http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living?hl=en
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Today's topics:
* Warning re Biodegradable Plastic Bags - 2 messages, 2 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/ad8779c939ff4750?hl=en
* Home heating oil price? - 11 messages, 5 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/25ab6d7a439ac7f1?hl=en
* Tracfone analog question. - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/76554cc728d7e996?hl=en
* What minor frugal change did you make this year? - 8 messages, 6 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/2d2a9d8612f0c718?hl=en
* Locksmiths Los Angeles 1-877-364-5264 - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/e05ba3c9c43c666e?hl=en
* Digital vs Analog cordless Phone? Health Radiation is the same? - 2 messages,
2 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/45689cba95ca38f8?hl=en
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Warning re Biodegradable Plastic Bags
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/ad8779c939ff4750?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Thurs, Dec 18 2008 11:56 pm
From: asiandollno1@gmail.com
From my experience some of the shopping plastic bag degrades faster
than the others even in the closet where it is warm, dark & dry.
AsianDoll
Since its my school semester break I have been using my free time
playing games like <a href=http://www.gamestotal.com> http://www.gamestotal.com
</a> <a href=http://uc.gamestotal.com> http://uc.gamestotal.com </a>
<a href=http://gc.gamestotal.com> http://gc.gamestotal.com </a> <a
href=http://3700ad.gamestotal.com> http://3700ad.gamestotal.com </a>
<a href=http://manga.gamestotal.com> http://manga.gamestotal.com </a>
== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 19 2008 4:46 am
From: Mark Leeper
On Dec 17, 5:58 pm, Evelyn Leeper <elee...@optonline.net> wrote:
> MSfort...@mcpmail.com wrote:
>
> (It could be worse--I know someone who almost burned themselves carrying
> keys and a 9V transistor battery in their pocket when a key ended out
> resting on both terminals of the battery for a fair length of time. As
> it was, it melted the hard candy they had in that pocket!)
>
> --EvelynC.Leeper
Actually the story was more bizarre than that. I was the someone.
There were no keys. I was keeping in a pocket a spare 9-volt battery
and as it happens a Jolly Rancher candy. Somehow both leads of the 9-
volt ended up touching the candy, which is a lowgrade conductor. I
guess the current started melting the candy making a better
connection. All I know is that I had a hot spot in my pocket and
found the 9-volt and the melted candy.
--Mark
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Home heating oil price?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/25ab6d7a439ac7f1?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 11 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 19 2008 2:25 am
From: tmclone@searchmachine.com
On Dec 19, 1:11 am, Ann <nntpm...@epix.net> wrote:
> On Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:36:59 -0800, tmclone wrote:
> > On Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:53:18 -0400, Jim Elbrecht <elbre...@email.com>
> > wrote:
> >>On Mon, 1 Sep 2008 12:02:33 -0400, "h" <tmcl...@searchmachine.com> wrote:
> > -snip-
> >>>Not in upstate NY it's not. Some places are charging over $5/gallon.
>
> >>I think I'll change my comment to "Who? Where?". You keep saying
> >>that NY has the highest taxes in the union- and it doesn't. Then you say
> >>that upstate costs are higher than downstate, which is ridiculous. You
> >>must live in a little bubble where everyone picks on you. I challenge
> >>you to find me some >$5.00 oil in *your* upstate NY.
>
> > You must be learning impaired. 9 of the top 10 property tax counties in
> > the nation are in NY. I happen to live in one of them. You obviously
> > don't.
>
> >http://www.syracuse.com/graphics/index.ssf/2008/04/new_york_counties_...
>
> > PLONK!
>
> I live in rural PA, bordering NY's southern tier - and recall when those
> numbers were reported on local TV. (The only stations we get are from
> NY.) My response was "what's the big deal?" I pay about the same $ of my
> property's FMV in RE taxes and receive fewer services. For example, the
> state does the paved roads and policing. Another consideration is
> partial RE tax rebates available to low/moderate income taxpayers, e.g.
> IT-214. Also, PA's personal income tax doesn't have itemized deductions,
> while NY's piggybacks on the 1040. One has to look at the whole tax
> picture, not just the RE tax..
>
> . - Hide quoted text -
>
Whatever. I pay $4800 taxes on a house assessed at $120k. I pay $6000
income taxes on an income of $20k. It all seems obscenely high to me.
== 2 of 11 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 19 2008 5:23 am
From: Jim
tmclone wrote:
>
[....]
