The Coupon Challenge

Hampton Roads (Virginia) Coupon Blog

Worth Reading

Wedding Dress from Goodwill

by Dana Zeliff on
in Worth Reading

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

Thanks to Amee with Madame Deals for sharing this post with us.  Wedding dresses can be extremely expensive, especially since you only where then once.  Purchasing a used wedding gown could be a great way to keep a wedding budget on track.

I was at Goodwill this weekend and they had a Bridal Gown sale. They had some really nice dresses that a bridal shop donate when it closed. I couldn’t believe the selection. It turns out they have these sales once a year. I say call your local Goodwill and ask about it. If you can wait you can bid online at Goodwill’s Auction site. If you go to the auction site use the key words wedding dress, bridal, formal wear.

If you are looking for anything try there first. I scored some great COACH boots last year click here if you want to see them.

They also have a site where you can find nearly new or new stuff.

Goodwill’s Nearly New site.

The best part about goodwill is it puts people to work who may not be able to get a job elsewhere and it supports the community.

No Comments

Ask an Accountant: Blogger EIN Number & 1099 Form

by Dana Zeliff on
in Worth Reading

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

Thanks to Mom on Dealz for sharing her new series, Ask an Accountant!  Sharon is married to an experienced accountant, so if you’re looking for a professional to help out with taxes this year, give him a call.

Since I am a blogger and know how confusing tax time can be, I thought it would be appropriate to share some questions I have received from fellow bloggers this week. I inserted my name and blog name to keep the situation anonymous. Also, due to the number of blogger tax questions I have received, I will be including 2 questions this week.

Question #1:
I’m a bit lost on the EIN and the company name thing and if I need to do it as a business or what…. I got an EIN but its for my name…do I need one for the blog? Do I need to get a business license? I know some have their blogs as corporations or LLC. ???

Answer #1:
The blog and you are one in the same (unless you incorporated or filed LLC registration with the state). Essentially the blog name is a d/b/a for you personally (sharon ____ d/b/a momondealz.com). What this does is allows you to get paid under your personal name for income of the business without putting your social security number for all to see.

If you plan to generate revenue or sell anything (advertising, tangible items, coupons, etc…) you do need a business license. Along with this comes an annual registration fee as well as Tangible Business Personal Property Tax for the city you live in (computer, camera). Tangible business personal property is any asset or item with a useful life used to produce income. The tax is similar to your personal property tax on your car. Without this, the IRS would consider your venture a “hobby” and limit the deductions you can take.

Question #2
Is it true that if you make under $600 you don’t have to report it? And is it $600 per source (this affiliate, that affiliate) or $600 from all sources?

Answer #2
Per IRS guidelines you are required to report ALL income from all sources whether you receive a 1099 or not.

The $600 threshold is for the “payer” or in this case the affiliates. The IRS mandates that the “payer” fill out and send form 1099 to each un-incorporated entity/person (blogger in this case) that they paid for services (no tangible items). The reasoning behind this is two-fold. One is to remind the recipient of the income they received from each source they received income from, and two, provides a “paper-trail” for the payer to substantiate payments they will deduct from their business. In the event of an audit, this is one of the first things the IRS will ask a business for in order to allow the deduction.

Keep in mind, even if you are incorporated or received less than $600, you may still receive a 1099 for services you performed, as $600 is the IRS threshold, not necessarily the company’s threshold

*Please keep in mind this post is for informational purposes only and answers given are very general. Many things depend on individual circumstances. Please contact your personal accountant or financial advisor for your particular situation.

photo credit: austinpost.org

No Comments

Dating on a Dime: Get a Massage

by Dana Zeliff on
in Worth Reading

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

Creating quality time in a marriage or with a significant other is imperative to the strength of a relationship.  But how to you stay on budget with everything else going on in your lives?  Living on Love and Cents has put together a great article for this weeks Dating on a Dime series:

While trying to cut back and still getting out and adding sparks to your relationship you have to think outside the box.

Here is an idea for you:
Need some relaxing time? Try a massage school. I know it sounds strange. But my husband and I have done this several times and it is fabulous!

