Done w/ taxes.

I just sent out my tax forms.

I’ll be getting a refund of about $400.

CPA fee was $200.

=)

Hooray for CPA!

I’m getting a return on my taxes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’m still in disbelief. CPA called today to let me know that I will be receiving $2-300. In all, I’ll really be gaining $100 after his fees (less $200). Thank goodness I didn’t do my own taxes.

I’m really happy

*_*

No savings for the rest of the month :(

Vision care costs a lot (this time around).

I thought that w/ my brand new health insurance package, I would get my eyes checked. I need new contacts anyway since I washed them down the drain accidentally.

Prior to my exam today, I had gotten my eyes checked at my mom’s optometrist, one in K-town. I don’t like that place so much because I feel awkward since they don’t speak English well. Communication obstacles are a serious problem for me in any situation.

Those exams typically cost $50. I would get contacts for about $180. This was all out of my pocket (not through insurance).

My last exam was in Korea a little over a year ago. I wanted to get my eyes, checked, a new pair of glasses and some contacts before heading back to the states. A lot of things are more affordable in Korea, and this includes vision and dental exams. So, my eyes were checked, I got a new pair of glasses with some cheap frames, and two pairs of contacts–one name brand and one generic (just in case I lose the other pair). I paid $300 for everything.

Today’s exam and fitting totalled $199. Maybe it’s just me, but I think this is too expensive. With my health insurance discount (a general 20% applied), I still had to pay $160, and we didn’t even get to the contacts part! The optometrist had to special order my trial lenses. Trial lenses? Is this really necessary? I mean, I’m going to wear glasses most of the time and the contacts will be used for special occasions. Is she trying to make more money off of me? Or does fitting really make a huge difference? The actual disposable lenses will cost between $3-400. And get this, my discount does not apply! WHAT THE FREAK?!!!

Taxes.

I also went to my bro’s CPA to get my taxes done. Their fee is $200 which I consider to be well worth it if it’ll save me thousands. And, it is–a couple thousand.

These two things are straining my budget this month. And understandably, I will not be able to save for the rest of this month.

But, I guess these two things sorta cancel each other out. I save more with my taxes and I spend more for my eyes.

Set an appt with CPA.

I just set an appointment with my brother’s CPA for next week.

You ask, “Why are you doing this?”

Because…

• I was working project-to-project before my full-time job started in October
• I don’t want to pay a lot of taxes
• He’s affordable–only $200, and my brother’s been going to this guy for five years now
• He’s close to work

My Fidelity Roth IRA funds went through.

Now, what do I do? I am so confused… Should I just purchase the auto-pilot Freedom funds? This is all so confusing…

And, something cool…

I got some freelance work on the side! Ahh yea~! I’ll be tutoring this guy some Photoshop basics. And, he said that he might have some design work for me in the future.

This will help a lot in meeting my savings goal for this year!

A good way of visualizing your taxes.

Sitting pretty financially posted a little bit about taxes. See tax not only as a percentage taken out your income. Visualize it: for most, it’s about 3-4 months income out of the year. So, for a year’s worth of work, I/you receive only 8-9 months salary. Kinda makes you think more about your spending habits and being serious about your finances.As mentioned on an earlier post, I think I will open a Roth IRA with Fidelity since I have no retirement account and have already saved 3 months of emergency funds. I’ve also been playing with the idea of CD laddering through GMAC. That bank’s interest rates look hot.