> >
>
> Whatever. I pay $4800 taxes on a house assessed at $120k. I pay $6000
> income taxes on an income of $20k. It all seems obscenely high to me.
if it were not for the fact of how we endure a vile corrupt and
wasteful government consisting of govern-0-mites I'd most likely
never complain or express any real dissatisfaction concerning the
amount of tax I pay. however as reality is, I take the time every
year to read and study the tax code so as to make myself aware of
each provision allowing deductions and exemptions. I'll render no
more unto caesar than caesar's law requires.
when asked why I'm willing to endure the hardships of Farming as
well as spend twice the amount on Farming as I'd be required to
pay in local property tax my reply is always centered around who
gets to spend the money, me or the govern-0-mites. most people
not all but most do feel they can do a better job of spending
their money than someone else could. but then there are some
who love and worship their govern-0-mites...
== 3 of 11 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 19 2008 5:58 am
From: Jim Elbrecht
On Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:36:59 -0800 (PST), tmclone@searchmachine.com
wrote:
>On Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:53:18 -0400, Jim Elbrecht <elbre...@email.com>
>wrote:
>
>
>
>>On Mon, 1 Sep 2008 12:02:33 -0400, "h" <tmcl...@searchmachine.com>
>>wrote:
>-snip-
>>>Not in upstate NY it's not. Some places are charging over $5/gallon.
>
>
>>I think I'll change my comment to "Who? Where?". You keep saying
>>that NY has the highest taxes in the union- and it doesn't. Then you
>>say that upstate costs are higher than downstate, which is ridiculous.
>>You must live in a little bubble where everyone picks on you. I
>>challenge you to find me some >$5.00 oil in *your* upstate NY.
>
>You must be learning impaired.
One of us might be- The question [posted 3 1/2 months ago] was
"where is there $5/gallon fuel oil?'.
> 9 of the top 10 property tax counties
>in the nation are in NY. I happen to live in one of them. You
>obviously don't.
>
>http://www.syracuse.com/graphics/index.ssf/2008/04/new_york_counties_lead_us_in_p.html
Actually I do-- sort of. The weasel word is "effective tax rate".
Here it is in the original report by the NY "Commission on tax
relief"--- "top ten in terms of property tax amounts and property
taxes *****as a percentage of income.**** "
http://www.state.ny.us/governor/press/press_0904082.html
Another problem I have with their numbers is that they are comparing
an "average tax" and an "average home"-- not doing the rates, then
averaging.
At any rate, I'm 3 counties below you on that list- and they say the
average house in Schenectady county is worth $145,000 and the average
tax is $3571. My house was just assessed last year and is worth
nearly twice that- $270K - and my property taxes are under $3000.
In the city of Schenectady, however- a city with *lots* of poor folks
and a budget still based on when it was booming there is a very high
*income to property tax* ratio.
>PLONK!
Yeah, right.
Jim
== 4 of 11 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 19 2008 7:26 am
From: Ann
On Fri, 19 Dec 2008 02:25:01 -0800, tmclone wrote:
> On Dec 19, 1:11 am, Ann <nntpm...@epix.net> wrote:
>> On Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:36:59 -0800, tmclone wrote:
>> > On Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:53:18 -0400, Jim Elbrecht <elbre...@email.com>
>> > wrote:
>> >>On Mon, 1 Sep 2008 12:02:33 -0400, "h" <tmcl...@searchmachine.com>
>> >>wrote:
>> > -snip-
>> >>>Not in upstate NY it's not. Some places are charging over $5/gallon.
>>
>> >>I think I'll change my comment to "Who? Where?". You keep
>> >>saying that NY has the highest taxes in the union- and it doesn't.
>> >> Then you say that upstate costs are higher than downstate, which is
>> >>ridiculous. You must live in a little bubble where everyone picks on
>> >>you. I challenge you to find me some >$5.00 oil in *your* upstate
>> >>NY.
>>
>> > You must be learning impaired. 9 of the top 10 property tax counties
>> > in the nation are in NY. I happen to live in one of them. You
>> > obviously don't.
>>
>> >http://www.syracuse.com/graphics/index.ssf/2008/04/new_york_counties_...
>>
>> > PLONK!
>>
>> I live in rural PA, bordering NY's southern tier - and recall when those
>> numbers were reported on local TV. (The only stations we get are from
>> NY.) My response was "what's the big deal?" I pay about the same $ of
>> my property's FMV in RE taxes and receive fewer services. For example,
>> the state does the paved roads and policing. Another consideration is
>> partial RE tax rebates available to low/moderate income taxpayers, e.g.
