Friday Gathering: BCS National Championship Edition
By Stew
Congratulations to Alabama! I’m not really a fan of the Tide, but Ron is. Here are some articles that I found interesting this week and I hope you can find some useful tips:
Being Frugal found 101 Ways to Cut Your Spending This Year! I need to go through this list again.
Amateur Asset Allocator posted an article that might help me out: 401k Hardship Withdrawal Rules since I cashed out an IRA account this last year. I hope to qualify under the “money to pay your mortgage in an attempt to avoid foreclosure” exception.
Frugal Dad warns us that Delaying Roth IRA Contributions One Year Could Cost You $74,000. Yikes!
Another warning (I’m starting to sound like Mom) comes from Mighty Bargain Hunter: not tracking your spending can have repercussions. Yep.
Did you know that life insurance benefits are not taxed? (:whisper: Don’t tell the Democrats) I assumed they were taxable at least under the estate tax. Jim at Bargaineering compares life insurance benefits to car insurance benefits – not taxable. Life Insurance dividends might be taxable. Check out his post for more details.
Christian PF commends the giving spirit that is still alive and well in the United States. I think that Americans would give even more if taxed less . . .
Hope your first week of the new year was a good one! Have a great weekend and do not just spend money, spend time with family. The Stew household went sledding today. It was a blast!
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January 8th, 2010 at 10:51 am
Taxes aren’t the worst thing in the world, you know…
“I like paying taxes. With them I buy civilization.” Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes
January 8th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
If only that were true . . . my social security taxes go to a ponzi scheme that will be bankrupt well before my retirement (boy, what I could do with an extra 14% every month) . . . my property taxes go to fund public schools that cost more than the most elite private schools, but deliver a sub-standard product that my children do not use . . . my taxes helped to give billions of dollars to banks and pay off the GM unions . . . my taxes were taken to help the poor, but only 20 cents of every dollar actually makes it to the poor . . . my tax dollars are used to subsidize every Amtrak ticket to the tune of $75 . . . my tax dollars are used to fund airplane security that practically strips me nude, but still allows known terrorists on the plane. Ah, civilization.
Yes, it is true that some kind of taxes are necessary, but the government does nothing with efficiently or well. Government always spends over budget, does a poor job and then asks for more money. I believe that our rights and civilization do not come from government, they come from God. Government can only take that away.
January 8th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
Roll Tide!
January 10th, 2010 at 2:16 am
All I have to say is….ROLLLLLLLLLL TIDE ROLLLL!
January 12th, 2010 at 3:27 am
Thanks for the mention! And I’m with you on taxes, Stew. Getting ready to vote against a couple of new taxes in my state, as a matter of fact. I’ll vote for new taxes when government spending is under control…which will probably be never.
January 17th, 2010 at 12:17 pm
The IRS e-flie system is now open, most W-2s and 1099s will be in mail in the next couple of weeks. Is everybody ready for tax time?