Look in the phone book or on the internet for “massage schools” in your area. Call them and ask if they offer massage sessions/ therapy. Usually the senior students offer massages on certain days. You have to set up an appointment.
[Read more…]

No Comments

Important Ground Beef Recall

by Dana Zeliff on
in Worth Reading

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

Ground Beef Recall

14,000 pounds of ground beef because it may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 bacteria, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Creekstone Farms Premium Beef, of Arkansas City, Kansas, was recently lauded in its hometown paper for successfully reaching high-end markets from Wichita to New York City. The recall affects five products marked with “EST. 27” inside the USDA mark of inspection (weights are approximate):

BEEF FINE GRIND 81/19 NATURAL, containing 10-pound chubs (40-pound case)
Product code: 80185

BEEF CHUCK FINE GRIND 81/19 NATURAL, containing 10-pound chubs (40-pound case)
Product code: 80285

BEEF SIRLOIN FINE GRIND 91/9 NATURAL, containing 10-pound chubs (40-pound case)
Product code: 80495

BEEF FINE GRIND 90/10 NATURAL, containing 5-pound chubs (40-pound case)
Product code: 85165

BEEF FINE GROUND 93/7, containing 10-pound chubs (60-pound case)
Product code: 86191

The ground beef was shipped to Arizona, California, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington. The ground beef may have been repackaged and relabeled for consumer sale. The USDA will report retail products affected as information becomes available on its website.

Customers can call Jim Rogers at 620-741-3352 for more information.

Thanks, Budget Savvy Diva!

No Comments

Trying Something New – When I Started Extreme Couponing

by Dana Zeliff on
in Worth Reading

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

[sponsored content & disclaimer]
Thank you to P&G’s Have You Tried This Yet? program and Kroger for sponsoring my writing about trying new things and breaking out of my everyday routine. Click here to find great savings on high-performing P&G products at a Kroger store near you. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

Years ago I used a few coupons here and there on products I was already planning to purchase.  I thought I was saving a lot of money each month, about $50.  That’s good right?  Well yes, saving $50 is good, but I was still spending $500-$600 per month on groceries for a family of 3! 

Trying something new:

My husband & I decided it was time to start living within a budget.  To cut our spending I started reading money saving blogs and watching what other thrifty shoppers were doing.  It took some time, but I finally learned how to make the most of my coupons. 

I remember my first shopping trip like it was yesterday.  I had my trip all planned out.  I had read the store matchups online, made a shopping list and verified all my coupons.  I remember being so nervous walking into the store.  I was practically shaking (yes, that’s me). 

I felt like everyone was staring at me while I shopped (which they were).  You see, couponing at this level wasn’t as common in my area as it is now.  You would see maybe 1 or 2 coupon users in the store, not 20 like today.

I went up to the cash register expecting the cashier to roll her eyes and to question every coupon.  But you know what?  It was easy!  I walked out of the store spending about $5 for $50 worth of products!  From that day on, I was hooked! 

What I learned:

  • Have confidence in yourself 
  • If you don’t try, you will never know what may have been
  • Getting out of your routine can change your life

 

I now spend on average $250 per month for a family of 4 with organic and natural foods.  I can even skip shopping all together if I need or want to. 

I have watched the money saving community grow significantly since I decided to live within a budget.  It’s an awesome feeling to have money left over at the end of the month and to be able to provide my children with products such as organic milk that I never would have been able to afford.  

When have you tried something new?

 

5 comments

Skippy Peanut Butter Recall

by Dana Zeliff on
in Worth Reading

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

Unilever announced a recall on Skippy Peanut Butter – The product may contain bacteria that would be damaging to one’s heath

The product was distributed to retail outlets in Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Get more details and information on the recalled items here

*Thankfully, I had Skippy Peanut Butter from a sale that was NOT affected by the recall.

Thanks, Budget Savvy Diva!

No Comments

Ask an Accountant: Land Lease

by Dana Zeliff on
in Worth Reading

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.


Thanks to Mom on Dealz for sharing her new series, Ask an Accountant!  Sharon is married to an experienced accountant, so if you’re looking for a professional to help out with taxes this year, give him a call.

As we all know, it’s that dreaded time of the year-Tax time! In honor of tax season, I have a new series called “Ask An Accountant”. Send in your tax questions and each week to [email protected] and I will post the question and give an answer from an experienced accountant.

Question:
We recently bought a manufactured home in 2010 (une). We have a mortgage on the house, and have a 30 year land lease for the land that it is on. can we claim the land lease on our taxes? Several places i have read give me different answers, some say yes, others say no unless it is a lease to own, which it is not. Any advice on how this plays into our taxes would be great appreciated!!

Answer:
If the lease payment is broken down by the lessor into principal and interest then you may deduct the interest just like a mortgage. This would typically be a situation where there is a lease to own with a small buyout at the end of the lease. If you are paying the taxes on the land you can deduct that.
*Please keep in mind this post is for informational purposes only and answers given are very general. Many things depend on individual circumstances. Please contact your personal accountant or financial advisor for your particular situation.

photo credit: austinpost.org

No Comments

Categories

Join Me on Pinterest!

Best of…

:: Weight Watchers Banana Bread Recipe
:: 16 Other Uses for Listerine
:: Quick Easy Chocolate Frosting Recipe
:: Busch Gardens Williamsburg Discount Tickets
:: Yankee Candle Printable Coupons
:: Printable Snack Coupons