>> IT-214. Also, PA's personal income tax doesn't have itemized
>> deductions, while NY's piggybacks on the 1040. One has to look at the
>> whole tax picture, not just the RE tax..
>>
>> . - Hide quoted text -
>>
>>
> Whatever. I pay $4800 taxes on a house assessed at $120k.
So? What matters for comparison purposes is the property's FMV and what
services are provided for your tax dollars.
> I pay $6000
> income taxes on an income of $20k.
Sure you do. (I was an AARP Tax-Aide volunteer tax preparer in NYS for a
season.)
> It all seems obscenely high to me.
So, move out of NYS.
== 5 of 11 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 19 2008 7:30 am
From: clams_casino
Ann wrote:
>On Fri, 19 Dec 2008 02:25:01 -0800, tmclone wrote:
>
>
>
>>On Dec 19, 1:11 am, Ann <nntpm...@epix.net> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>On Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:36:59 -0800, tmclone wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>On Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:53:18 -0400, Jim Elbrecht <elbre...@email.com>
>>>>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>On Mon, 1 Sep 2008 12:02:33 -0400, "h" <tmcl...@searchmachine.com>
>>>>>wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>-snip-
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>>Not in upstate NY it's not. Some places are charging over $5/gallon.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>I think I'll change my comment to "Who? Where?". You keep
>>>>>saying that NY has the highest taxes in the union- and it doesn't.
>>>>> Then you say that upstate costs are higher than downstate, which is
>>>>>ridiculous. You must live in a little bubble where everyone picks on
>>>>>you. I challenge you to find me some >$5.00 oil in *your* upstate
>>>>>NY.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>You must be learning impaired. 9 of the top 10 property tax counties
>>>>in the nation are in NY. I happen to live in one of them. You
>>>>obviously don't.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>http://www.syracuse.com/graphics/index.ssf/2008/04/new_york_counties_...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>PLONK!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>I live in rural PA, bordering NY's southern tier - and recall when those
>>>numbers were reported on local TV. (The only stations we get are from
>>>NY.) My response was "what's the big deal?" I pay about the same $ of
>>>my property's FMV in RE taxes and receive fewer services. For example,
>>>the state does the paved roads and policing. Another consideration is
>>>partial RE tax rebates available to low/moderate income taxpayers, e.g.
>>>IT-214. Also, PA's personal income tax doesn't have itemized
>>>deductions, while NY's piggybacks on the 1040. One has to look at the
>>>whole tax picture, not just the RE tax..
>>>
>>> . - Hide quoted text -
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>Whatever. I pay $4800 taxes on a house assessed at $120k.
>>
>>
>
>So? What matters for comparison purposes is the property's FMV and what
>services are provided for your tax dollars.
>
>
>
>>I pay $6000
>>income taxes on an income of $20k.
>>
>>
>
>
>
If you are paying $6k total taxes on 20k, you are about average -
perhaps a bit better than average. Of course that's assuming federal &
state income, sales & property, excise taxes & FICA, etc..
Most pay about 30-33% on their total income, although the higher your
income, that percentage will likely drop below 30%.
== 6 of 11 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 19 2008 12:00 pm
From: Jim Elbrecht
On Fri, 19 Dec 2008 02:25:01 -0800 (PST), tmclone@searchmachine.com
wrote:
-snip-
>
>Whatever. I pay $4800 taxes on a house assessed at $120k. I pay $6000
>income taxes on an income of $20k. It all seems obscenely high to me.
Did you mean $200K?
In NY, the tax on a single person, claimed as a dependent on another
person's return was $797 last year.
The federal tax is less than $2000.
That's assuming you are living with your mom and are ineligible for
any credits.
I'll bet you're mistaken about your property taxes, too.
Just for giggles- how do you survive in the luxurious Onondaga county
on your $9000 after taxes income?
Jim
== 7 of 11 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 19 2008 1:15 pm
From: tmclone@searchmachine.com
On Dec 19, 10:26 am, Ann <nntpm...@epix.net> wrote:
> On Fri, 19 Dec 2008 02:25:01 -0800, tmclone wrote:
> > On Dec 19, 1:11 am, Ann <nntpm...@epix.net> wrote:
> >> On Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:36:59 -0800, tmclone wrote:
> >> > On Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:53:18 -0400, Jim Elbrecht <elbre...@email.com>
> >> > wrote:
> >> >>On Mon, 1 Sep 2008 12:02:33 -0400, "h" <tmcl...@searchmachine.com>
> >> >>wrote:
> >> > -snip-
> >> >>>Not in upstate NY it's not. Some places are charging over $5/gallon.
