January is here and I suggest that you do your taxes as soon as possible. Back when I was in college I had to get my taxes done by the end of January so I could fill out my FAFSA online and get my scholarship approved and all set to go for the next year.
1. Get your W2 forms. Most businesses should have your W2 forms ready in the middle of January. Usually they send them to you. You need your W2 forms to file your taxes. You will need to get one for each job you have had last year. I had two jobs the last time I had to file my taxes. One was from before I graduated and the other was from after I graduated. This year I only have one.
2. Find someone to do your taxes. Back in college, they had a program for students where they had a place where students could get their taxes done and filed for free. It was great. Last year I tried Turbotax online. It took me hours. I recommend finding an actual person to help do your taxes. I heard Security Finance does taxes. www.security-finance.com Most places will usually pay a small fee for doing your taxes. There is also Liberty Tax Service. www.libertytax.com Go to the website to find one near you. You can enter your zip code at the top to find nearby locations.
3. Do your taxes before it is too late. The sooner you do your taxes the sooner you will get your tax refund back. This is if you paid too much in taxes and you get a nice check from the State and Federal. If you do your taxes in January, you may get a check in March. The deadline for your taxes to be filed is April 14th...I think. I dunno, I always do mine early.
4. Filing your taxes is not optional. It is required by law that you file your taxes. If you haven't have a job for a year then there is nothing to file now is there? If you are late on filing your taxes you could be fined. If there are any errors made while filing your taxes you could be fined.
This is just one of those things that would be a lot easier if our parents were around. I ask my co-workers and friends who does their taxes and they say "oh, we have a guy". Well....who? That doesn't help me. But this year I got a card in the mail from Security Finance and at the bottom it said "We do Taxes!". So I kept it because I need someone to do my taxes. It also had a recipe for Spooky Spider Cookies.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Sunday, December 27, 2009
50 Ways to Save Money to the Extreme
Want to get ahead in the economy and in life? Here are 50 drastic ways to cut on everyday costs. I should change all the numbers to little boxes so you can check ' em off. Make sure to pass this list on to all of your friends.
1. Cut your dryer sheets in half. Only use one half at a time.
2. Drive the speed limit. Everyone speeds but if we drove a little slower we would avoid traffic tickets and save gas.
3. Unplug your tv, microwave etc. when not in use. This cut my electricity bill in half. I also lost some weight plugging things back in when I needed them.
4. Bring a lunch to work. I used to go to a nearby restaurant everyday but now I just bring something cheaper to heat up in the microwave. This not only saves money spend on fast food but on the gas it would take to go to and from the restaurant.
5. Fill your gas tank when its cold. In the winter time this is easy. In the summer time make sure to fill up your gas tank in the morning. As the day goes by the temperature gets hotter and gas expands causing you get get less gas for your money if you choose to fill up in the afternoon.
6. Keep your gas tank at least half full in the winter time. Condensation may collect in your gas tank and cause engine problems. Keeping your tank more than half full will prevent this.
7. Buy those energy saving light bulbs. they look more like coils than bulbs. They last longer and save energy. This should reduce your electricity bill.
8. Lose the landline phone and just use your own personal cell phone.
9. Eat healthier. This will build up your immune system keeping you from getting sick and preventing hospital bills.
10. Cut your own hair. Get some clippers from the store. They come with attachments where you can buzz off your hair leaving about an inch long all around.
11. Add a little bit of water to your milk when having cereal. You will barely notice. Your milk will last longer. I've tried just using water when I run out of milk and it just looks gross and isn't as cold.
12. Water down your shampoo. Make sure to shake it up. Its going to be kinda runny.
13. If its yellow let it mellow, if its brown flush it down. This will help the water bill. I don't recommend it if you have any ladies in the house.
14. A full freezer uses less power to stay cold.
15. Get rid of those credit cards. They only create debt.
16. Use Forever stamps. These stamps can be used at any time. Even if the cost of postage goes up. So you don't have to buy one cent stamps to keep up with the cost of postage.
17. Pay bills online. then you save envelopes and stamps. Sometimes you can get a discount for paying bills online.
18. Some car insurance companies will give you a discount if your car insurance is automatically withdrawn from your bank account each month.
