by Claire
I just received my paycheck today and it dropped by another 80 bucks since the January 11 check. I compared the two pay stubs and it appears I was paid near $80 in “stock dividends” on the 01/11/2013. I didn’t catch that when I looked at my 1/11/2013 check the first time but it appears the lesser amount that I see in today’s check is the “final answer.” I see about $450 less per paycheck now and that is sobering. As a reminder the new deductions are increased federal withholdings, my health insurance and the flexible spending accounts (FSA).
On the upside–of that $900–I have $208 to recover from my health care and dependent care FSA. Please remind me that this is a good thing for tax purposes because the lazy financial person in me just does not want to deal with submitting receipts to recoup that money. Hurry. Tell me. I already have expenditures to get that back but it’s just that hassle factor that gets me. That is my old mindset rearing its ugly head–pay for convenience–I guess. I’ll get over my silly fit about this but in this moment I simply do not want one more thing on my “to do” list. I know. Get over it.
It’s another busy weekend ahead. There are kid events (a band performance and a end-of-season basketball party) and then a Real Food Workshop on Saturday. I’ve put the invite out for the Feb 10 couples’ event and so far have 5 couples attending. I am still excited about this little side hobby/money earner. The kids and I have a lot of fun putting it all together. The kids are natural little “party hosts” and I like to see those skills grow in them.
Have a good one! I’m off to gather receipts for child care and medical expenses! 🙂
Born and raised in Texas. I’ve at least driven through every state in the US courtesy of a roadtrip loving Dad.
I’m single with two children and a good parenting relationship with their father.
I am a “life is just half full of funny” kinda gal. Humor is my saving grace and I am thankful for it every single day. I have a strong Catholic faith and am thankful for that foundation.
I read a lot for a living but still enjoy a good book. I love biographies but in recent years have found the need for fun fictional books–sadly, for a long time I just didn’t enjoy fiction!
I love live theatre of any kind–from local productions to Broadway.
I love to scrapbook and pride myself in my kids’ albums.
I love being a mom but also love my career. I’m blessed to have found a balance allowing me to be at everything my kids need and want me to be at–while also having a career.
Favorite Quotes: Well behaved women rarely make history.
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. -James Bryant Conant
Can you set up your FSA to automatically reimburse you for medical expenses processed through your insurance company?
I believe this works if your FSA and health insurance all work together in the same system.
I might be behind with the times but how do you stock dividends paid together with your paycheck?
Can you explain that part a little more?
Sorry about the inconveniance!
No problem OC–as part of my compensation package I am eligible for “equity grants” of stock in the company. I received small grants in years past and I receive about $300 per year in dividends. Whether I receive an award and the size of awards may vary from year to year based on many factors such as the company’s performance, as well as my performance and contributions to bottom-line results. I’ll find out in the next two weeks if I received any for performance year 2011-2012 (runs from November 1, 2011 through October 31, 2012). If I receive a bonus (cash and/or stocks), I get them on February 15, 2013.
In some case, FSA provider will also let you submit your claims electronically. You still need to get the receipts but a little less hassle, me thinks.
My FSA gives us a Debit card. I am sorry yours does not. We have had no problem using at the Walmart Eye center and the Kroger Pharmacy. I think if the invoice name is “healthcare related” they have no issues. There was one company that would ask me to send receipts every time.
I did notice a change in my check when I stopped paying for daycare. It is worth it.
Our FSA company provides a debit card for FSA expenses, but they still ask for receipts to be submitted unless it’s for a co-pay.
Our FSA company just added a mobile app to submit receipts, and that makes it so easy! I log in on my phone, take photos and upload. We got reimbursed the same week that my husband bought new glasses. (He charged it on our regular credit card by mistake.) Check to see if they have an easy way to submit the receipt, or just add the task at your regular bill paying time. It really doesn’t take long.
Our paychecks took a hit with the new tax laws. Stinks!
My biweekly paycheque was smaller by one day of work today. I was sick but had no sick days left so it was a day of unpaid leave.
Instead of 10 days of pay I only received 9. I can pay all of my bills but I had to decide wether I would save some money or buy groceries and gas this pay period. I decided to do a spilt the money up and short both savings and gas and groceries.
Our FSA is still paper. Basic procedure here; when emptying wallets, put reimbursables into a special folder. Submit monthly, or right before the end of the year, in a panic, whichever comes first. If you need to write on the folder what your tax rate is to remind you how much every dollar going through that account is boosted, do that. It’s like mega-super-couponing.
I submitted my first claim and it was all online. According to the claim website, I had $440 available in my health care spending account which cannot be accurate. I’ve only had $44 held from my two checks this year. So I submitted the entire $518 orthodontist down payment and then it showed my health care spending account to have a zero balance. My guess is I’ll only receive the $44 and then each pay period I’ll continue to get back the amount I set aside. When I set up the health care spending account I did not know this big orthodontist payment was coming so I only did my deductible for regular medical ($500). Bummer. On the upside the process wasn’t difficult–and now that I’ve submitted such a large amount, I won’t have additional medical to submit. I still have the $195 per month in childcare that is an easy, one time transaction.
In my FSA experinece, you should get the entire $500 in one lump sum even though it’s only January and they’ve only taken two deductions from your pay – and then you can’t submit any more claims for the rest of the year. 🙁