>
> >> >>I think I'll change my comment to "Who? Where?". You keep
> >> >>saying that NY has the highest taxes in the union- and it doesn't.
> >> >> Then you say that upstate costs are higher than downstate, which is
> >> >>ridiculous. You must live in a little bubble where everyone picks on
> >> >>you. I challenge you to find me some >$5.00 oil in *your* upstate
> >> >>NY.
>
> >> > You must be learning impaired. 9 of the top 10 property tax counties
> >> > in the nation are in NY. I happen to live in one of them. You
> >> > obviously don't.
>
> >> >http://www.syracuse.com/graphics/index.ssf/2008/04/new_york_counties_...
>
> >> > PLONK!
>
> >> I live in rural PA, bordering NY's southern tier - and recall when those
> >> numbers were reported on local TV. (The only stations we get are from
> >> NY.) My response was "what's the big deal?" I pay about the same $ of
> >> my property's FMV in RE taxes and receive fewer services. For example,
> >> the state does the paved roads and policing. Another consideration is
> >> partial RE tax rebates available to low/moderate income taxpayers, e.g.
> >> IT-214. Also, PA's personal income tax doesn't have itemized
> >> deductions, while NY's piggybacks on the 1040. One has to look at the
> >> whole tax picture, not just the RE tax..
>
> >> . - Hide quoted text -
>
> > Whatever. I pay $4800 taxes on a house assessed at $120k.
>
> So? What matters for comparison purposes is the property's FMV and what
> services are provided for your tax dollars.
>
> > I pay $6000
> > income taxes on an income of $20k.
>
> Sure you do. (I was an AARP Tax-Aide volunteer tax preparer in NYS for a
> season.)
>
Umm, yeah, I do. I'm self-employed so I get the extra 7.5% off the
top. Since the house is nearly paid for, I have almost no deductions.
According to the town, the "fair market value" of my home is $120k,
although I tried to sell it 3 years ago and couldn't even get $99k. No
one wants to live in this county and pay the obscene taxes. Services
are non-existent. We have water, but no sewer, no garbage, volunteer
fire and ambulance, paid police. They plow the roads and set speed
traps. That's about all we get for services. This is the boonies.
== 8 of 11 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 19 2008 1:17 pm
From: tmclone@searchmachine.com
On Dec 19, 10:30 am, clams_casino <PeterGrif...@DrunkinClam.com>
wrote:
> Ann wrote:
> >On Fri, 19 Dec 2008 02:25:01 -0800, tmclone wrote:
>
> >>On Dec 19, 1:11 am, Ann <nntpm...@epix.net> wrote:
>
> >>>On Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:36:59 -0800, tmclone wrote:
>
> >>>>On Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:53:18 -0400, Jim Elbrecht <elbre...@email.com>
> >>>>wrote:
>
> >>>>>On Mon, 1 Sep 2008 12:02:33 -0400, "h" <tmcl...@searchmachine.com>
> >>>>>wrote:
>
> >>>>-snip-
>
> >>>>>>Not in upstate NY it's not. Some places are charging over $5/gallon.
>
> >>>>>I think I'll change my comment to "Who? Where?". You keep
> >>>>>saying that NY has the highest taxes in the union- and it doesn't.
> >>>>> Then you say that upstate costs are higher than downstate, which is
> >>>>>ridiculous. You must live in a little bubble where everyone picks on
> >>>>>you. I challenge you to find me some >$5.00 oil in *your* upstate
> >>>>>NY.
>
> >>>>You must be learning impaired. 9 of the top 10 property tax counties
> >>>>in the nation are in NY. I happen to live in one of them. You
> >>>>obviously don't.
>
> >>>>http://www.syracuse.com/graphics/index.ssf/2008/04/new_york_counties_...
>
> >>>>PLONK!
>
> >>>I live in rural PA, bordering NY's southern tier - and recall when those
> >>>numbers were reported on local TV. (The only stations we get are from
> >>>NY.) My response was "what's the big deal?" I pay about the same $ of
> >>>my property's FMV in RE taxes and receive fewer services. For example,
> >>>the state does the paved roads and policing. Another consideration is
> >>>partial RE tax rebates available to low/moderate income taxpayers, e.g.