19. Check with your electricity company to see if you can sign up to pay the average amount that you use each month. It will be kinda high in the summer but it will help you in the winter.
20. Sit down each pay day and plan out your expenses. If you have any extra money, put it in a savings account. It is always good to have some money set aside just incase you lose your job or there is some type of an emergency.
21. Also keep in mind that when you put money in a savings account you earn interest. Its like getting paid to save money.
22. Stay in on your days off. Relax and plan your budget. This will save gas and unnecessary expenses.
23. Have your girlfriend cook for you at home instead of going out to a restaurant. She needs to get ready for the married life.
24. Join Netflix instead of buying or renting movies. Netflix saves gas and late fees.
25. Borrow books from the library rather than buying new from the local store. Library cards are free and you might meet a girl that can actually read.
26. Buy online. The cost of having something shipped to you is cheaper than you driving to the store to get it. You can also get it cheaper online. YOu just have to wait a little longer to get it.
27. Instead of going to the strip club, have your girlfriend/wife strip for you. That way you don't have to tip her.
28. Save unwanted Holiday gifts you got this year and re-give them to other people next year.
29. Give the toilet paper core to your dog. They love chewing on them. And its cheap too. You just saved $5 on a dog toy that would have only lasted a week anyways.
30. Finding professional clothes for work at a thrift store can be difficult but they do have a lot of ties to choose from at really good prices. Maybe even some belts too.
31. If you take your girl out to the movies, take her before 7pm. The ticket prices will be cheaper and the sun may be setting when the movie is over. Oh, how romantic.
32. Buy less cable channels and go over to your friends house to watch tv. Eat his food while your at it.
33. Text your friends instead of calling them. Texting is cheaper for me. Not for everyone though.
34. Wash your dishes by hand. This will save water and electricity.
35. When washing clothes use the warm setting and not hot. This will save electricity.
36. Use coupons. If a chick sees you using coupons she may be impressed and follow you home.
37. Stop buying soda and drink tap water.
38. Grow your own veggies. Free water and veggies. Its like you're a freaking hippie.
39. Get rid of your internet and take your laptop to places that have free wifi like Taco Bell, Barnes & Noble, Panera and McDonalds.
40. Buy a winter coat in the spring when they are on sale.
41. Buy summer clothes in the fall when they are on sale.
42. Don't have kids until the economy gets better.
43. Don't get married until the economy gets better.
44. Stop dating. Spend your hard earned money on your savings account and not on her.
45. Don't renew those magazine subscriptions. You can view free magazines online. There are a few exceptions to this rule if you know what I mean.
46. Do your laundry at your friends house.
47. Drive less and get an oil change less often. If I got an oil change every 3,000 miles like they say I'm supposed to I would be getting an oil change once a year. So I have to settle for every 3-4 months.
48. Pay bills with your debt card. Remember the thing I mentioned earlier that takes money that you actually have out of your bank account? Use that and save money by not using checks.
49. If you do plan on getting married, try to talk her into eloping rather than having a big wedding. Just take a nice romantic trip instead. Or post-pone the wedding until the economy gets better.
50. Get a prenuptial agreement just incase things don't work out. Its like divorce insurance.
1. Cut your dryer sheets in half. Only use one half at a time.
2. Drive the speed limit. Everyone speeds but if we drove a little slower we would avoid traffic tickets and save gas.
3. Unplug your tv, microwave etc. when not in use. This cut my electricity bill in half. I also lost some weight plugging things back in when I needed them.
4. Bring a lunch to work. I used to go to a nearby restaurant everyday but now I just bring something cheaper to heat up in the microwave. This not only saves money spend on fast food but on the gas it would take to go to and from the restaurant.
5. Fill your gas tank when its cold. In the winter time this is easy. In the summer time make sure to fill up your gas tank in the morning. As the day goes by the temperature gets hotter and gas expands causing you get get less gas for your money if you choose to fill up in the afternoon.
6. Keep your gas tank at least half full in the winter time. Condensation may collect in your gas tank and cause engine problems. Keeping your tank more than half full will prevent this.
7. Buy those energy saving light bulbs. they look more like coils than bulbs. They last longer and save energy. This should reduce your electricity bill.
