Category Archives: Money

Cheap Gifts That Donate to Charity: Only For Poor People?

Cheap Gifts That Donate to Charity:  Only For Poor People?

 

Cheap gifts that donate to charity – you wonder are they only for poor people?  First of all, how can cheap gifts donate to charity?  They can be donated to charity, but they cannot donate themselves.   Unless, of course, they manage to land on a charity’s doorstep through unknown powers, with a self written sign that states very clearly “I am donating myself”.  Sort of like how people donate themselves to science, or at least, their body parts.  Some have donated their whole bodies to science, especially if the body donated is one of those weird never should have happened bodies, like the Elephant man’s body.  Now that’s a body to donate to science!  There are some cheap gifts that donate naturally to charity, such as used clothing or furniture.  When people buy new wardrobes and their other clothes are outdated, what do they do?  They donate them to Goodwill or the Salvation Army or one of the many charities that accept people’s reject clothing.  They also donate used furniture.  Getting a new sofa and need to get rid of the old?  Call one of the charities that accept donations of furniture.  These are cheap gifts to donate to charity because most furniture is worn out almost completely and it’s a cost effective way of removing it from your residence by having someone else do it and take it away.

Which brings us back to cheap gifts that donate to charity. Are the only for poor people?  Poor people aren’t the ones who make the donations, but neither are rich people.  Rich people don’t give cheap gifts to anyone, unless it’s a daughter in law a woman can’t stand.  Let’s say this woman is a multi-millionaire, but because she can’t stand her son’s wife, she gives her gits of cheap fragrances and faux leather wallets for the holidays  If someone is poor and all he or she can donate is a cheap gift, in that case it’s the thought and effort that count.  But only in that case.  For the rest of you with a bit more money than those living on poverty level, don’t give a cheap gift to a charity.  Give a gift – a real gift.  Who knows?  May one day you’ll be in a position to be the recipient of the gifts given to charity.  And you wouldn’t want to receive anything cheap from the charity, would you?

Companies That Donate to Charity Events: Only Doing it for Publicity?

Companies That Donate to Charity Events:  Only Doing it for Publicity?

 

You hear of these companies that donate to charity events all of the time.  They donate big screen t.v.s or even cars.  Sometimes a luxury SUV is donated.  But really, don’t you wonder if they are only doing it for publicity? After all, when something expensive is donated to a charity event, isn’t the “sponsor” of the donation always mentioned?  In big bold lettering you will see “JOHNSON’S, Inc. is the PROUD SPONSOR of tonight’s Charity Event for Poor Children”.  Of course they are proud!  They are getting wonderful publicity this way!  And more than likely the cost of that Ford Fiesta that was donated is less than they would give if they gave cash.  Companies are expected to donate at least a hundred thousand in cash to charities.  But for a charity event, a company can donate a vehicle with  a $10,000 sticker and the company looks great.  Not to mention still getting a decent tax deduction.

So do you think, as I do, that most companies that donate to charity events are only doing it for publicity?  After all, it’s free publicity.  And that’s probably worth  more than the value of whatever is being donated to the charity event, even if it is cash.  You can’t put a price on free publicity and most companies that donate to charity events are well aware of this.  A donation can be anything from an item auctioned off to donating food for the charity dinner event.  It doesn’t matter what is donated.  All that matters is the company gets credit for it, and this is announced to as many people as possible.  It’s the gift that keeps giving back to the giver in a sense.  What harm can it do?  The charity event gets a donation.  The company gets publicity.  Both come out a winner.  And let’s  not forget – those who benefit from the charity.  They don’t care about the company’s publicity or the charity event.  All they care about is the end result.  Donations that matter to them.  The beneficiaries.  So for all those people who need help from a charity, who cares if a company gets publicity from something donated to a charity event.  It keeps the charity running.  And that’s what it’s all about.

How Much Do You Get for Fostering a Child: All About the Money?

how much do you get for fostering a child: All About the Money?