> >>>IT-214. Also, PA's personal income tax doesn't have itemized
> >>>deductions, while NY's piggybacks on the 1040. One has to look at the
> >>>whole tax picture, not just the RE tax..
>
> >>> . - Hide quoted text -
>
> >>Whatever. I pay $4800 taxes on a house assessed at $120k.
>
> >So? What matters for comparison purposes is the property's FMV and what
> >services are provided for your tax dollars.
>
> >>I pay $6000
> >>income taxes on an income of $20k.
>
> If you are paying $6k total taxes on 20k, you are about average -
> perhaps a bit better than average. Of course that's assuming federal &
> state income, sales & property, excise taxes & FICA, etc..
>
> Most pay about 30-33% on their total income, although the higher your
> income, that percentage will likely drop below 30%.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Umm, no, that's just state and fed. The property taxes are another
$4800 on top of the $6000. Weird part is that my income taxes weren't
much higher when I was making $45K a few years ago. It's being self-
employed that's screwing me.
== 9 of 11 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 19 2008 1:23 pm
From: tmclone@searchmachine.com
On Dec 19, 3:00 pm, Jim Elbrecht <elbre...@email.com> wrote:
> On Fri, 19 Dec 2008 02:25:01 -0800 (PST), tmcl...@searchmachine.com
> wrote:
>
> -snip-
>
>
>
> >Whatever. I pay $4800 taxes on a house assessed at $120k. I pay $6000
> >income taxes on an income of $20k. It all seems obscenely high to me.
>
> Did you mean $200K?
>
> In NY, the tax on a single person, claimed as a dependent on another
> person's return was $797 last year.
>
> The federal tax is less than $2000.
>
> That's assuming you are living with your mom and are ineligible for
> any credits.
>
> I'll bet you're mistaken about your property taxes, too.
>
> Just for giggles- how do you survive in the luxurious Onondaga county
> on your $9000 after taxes income?
>
> Jim
I'm not in Onondaga county. How could I be mistaken about my taxes? I
just got the receipt in the mail last month. My mother died years ago
in her 80s, jackass. When you don't owe anything other than a tiny
mortgage, $9k is just fine, thanks. It was much nicer when I made
$45k, but my business has been hurting in this economy, just like
everyone else's.
== 10 of 11 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 19 2008 2:57 pm
From: Ann
On Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:15:04 -0800, tmclone wrote:
> On Dec 19, 10:26 am, Ann <nntpm...@epix.net> wrote:
>> On Fri, 19 Dec 2008 02:25:01 -0800, tmclone wrote:
>> > On Dec 19, 1:11 am, Ann <nntpm...@epix.net> wrote:
>> >> On Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:36:59 -0800, tmclone wrote:
>> >> > On Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:53:18 -0400, Jim Elbrecht
>> >> > <elbre...@email.com> wrote:
>> >> >>On Mon, 1 Sep 2008 12:02:33 -0400, "h" <tmcl...@searchmachine.com>
>> >> >>wrote:
>> >> > -snip-
>> >> >>>Not in upstate NY it's not. Some places are charging over
>> >> >>>$5/gallon.
>>
>> >> >>I think I'll change my comment to "Who? Where?". You keep
>> >> >>saying that NY has the highest taxes in the union- and it doesn't.
>> >> >> Then you say that upstate costs are higher than downstate, which
>> >> >>is ridiculous. You must live in a little bubble where everyone
>> >> >>picks on you. I challenge you to find me some >$5.00 oil in
>> >> >>*your* upstate NY.
>>
>> >> > You must be learning impaired. 9 of the top 10 property tax
>> >> > counties in the nation are in NY. I happen to live in one of them.
>> >> > You obviously don't.
>>
>> >> >http://www.syracuse.com/graphics/index.ssf/2008/04/new_york_counties_...
>>
>> >> > PLONK!
>>
>> >> I live in rural PA, bordering NY's southern tier - and recall when
>> >> those numbers were reported on local TV. (The only stations we get
>> >> are from NY.) My response was "what's the big deal?" I pay about
>> >> the same $ of my property's FMV in RE taxes and receive fewer
>> >> services. For example, the state does the paved roads and policing.
>> >> Another consideration is partial RE tax rebates available to
>> >> low/moderate income taxpayers, e.g. IT-214. Also, PA's personal
>> >> income tax doesn't have itemized deductions, while NY's piggybacks on
>> >> the 1040. One has to look at the whole tax picture, not just the RE
>> >> tax..