8. Lose the landline phone and just use your own personal cell phone.
9. Eat healthier. This will build up your immune system keeping you from getting sick and preventing hospital bills.
10. Cut your own hair. Get some clippers from the store. They come with attachments where you can buzz off your hair leaving about an inch long all around.
11. Add a little bit of water to your milk when having cereal. You will barely notice. Your milk will last longer. I've tried just using water when I run out of milk and it just looks gross and isn't as cold.
12. Water down your shampoo. Make sure to shake it up. Its going to be kinda runny.
13. If its yellow let it mellow, if its brown flush it down. This will help the water bill. I don't recommend it if you have any ladies in the house.
14. A full freezer uses less power to stay cold.
15. Get rid of those credit cards. They only create debt.
16. Use Forever stamps. These stamps can be used at any time. Even if the cost of postage goes up. So you don't have to buy one cent stamps to keep up with the cost of postage.
17. Pay bills online. then you save envelopes and stamps. Sometimes you can get a discount for paying bills online.
18. Some car insurance companies will give you a discount if your car insurance is automatically withdrawn from your bank account each month.
19. Check with your electricity company to see if you can sign up to pay the average amount that you use each month. It will be kinda high in the summer but it will help you in the winter.
20. Sit down each pay day and plan out your expenses. If you have any extra money, put it in a savings account. It is always good to have some money set aside just incase you lose your job or there is some type of an emergency.
21. Also keep in mind that when you put money in a savings account you earn interest. Its like getting paid to save money.
22. Stay in on your days off. Relax and plan your budget. This will save gas and unnecessary expenses.
23. Have your girlfriend cook for you at home instead of going out to a restaurant. She needs to get ready for the married life.
24. Join Netflix instead of buying or renting movies. Netflix saves gas and late fees.
25. Borrow books from the library rather than buying new from the local store. Library cards are free and you might meet a girl that can actually read.
26. Buy online. The cost of having something shipped to you is cheaper than you driving to the store to get it. You can also get it cheaper online. YOu just have to wait a little longer to get it.
27. Instead of going to the strip club, have your girlfriend/wife strip for you. That way you don't have to tip her.
28. Save unwanted Holiday gifts you got this year and re-give them to other people next year.
29. Give the toilet paper core to your dog. They love chewing on them. And its cheap too. You just saved $5 on a dog toy that would have only lasted a week anyways.
30. Finding professional clothes for work at a thrift store can be difficult but they do have a lot of ties to choose from at really good prices. Maybe even some belts too.
31. If you take your girl out to the movies, take her before 7pm. The ticket prices will be cheaper and the sun may be setting when the movie is over. Oh, how romantic.
32. Buy less cable channels and go over to your friends house to watch tv. Eat his food while your at it.
33. Text your friends instead of calling them. Texting is cheaper for me. Not for everyone though.
34. Wash your dishes by hand. This will save water and electricity.
35. When washing clothes use the warm setting and not hot. This will save electricity.
36. Use coupons. If a chick sees you using coupons she may be impressed and follow you home.
37. Stop buying soda and drink tap water.
38. Grow your own veggies. Free water and veggies. Its like you're a freaking hippie.
39. Get rid of your internet and take your laptop to places that have free wifi like Taco Bell, Barnes & Noble, Panera and McDonalds.
40. Buy a winter coat in the spring when they are on sale.
41. Buy summer clothes in the fall when they are on sale.
42. Don't have kids until the economy gets better.
43. Don't get married until the economy gets better.
44. Stop dating. Spend your hard earned money on your savings account and not on her.
45. Don't renew those magazine subscriptions. You can view free magazines online. There are a few exceptions to this rule if you know what I mean.
46. Do your laundry at your friends house.
47. Drive less and get an oil change less often. If I got an oil change every 3,000 miles like they say I'm supposed to I would be getting an oil change once a year. So I have to settle for every 3-4 months.
48. Pay bills with your debt card. Remember the thing I mentioned earlier that takes money that you actually have out of your bank account? Use that and save money by not using checks.
49. If you do plan on getting married, try to talk her into eloping rather than having a big wedding. Just take a nice romantic trip instead. Or post-pone the wedding until the economy gets better.
