpup quickly tried out his new bed. The Sherpa like outer layer is removable and washable so a good buy. - Did an opinion survey to earn $2.
- Moved the funds from selling my car into a 4 month 4.64% CD, renewable for another 3 months. While I'm getting taxed on this interest, it's still better than the pennies in a regular account and I'm just sitting on the funds anyway
- Last, still eating down food on hand, but have spent some on March groceries-$53 in total 1/2 way through month. I probably will spend another $50-75, but that includes hosting people and Easter brunch contributions.
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| Another Soup picture. Tortellini Alfredo in progress, with the little Advent calendar leftovers in the background. |
And in amongst all this activity and planning and working and just trying to be Sam , you are also grieving . And I know how much energy that takes , and how hard it is to even begin to adjust from we to me .
ReplyDeleteI don’t really understand the US tax system
Reading about it from you ( and about property taxes ) makes me think that maybe the UK system is simpler - but I don’t know
I hope you are able to rest this weekend - are you having any sun ?
Siobhan x
I was pretty frustrated. It's not as if my budget was flush to begin with. I'm really tired of figuring out everything myself the hard way.
DeleteThat was so thoughtful of your dh's best friend and his wife to send you the $50 gift card after you paid for dinner. I love it when people do thoughtful things like that. I'm sorry to hear your bad news regarding taxes. Hopefully now that you've fixed it, it will be better next year. Bailey just got hers done and paid for today, so she is happy. The dog beds are cute and how neat that they swap out of them. You dinners sound delicious to me. I was wondering about your retirement when you were writing abut your sisters retiring, but then you filled us in on it.
ReplyDeleteFixed isn't what I'd call it, but hopefully I can find room to cut down expenses so the extra tax bite won't be too hard to manage. They are good people; just feeling very stressed so it will as appreciated.
DeleteSorry to hear about the hit on taxes. I went the opposite way. G and I always paid in taxes, and I have gotten refunds each year now.
ReplyDeleteHopefully with the changes, you will be fine going forward.
What's fine? I now need to live off a pretty steep cut in take home, but at least shouldn't have a huge pay in. I gu as the known is better.
DeleteI have never dealt with taxes as ex did that, then I hired someone. It is just not me. However, I did hear news that taxes could be done directly on IRS site. Not sure how that works. That was funny--I was quicker. It is sweet they sent you the gift card. They really do care.
ReplyDeleteYou are smart to get knee replacement while you are working. I did that with thyroid surgery and think I paid $5 for the whole experience.
I hired an accountant too, but I'm still the one responsible.
DeleteThat's wonderful news for your sisters that are retiring, but isn't it something that one person gets replaced by three!!! And it must have felt like a very touching gesture for that couple to send you a gift card. It's things like that that show who your friends are!
ReplyDeleteMy sister was GM, HR, CFO all in one. These friends really are kind.
DeleteI feel you on the taxes because I went to my CPA and owed a lot. It actually is very depressing, because I truly don’t earn that much as a part time employee. Cindy in the South
ReplyDeleteI thought being able to still have my husband on the return would counter the interest. I truly don't have a huge take home either. If my house and care weren't paid for, there would be nothing after basic bills.
DeleteTax season was a shock to me this year as well. But at least I did not owe, but I broke even. And being a single woman with a dependent adult child, it's been a real challenge.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard that your daughter has to still rely on you so much. But, I get it. We do what we need to.
DeleteYour friends sound absolutely lovely, what a kind gesture with the shopping voucher.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand the US tax system at all, it sounds very confusing! xxx
It's very confusing except to the rich who seem to have the tax code mastered. I don't feel like I shouldn't pay my fair share, but those that dodge but live lavishly irk me.
DeleteOh yeah. Widow taxes took me 3 yrs to pay off after my late husband died. Hubby closed his business after the accident in May, sold his 2 trailers and paid off his truck with the sales... bad move. Now we owe taxes like crazy. I actually put the IRS on a credit card with a installment payment plan and save a couple thousand over what a personal loan at the bank would have cost me. I don't count on refunds at all. If we get them I look to see if we are withholding too much.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry- you got hit worse than me. I'm very tired of figuring out everything fiscal alone.
DeleteThat was so thoughtful of your friends to send you the gift card. It's nice to have supportive friends. Sorry to hear about the tax issue. Our tax system is so frustrating. I'm glad we have a good accountant because like you I understand the system, but I don't.
ReplyDeleteI was so overwhelmed last year, I didn't ask the right questions. I won't be hit next year, but will need to tighten my belt a lot. No cruise next year.
DeleteI am glad to get your updates and hear there is love and support always coming your way.
ReplyDeleteThe best thing I ever did was find a fee-based financial planner (vs. one that gets commissions on selling me things). He's saved me from costly money issues by guiding me through every financial-related decision over the past 20+ years. I wouldn't have known any of it on my own. It's all too much for the average person.
ReplyDeleteI swear, when it comes to taxes, healthcare, insurance, so many things, they don’t want us to understand all the loopholes. I consider myself a fairly competent person and that stuff makes me feel like I’m drowning. After having a fun 10 days with DD home, my plans for the next two weeks are to knuckle down and get back to reality. I’m off one more day today and have beaucoup to do-a few returns, and then pay off the updated balance on my kohls charge, a small grocery shop-mostly chicken, veggies and toilet paper, get caught up on medical stuff and I’m squeezing in coffee with the girls this afternoon. And suddenly now I’m hosting Easter, so I need to get skippy with planning that! JoAnn
ReplyDeleteI love the friends looking out for you. It is wonderful to have people in your life who wrap you with comfort and support and love.
ReplyDeleteI'm a first time commenter, just found your prior blog and then this one a couple weeks ago. I think I'm a few years younger than you, married, with 4 children (2 in college), living in a neighboring state and working in a professional job full-time. I think I'm in the minority because I have been doing my own taxes since I was 16. I still do them by hand, which has become more and more complicated as we have rental properties, w-2 income, investments, etc. People tell me to start using an online system or hire someone but I don't because I've always wanted to understand how all the components of income/expense and other actions we take come together in our taxes. I can see how someone who doesn't do it themselves could quickly get overwhelmed with various items.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people got surprised by higher taxes due to extra interest income, because interest rates were so much higher in 2023 and people started earning hundreds/thousands of dollars they hadn't previously. That income is taxed at the highest rate (like w-2 income, as opposed to qualified dividend income or long-term capital gains rates, which are lower).