What are you cutting in your budget to absorb the Payroll Tax increase?

[vacationer1954]

We are afraid that retirement may become increasingly involuntary.

 

[leahjade]

While it's a bummer I don't have a problem with it. Everyone is supposed to pay in, that's my share so that's what I pay

I do have a problem with it because nothing was fixed. So much extra spending was added to the bill that it fixed nothing - just took our country further into debt.

$331 million over two years for a tax credit on railroad track maintenance.

$100 million over the next seven years for NASCAR track owners.

$430 million in tax write-offs for film and television production. Movie studios will be able to take up to $15 million off costs if more than three-fourths of production is done in the United States

$7 million in tax breaks over three years for people buying two- or three-wheel electric scooters.

$222 million to Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands — mostly to rum distilleries — to increase a longstanding rum subsidy dating back to 1917.

$59 million in tax credits for algae grown for fuel meant to promote biodiesel and green energy.

 

[punkin]

I started at 22, right out of college, but I only worked 16 years. I am currently a SAHM.

I too, have been (mostly) a SAHM for the past 13 years.

 

[okeydokey]

The nation is running a smaller deficit than it has in a long time. Hopefully, it will continue to get better as time goes on.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

The nation is running a smaller deficit than it has in a long time. Hopefully, it will continue to get better as time goes on.

Continue to get better????? LMAO! Seriously? What Kool Aid are you drinking?

 

[mm1971]

We aren't putting anything on our cc's because of the holiday expiring. We're very aware of what we're doing. Our current standard of living won't be affected at all. As of this month, car paid off. i was paying extra on it so the payment was $910/month. No more. That more than makes up the $200 that is expiring.

$910 a month for a car... Sounds like party time for you That gives you $700 a month into the Disney Vacation Fund.

 

[5 Disney Fans]

Looking at our paychecks for 2013... between my husband and I we are getting $400 less per check so $800 less per month. That is HUGE! I actually dropped my health coverage and went onto my husbands thinking I would be getting an extra $200/month starting in Jan. Food prices keep going up, bills keep going up and paychecks get smaller and smaller.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

The nation is running a smaller deficit than it has in a long time. Hopefully, it will continue to get better as time goes on.

If you define "a long time" as the previous three years ( 2009 = $1.4 Trillion , 2010 = $1.3 Trillion , 2011 = $1.3 Trillion ) then semantically I would agree that $1.1 Trillion (2012) is "smaller". And I guess that if an elephant sitting on your chest has lost a few pounds it would feel sooooo much better!

 

[joedplumber]

I am not sure I agree with everyone in that prices are increasing.

Here in the Northeast things for the most part have stayed the same or decreased.

Gas: Same or Decrease
Natural Gas: Decrease
Electric: Same
Groceries: Modest increase to none
Cable/Internet: Decrease
R/E Taxes: Flat/ minor decrease
Day Care: Flat
Insurance: Small increases
Health Insurance: No Change in 3 years
Cell Phone: Flat


Now perhaps gas has increased over the years but our budget for weekly gas is based on when gas was $4.29 a gallon and I have just never adjusted it so for us gas is cheaper now.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[njmomtoone]

I am not sure I agree with everyone in that prices are increasing.

Here in the Northeast things for the most part have stayed the same or decreased.

Gas: Same or Decrease
Natural Gas: Decrease
Electric: Same
Groceries: Modest increase to none
Cable/Internet: Decrease
R/E Taxes: Flat/ minor decrease
Day Care: Flat
Insurance: Small increases
Health Insurance: No Change in 3 years
Cell Phone: Flat


Now perhaps gas has increased over the years but our budget for weekly gas is based on when gas was $4.29 a gallon and I have just never adjusted it so for us gas is cheaper now.

Just my 2 cents.

Really? I am in NJ and here is mine:

Gas: Same or slight decrease
Natural Gas: Same
Electric: Inscrease
Groceries: Increase
Cable/Internet: Increase
R/E Taxes: Incresae every year
Day Care: N/A
Insurance: Increase every year
Health Insurance: Big incease in 2012
Cell Phone: Flat

 

[joedplumber]

Really? I am in NJ and here is mine:

Gas: Same or slight decrease
Natural Gas: Same
Electric: Inscrease
Groceries: Increase
Cable/Internet: Increase
R/E Taxes: Incresae every year
Day Care: N/A
Insurance: Increase every year
Health Insurance: Big incease in 2012
Cell Phone: Flat

I guess it depends on where you live.

We are in the tri-state area..