Many people in this country are hungry for money.  They will do just about anything to make a quick dollar.  They will donate their body’s plasma, sell their grandmothers jewelry, and anything else possible to make money.  The economy is in a terrible state and finding a job is difficult.  So, making a quick buck is sometimes all people can do.  Some people will actually try to foster a child because for them, it is all about the money.  These desperate people will actually call foster parent agencies just to find out how much money they would get if they were to foster a child.

 

Fostering a child is not a way to make money.  You need to be a special type of person and actually care about the welfare of the child and not about the money.  The amount of money you get for fostering a child is enough to feed and clothe them. If you are considering doing this, you need to keep in mind that you will have to put out some of your own money as well.  The child will need their own bedroom which has to be move in ready.  This means providing a crib or bed as well as other furniture.  So trying to make money from fostering a child is just wrong.

Energy Saving Appliance Tax Credit: Worth the Investment?

Energy saving appliance tax credit: Worth the Investment?

In June of 2010, my heat pump and air conditioner broke.  It was already very hot in my area and I knew that I had to purchase a new unit in order to keep my husband and me comfortable that summer.  I really didn’t want to have to shell out the money to do so, but I had to.  After speaking with my air conditioner guy, he informed me that if I purchased certain heat pumps, I would receive an energy saving tax credit of $2500.00.  I thought that this would be great.  I thought that when it was time to prepare my taxes for that year, that I would automatically receive a check for $2500.00.  I thought that paying the $5000.00 was worth the investment because I would receive half of it back next year.

 

After I received all of my paperwork in order to file my taxes at the end of the year, I was excited to get started.  After I was done entering everything in my tax program, I realized that my refund was a lot smaller than I expected.  I had purchased the new heat pump that was to give me an energy saving appliance tax credit.  Where was my $2500.00? I have asked many people how the tax credits work and no one seems to know.  I question myself if it was really worth the investment.

How to Stop Spousal Support: Is it Immoral

how to stop spousal support: Is it Immoral?

When someone gets married the vows that are said include the words, “Til Death Do Us Part.” While this is a nice thought, unfortunately at least fifty percent of marriages end in divorce.  In many states the couple has to be separated for a year before the divorce can be final.  Why they do this, I am not sure.  Could it be in hopes that the couple can save their marriage?  In any case, there is a chance that during this time, someone will have to pay spousal support.  Once this starts, it can only stop once that spouse is re-married or is back on their feet financially.  Some may see this as an immoral practice, I say not so much.

 

In order to receive spousal support, one spouse must be in need of the money due to financial hardship. They are to be provided the same type of lifestyle as they had when they were married. Each state has different laws regarding this, but most states require that the person remarry in order to stop spousal support.  If they never remarry, they could be paid forever from the ex-spouse. This I consider to be an immoral practice.  There should be a set length of time to receive your payments.  So, when getting married, make sure that this is truly the person that you can spend a lifetime with.  Take the good with the bad and love them unconditionally.

Maternity Allowance Payment: What if it Goes Through Paypal?

Maternity Allowance Payment:  What if it Goes Through Paypal?

 

You are getting a maternity allowance payment for your maternity leave.  What if it goes through paypal? Your boss wants to give you your maternity allowance through paypal?  Probably because this way it doesn’t count as a “paycheck”.  Paying through paypal is so secure and secretive that no one knows the money is there.  Not even you!  So how will the government know?  That’s right!  They won’t know and you won’t have to worry about your maternity allowance payment, if it goes through paypal, getting taxed!  It’s a win for you and because it’s very convenient for who ever is paying you, it’s a win for that person, too.  The only problem with paypal are the fees.  Not that there are fees associated with using paypal – it’s completely free.  But if the person sending you money doesn’t have a verified secure paypal account, a fee is deducted from the money paid to you.  Which could include your maternity allowance payment.  If you are getting a huge amount that small bite won’t matter much.  It’s less than taxes you pay normally.  But if you get, say, fifty dollars every week, and three dollars is deducted for the “fee”, that can hurt.  That’s twelve bucks a month.  Which is over a hundred a year.  That’s the price of a new stroller for your baby!

