There. I said it. The reasons for my revelation aren’t so exciting, but I thought that maybe, like ripping off the band aid, I’d feel better if I just said it.
See, I’m trying to become smarter about my money, investments (when I actually HAVE some investments), benefits, bills, insurance premiums, etc. I’m even using words like “budget” and ”deductible”. I might actually be using them correctly!
I wasn’t really smart about this stuff earlier in my adulthood. I was actually pretty stupid about frivolously spending money, having little savings, and not so good to my credit. Although I didn’t get into a lot of credit card debt (thankfully), I have student loans to repay. Fortunately, I don’t have too far to go with it, but that’s one of my revelations, start working on my debt and other than my house, working toward zero-debt. I’ve started setting up my bills autopay which is really nice, since I’m horrible at remembering to actually put the check in the mail, or when something is due.
Instead of just signing up for whatever insurance is offered, I’m actually looking stuff up to see what best fits my budget (see there, I said it) and my needs. I’m beginning to wonder if I need the cable package I have since I don’t feel like I watch $100 of TV a month.
I don’t really think this means I’m old, mostly it just means I was stupid when I was young. I wish I hadn’t been, but I can be thankful I wasn’t one of those young folks that gets into tens of thousands of dollars of credit card debt and has to file for bankruptcy. I’m glad I’m thinking about it and working on it now, though. Better now than even next year, I guess.
I’m even thinking of hiring someone to do my taxes (although, wait. Doesn’t that cost money?! 
.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. If you are a child
of the 60′s (as I am), not only are we all getting
older, we are getting wiser. And we all rebelled
against anything that seemed “stable”.
Though I don’t agree with Churchill’s saying fully,
(I tend to be rather moderate these days), it
has a bite to it, “If you are not a liberal by the time
you are 20 you don’t have a heart, if you’re not a
conservative by the time you’re 40, you don’t
have a brain”.
By: ricklondon on November 12, 2007
at 5:31 pm
Well I’m not a child of the 60′s but I am a child of the 70′s!
By: ckmarler on November 12, 2007
at 5:58 pm
You can do your taxes by efile online. It’s FREE and super easy. All you have to have is your W4 form. Then they automatically deposit what you get back in your account.! We ditched the cable box and the only thing I miss is the remote control with the guide! Good luck wit your money!
By: karissa on November 13, 2007
at 9:41 am
Thats what I do now. I just think a professional can help you get MORE money back. I never know what to do about tax write-offs, etc.
By: ckmarler on November 13, 2007
at 11:15 am
Oh. Sorry. I count my interest on my house, do you? I did H & R Block last year and they were okay, but I think I might try someone else this year. I use to do them myself, until all the “kid” write off stuff came along.
By: karissa on November 13, 2007
at 11:38 am
Yeah, see the house stuff and my student loans too. And some mileage on my car and work lunches. Thats the stuff I don’t know enough about. If you get someone to do it, they know all that jazz!
By: ckmarler on November 13, 2007
at 11:49 am