Comments on: Keeping me motivated: Upfront expenses http://thebudgetingbabe.com/2012/02/08/motivation-and-expenses/ A personal finance blog for career minded women with small budgets and big dreams. Wed, 09 May 2012 23:42:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: The Budgeting Babe http://thebudgetingbabe.com/2012/02/08/motivation-and-expenses/#comment-19664 The Budgeting Babe Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:49:38 +0000 http://thebudgetingbabe.com/?p=1379#comment-19664 Jefferson - With our mild winter here I've been running outside nearly year round with just a couple exceptions. It's WONDERFUL to stay off the treadmill. :) Jefferson – With our mild winter here I’ve been running outside nearly year round with just a couple exceptions. It’s WONDERFUL to stay off the treadmill. :)

]]> By: jefferson http://thebudgetingbabe.com/2012/02/08/motivation-and-expenses/#comment-19662 jefferson Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:58:08 +0000 http://thebudgetingbabe.com/?p=1379#comment-19662 We all need hobbies.. to keep us happy and sane.. and while occasionally running will have some charges to enter the race (often times with money going to charity)-- it is overall a good and cheap hobby. Kudos for you for sticking with it and competing in multiple races this year. I have been trying to start up a running habit as well (I've done a couple of 5Ks, but want to step it up this year).. Unfortunately, it is too darn cold outside! We all need hobbies.. to keep us happy and sane.. and while occasionally running will have some charges to enter the race (often times with money going to charity)– it is overall a good and cheap hobby.

Kudos for you for sticking with it and competing in multiple races this year.

I have been trying to start up a running habit as well (I’ve done a couple of 5Ks, but want to step it up this year).. Unfortunately, it is too darn cold outside!

]]> By: The Budgeting Babe http://thebudgetingbabe.com/2012/02/08/motivation-and-expenses/#comment-19660 The Budgeting Babe Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:43:13 +0000 http://thebudgetingbabe.com/?p=1379#comment-19660 Thanks for following the blog Cori! I wanted to give a thorough explanation because I totally get what you're asking. :) Thanks for following the blog Cori! I wanted to give a thorough explanation because I totally get what you’re asking. :)

]]> By: Cori http://thebudgetingbabe.com/2012/02/08/motivation-and-expenses/#comment-19648 Cori Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:13:32 +0000 http://thebudgetingbabe.com/?p=1379#comment-19648 Thanks, I was just curious. And by no means was I trying to criticize, I was just wondering your approach. I have been reading your blog for a few years and I love it. Thanks for all you share! Thanks, I was just curious. And by no means was I trying to criticize, I was just wondering your approach. I have been reading your blog for a few years and I love it. Thanks for all you share!

]]> By: The Budgeting Babe http://thebudgetingbabe.com/2012/02/08/motivation-and-expenses/#comment-19645 The Budgeting Babe Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:04:26 +0000 http://thebudgetingbabe.com/?p=1379#comment-19645 Oh, Cori, I'll do an itemized return for 2012; that might end up getting me a different return. This year (2011 return) will still be standard deduction. Oh, Cori, I’ll do an itemized return for 2012; that might end up getting me a different return. This year (2011 return) will still be standard deduction.

]]> By: The Budgeting Babe http://thebudgetingbabe.com/2012/02/08/motivation-and-expenses/#comment-19644 The Budgeting Babe Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:02:50 +0000 http://thebudgetingbabe.com/?p=1379#comment-19644 Cori - My tax return is usually about $800. I call that big :) Not huge, but big enough for me to afford a vacation or a few races. I absolutely know that it's better to "even out" come tax time and not have a return because it means you're just lending the government money during the year. (In fact, I usually end up owing the state of Illinois money.) But for some reason I always end up getting between $600 and $900 back. I honestly don't know what I could do differently - I have the least number of dependents possible (zero, I believe). But I do the simple tax return vs. the itemized one so maybe it has to do with that? I am far from being a tax expert, I really have no idea. But I still do get excited when I GET money back vs. OWING taxes at the end of the year. It's probably more of a holdover feeling from growing up, and from my college days when I had NO money. Also, I've never had a job where I got a Christmas bonus, and my income is always steady, so I guess there's a little bit of irrational excitement come tax season... it's nice to have a little more than usual in one month to save/spend/pay expenses with. I would never actively hold money away from myself, it just works out this way and I'm OK with it. Cori – My tax return is usually about $800. I call that big :) Not huge, but big enough for me to afford a vacation or a few races.

I absolutely know that it’s better to “even out” come tax time and not have a return because it means you’re just lending the government money during the year. (In fact, I usually end up owing the state of Illinois money.) But for some reason I always end up getting between $600 and $900 back. I honestly don’t know what I could do differently – I have the least number of dependents possible (zero, I believe). But I do the simple tax return vs. the itemized one so maybe it has to do with that? I am far from being a tax expert, I really have no idea.

But I still do get excited when I GET money back vs. OWING taxes at the end of the year. It’s probably more of a holdover feeling from growing up, and from my college days when I had NO money. Also, I’ve never had a job where I got a Christmas bonus, and my income is always steady, so I guess there’s a little bit of irrational excitement come tax season… it’s nice to have a little more than usual in one month to save/spend/pay expenses with.

I would never actively hold money away from myself, it just works out this way and I’m OK with it.

]]> By: The Budgeting Babe http://thebudgetingbabe.com/2012/02/08/motivation-and-expenses/#comment-19643 The Budgeting Babe Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:49:10 +0000 http://thebudgetingbabe.com/?p=1379#comment-19643 Runners and non-runners are a different species, no? :) Runners and non-runners are a different species, no? :)

]]> By: Allison http://thebudgetingbabe.com/2012/02/08/motivation-and-expenses/#comment-19640 Allison Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:38:00 +0000 http://thebudgetingbabe.com/?p=1379#comment-19640 All of my non runner friends make fun of me because I Payton run in a public street in the heat, cold, rain, or snow. They don't get it, but I think giving up races and events would be really hard! You have a great running schedule this spring, you are going to do great! I have been playing with the idea of a tri, but I have never pulled the trigger. All of my non runner friends make fun of me because I Payton run in a public street in the heat, cold, rain, or snow. They don’t get it, but I think giving up races and events would be really hard!
You have a great running schedule this spring, you are going to do great! I have been playing with the idea of a tri, but I have never pulled the trigger.

]]> By: Cori http://thebudgetingbabe.com/2012/02/08/motivation-and-expenses/#comment-19639 Cori Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:57:52 +0000 http://thebudgetingbabe.com/?p=1379#comment-19639 So I have to say, I'm extremely surprised that you are looking forward to a big tax return! The general feeling in the personal finance world, as well as my feeling, is you should try to get your deductions to a point where your return is almost zero--that way you're not giving Uncle Sam an interest free loan all year. I'd love to hear your thoughts! So I have to say, I’m extremely surprised that you are looking forward to a big tax return! The general feeling in the personal finance world, as well as my feeling, is you should try to get your deductions to a point where your return is almost zero–that way you’re not giving Uncle Sam an interest free loan all year. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

]]> By: The Budgeting Babe http://thebudgetingbabe.com/2012/02/08/motivation-and-expenses/#comment-19636 The Budgeting Babe Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:39:28 +0000 http://thebudgetingbabe.com/?p=1379#comment-19636 WHAT!? I did not realize that. I am going to have to look at my dates again. Crap. WHAT!? I did not realize that. I am going to have to look at my dates again. Crap.

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