So if you are going to get a maternity allowance payment, if it goes through paypal, make sure the person or place paying  you has a certified paypal account so there are no fees involved.  Another problem with paypal are the limits.  You can only transfer five hundred dollars a month to your bank.  So if you get over five hundred dollars a month for your maternity allowance payment, you can only put five hundred of it in the bank.  Unless your limit is raised.  And I have no idea how you do that except to beg and plead with paypal, along with promising them your firstborn child.  Which is the reason you are getting these payments through paypal in the first place.  Just don’t tell them if it’s your third born baby.

Maternity Allowance How Much: What if You Get $1000 Per Month?

Maternity Allowance How Much:  What if You Get $1000 Per Month?

 

If you are wondering about a maternity allowance, as to how much you’ll get, and the answer is actually a question – what if you get $1000 a month? – the first thing I would question back is – is this tax free?   As long as it’s tax free it’s quite generous and I would take it.  Even if I wasn’t planning to get pregnant again I’d take it.  Especially if that $1000 a month lasted for a year or more.  What better way to “earn” $12,000 annually by doing nothing but having a baby!  Especially if it’s tax free.  If you get $1000 a month just for having a baby that’s pretty good.  Some people would say it’s more than you get from welfare for a baby.  There, you might get an extra sixty bucks a month added to your cash money and fourteen more dollars in food stamps.  Which means if you are poor and on welfare, to the government, your new baby is worth approximately seventy four dollars a month. That equals less in one year than you would get for a maternity allowance that paid one thousand dollars per month!
So, if you are now on welfare, this would be a good time to get a job and then get pregnant.  If you are wondering for a maternity allowance how much you will get, what if you get $1000 per month?  Wouldn’t that be worth getting a job for?  Especially if you want a baby, or another baby?  Now, it may be that it’s not government money that’s funding this monthly maternity allowance.  It could be certain jobs that pay this.  In that case, if it’s someplace like a burger joint where all you do is flip burgers and fry fries, you’ll most likely get more from the maternity allowance than you will from your paycheck.  Your paycheck includes, besides a low, low salary, all sorts of deductions ranging from taxes – both federal and state – to social security – which will most likely be gone by the time you’ve put twenty years worth of funds into it – plus your union dues, insurance money, etc. etc., so that you clear about thirteen cents out of every dollar.  An allowance is not a paycheck.  It’s an allowance.  Like when you were a kid and your dad gave you five bucks each week you didn’t bug him when the game was on.  You didn’t have to have money for taxes and old age or illness deducted from that.  And this one thousand dollar maternity allowance?  Same thing – just more bucks for not bugging anyone.  And penalty free.  Now go watch the game and collect your maternity allowance.  After all,  you’re gonna need to save those five dollar bills for the baby’s allowance when he’s old enough to start bugging you!

Maternity Allowance for Self-Employed: Only Pays for the First Month?

Maternity Allowance for Self-Employed:  Only Pays for the First Month?

 

When asking about a maternity allowance for the self-employed, one question to keep in mind is what if it only pays for the first month?  We’re assuming this means the first month of maternity leave.  After that you’re on your own.  But haven’t you been on  your own all along?  After all, you’re self-employed.  That means no boss is breathing down your neck every time you turn around.  You set your own hours.  You can rent a place or work from home, at your computer, in your pajamas, eating chocolate covered cherries or any strange combinations you crave when pregnant.  Whether or not you are pregnant you can eat these strange combinations.  You are self-employed.  No one can tell you what to do or what to eat or when you can and cannot eat.  Except, perhaps, the people who fund your self employment.  You know the ones – those who seek your services or pay you for products you sell from your own business.

