Debt Dumpers - 2016

[Angeejoe]

I just saw this post for those of you talking about Amazon prime:

http://www.disboards.com/threads/amazon-prime-price-drop-this-weekend.3476201/

 

[Dentam]

I just saw this post for those of you talking about Amazon prime:

Yes, they're dropping the price for new customers. Existing customers don't get a discount.

 

[Eureka]

Say what??!! That is insane!!

Our yearly HOA dues are based on the assessed value of our home. It's usually in the $400 range. It doesn't include utilities. It's for neighborhood upkeep and gives us access to the pool.

 

[Dentam]

The house I sold last June was in a neighborhood with an HOA. I swore I'd never buy another house with HOA dues and regulations.... such a headache and not worth the money IMO. I could see if we had a pool it would make it seem a bit more worth it, but you had to pay extra for that!

 

[bababear_50]

Hi
I am wondering if HOA means the same thing as we have here in canada
Condominium maintenance fees?
We have different styles:
Apts.,Townhouses, and Garden Homes with maintenance fees.

Some maintenance fees are all inclusive---utilities,structure(roof,window,doors,) landscape maintenance, cable etc.
Some just cover common areas and utility bills and structure are separate.

Mine is a bit unique
My maintenance fee covers:
common shared area Insurance
landscaping/snow removal/salting
roof/siding
brick and mortar
basic cable

I cover:
windows
doors
all utility bills (hydro and water)

I lived in a condo where everything was all inclusive and the fees just kept going up and up due to energy and repair cost (mostly the indoor pool). The maintenance fee is currently $775.00 per month.
People would leave their doors open with air conditioning running. No one used Hydro in off peak hours or turned down their thermostat during the night.
I did not want a pool as I knew from previous experience that the cost to maintain and upgrade a common use pool is extremely high.



Hugs Mel

 

[gracie1]

Hi
I am wondering if HOA means the same thing as we have here in canada
Condominium maintenance fees?
We have different styles:
Apts.,Townhouses, and Garden Homes with maintenance fees.

Some maintenance fees are all inclusive---utilities,structure(roof,window,doors,) landscape maintenance, cable etc.
Some just cover common areas and utility bills and structure are separate.

Mine is a bit unique
My maintenance fee covers:
common shared area Insurance
landscaping/snow removal/salting
roof/siding
brick and mortar
basic cable

I cover:
windows
doors
all utility bills (hydro and water)

I lived in a condo where everything was all inclusive and the fees just kept going up and up due to energy and repair cost (mostly the indoor pool). The maintenance fee is currently $775.00 per month.
People would leave their doors open with air conditioning running. No one used Hydro in off peak hours or turned down their thermostat during the night.
I did not want a pool as I knew from previous experience that the cost to maintain and upgrade a common use pool is extremely high.



Hugs Mel

Pretty much the same. The $675 per month covered the staff/building insurance/basic cable/trash pick up. But the owner was responsible for their insurance for interior/telephone and utilities. Before about 3 years ago they also had to pay for Internet service but that's now included as they had run it through the building.

 

[hollybearsmom]

Colleen, thanks for the perspective. I am hung up on that one way and was pushing him too hard. A bill paid is a bill paid.

 

[crazycatstacy]

Just did our taxes and this year we have to pay in again. Not a lot and I should be grateful for that, but it ticks me off! I would love a huge refund!!! Good news is my husband has been trying ot sell one of his hunting things and someone contacted him today about buying it. That would pay our tax bill so it wouldn't have to come out of our budget or our snowball.

 

[PrincessKymm]

I am done with my first day of orientation! It was really just an hour of an overview and a tour then lunch with a peer which was actually really great. There were 6 of us in our department so it was 8 of us for lunch (peer plus the leader for orientation). Very good company!!!!!

My benefits technically start as early as Wednesday if not today (that part was a little unclear to me) not Feb 1 like I thought. As soon as I get my laptop I can enroll so either tomorrow evening or Wednesday. Once I enroll I'm done!

As long as I download the email work app I qualify for a $75 phone reimbursement!!!! This will pay half of the bill for our three phones so that's a nice chunk of change to put towards my parking bill. I will probably do the surface lot on a monthly basis but am considering using the garage for 3 months or so but the garage is $280 a month so double what i would pay on the surface lot. I have remote start on my car so I'm still debating what to do. I've got a couple of days to decide before I pay for my month on a pre-tax basis!!!!

Also I get a reimbursement for making healthier choices so I am probably going to join a gym. The one on site would cost about $150 for the year after discount and reimbursement since it's actually in the hotel right next door (there is a breezeway that connects it). I want some more details on this before I commit as I would like to work with a trainer a few times a month so I can learn how to lift weights without hurting myself.

