unbelievable $ luck!!!!

[mlraabe]

I don't post here often but I read everyday (more than once! ) and i just have to share my good $ news! I'm sorry it is so long. Here goes...

We have been planning a trip for months - we leave in 3 weeks. We planned a pretty tight budget. I knew we would still have a great time but we were not going to buy the extras - character meals, do alot of shopping. Also, with Christmas close and 4 kids we knew we had to watch where all of our $ was going.

Over the weekend I realized that Dh signed up for a flex account at work last nov. and I really didn't look into it much. The other day I thought about it and realized that we have $1200 in there to spend by the end of the year or lose it! So I gathered up all of my med receipts and so far they total $500. We didn't even realize that we had that $ coming! I'm sure I could gather up more if I went to the ped and got copies of all of my receipts but we all have eye appts this month so we will def. get our $.

Then, we have been trying to sell our camper for a while and someone finally wants to make a decent offer - $1200!

THEN, I teach part time and I'm currently transferring from a reading specialist position to a parent litercy coach/three year old teacher. Right now I'm trying to do both jobs while they find a reading specialist to replace me. I have been putting in many long hours working from home to write the 3 year old curriculum and attending our PA's PreK Grant meetings. I've been in the district 7 years and have never been reimbursed for extra time. I found out yesterday that I will be getting a check for $2500 next week plus my usual pay! I can't believe it

We never have this kind of luck. And it is such great timing! Christmas and our Disney trip! I just had to share my excitement!!!!!!

Disney here we come!!!!! With an extra $4200!

 

[Our 2 Princesses]

That's awesome! Thanks for sharing your story!! We know what's it like going to WDW on a tight budget. Have a wonderful trip!

 

[rie'smom]

Congratulations!!!! It would be a great trip, as you said, on a tight budget but now you maybe can do a few extras!!!! Just in time of time surprises are always so much fun.Here's more pixie dust for a fantastic time!!!!!

 

[Redbudlover]

How wonderful! Now that is pixie dust!!! Have a great time!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Congrats! Nothing beats unexpected money!

 

[luvtogo12]

That is wonderful. Enjoy.

 

[minechuchie]

WOW....someone is really hitting you all with the pixie dust. All kidding aside have a great trip. Tell the big guy I said Hi. Terri

 

[Hedy]

I don't post here often but I read everyday (more than once! ) and i just have to share my good $ news! I'm sorry it is so long. Here goes...

We have been planning a trip for months - we leave in 3 weeks. We planned a pretty tight budget. I knew we would still have a great time but we were not going to buy the extras - character meals, do alot of shopping. Also, with Christmas close and 4 kids we knew we had to watch where all of our $ was going.

Over the weekend I realized that Dh signed up for a flex account at work last nov. and I really didn't look into it much. The other day I thought about it and realized that we have $1200 in there to spend by the end of the year or lose it! So I gathered up all of my med receipts and so far they total $500. We didn't even realize that we had that $ coming! I'm sure I could gather up more if I went to the ped and got copies of all of my receipts but we all have eye appts this month so we will def. get our $.

Then, we have been trying to sell our camper for a while and someone finally wants to make a decent offer - $1200!

THEN, I teach part time and I'm currently transferring from a reading specialist position to a parent litercy coach/three year old teacher. Right now I'm trying to do both jobs while they find a reading specialist to replace me. I have been putting in many long hours working from home to write the 3 year old curriculum and attending our PA's PreK Grant meetings. I've been in the district 7 years and have never been reimbursed for extra time. I found out yesterday that I will be getting a check for $2500 next week plus my usual pay! I can't believe it

We never have this kind of luck. And it is such great timing! Christmas and our Disney trip! I just had to share my excitement!!!!!!

Disney here we come!!!!! With an extra $4200!

Double check w/your plan provider, but generally you can submit reciepts until March 15 2007, per new IRS rules.

 

[i3utterfli82]

Do I hear "Upgrade"?

 

[jcsbama]

That is great! I know you are so excited!

 

[travelbug]

Wow, that is all wonderful news! I can see why you're excited.

Have a fantastic trip!

 

[BethR]

Double check w/your plan provider, but generally you can submit reciepts until March 15 2007, per new IRS rules.

Yes, I know that we have always been able to submit until March.

You know that you can claim over the counter things too. Ibuprofen, cough medicines, almost anything that you use for medical things. We have a DD in braces and used over $2500 in our Flex Fund this year. I could have put away more...

 

[travelbug]

OT - Jcsbama, is that your DD in the picture? She is adorable. The caption under the picture is perfect. Those cheeks look very squeezeable.

 

[aclov]

Double check w/your plan provider, but generally you can submit reciepts until March 15 2007, per new IRS rules.

Just a note on this, your expenses have to be incurred for this year but you usually have a grace period to submit which as this poster indicated would be March 2007. I would definately make sure you get reimbursed all of it.
Have a awesome trip!

 

[scraptoons]

That is soooo cool!!!!

Reminds me of finding a $5 bill in a coat pocket on the first day of wearing it the next season.

Only this is so much better.

Have a great time!!!

And have a great holiday season with those 4 kids!!

 

[BethR]

Just a note on this, your expenses have to be incurred for this year but you usually have a grace period to submit which as this poster indicated would be March 2007.

Great (and important) clarification!!! Thanks!

 

[kfeuer]

You know that you can claim over the counter things too. Ibuprofen, cough medicines, almost anything that you use for medical things. We have a DD in braces and used over $2500 in our Flex Fund this year. I could have put away more...

I recently discovered that www.drugstore.com has a FSA section where all the items in it qualify to be purchased with FSA funds. My insurance company (United Healthcare) has a deal where if you pay w/ your FSA debit card you don't even have to submit the receipts. I've always found it hard to remember which OTC things qualify and which don't, so this is a really easy way to use up FSA funds.

 

[mommyrom]

With regard to the grace period on the flex spending plan, you may want to double-check on this, but our plan indicates that once expenses incurred in 2006 are reimbursed, any expenses incurred until March 15, 2007 can be reimbursed against any remaining funds contributed in 2006. The plan will use any available leftover funds contributed in 2006 for Jan-Mar, 2007 bills before tapping into the 2007 contributions.

May not help you out to add right now to that awesome Disney fund you have available for your trip, but it may save you from the "use it or lose it" rule in case you cannot come up with enough expenses by Dec. 31, 2006 to claim against your remaining 2006 contributions balance.

Just an FYI to offer from our experience in trying to use up all of our Flex account balance...

We have one DS in braces that we anticipated having to pay for all during 2006, but did not start paying the ortho. until June, thereby leaving a hefty balance in the Flex account to use up soon. So, in order to add to our Disney fund, we just made a large payment to the ortho. so we can get our reimbursement in time for our trip in 4 weeks. More money for Mickey is always a good thing, esp. when the Wonder cruise is in the middle of our trip this time!!!!

 

[disneygals]

I recently discovered that www.drugstore.com has a FSA section where all the items in it qualify to be purchased with FSA funds. My insurance company (United Healthcare) has a deal where if you pay w/ your FSA debit card you don't even have to submit the receipts. I've always found it hard to remember which OTC things qualify and which don't, so this is a really easy way to use up FSA funds.

Thanks for this info...used to use the card, but they kept asking for receipts anyway for anything that wasn't an obvious co-pay. I usually save everything in an envelope and try for a big check at once.

Sorry for contributing to the hi-jacking of this thread.

OP!! Enjoy your trip!!

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

OR.....you can invest some of that money so that you can go to DISNEY AGAIN......later on.

From the person who gets excited finding extra change in the washing machine to put in our vacation jar!