Tax Break on Fido?

I think all pet owners have, at one time or another, been tempted to claim Fido as a dependent on their taxes. Afterall those lovable animals do cost a lot of money in food, vet bills and toys, but until now I don't think Washington was listening.

The following information was reported this morning in The Denver Post - Parade Magazine. In the current economy, people are abandoning their pets in record numbers. This trend prompted Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R, Mich) to introduce a bill that would allow pet owners to deduct some pet-related costs from their taxes (up to $3,500.00 per year).

The article went on to say that 60% of Americans own pets and this credit would help keep them in loving homes.

Is this yet another way for Washington to tax the people or a legitimate savings? It will certainly be interesting to see how this one plays out.

Thrifty Living: Thrifty Deal of the Weekend

More Thrifty Living Tips

Thrifty Deal of the Weekend

Found this bag at a local store this weekend.

I liked the bag but after picking it up and looking a little closer, I discovered it had a missing zipper pull.

So I tried a technique I have heard about - I went to the counter, pointed out the missing zipper pull and asked if I could get a discount.



The bag was originally $36.00, but it was at one of those discount stores that already had it marked down to $21.60. Then to my surprise the young man at the counter said he could mark it down even more. Here is a copy of the receipt...



as you can see he marked it down 20% more!! What a thrifty deal on a handbag.

Based on my experience, I suggest you always check over the merchandise you are about to buy and if you happen to find a defect and still want the item, see if the store will mark it down for you.

Holiday Baking Madness

The Holidays are coming on fast so get ready for all your baking without stressing out. This is a great article on staying on top of the madness and enjoying the days ahead. Afterall the holidays are about enjoyment not stress...right?

Sausage Soup Recipe

I recently made up this yummy italian style soup. Here's the recipe for anyone wanting to try it.

The picture is the sausage I used that came from Sam's Club, but any sausage with italian seasonings would work.

Thrifty Living on the Fourth of July

Image by sunsurfr via Flickr

Independence Day in the United States is a day of celebrations, food , family and fireworks. Celebrating a thrifty fourth can be a challenge.

I personally have had years of spending a small fortune on food, fun and fireworks. But what I have found over the years is, the memories have very little to do with how much was spent.So I suggest if you are in charge of the food, buy the groceries that are on sale, but make it something easy to make and easy to serve. Hamburgers and hot dogs with a couple of salads, chips and some watermelon are a good option. Many families like to light up the outdoor grill on the fourth, and that is a very good option. If you live where fish or seafood are abundant, go that route. Just remember to make it fun and easy. Afterall the reason for the day is celebration, not work.

Happy Fourth of July to everyone.

How To Win The War On Debt

Debt - being in debt - is a very bad place to be indeed. For anyone struggling to get themselves out of debt, it is a long, hard road to travel.

However there are some steps you can take to get you started to living a debt-free life.

Debt and getting out of debt is more about emotions than it is finances. I know that seems like an odd thing to say, but if you are in debt and you think about getting out of debt, you will have some strong thoughts and even physical symptoms along with that thought.

So - you ask - how do you overcome the emotion and the physical reactions? Try starting slow. Look at your income and your expenses. Is there any place in your budget you could cut - even a little amount a week? For instance, could you cut out the coffee from the coffee shop on your way to work? Could you make coffee at home and take it with you in a travel mug? This one small step could save $20 to $25 a week that you could pay toward your debt.

It may not be coffee, but if you can save $25 a week somewhere in your budget, put that extra money toward your smallest debt. Whatever bill you are paying a minimum payment on (and make it the one with the smallest balance), put all the extra toward that bill. While you are paying off that debt, do not add anymore to the balance! Just keep adding more to the amount you are paying on the balance.

Soon you will have that bill paid off and you can move on to the next one. Continue paying the minimum payment on all your other debt so you don't fall behind on any of them.