Post Your Wins

[disneysteve]

I just redeemed $94.50 in cash back rewards from my Chase Visa.

[scfr]

Just got another $0 haircut from DH. (Sorry Texas Husker.)

5% raise at one of my jobs went in to effect.

Got a little commendation at my other job for which I'll be receiving a gift card.

Noticed a $2 overcharge at the grocery store, and went to customer service for cash back. Since I get 6% cash back in cc rewards, I guess that means 12-cents in free money?

[disneysteve]

Back in March when we did our taxes, our accountant, who is new to us this year, reviewed our 2015 return and felt there was something that hadn't been handled properly. He suggested we file an amended return as he felt we were entitled to a refund of a penalty we had paid. We agreed and filed the amendment as suggested.

We got the state refund of $236 fairly promptly. The federal refund dragged on for a while. They sent a request for additional documentation back in May which I immediately sent in.

We finally got the refund today. And it was for $68 more than I expected because they added on interest, so the total was over $1,400! I wasn't sure if we were ever going to see that money.

No grand plans for it sadly as it arrives just in time for the fall tuition bill.

The other "win" today was that the HELOC we recently applied for was approved. We're just waiting for the final details and to schedule the closing. Originally, the plan was to tap the HELOC for tuition though we may actually not need to do that. Or if we do, it will only be for a few thousand, a lot less than I thought we would need. We'll also be dipping into it to pay the malpractice insurance bill I'm going to have when I leave my practice at the end of September. I'm not yet sure of the exact amount as I'm trying to get my boss to split it with me but it could be as much as $13,700.

[Gailete]

Well that is great news! I got a notice that we owed local tax money. In the last few years, our town always did our taxes with paperwork, now it is computerized and it seems that what the computer says we are doing is something totally other than what we meant. So now I have to file an amended return or pay $50+. What is funny is how the young (sounding) lady insisted that local tax was always done per person, not as a married filing jointly return, of which I beg to differ as I have lived in this town as a married woman for around 40 years and always did the taxes and never more than one tax form for the two of us. One of our old tax people who had the job for 30 years, which as far as she was concerned made her an expert, not that she had any special training, but did have a relative on the board for the town. She apparently got paid by a percentage of what she collected, so she wasn't about to tell people that they didn't have to declare certain things, and would also turn around and try to collect what wasn't owed. When she was gone the new tax guy got to send out a lot of refunds! Including for 3 years worth to my in laws and that was as far as he was allowed to go back. They had incorrectly been paying their rental income for 11 years. 8 years worth stayed with the town.

Anyhow I made a phone call and now that I know what to do, I will NOT have $29 in tax owing as well as a $25 fee. Give me a paper return anytime when dealing with the local income tax. I also notice that I got my $250 property tax rebate (for being disabled) and it was directly deposited into our tax account which is almost at $4K for the year! This is the first year in 15 that I have been ahead of the game for taxes owing, at least so far and it makes me very happy

[Gailete]

Had a chance to stop at our local Goodwill and found a bonanza of counted cross stitch craft kits - all brand new and in excellent condition. I spent a big chunk, but the returns should be good once they are listed up for sale. I figure they would be worth 5-6 times what I bought them for.

[Gailete]

My BIL was over last night and my husband was telling him about the GW purchase and how he had to bite his tongue as I bought so much. LOL! Hubby is the one that taught me that to make money you have to spend some money. Without inventory the store shelves start looking mighty bare and sales dry up. Even my frugal and autistic son has trouble seeing me, when I find a great score, buying so much, because he says, "I thought you didn't have any money." No we don't have very much spare money, but the store helps to maintain our living expenses. I have to buy inventory when I can find great deals. But it is the same deal. My average markup for all items sold just this month is over 3000%! When opportunity to score with a big win, you have to be ready to grab the chance.

[scfr]

Sold a freebie that DH had received on eBay. Netted $10.47 after eBay and Paypal fees, postage & packaging.

I got signed up for a new bank account that will bring in a $100 bonus and DH got a new credit card that will bring in a $200 bonus.

Got 6 quart bags of peak-of-season cherries in to the freezer to enjoy later. Made notes on my calendar to remind myself to pull a bag out every 3 weeks (to make sure they get consumed while still delicious & nutritious).

Found an interesting cooking-related web site, made note of several recipes I'd like to try, and chose one to try this week (to keep at-home meals interesting and varied).

Made a small contribution to a cause I believe in.

[scfr]

Usually someone mentions how having a mortgage helps your credit score and that it will really drop when you pay it off.

I got rid of my mortgage a year ago, and it didn't hurt my score.

I was just trying to break that myth that some people believe with relationship between no mortgage and credit score going down.

and i've been up since 3AM so my brain is tired. I'll see if that needs revised in the original post.

Do you have other installment loans such as a car loan?

When I paid off my mortgage, my credit score did drop by quite a bit and then slowly went back up but never to where it was before paying off the mortgage.