 

[ilovemk76]

Looking at our paychecks for 2013... between my husband and I we are getting $400 less per check so $800 less per month. That is HUGE! I actually dropped my health coverage and went onto my husbands thinking I would be getting an extra $200/month starting in Jan. Food prices keep going up, bills keep going up and paychecks get smaller and smaller.

If that is only from the 2% SS increase then you each are making a quarter million per year and will see your SS payments cease in just under 6 months.

I am thinking there are other deductions, such as health insurance premiums, that are creatingost of the shortfall.

 

[mistysue]

Most of our costs are pretty close to the same, property tax and gas have gone down, natural gas/electricity went up about the same as those went down...

Groceries off the shelf have gone up, but I've been finding the sale/coupon combinations getting better, plus my stores are clearancing out more items for less than they used to, so our OOP is less.

The only big difference we've seen is our health insurance. In 2009 we paid $400/month toward our premium. It has gone up each year so that this year (if DH weren't unemployed again) it would be $725/month. He keeps working at the same place on and off- the portion they pay has gone up about $200/month even with us paying more too. That extra $325/month is a whole Disney trip.

 

[njmomtoone]

I guess it depends on where you live.

We are in the tri-state area..

Just surprised. I was always under the impression that CT was an expensive state to live in.

 

[*Seanaci*]

DH and I have struggled the last 6 years...due to different spending habits and debt we each brought into the relationship. DH has gotten a couple raises in the last few years...so I'm sure that will mean with the tax going back into effect we'll break even. I'd like to say we'll come.out ahead...but that likely won't be the case.

Until we know for sure where we'll fall with each paycheck, I'll keep using coupons, buying in bulk (esp meat), and staying out of the stores unless it's a grocery shopping day. Other than that, there's no where else to cut...we don't have cable, live with my parents (and pay half as much rent as living on our own), and already have the lowest priced plan for our phones.

 

[leahjade]

The nation is running a smaller deficit than it has in a long time

I'm not sure what NATION you are talking about, but here in the UNITED STATES the federal government recorded its worst monthly deficit in history in February, according to a preliminary report Wednesday from the Congressional Budget Office.

The government has borrowed 42 cents of every dollar it spent during the first five months of this fiscal year. The nonpartisan agency projected the government will run a deficit of $229 billion in February, the highest monthly figure ever. Washington Times

 

[goodfood4ursoul]

If that is only from the 2% SS increase then you each are making a quarter million per year and will see your SS payments cease in just under 6 months.

I am thinking there are other deductions, such as health insurance premiums, that are creatingost of the shortfall.

Yeah, down here in small- town, main street USA my 2% increase to SS is about $20 less a month in my paycheck- DH's is $30 less.
Being cash-poor (but rich in everything that is important in life )
we know how to squeeze pennies and dimes and are not buying lunches at all.
We're saving money and eating healthier
that seems more like common sense and less like a sacrifice

Sure wish some of small-town America's common sense could trickle- up to Washington, DC...

 

[dcfromva]

If that is only from the 2% SS increase then you each are making a quarter million per year and will see your SS payments cease in just under 6 months.

I am thinking there are other deductions, such as health insurance premiums, that are creatingost of the shortfall.

I was wondering about that, too. I looked up the maximum taxable earnings amount for Social Security (OASDI) taxes is $113,700 for 2013. 2% of that is $2274 (the maximum annual increase).

Though, maybe they are paid on commission? If the 2% increase represented $400, that would be a $20,000 (gross) payday. If it was a normal pay--as you say they would max out the annual SS contributions in just under 6 paydays.

 

[5 Disney Fans]

Yeah, down here in small- town, main street USA my 2% increase to SS is about $20 less a month in my paycheck- DH's is $30 less.
Being cash-poor (but rich in everything that is important in life )
we know how to squeeze pennies and dimes and are not buying lunches at all.
We're saving money and eating healthier
that seems more like common sense and less like a sacrifice

Sure wish some of small-town America's common sense could trickle- up to Washington, DC...

I certainly don't make anywere near a quarter of a million. My DH's paycheck is $100 less and for some reason my check is $300 less. I have an increase in SS, increase in Medicare Tax, and an increase in FED withholding tax. I just looked at more paystubs from 2012 and the SS tax was sporatic. Some weeks nothing, some weeks close to 200 some weeks 50. But the first two paychecks in 2013 it is $300. And as I mentioned other tax witholdings are raised as well.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

I'm not sure what NATION you are talking about, but here in the UNITED STATES the federal government recorded its worst monthly deficit in history in February, according to a preliminary report Wednesday from the Congressional Budget Office.

The government has borrowed 42 cents of every dollar it spent during the first five months of this fiscal year. The nonpartisan agency projected the government will run a deficit of $229 billion in February, the highest monthly figure ever. Washington Times