I'm so glad I left my last job and took this one. I'm not sure I "fit in" with the other girls but that doesn't bother me. I'm there to work so I can make money to go to Disney! Hahaha! I will let you all know what the rest of orientation and training is like. DS and I are using a gift card we received to go out to dinner tonight to celebrate!!!

Happy Debt Dumping 2016!!!!!!

 

[gracie1]

I am done with my first day of orientation! It was really just an hour of an overview and a tour then lunch with a peer which was actually really great. There were 6 of us in our department so it was 8 of us for lunch (peer plus the leader for orientation). Very good company!!!!!

My benefits technically start as early as Wednesday if not today (that part was a little unclear to me) not Feb 1 like I thought. As soon as I get my laptop I can enroll so either tomorrow evening or Wednesday. Once I enroll I'm done!

As long as I download the email work app I qualify for a $75 phone reimbursement!!!! This will pay half of the bill for our three phones so that's a nice chunk of change to put towards my parking bill. I will probably do the surface lot on a monthly basis but am considering using the garage for 3 months or so but the garage is $280 a month so double what i would pay on the surface lot. I have remote start on my car so I'm still debating what to do. I've got a couple of days to decide before I pay for my month on a pre-tax basis!!!!

Also I get a reimbursement for making healthier choices so I am probably going to join a gym. The one on site would cost about $150 for the year after discount and reimbursement since it's actually in the hotel right next door (there is a breezeway that connects it). I want some more details on this before I commit as I would like to work with a trainer a few times a month so I can learn how to lift weights without hurting myself.

I'm so glad I left my last job and took this one. I'm not sure I "fit in" with the other girls but that doesn't bother me. I'm there to work so I can make money to go to Disney! Hahaha! I will let you all know what the rest of orientation and training is like. DS and I are using a gift card we received to go out to dinner tonight to celebrate!!!

Happy Debt Dumping 2016!!!!!!

That is great that you had a good first day!! When I started a job I always felt like I might not fit in but once your there for a while you will!! Sounds like this job has some great perks!!!

 

[gracie1]

Just did our taxes and this year we have to pay in again. Not a lot and I should be grateful for that, but it ticks me off! I would love a huge refund!!! Good news is my husband has been trying ot sell one of his hunting things and someone contacted him today about buying it. That would pay our tax bill so it wouldn't have to come out of our budget or our snowball.

Sorry to hear that you have to pay in! I admit - I'm jealous of the people that receive those huge refunds!!

 

[LinderInWonderland]

Just did our taxes and this year we have to pay in again. Not a lot and I should be grateful for that, but it ticks me off! I would love a huge refund!!! Good news is my husband has been trying ot sell one of his hunting things and someone contacted him today about buying it. That would pay our tax bill so it wouldn't have to come out of our budget or our snowball.

We had to pay quite a bit last year as we had a big upswing in our income, so I feel your pain. We are getting a small refund this year due to changing our withholding, but I wasn't planning on anything so it will go into our emergency fund.

 

[lilysmommy]

Well - the hits keep coming. Car had to go to the shop. Hoping the service contract covers what is wrong, if so then it is 170.00 and not a lot more. Sigh...I just want to get ahead!

 

[dayvewc]

Sorry to hear that you have to pay in! I admit - I'm jealous of the people that receive those huge refunds!!

LOL. I don't know that my refunds count as "huge" but I generally get about $3500 total between federal and state. But I do it on purpose.

I have my withholding set at 0 exemptions, the highest possible withholding rate. Then when I file and claim my one exemption, it generally means I've paid more in than my taxes actually are. On top of that, I have an extra amount held out for both state and federal above the required withholding. Depending on how I am paid, it is either $10 per week for each (state and federal) for a total of $1040 per year, or $50 per month for each for a total of $1200 (state and federal). Just between my 2 year-round jobs, I intentionally have them hold an extra $2240 so I can claim it for the refund.

Yeah, I know, "having too much held out of your check is just giving the government an interest free loan", but getting that lump sum right before spring break works a whole lot better for me than trying to save the same amount each month all year long. Though, I am getting better with that. Maybe in a couple of years, I'll feel confident enough in my will-power to save that I can "give myself a raise" by reducing the withholding.

Just pointing out that getting the huge refund can be a matter of planning and sacrifice. Just like debt dumping. ;-)

 

[MrsTurnerLovesDisney]

I just canceled my Amazon prime membership. Basically it won't renew in April so I still have it until then since they won't refund any money from my current membership. It costs $99/year and I just haven't been impressed with it. I liked the 2 day shipping but often it took longer and the latest issue was them being unwilling to help me with an issue I had with my last order. I guess they have enough customers that they don't feel like they have to provide good customer service to everyone. Anyway, that'll save me some money come April!

