I Love LearnVest Daily.

Let me start by saying that I LOVE LEARNVEST DAILY.  And I would highly recommend subscribing to their newsletter.

That said, here are 2 of their recent articles I found particularly interesting (and funny, if you're a financial nerd like me):
Your Top 15 Money Pet Peeves
Money Mistakes and Biggest Splurges: LV Reader Survey Results

You mean I have to keep that?

As an organization-obsessed accountant, there's one question I am asked over and over:  HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO KEEP THIS?
And the answer is...drum roll please...IT DEPENDS.
(Yeah, not what you want to hear, sorry.)

But don't worry, there are only 3 time periods you have to remember:  1 year, 7 years, and forever.
Keep for 1 Year

• monthly bank and credit card statements (keep year-end summary!)
• monthly/quarterly brokerage statements (reconcile to year-end forms before tossing!)
• monthly mortgage statements (keep year-end summary!)
• paycheck stubs (reconcile to year-end forms before tossing!)

Keep for 7 Years

• W-2 and 1099 forms
• year-end credit card statements
• info pertaining to business expenses claimed on your tax return
• annual mortgage statements
• property tax info
• info pertaining to any other tax-deductible expenses
• alllllllllllllllll the back-up info to the tax returns you filed in the past 7 years

Keep FOREVER

• annual tax returns
• info pertaining to the purchase price of investments
• home improvement records
• receipts for major purchases (for as long as you own the item)
• beneficiary designations

See?  That really wasn't so complicated.  Now go ahead and get rid of all the stuff you've been keeping
unnecessarily!

A2Z

I am sad to report that A2Z Organizational Solutions has been put on the back burner.  Last week, I made it official by canceling our website.  Eventually, I plan to seek out a new (and better) website host, I'm taking it slow.

I want to be an organizer and I believe in A2Z.  But sometimes life moves in a direction you don't expect and you have to be flexible.  So this is me, being flexible.

A2Z will be there for my partner and I when we're ready.  We aren't dissolving the partnership or letting go of the dream. We're just accepting and admitting that it isn't a priority for either of us right now.  And if we aren't ready to put the effort into it, then we should be honest about it and, at the very least, stop incurring expenses.

I am excited by the prospect of what A2Z can be and I know there will be a future for it.  But I am also happy with the decision we have made for what to do with it now.

The truth hurts, but it's always the best option.

Stay Motivated

Here's the truth:  if you want to be successful in anything you do, you have be (and stay) motivated.  This is something I have a problem.  Do you?  I am good at lists, I am good at goals, I am even good at the planning...it's the follow-through that trips me up.

A few weeks ago, Real Simple (one of my favorite resources, fyi) put together a list with 9 secrets of motivated people.  I just wanted to take a minute to talk about the 3 that I found most interesting and helpful.  But feel free to can read the entire article here!

#1)  When you make a plan, anticipate bumps.
LOVE THIS.  Maybe it's my business background, but the idea of contingency plans is so important to me.  C'mon people, things never go as planned!  There are always hiccups, setbacks, and even dead ends.  But that's okay, as long as you are ready for the twists and turns.
But you don't have to go and find a working crystal ball on eBay or whatever.  Just be ready to change your plans and don't allow yourself to get rattled by the changes or too discouraged to regroup and move forward.

#6)  Make yourself a priority.
Ugh, I am TERRIBLE at this.  So terrible, that I actually feel guilty when I consciously take time out for myself.  The truth is, however, that if you don't put yourself first, then who will?  YOU are just as important as everyone around you; so treat yourself just as well.  Which means investing some time and effort in the things that matter to you.
You can't reach any of your personal goals unless fulfilling your needs are at the top of your to-do list.  So move them up there!

#10)  Remember the deeper meaning.
Okay, okay, this one sounds cheesy and maybe that's true but it doesn't make it any less important!  It is a million times easier to stay motivated while working toward a goal if it is a goal you feel a real connection to.  For example, a lot of people choose to run or walk in charity-related events.  Why?  Because they are interested in the exercise opportunity AND they are undoubtedly connected to the cause.  It's the connection that makes the running easier.
So make goals for yourself that truly mean something.  This will push you to stay moving at a good clip on the right path.