50. Get a prenuptial agreement just incase things don't work out. Its like divorce insurance.
How to find a new job
In this recession is can be very hard to find a job after being laid off. There is no guarantee but here are some personal tips from my past that I will pass on to you on how to get hired.
1. If you are a female let your hair down. Literally don't put your hair up in a ponytail. Let it down. I was job hunting and I had tried about 10 places and in the car my hair band broke so I had to have my hair down. The next two places I went hired me on the spot.
2. Don't give up. It doesn't cost much to keep filling out applications and keep looking. Everyday apply to various places.
3. Look on Craigslist, and Simplyhired.com. Look for various websites that may post help wanted ads. And apply to all that you qualify for. Send a resume if they request it. Make sure to give them contact info so they can call you for an interview.
4. Try Googling "help wanted" and terms like that.
5. Ask friends if they know of anyone who is hiring.
6. If you are a college graduate make sure you have a copy of your diploma. They may ask for it. Make sure to have a portfolio of your work if your profession requires it. (marketing, commercial arts, photography etc.)
7. Cover up any tattoos and piercing. This should be obvious but some people just don't get it.
8. If you are a guy with long hair, try getting a haircut. You can always grow it back later. This includes mullets. Its so strange how someone would rather starve and end up homeless than get a haircut.
9. Make sure you hair is a normal color. Yes, I envy those nurses with the purple hair and their job security. Those are the benefits of a college degree but in a recession like this I wouldn't take the risk. Just dye your hair purple when you retire a millionaire after you work for your new job for 20 years that you got because you dyed your hair a normal color.
10. Again, don't give up. There are people out there who take their jobs for granted who get fired everyday. If you keep searching you will find a job that wants a hard worker like you. Now stop reading this and go look for a job.
1. If you are a female let your hair down. Literally don't put your hair up in a ponytail. Let it down. I was job hunting and I had tried about 10 places and in the car my hair band broke so I had to have my hair down. The next two places I went hired me on the spot.
2. Don't give up. It doesn't cost much to keep filling out applications and keep looking. Everyday apply to various places.
3. Look on Craigslist, and Simplyhired.com. Look for various websites that may post help wanted ads. And apply to all that you qualify for. Send a resume if they request it. Make sure to give them contact info so they can call you for an interview.
4. Try Googling "help wanted" and terms like that.
5. Ask friends if they know of anyone who is hiring.
6. If you are a college graduate make sure you have a copy of your diploma. They may ask for it. Make sure to have a portfolio of your work if your profession requires it. (marketing, commercial arts, photography etc.)
7. Cover up any tattoos and piercing. This should be obvious but some people just don't get it.
8. If you are a guy with long hair, try getting a haircut. You can always grow it back later. This includes mullets. Its so strange how someone would rather starve and end up homeless than get a haircut.
9. Make sure you hair is a normal color. Yes, I envy those nurses with the purple hair and their job security. Those are the benefits of a college degree but in a recession like this I wouldn't take the risk. Just dye your hair purple when you retire a millionaire after you work for your new job for 20 years that you got because you dyed your hair a normal color.
10. Again, don't give up. There are people out there who take their jobs for granted who get fired everyday. If you keep searching you will find a job that wants a hard worker like you. Now stop reading this and go look for a job.
How to have a decent New Year's Eve
Sometimes I go to bed early because I just don't want to think about it. Some of you may want to do something on New Year's Eve perhaps due to loneliness. There are some ideas I got for you.
1. You can go out to a party. Maybe a friend is having a party that you can go to.
2. Stay home and watch the ball drop. Make sure to order pizza early.
3. Stay off the roads. Be ware of those drunks out there. You need to stay safe.
4. Plan for next year. You want this next year to be better, right? Think of not just one resolution but several. If you could go back and redo this past year what things would you have changed? Try and use that information to make this next year better.
5. Clean the house. Try to get some cleaning done before the next year. Think of all the dumb people that are gonna be out partying and you will have a clean kitchen.
6. You can watch a movie. Write something, read something.
7. Make goals for this next year. You may want to get out of debt or save up some extra money. Maybe try to get a new job or start a new hobby.
8. Start a blog and see if you can keep it updated for a year. Remember to NOT put any personal info on there like where you live.
