Saving $ in 2014

The majority of Americans will file their taxes in the next three months and of those numbers the majority will get a bit of a refund.

The average refund?  $2800.00

So lets talk about that money.

Some people view that $2800.00 as a gift that they weren't expecting and they take it and blow it.  (Yes, people do blow money on stupid shit daily.)

Some people plan for that money and have budgeted for where it will go.

Some people expect it, get it, and act like they never got it and invest it.

Do you know who the smartest of the three are?

Nope, not number one.

Number two isn't very smart either.

Number three takes the blue ribbon.

Now let's face the music.  Today people have debt and they are either digging the hole of debt deeper or they are filling the hole in.  

My tip today:  Take your refund money and start filling that hole of debt in.

My financial guru of choice is Mr. Dave Ramsey.  I also like Suzy O too.  Both of them may agree with me on this...

Look at your debt - most people have credit card debt, school loan debt, car debt, and a mortgage.  What has the smallest balance?  That is what you need eliminate first.

If your Visa card has a balance on it and your Visa card is the least amount in your debt category lets get that shiz paid off STAT.  Best advice on this?  Apply the large payment and destroy the card.

If you eliminate the smaller balances first then you should have more lettuce to put towards the large balances.

Oh and stop with the shopping sprees.  You need to account for every penny in your name and weekly runs to Target will not alleviate your problems.

State refunds are much smaller than those the feds bestow on the population.  

The average state refund is around $300.  

Here's the deal you're a human and you're a lot like a doggie.  You want to be rewarded with a scratch behind the ears.  For humans the scratch behind the ears may be a mini vacation, a spa day, a golf day, a weekend in a cheap hotel room....whatever.

Use your big refund to get ahead on your debt and use that little bonus check from your state to do something nice for you and the family.  Put it in your vacation account or your Christmas account or your family fun account.  Just account for it and be smart on what you do with it.  I doubt you'll run into a random $300 check again for a year.

This closes up the Saving $ in 2014 posts.  Next month I'm focusing in on something a little more fun but equally meaningful.  

Saving $ in 2014

On Tuesday I went on a soap box about the movie Her.  

Today I'm going to help you cut costs on your lover...you know...your phone.

The majority of Americans don't have a free cell phone.  We are paying upwards of $200 per month for service for the family and their phone addiction.  Do you remember when you paid $20 a month for a phone you used to make calls on?  Yeah those days are gone now that we have tiny computers to play games, check Facebook, read blogs, send emails, take pictures...ok you get it.

Today a large portion of the budget goes to cell phones and that is a damned shame.

I've had Verizon Wireless for 9 years.  When my husband and I married he became my add a line.  We had been paying $172.00 a month for our service.  I was totally disgusted by that. 

If we do the math:

172 x 12 =  $2064.00 a year

Who else is vomiting in their Cheerio's now?

For two grand I could do so much more awesome stuff than have a stupid phone in my purse.  What about you?

Enter Straight Talk!

Last year my husband switched to Straight Talk.  He purchased a basic smart phone ($80) and the first month's plan ($49 after tax).  His investment = $129.00

Each month he pays $49 and he's good to go for another month of service.

Since he is in no contract he can leave if he wants to with no ramifications.  If his phone is dropped in a toilet or ran over or thrown against the cement its covered and will be replaced because he paid $7 for a protection plan that totally covers his phone.

Let's do our new math:

$49 x 12 = $588

Yes, I too am so happy it brings me to tears...!  You know this baby, Rod Stewart songs by mommy makes him get all emo...Click here to see the baby

Of course I am locked into the Verizon crap for another 8 months.  That blows...

My feelings exactly punch 'em in the face baby Here's where that guy came from...

So if you're not locked into a contract or your contract is about to be up you should look at investing in Straight Talk.  We'v had a good experience with it and good service (its been the same as when he had Verizon, I have heard they ping off Verizon and AT&T towers...)

Save some money...be smart about your cell phone service!

Straight Talk Website