Car Insurance Woes

I bought a new car...and my car insurance went up a ridiculous FORTY PERCENT.  I expected it to go up a little.  My car is financed and brand new so of course I have full coverage.  And of course full coverage on a 2011 car is more than on a 2008.  But 40%???  Unacceptable.

Which led me to do some research.  Which led me to some very helpful articles:
7 Ways to Overpay for Car Insurance
Cheap Car Insurance, The Smart Way

Which helped me make the switch to a new insurance company!  Saved myself $400 just by doing some reading.  Not bad at all.

Insider Tips To Groupon

Huge fan of Groupon, LivingSocial and other deal-a-day sites. But it's soooooo easy to get carried away with them! Afterall, deal is only a deal if it works for you.

Great article about how to make sure your love of deal sites doesn't take you down:
Insider Tips To Groupon

PS:  Did you know that you earn Swagbucks if you buy coupons through Swagbucks Daily Deals?  And if you don't know anything about Swagbucks, find out more.  And if you don't have an account, get one.  Now.

You mean, I can't have 3 closets anymore?

It's official:  My sister is moving in!

The countdown to May 1st begins.  Which gives me about 6 weeks to make room for her.  The bedroom is already empty.  But the closet?
Whoops.  Full.

Spring cleaning will be especially important this year, ha.  Aaaaaand, I will need to learn to SHARE closet space.

This is potentially mission impossible.  But I will keep you posted.

The truth about tax refunds...

Want to know a secret?

WE DON'T LIKE BIG TAX RETURN REFUNDS.  Nope, we don't like them at all.

This is the time of year when you hear everyone talking about getting their tax returns filed, so that they can get their refunds, so that they can spend their refunds.  Well, have you ever stopped to think about why you're getting that refund?  Because guess what:  Most of the time you are getting money back because you put too much money in. 

Yup, you heard me:  You gave the government too much money!  So that refund you're waiting for?  You could have been spending that money ALL YEAR LONG.  (Or making money off it, if you chose to put it in an interest bearing account.)  But instead, you handed it to the government and you let them keep it without charging them interest.

That was very nice of you.

So if you are getting big refunds every year, take a look at the W-4 you filled out with your employer.  Make sure the information is up-to-date and accurate.  Because you deserve your money!  Stop lending it out for free.

Excuses, excuses.

I've been a little overwhelmed lately...and my blogging has suffered.  Last week, I publicly promised to be better.  And I was!  Because I did some research and made a new list of topics I want to cover.  What I was not better with was posting actual entires.  Oops and sorry.

Okay but I should back up:  Why am I so overwhelmed?
To answer that question fully, there's something you have to know about me - I do not do well with change.  Yeah yeah yeah, change is positive; change is necessary.  In fact, I would even agree that change is generally good.  But that doesn't mean I have to like it!  It makes me anxious, it makes me nervous, it makes me feel out of sorts and it definitely takes me out of my comfort zone.  To deal with the stress, I've developed my own coping strategies, which mainly revolve around my being a little bit manic-y.  (Ah, there are worse things, right?)  The key is managing my anxiety and the energy it produces, harnessing it, and using it for good.  It's a struggle for me and probably for those around me too.  But this is who I am, like it or not.

Okay okay, now back to WHY I've been so overwhelmed (and so sucky at blogging) lately.

Here's the deal:  By May 1st, I will have a new job, a new living situation, AND I will (fingers crossed) be enrolled into a new graduate program.  (Whoa, see?  That's a lot.)  I'm excited about all of them and I know I'm making the right decisions...but, let's be honest, I'm scared too.  Mostly because each one will require me to alter my current routine.  In other words, things are going to CHANGE.  A lot.  (A lot, a lot actually since I've decided to go with 3 big changes at once.)  As a result, my head's been all over the place lately.  Peace out, Effective Time Management!  Welcome to the World of Manic-y Rachel, ha.



Good enough excuse for you?
No?
Yeah, excuses are lame.  Sorry, again.