I'm in the same boat with you and I think I will cancel soon as well. It was amazing last year with my daughter on formula and it shipped right to us. But now I haven't used it since before Christmas and if you buy $30 of stuff you get the free shipping anyways.

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

I know, "having too much held out of your check is just giving the government an interest free loan", but getting that lump sum right before spring break works a whole lot better for me than trying to save the same amount each month all year long. Though, I am getting better with that. Maybe in a couple of years, I'll feel confident enough in my will-power to save that I can "give myself a raise" by reducing the withholding.

I do the same thing! Single and none though I have two children. Then when tax time comes around there is enough all at one time to pay things off, build emergency fund, or take a trip like we are planning this year!

 

[lilysmommy]

wooohhoooo. Just heard from the car shop. Not only was my issue covered by the service contract but so was the rental car and they fixed 2 other issues that we didn't know about too. All for $100 deductible. without the service plan it would have been several hundreds of dollars!!!

 

[gracie1]

wooohhoooo. Just heard from the car shop. Not only was my issue covered by the service contract but so was the rental car and they fixed 2 other issues that we didn't know about too. All for $100 deductible. without the service plan it would have been several hundreds of dollars!!!

That is awesome news!!!!!!

 

[LisaSunshine]

Well, Murphy came and showed his ugly face around here. My front two tires are almost done for and need to be replaced as soon as possible. One of them is cracking and the other is bald. Unfortunately, we just started using a budget, so we have almost no money set aside for car maintenance.

We've also been having issues with our water heater not heating up like it should. We only get warm water, not hot. We called our home warranty company and they sent out one plumber after another (luckily we only had to pay the one service fee), we found out we have old galvanized pipes that are rusting and causing a water pressure issue. Our heater is an electric tankless, so it needs water pressure to heat up properly. In order for us to get our water heater working like it should, we need to re-pipe the entire house and the home warranty company doesn't cover that. The plumber quoted us $3,000-$5,000 for the job, but I'm sure we can get a cheaper bid on it (even the home warranty company said so). DH wanted to take a loan out to get it done, but since we still get warm water, it's not something I want to get into more debt over. Plus, the plumber cleaned out the pipes as best he could, giving us slightly better water pressure. So we decided to live with it for now, put aside some money for it, and if it gets too bad before we have enough, then we'll consider some kind of financing for it.

On top of all that, our golden retriever's eyesight has gotten much worse. She has glaucoma, so we have to give her eyedrops everyday to help keep the pressure down and keep her vision in one eye (the other went before she was diagnosed), but it looks like the sight in her good eye is gone now. We don't know if we should call the eye doc now and make an appointment or if we should wait until her appointment already scheduled for March. I know an emergency appointment would cost a lot more and they're usually booked a month out...plus, it's not like there's really anything they can do at this point.

Let's hope Murphy leaves us alone for a while so we can catch up!

 

[gracie1]

Well, Murphy came and showed his ugly face around here. My front two tires are almost done for and need to be replaced as soon as possible. One of them is cracking and the other is bald. Unfortunately, we just started using a budget, so we have almost no money set aside for car maintenance.

We've also been having issues with our water heater not heating up like it should. We only get warm water, not hot. We called our home warranty company and they sent out one plumber after another (luckily we only had to pay the one service fee), we found out we have old galvanized pipes that are rusting and causing a water pressure issue. Our heater is an electric tankless, so it needs water pressure to heat up properly. In order for us to get our water heater working like it should, we need to re-pipe the entire house and the home warranty company doesn't cover that. The plumber quoted us $3,000-$5,000 for the job, but I'm sure we can get a cheaper bid on it (even the home warranty company said so). DH wanted to take a loan out to get it done, but since we still get warm water, it's not something I want to get into more debt over. Plus, the plumber cleaned out the pipes as best he could, giving us slightly better water pressure. So we decided to live with it for now, put aside some money for it, and if it gets too bad before we have enough, then we'll consider some kind of financing for it.

On top of all that, our golden retriever's eyesight has gotten much worse. She has glaucoma, so we have to give her eyedrops everyday to help keep the pressure down and keep her vision in one eye (the other went before she was diagnosed), but it looks like the sight in her good eye is gone now. We don't know if we should call the eye doc now and make an appointment or if we should wait until her appointment already scheduled for March. I know an emergency appointment would cost a lot more and they're usually booked a month out...plus, it's not like there's really anything they can do at this point.

Let's hope Murphy leaves us alone for a while so we can catch up!

Oh no!! You should definitely bid out the work - does the company offer a payment plan? I know sometimes they do on big jobs like that. Sorry to hear about your fur baby - maybe call the vet and ask them if there's any need to move the appointment up. I know my vet will normally just let me know if it's worth moving an appointment up or just waiting till the regular one. This way you can be at ease. Hoping that Murphy leaves you alone!!!