If the government gives maternity allowances for those who are self-employed but only pays for the first month, take it.  It’s free money.  It’s more than you’d get from no one else, which is exactly who would pay you nothing because you are self-employed.  And being self-employed, if you get pregnant and take a month off to care for your newborn, there is no money coming in.  At least, none from your business.  If you are lucky you have a spouse who makes a decent income outside the home and your money is just the extra money for things like baby cribs and other baby furnishings.  And maybe a vacation in a few years.  For now, a dvd of Inception to watch at home.  Of course, you might have to prove you are self-employed in order to get the maternity allowance for the self-employed, even if it only pays for the first month.  This can be done by making up letterhead that announces your business:  Joni’s Ceramics.  Have your name and “business” address – which is most likely your home address -  on the letterhead, plus that landline number you use only for your home business.  Your cell phone number is strictly for those friends who will give you wonderful baby gifts when your baby is born.  And throw you wonderful baby showers because they know you need a lot for the baby because the government will only pay you for one month of maternity leave if you are self-employed.  This allowance most likely will not cover extras, but will be enough for your basic needs if you like eating hot dogs and beans seven nights a week for dinner.  And bologna or peanut butter and jelly for lunch each day.  Breakfast is optional.  What are you complaining about?  You’re self-employed.  You’re getting a maternity allowance for a month!  Courtesy of the government!  Time to celebrate and have that baby.  Because don’t we all deserve a month off thanks to the government?

Maternity Benefit Ireland: Will You Move to Europe?

Maternity Benefit Ireland:  Will You Move to Europe?

 

You’ve just found out you can get a maternity benefit in Ireland!  Will you move to Europe?  If you’re smart, you will.  Of course, It all depends on what the maternity benefit is.  It could be six months paid leave from your job.  This is good, but then again, only if you have a job in Ireland.  You would need to be pregnant, move to Ireland, get a job, and then immediately go on maternity leave to max out the benefit of paid maternity leave in Ireland.  Since you’ll be paid immediately after getting this job and going on maternity leave, you can use the money to fly back home to the states.  And when the paid maternity leave is up, quit your job.  You’ve “earned” enough money for a nice house in the U.S. just by going on paid maternity leave in Ireland!  Worth moving to Europe for a week and getting a job, isn’t it?

The maternity benefit in Ireland, along with the question, “Will you move to Europe?”, can best be examined by looking at what maternity benefits are offered to a pregnant woman in Ireland.  The first part of this is needing to be pregnant.  Or maybe having a wife who is pregnant.  After all, maternity benefits in Ireland could be for spouses, too.  But then it would be a paternity benefit.  So if you’re a guy, forget it.  Unless you want to bring your pregnant or soon to be pregnant wife to Europe because she can get a job in Ireland and have a good maternity benefit.

Will you move to Europe if you find out you get good maternity benefits in Ireland?  If you’ve always wanted to, this might be your chance.  You could move to Europe, meet a handsome guy who speaks French, marry him, get pregnant, and go to Ireland for all those wonderful maternity benefits.  Your baby will be born with an Irish lilt to his cry, and no doubt one of the benefits is a shamrock green knit baby hat.

Low Income Benefits in California: What if it Pays Better Than in Other States?

Low Income Benefits in California:  What if it Pays Better Than in Other States?

 

If low income benefits in California pays better than it does in other states, my suggestion would be to move to California if you need low income benefits.  This will, in fact, make you even more eligible for low income benefits, especially if you live in North Carolina.  Why?  Because by the time you pack up the family and move them and all your meager low income belongings to California, you’ll be even more low income than you were in North Carolina.  It’s expensive to move, especially when moving almost across the country.  Add some kids in to the picture and you are flat broke when you get to California.  The first thing they’ll want to do is go to whatever Disney place exists in California.  Your spouse will want to see the Golden Gate Bridge.  You’ll want to jump from it.  By the time you are finished all of this, you will need every low income benefit available in California!

Realistically, if low income benefits in California pays better than it does in other states, most likely it’s because California is a more expensive place to live.  And when one lives in a more expensive state, one needs more money and other benefits when one is low income.  In that case, it all equals out in the end.  If the amount of low income benefits you receive in California is roughly five hundred dollars more than you would get if you lived in Alaska, it’s only because the low income rent in California is three hundred dollars more per unit than in Alaska, and low income groceries are two hundred dollars more than they are in Alaska.  In Alaska, you can catch half your food either by fishing or going hunting for Caribou with Sarah Palin.  In California, there’s only former Governor Schwarzenegger to go hunting with and he’ll want to hunt in Austria where you have no U.S. low income benefits.  The point being, it costs a lot of money to live in California and if low income benefits there pay more than they do in other states, you are all even in the end.