Well it's been a good few weeks around here financially--
First, hubs got a raise(rah!)so the biweekly paychecks are a bit heftier so that gives us a little more to tuck away into savings each month.
Secondly, hubs had his annual review and his bonus arrived in the last paycheck for February. It's less than last year's bonus but still a goodly sum. Now to figure out where to allocate it and soon, so that if anything will go into long term savings I would like to get that earning some interest asap.
Thirdly, the Feds accepted our tax return(rah!)and the refund was deposited into our account earlier this week. I am still in a state of shock that I didn't screw up the Education Credit forms for the first time ever! this year.
While the tax refund was smaller this year(even with giving away TWO CARS to charity!!)we are thrilled to get anything back. We did realize this year that hubs still had 4 deductions on the withholding from when our daughter was still a dependent so we dropped that down to 3. Since hubs income was more last year with his bonus than it will be this year this will all be a wash in terms of refunds going up or down next tax season.
Fourthly, we have stayed out of stores(other than grocery types)the last 2 months so the credit card bill(which "cuts" on Monday or Tuesday next week)is under $300 so far, with no spending planned before then. Now if only this fricking ARCTIC COLD would leave and stop playing havoc with our electric/heating bill, we could have a STELLAR month for lower expenses!
Fifthly(is that even a word?lol), we have satisfied our healthcare deductible as of a few days ago, due to all those tests I've had recently.
While this means we have $1,633.60 hemorrhaging out of our FSA(which is NOT a good financial thing in itself), it now means all my prescriptions and DME restocks will be at our 10% copay. Yes, paying $35.00 for something is much better than paying $350.00 for it. ;-) I just hope the pre copay bills arrive in a staggered fashion so we don't empty out the FSA in one fell swoop, since I need some cash in it to pay for copays on Rxs later this month.
Having satisfied the $4K deductible also means that my cataract surgery in 2 weeks won't be paid fully OOP(or should that be OOFSA?).
Sixthly(yes it IS a word!), the quarterly dividends for our paltry stock portfolio should be arriving by month's end. I'll throw these into wherever I end up putting a chunk of the bonus money. It won't make much of a difference but it beats a poke in the eye with a stick. 8-)
How are your finances doing lately?
Sluggy