Currently my FICO is only 800. The notes about why it is not higher are:
1. No recent reports of payments on installment loans (mortgage, car, etc.)
2. Average short age of credit cards (I go after cc bonuses, and will change my primary card when I find something that will offer better cash back rewards for my situation).

I have no plans to make any changes to how I use (or don't use) credit just to raise my FICO, and I can live with a score of 800. I'm not complaining, just stating the facts of my situation.

[Gailete]

Got to make another trip to the GW on Saturday with my son. I found 3 puzzles still in sealed in their plastic wrap. One I listed immediately for $25 and two of the others can't be listed on Amazon because their brand restricts most from selling their items. I will just list them in my ecrater store. One is valued at around $25 and the other $45.

I also found a cookbook from the Tast of Home magazine for 2007. I'd rather have the hardback books around than pick up the magazine at thrift stores.

And I found 6+ yards of fabric for $5.89, but it had an orange tag on it which meant half price, so I paid $2.95. It is more than enough for a whole dress or a skirt and top.

[Gailete]

Do you have other installment loans such as a car loan?

When I paid off my mortgage, my credit score did drop by quite a bit and then slowly went back up but never to where it was before paying off the mortgage.

Currently my FICO is only 800. The notes about why it is not higher are:
1. No recent reports of payments on installment loans (mortgage, car, etc.)
2. Average short age of credit cards (I go after cc bonuses, and will change my primary card when I find something that will offer better cash back rewards for my situation).

I have no plans to make any changes to how I use (or don't use) credit just to raise my FICO, and I can live with a score of 800. I'm not complaining, just stating the facts of my situation.

800 and better is still excellent, especially since according to my Discover card statement, 850 is the top number to get. I never run my financial life worrying about my credit score. I have noted since paying extra on my loans and cc that my credit score that had dipped last year, is working its way back up. With it showing on my Discover statement ever month I have become aware how little changes in what I pay on my loans and cards make the number change. Between banks showing what is going on with my loans; principle and extra payments, and cc showing my FICO score, etc. I am much more aware of the numbers than I used to be, and I have always tried to know the numbers!

[SavingSteve]

Big news! We live in an extremely high cost of living area, and I've been looking for almost 2 years for a suitable place to live closer to work so I could save on my commute and put more money into savings.

Next weekend we move and not only will I be able to walk to work in 7 minutes but I will save $550 per month. That's $6600 per year!

[disneysteve]

Next weekend we move and not only will I be able to walk to work in 7 minutes but I will save $550 per month. That's $6600 per year!

That's great! Good luck with the move and enjoy the new place and the savings that comes with it.

[disneysteve]

I forgot about this thread.

Yesterday, we decided to go out to dinner. My daughter is rather picky with restaurants but my wife suggested On The Border as she knows DD likes it there.

I went online and bought a giftcard for 17% off face value. I didn't want to have leftover money so only bought a $25 card but it still saved us $4.25.

Coincidentally, which my wife didn't even know about, I belong to their club and they send you a birthday coupon every year. My birthday is next week and I had gotten the email to get a free queso appetizer or brownie sundae dessert. So I printed that out and we were all able to share the dessert for free (normally over $6 I think).

[Gailete]

I was hoping to be able to refinance out loan and get a smaller payment, but were turned down as having too much on credit cards (knew that). I find it odd that we were trying to get the loan from 'our' bank as well as it the one that holds three of our loans that for months now I have been paying extra on, never a single late payment in all the years we have been with them. You would think common sense would tell someone that even with our debt, we are able to pay the loan as it is plus extra, why would we not be able to pay it if it were smaller? This is what happens when you allow computers to make decisions and take the human factor out of it.

We are hoping to sign a lease with new tenant for our rental property today. In that regard, what a roller coaster the last few weeks have been!

The good news after having a friend mention many times the things he was selling on Craig’s List, I decided to give it a try. In less than a week since listing it, we sold a King size bed frame and mattress for $400 cash this week! Sales have been more than slow for my on-line business so that $400 helped to cover that deficit. But with that good success (and hubby used it for getting a new renter as well) I have a list of things to list for sale as well. Things seem to do better on CL than at a yard sale which physically is too much for me.

[disneysteve]

This is what happens when you allow computers to make decisions and take the human factor out of it.

Actual manual underwriting is a lost art.

I am in the process of getting needed malpractice coverage for after I leave my practice next month. The company that has insured me for the past 14 years and knows my history as well as anyone charges a flat 200% of the most recent annual premium. In my case, that comes to $19,575.

I learned online that there are companies that will do stand alone policies even if they were not the ones covering you previously. I contacted a broker who got quotes from multiple companies. These companies actually do underwriting, assessing risk based on your claims history (imagine that). The best offer came back at $14,416. That's saving me $5,159!

There's no good reason why the existing company couldn't base their rates on actual risk. They just choose not to.