9. Relax. Stay at home and save money. Pop some popcorn. Start reading a new book. Why are people celebrating at midnight? Are they happy that crappy year is over? Or are they excited for next year? Either way I'm sure you feel that same way. This isn't quite like other holidays where it a family thing. This is a time thing. We all want a new start. No need to feel left out.
10. Try and prepare for the next holiday. The dreaded Valentine's Day. I always used to go to an art show on VDay.
Again we always seem to think that the holidays are easy but then when we are alone we realize how unprepared we are and then you usually get online and come across a page like this. Thats not a bad thing but I still want to help you. Also remember to stock up on food. You never know when there may be a snow storm and you may be snowed in for a few days. Most people can get a relative to bring over some food or they live with their folks and they have it all in the house, the food, the movies, the cable. We gotta be prepared. A emotional break down over the holidays is completely unnecessary.
1. You can go out to a party. Maybe a friend is having a party that you can go to.
2. Stay home and watch the ball drop. Make sure to order pizza early.
3. Stay off the roads. Be ware of those drunks out there. You need to stay safe.
4. Plan for next year. You want this next year to be better, right? Think of not just one resolution but several. If you could go back and redo this past year what things would you have changed? Try and use that information to make this next year better.
5. Clean the house. Try to get some cleaning done before the next year. Think of all the dumb people that are gonna be out partying and you will have a clean kitchen.
6. You can watch a movie. Write something, read something.
7. Make goals for this next year. You may want to get out of debt or save up some extra money. Maybe try to get a new job or start a new hobby.
8. Start a blog and see if you can keep it updated for a year. Remember to NOT put any personal info on there like where you live.
9. Relax. Stay at home and save money. Pop some popcorn. Start reading a new book. Why are people celebrating at midnight? Are they happy that crappy year is over? Or are they excited for next year? Either way I'm sure you feel that same way. This isn't quite like other holidays where it a family thing. This is a time thing. We all want a new start. No need to feel left out.
10. Try and prepare for the next holiday. The dreaded Valentine's Day. I always used to go to an art show on VDay.
Again we always seem to think that the holidays are easy but then when we are alone we realize how unprepared we are and then you usually get online and come across a page like this. Thats not a bad thing but I still want to help you. Also remember to stock up on food. You never know when there may be a snow storm and you may be snowed in for a few days. Most people can get a relative to bring over some food or they live with their folks and they have it all in the house, the food, the movies, the cable. We gotta be prepared. A emotional break down over the holidays is completely unnecessary.
How to get back on your feet in life
How do you get back on your feet when you are an adult orphan that may be having money problems and you have no one to help you. i want to give my advice of how you can get your life in order.
1. Learn from your mistakes. Don't trust everyone. Be very selective. Lookout for yourself. You don't have a family to back you up. Realize where things went wrong. If you could go back what would you have done differently? Now don't ever make that mistake again.
2. Be independent. I know as orphans we want a family. We want to be taken care of. But in this world we really have to be adults. We need to be able to always have a back up plan. Have money saved up in case something happens. Don't have everything in your life be dependent on someone else. Don't have all your hopes be dependent on someone else. Don't fall apart just because someone doesn't want to be with you anymore. Have all your hopes be dependent on yourself and what you are going to accomplish in life. Also don't let someone be dependent on you. Don't drive them to work or give them money. Make them get a job and get their own car. They are the ones with parents, make them grow up. Why should they have it easy? I have a 40 year old cousin who still lives with his mom. What a dork. Grow up! If you are dependent on someone else for help then they can take advantage of you and control you. You are at their mercy. You don't want that. You want to be in control. If someone is dependent on you, they are still taking advantage of you and stealing from you. They are using you. Don't let them.
2. Set goals in life. This will help you move forward and help you organize your life. You may need to get out of debt. You may want to get a good job. Get a new car, a better house, start a family etc. Write these goals down and plan on how you are going to accomplish them.
