If you’ve already completed your tax return for 2009, you may find yourself among those lucky folks who will receive an income tax refund. Tax returns can vary from small amounts to fairly hefty sums. In fact, some people receive returns that are as much as several thousand dollars. No you may find yourself thinking about what to do with this refund. Should you spend it quickly? Should you save it all? There are lots of good uses for your tax refund.
First, you should jump-start your mission to pay off all of your debt. Sometimes, the size of your debt can be so intimidating that you’re too discouraged to start working on your debt. But if you use your windfall to pay off a large chunk of your debt, you can get yourself motivated to continue with your plan to reduce your debt.
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This week’s Festival of Frugality was hosted at Miss Thrifty, a UK blog. With a Ration Book theme, this is an outstanding festival this week, with lots of frugal ideas and tips. We are thrilled that our article “50 chicken crockpot recipes” was chosen as an editor’s pick. Here are our favorites from this week’s festival:
How to Afford to be a Stay at Home Wife or Mom posted at Money Help For Christians.
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Credit card debt is a major stressor for many consumers. To get out of that debt you either need to make more cash (and actually use the extra money to pay off the debt) or you need to cut your expenses. I think it is actually easier to cut expenses, so I’ve listed 47 ways you can reduce your expenses and put that cash towards your debt repayment. When you’ve achieved your milestone of eliminating that debt, make sure you ditch the card so you don’t find yourself in the same position again.
1. Sell stuff on eBay.
I know you have probably heard this before but most likely you have stuff laying around your place that you don’t use any more, or need any more. Name brand clothing, books, CD’s, etc. Get the stuff listed on Ebay and get some money out of it. Need tips for selling on eBay? Check out How to Sell Stuff On Ebay , My eBay Method: 13 Steps to Profitable Auctions , and another article on How to Sell Your Stuff on Ebay .
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The following is a guest post by The Family Wallet.
Decorating the nursery is a favorite part of new baby preparations for many parents. Until it’s done, you just don’t feel like you’re ready to welcome your child into the world. So many moms- and dads-to-be go all out, buying expensive designer cribs, bedding and décor. But if you’re on a tight budget, that’s money that could be better spent on more practical things.
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A few weeks ago I posted about my first experiences with the gleaning co-op that I have joined which resulted in many interesting questions. I thought I’d drop in and update you about how it’s going, how it’s affecting our “bottom line” and if it’s worth it.
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Back in 2006, getting a mortgage to buy a home was about as easy as buying a tub of butter. Except, well, you actually had to PAY for the tub of butter upfront, whereas you could get a loan for the house. Even for the self-employed, there were NINA (no-income no asset) no-doc loans, or SISA (stated income, stated asset) loans that with the right credit score, you could qualify for. Heck, even with a bad credit score, you could still get a loan (granted your interest rate was higher).
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If you’re in the market for a new car or truck, you might be considering the option to lease and the option to buy. Unless you have enough cash available to purchase a new automobile outright, there are advantages and disadvantages to both choices and after you’ve considered your financial position, your decision should be easier than you think.
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A delicious soup for a cold day.
What You Need:
2 T canola oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp ginger, minced
3 C chicken broth
2 C plain yogurt
6 chicken thighs, skinless
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp lemon pepper
1 (1 lb.) bag red lentils
1 head of cauliflower, broken into florets
2 (16 oz) can chickpeas, drained
1 fresh lemon, cut into wedges
How to Make It:
Put the oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook 2 minutes and stirring continuously. Slowly add the broth and heat 1 minute. Pour the broth into the crock pot. Gently whisk in the yogurt. Cover the chicken with the kosher salt and pepper on both sides. Place the chicken into the crock pot.
Add the lentils. Cover and cook on high 3 hours. Add the cauliflower and chickpeas. Continue cooking 3 to 4 hours.
Serve each bowl with a wedge of lemon.
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