>>
>> >> . - Hide quoted text -
>>
>> > Whatever. I pay $4800 taxes on a house assessed at $120k.
>>
>> So? What matters for comparison purposes is the property's FMV and
>> what services are provided for your tax dollars.
>>
>> > I pay $6000
>> > income taxes on an income of $20k.
>>
>> Sure you do. (I was an AARP Tax-Aide volunteer tax preparer in NYS for
>> a season.)
>>
> Umm, yeah, I do. I'm self-employed so I get the extra 7.5% off the top.
> Since the house is nearly paid for, I have almost no deductions.
FICA is not "income tax". It's your payment into a
retirement/disability/etc fund, which you probably will get back in the
future. And you'd pay that no matter what state you lived in.
> According to the town, the "fair market value" of my home is $120k,
> although I tried to sell it 3 years ago and couldn't even get $99k.
Then you should appeal your assessment.
> No
> one wants to live in this county and pay the obscene taxes. Services are
> non-existent. We have water, but no sewer, no garbage, volunteer fire
> and ambulance, paid police. They plow the roads and set speed traps.
> That's about all we get for services. This is the boonies.
Not really the boonies if you live in a town and have water, police, and
and the town plows the roads. You'd be in the boonies if your (state)
police station was 15+ miles away. <g>
Agreed on trying to sell property, without taking back a mortgage.
== 11 of 11 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 19 2008 3:25 pm
From: clams_casino
Ann wrote:
>
>
>FICA is not "income tax". It's your payment into a
>retirement/disability/etc fund, which you probably will get back in the
>future. And you'd pay that no matter what state you lived in.
>
>
Since when? Even the federal government refers to it as a payroll tax
where they publish "tax rate" tables. Hint - there is no "fund". It's
used to pay current retirees with the excess going to pay for deficit
federal spending where there is a promise there will be workers paying
similar taxes in the future to pay for his retirement. Call it was it
is (as the government does) - it's a payroll tax.
I believe the OP was pointing out he was having to pay about 15% of
wages in social security due to being self employed plus the federal and
state income on top of the high NY property taxes.
I do, however, doubt he is paying $6k state, federal and social security
taxes on $20k gross income. Social security should be about $3k, but
after even with a single standard deduction, he likely only pays about
$1300 federal and perhaps $400 in state. He should not be paying more
than about $4700 in payroll taxes, although that is still nearly 1/4 of
his gross income. Of course, this assumes a short form - probably
unlikely for someone who is self employed, especially with a reported
$4800 potential deductions just in property taxes, so the income taxes
should actually be lower.
If he really is paying $6k on $20k, he really needs to get some help
with his taxes.
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Tracfone analog question.
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/76554cc728d7e996?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 19 2008 6:57 am
From: Brian Elfert
"'nam vet." <georgewkspam@humboldt1.com> writes:
>I heard that they were going to turn off rural markets from Analog.
>We are rural.
>A local provider assures me the Tracfone is digital. so I should be OK.
>we'll see come Feb.
You're still confused. Cell phone providers could start turning off
analog service in Feb 2008. I haven't had a cell phone that was analog
and digital for several years. With my old phone if I couldn't get a
digital signal the analog signal was usually so weak as to be worthless.
Feb 2009 is when analog TV signals go away.
==============================================================================
TOPIC: What minor frugal change did you make this year?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/2d2a9d8612f0c718?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 8 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 19 2008 10:18 am
From: OhioGuy
I thought it would be fun to share stories about things we have done
this year to make a small but frugal difference in our budgets and such.
For me, this year I got annoyed at having to buy sandwich bags over
and over, and realized I could cut down on this some if I started
reusing the bread, bagel and English Muffin wrappers (and even plastic
cereal bags from inside the boxes). So now we reuse our bread wrappers,
and I've cut down on the purchase of sandwich bags by about 20%. It
feels good to reuse something we were formerly throwing away without
thinking about it, too.
Another small change I made was installing a power strip to have our
laptop and accessories plugged in to. I read that not having the laptop
plugged in all the time will make the batteries last longer. We also
have a visioneer scanner with no power switch that sucks a bit of energy
all the time, and a Yahoo Messenger phone that I use once in a great
while. I put all of these on the power strip, and now I switch it all
off at night. No more power draw on the electric bill for a whole
weekend if we are away.
So that's a couple of small changes we have made. How about you?
== 2 of 8 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 19 2008 10:38 am
From: "Rod Speed"
OhioGuy wrote:
> I thought it would be fun to share stories about things we have done
> this year to make a small but frugal difference in our budgets and
> such.