3. Get out of Debt. Get a job and start making payments on your debt. Pay off that credit card and never use it again. Pay off a little bit of your debt each month. If you aren't making enough money to do that try getting some extra work on the side. If you are a graphic artist try doing some freelance work to make some extra money. If you are photogenic try some modeling. Some one may need an article written, or someone may need some snow shoveled. I have even seen a help wanted ad that said "Get paid to wave". Anyone could do that. You can do these odd jobs on your days off or after your usual job. Always check Craigslist.com and look for some extra work for make you some extra money. Look under the "Gigs" listing. You may even come across a job offer thats even better than what you have now.
4. Get a family. I think perhaps the easiest way for finding a family or at least a place where it is like a family is a church. Not all churches are the same. Some are really messed up. I don't have anything to do with the church because I know there is no way they could ever accept me. But for some this may help. Its a good place to meet friends and perhaps a future spouse. If you have no luck with a church try a local group. Like a book club where a small group of people meet each week at the library or a volunteer group that helps the community. I have found this step to be somewhat difficult. But keep looking and researching. Try using your hobbies as help to find groups that have similar interests. If I come up with any more Ideas I will post them I promise.
5. Move on. Don't let the past hold you back. You may think of things of the past every now and then but don't let it get to you. Look a head to the future and plan to make your life better. Remember to not make the same mistakes you made in the past.
I hope these tips have helped. I will be posting some more articles on related topics. Remember most people who have a family never seem to really grow up. They always have someone to help them. They seem to take advantage of others and always need to be baby-ed. But adult orphans have to grow up. We need to be prepared for anything that happens in life.
1. Learn from your mistakes. Don't trust everyone. Be very selective. Lookout for yourself. You don't have a family to back you up. Realize where things went wrong. If you could go back what would you have done differently? Now don't ever make that mistake again.
2. Be independent. I know as orphans we want a family. We want to be taken care of. But in this world we really have to be adults. We need to be able to always have a back up plan. Have money saved up in case something happens. Don't have everything in your life be dependent on someone else. Don't have all your hopes be dependent on someone else. Don't fall apart just because someone doesn't want to be with you anymore. Have all your hopes be dependent on yourself and what you are going to accomplish in life. Also don't let someone be dependent on you. Don't drive them to work or give them money. Make them get a job and get their own car. They are the ones with parents, make them grow up. Why should they have it easy? I have a 40 year old cousin who still lives with his mom. What a dork. Grow up! If you are dependent on someone else for help then they can take advantage of you and control you. You are at their mercy. You don't want that. You want to be in control. If someone is dependent on you, they are still taking advantage of you and stealing from you. They are using you. Don't let them.
2. Set goals in life. This will help you move forward and help you organize your life. You may need to get out of debt. You may want to get a good job. Get a new car, a better house, start a family etc. Write these goals down and plan on how you are going to accomplish them.
3. Get out of Debt. Get a job and start making payments on your debt. Pay off that credit card and never use it again. Pay off a little bit of your debt each month. If you aren't making enough money to do that try getting some extra work on the side. If you are a graphic artist try doing some freelance work to make some extra money. If you are photogenic try some modeling. Some one may need an article written, or someone may need some snow shoveled. I have even seen a help wanted ad that said "Get paid to wave". Anyone could do that. You can do these odd jobs on your days off or after your usual job. Always check Craigslist.com and look for some extra work for make you some extra money. Look under the "Gigs" listing. You may even come across a job offer thats even better than what you have now.
4. Get a family. I think perhaps the easiest way for finding a family or at least a place where it is like a family is a church. Not all churches are the same. Some are really messed up. I don't have anything to do with the church because I know there is no way they could ever accept me. But for some this may help. Its a good place to meet friends and perhaps a future spouse. If you have no luck with a church try a local group. Like a book club where a small group of people meet each week at the library or a volunteer group that helps the community. I have found this step to be somewhat difficult. But keep looking and researching. Try using your hobbies as help to find groups that have similar interests. If I come up with any more Ideas I will post them I promise.
5. Move on. Don't let the past hold you back. You may think of things of the past every now and then but don't let it get to you. Look a head to the future and plan to make your life better. Remember to not make the same mistakes you made in the past.
I hope these tips have helped. I will be posting some more articles on related topics. Remember most people who have a family never seem to really grow up. They always have someone to help them. They seem to take advantage of others and always need to be baby-ed. But adult orphans have to grow up. We need to be prepared for anything that happens in life.
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