Good Saturday Morning - Freeze-Frame Radio

Date: Sat Jan 7 07:28 2006

Good Saturday Morning

JD The Jazz Doctor · Grand Poobah

Good morning!

I got up this morning thinking I could go to work for a few hours. I decided not to. 30 degrees out there right now.

Today is a day where I organize papers. I have a few stacks of things I need to reshuffle. I will probably walk across the park and try a coffee from the newly re-opened coffee house. Going out for BBq tonight.

Date: Sat Jan 7 07:35 2006

I got a paperwork pile too! I did a lot last weekend, but I do flex spending at work (HSA) and I need to make sure that I have spent all my contributions, or else I lose the money!

JD The Jazz Doctor · Grand Poobah

wow you lose the money if you don't use it?? It's not still your money?!? I never did flex-spending before.

Date: Sat Jan 7 07:44 2006

Yeah- that is why a lot of people do not. But for tax purposes, my accountant said I have to try it out. They take money out each month and it is not taxed. When I submit receipts I get the money. Any money left is forfeited at the end of the year.

For daycare, it is ez, cause I can't even contribute the whole amount- the cap is 5000 and I pay 5280 a year.

For medical- I took what I knew we spend in prescriptions and doctor visits just for me and Zach to stay on our meds and added a couple of extra bcuks. I will not lose any money. I spent almost exactly what I thought- and with little E's xrays- I will have gone over!

But it is worth the time, not to be taxed.

JD The Jazz Doctor · Grand Poobah

aw yea, they ALWAYS plug it at work as great for tax purposes, but I guess I never thought of the implications of not spending it all! they don't plug that a bit!

thanks ruby, I am a bit smarter this morning.

Date: Sat Jan 7 07:49 2006

Yeah- I think that rule is universal. Stupid, but universal. I am sure there is a legitimate reason, but I can't think of any!

JD The Jazz Doctor · Grand Poobah

The universal use it or lose it law!

Date: Sat Jan 7 08:09 2006

Yeah I guess there a lot of places that fits into!

JD The Jazz Doctor · Grand Poobah

well ruby, I think the pillow is calling me for another hours nap!! Have fun with your 6 packs!

This was MUCH more fun than work!

Date: Sat Jan 7 08:27 2006

Nighty night may you have sweet dreams!

JD The Jazz Doctor · Grand Poobah

ok I got a theme in!

thank you!

WebGuy · Doesn't Do Windows

Good morning everyone.

We do the Flex thing too. Ours goes yearly from April - April so we don't have to figure it out yet. We probably wouldn't do it for just our medical stuff, but with daycare its well worth the hassle.

Date: Sat Jan 7 09:25 2006

I agree! Do you have the use it or lose it rule too?

WebGuy · Doesn't Do Windows

Yeah, we have the same rule here. As we get close to the end of the Flex year, we make sure we have submitted everything we can. We also estimate what we'll need just a little low as I certainly don't want to lose any of it.

MzHartz · Permanent Vacation

We just switch to a Flex plan at work from an HSA, which is pretty backwards. The flex plan is a use it or lose it, but the HSA is a lifetime thing. The point of the HSA is to have money for medical expenses when you no longer have insurance and have to rely on Medicare. The problem with an HSA is that it's not regulated. You don't have anyone to account to (yet) for legitimate medical expenses. In a way I liked that, because I don't like having restrictions on how I can spend my own money. Now that we've switched over to the flex plan, I can't use that money to get dietary supplements for my husband, because they are prescribed by a doctor.

JD The Jazz Doctor · Grand Poobah

Is the unused money lost as a tax penalty?

Jeremy Riggs · 2011 Super Bowl Champions!

Good mornin' ladies!!!

Yeah, I know it's nearly the afternoon (for Ruby it IS the afternoon), but I slept in today. I was just finishing getting over a cold and it felt good to just sleep until I woke up.

WOO HOO!

How is everyone?

Date: Sat Jan 7 11:44 2006

Great! How did you mom like the flowers?

JD The Jazz Doctor · Grand Poobah

did you just call me a ladies?

Jeremy Riggs · 2011 Super Bowl Champions!

JD, You know I'd NEVER call you a lady to your face. Please leave so I can call you a lady again

Actually, when I posted that you weren't here, it was just Ruby & MZ.

Ruby, My Mom loved the flowers, and she was totally floored by the card. She looked like she was gonna cry (she's still obviously very emotional), but she couldn't beleive people would do something like that.

It was a nice surprise to show her. Thanks again!

JD The Jazz Doctor · Grand Poobah

that was really nice! I can imagine her really liking that, and the idea of the people from across the country doing that.