> For me, this year I got annoyed at having to buy sandwich bags over
> and over, and realized I could cut down on this some if I started
> reusing the bread, bagel and English Muffin wrappers (and even plastic
> cereal bags from inside the boxes). So now we reuse our bread
> wrappers, and I've cut down on the purchase of sandwich bags by about
> 20%. It feels good to reuse something we were formerly throwing away
> without thinking about it, too.
>
> Another small change I made was installing a power strip to have our
> laptop and accessories plugged in to. I read that not having the
> laptop plugged in all the time will make the batteries last longer. We also have a visioneer scanner with no power
> switch that sucks a
> bit of energy all the time, and a Yahoo Messenger phone that I use
> once in a great while. I put all of these on the power strip, and
> now I switch it all off at night. No more power draw on the electric
> bill for a whole weekend if we are away.
>
> So that's a couple of small changes we have made. How about you?
Started using voip. So I now pay no monthly charge and get phone
calls for 8c each, regardless of how long they last, anywhere in my
country, and to the US, britain, china and singapore too.
Did that with no upfront charge because my Nokia N95 cellphone
has voip built in and I make the calls over wifi to my DSL.
== 3 of 8 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 19 2008 11:12 am
From: Evelyn Leeper
Rod Speed wrote:
>
> Did that with no upfront charge because my Nokia N95 cellphone
> has voip built in and I make the calls over wifi to my DSL.
Just try telling that to someone over sixty years old and see the look
on their faces.
(Okay, not everyone in that age range. But when I picture my father
trying to make sense of that sentence, my mind boggles.)
--
Evelyn C. Leeper
Be braver. You cannot cross a chasm in two small jumps.
== 4 of 8 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 19 2008 11:15 am
From: phil scott
On Dec 19, 10:18 am, OhioGuy <n...@none.net> wrote:
> I thought it would be fun to share stories about things we have done
> this year to make a small but frugal difference in our budgets and such.
>
> For me, this year I got annoyed at having to buy sandwich bags over
> and over, and realized I could cut down on this some if I started
> reusing the bread, bagel and English Muffin wrappers (and even plastic
> cereal bags from inside the boxes). So now we reuse our bread wrappers,
> and I've cut down on the purchase of sandwich bags by about 20%. It
> feels good to reuse something we were formerly throwing away without
> thinking about it, too.
>
> Another small change I made was installing a power strip to have our
> laptop and accessories plugged in to. I read that not having the laptop
> plugged in all the time will make the batteries last longer. We also
> have a visioneer scanner with no power switch that sucks a bit of energy
> all the time, and a Yahoo Messenger phone that I use once in a great
> while. I put all of these on the power strip, and now I switch it all
> off at night. No more power draw on the electric bill for a whole
> weekend if we are away.
>
> So that's a couple of small changes we have made. How about you?
I spent money... 800 dollars on a chamber of commerce ad for my
services... that will bring in about 8,000 dollars gross profit.
Phil scott
== 5 of 8 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 19 2008 11:50 am
From: The Real Bev
Evelyn Leeper wrote:
> Rod Speed wrote:
>>
>> Did that with no upfront charge because my Nokia N95 cellphone
>> has voip built in and I make the calls over wifi to my DSL.
>
> Just try telling that to someone over sixty years old and see the look
> on their faces.
Read my lips: Try not to be an asshole.
> (Okay, not everyone in that age range.
Gee thanks.
> But when I picture my father
> trying to make sense of that sentence, my mind boggles.)
Did you set up a computer for him? Sometimes the "elderly" need to be
forced. Our parents couldn't figure out why they needed a computer so
we gave them one. Not having to deal out those damn cards for solitaire
turns out to be a good enough reason, and it teaches mouse skills.
--
Cheers, Bev
============================================================
Brian (Talking to crowd): You need to be independent minded.
Crowd: We are! We are!
Person in crowd: I'm not! -- Monty Python
== 6 of 8 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 19 2008 1:10 pm
From: Seerialmom
On Dec 19, 11:50 am, The Real Bev <bashley101+use...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Evelyn Leeper wrote:
> > Rod Speed wrote:
>
> >> Did that with no upfront charge because my Nokia N95 cellphone
> >> has voip built in and I make the calls over wifi to my DSL.
>
> > Just try telling that to someone over sixty years old and see the look
> > on their faces.
>
> Read my lips: Try not to be an asshole.
>
> > (Okay, not everyone in that age range.
>
> Gee thanks.
>
> > But when I picture my father
> > trying to make sense of that sentence, my mind boggles.)
>
> Did you set up a computer for him? Sometimes the "elderly" need to be
> forced. Our parents couldn't figure out why they needed a computer so
> we gave them one. Not having to deal out those damn cards for solitaire
> turns out to be a good enough reason, and it teaches mouse skills.
>
> --
> Cheers, Bev
> ============================================================
> Brian (Talking to crowd): You need to be independent minded.
> Crowd: We are! We are!
> Person in crowd: I'm not! -- Monty Python
Bev I think you were under the impression that Rod S. made the comment
about telling that to someone over 60 years old and watch their face.
All he did was said how he used his cellphone and VOIP; it was Evelyn
who made the comment about the 60 year old.
personally I thought it was a pretty funny statement because I've seen
many a blank face as I try to explain what's wrong with someone's
computer.
== 7 of 8 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 19 2008 2:30 pm
From: "Rod Speed"
Evelyn Leeper wrote
> Rod Speed wrote
>> Did that with no upfront charge because my Nokia N95 cellphone
>> has voip built in and I make the calls over wifi to my DSL.
> Just try telling that to someone over sixty years old and see the look on their faces.
I'm over that age myself.
> (Okay, not everyone in that age range.
I didnt have any problem explaining the advantages to someone I have known for decades who is now 87.
> But when I picture my father trying to make sense of that sentence, my mind boggles.)
The 87 year old didnt have any problem with it when I said that to him.
Neither have any of those I know who are often over 60 too.
== 8 of 8 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 19 2008 2:37 pm
From: "Rod Speed"
The Real Bev wrote
> Evelyn Leeper wrote
>> Rod Speed wrote:
>>> Did that with no upfront charge because my Nokia N95 cellphone
>>> has voip built in and I make the calls over wifi to my DSL.
>> Just try telling that to someone over sixty years old and see the look on their faces.
>
> Read my lips: Try not to be an asshole.
>
>> (Okay, not everyone in that age range.
>
> Gee thanks.
>
>> But when I picture my father
>> trying to make sense of that sentence, my mind boggles.)
> Did you set up a computer for him?
I didnt need to for my parents.
> Sometimes the "elderly" need to be forced. Our parents couldn't figure out why they needed a computer
Mine decided for themselves that they needed one.
> so we gave them one. Not having to deal out those damn cards for solitaire turns out to be a good enough reason, and
> it teaches mouse skills.
When my dad ended up in hospital after a fall, I found a massive great stack
of sheets of paper where he had printed out his order for dinner to the licensed
restaurant thats in the retirement village which has weekly specials delivered in golf
buggys. He faxed them to the restaurant. I hadnt needed to even suggest that to him.
He must have been about 90 at the time.
The only thing we ever had any real problem with him with was getting him to not
answer the phone when we were faxing the details of when we planned to show up
from the other side of the country. The phone and fax shared the phone line and for
some reason while he was fine with incoming faxes in general, when we had just
talked to him on the phone, and said we would send a fax after hanging up, quite
a bit of the time he'd answer the fax call with the phone.
I never did set him up for voip, he died before it was viable, at 95 or something.
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Locksmiths Los Angeles 1-877-364-5264
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/e05ba3c9c43c666e?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 19 2008 11:51 am
From: linkswanted
Locksmiths Los Angeles 1-877-364-5264
San Fernando Valley Locksmith 1-818-386-1022
Los Angeles Hollywood Locksmith 1-323-678-2704
West Los Angeles, Marina Del Rey, Culver City, Santa Monica, Beverly
Hills Locksmith 1-310-925-1720
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Digital vs Analog cordless Phone? Health Radiation is the same?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/45689cba95ca38f8?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 19 2008 12:17 pm
From: lbbss
I noticed that you can buy a 5.8Mhz phone in both analog or digital.
I realize most people thing cordless phones are fairly safe, but is
an still curious if one gives off more radiation then the other before
I buy a my next phone. thanks
== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 19 2008 1:13 pm
From: "JR Weiss"
"lbbss" <labicff@yahoo.com> wrote...
>I noticed that you can buy a 5.8Mhz phone in both analog or digital.
> I realize most people thing cordless phones are fairly safe, but is
> an still curious if one gives off more radiation then the other before
> I buy a my next phone. thanks
If cell phones are any gauge, digital uses a lot less power than analog.
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