I have no idea how we're going to pay...

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
I have no idea how we're going to pay...
10
Tue, 11-25-2008 - 5:29pm

Our real estate taxes. We need to come up with $1334 by the end of the year and I don't know how we're going to do it. We're already scaling back on Christmas a lot, but I have little kids and I refuse to eliminate Christmas completely. So we're trying to do Christmas without adding to our debt and I just can't figure out how we're going to come up with the money for the taxes by the end of the year.

I have a savings bond that my grandparents gave me for my college graduation that's worth about $900, but I'd hate to use that for something like taxes. I might not have a choice, though. This really sucks!

I just need to hang on a little longer. Things should get better after the beginning of the year and when we get our tax refund it will help get us out from under some of this debt.


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babies




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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-22-1999
Tue, 11-25-2008 - 6:06pm

I have an idea to just think about.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-17-2003
Tue, 11-25-2008 - 6:32pm
I have to agree with littlesbigs' post.
Avatar for fire_bug
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 11-25-2008 - 7:28pm
You're absolutely right that the house needs to come first. I think even without Christmas, we'd be struggling to come up with the money. It's definitely not worth losing the house to have a "perfect" Christmas that the two little ones probably won't remember and my oldest will be happy with whatever we get her. We'll find a way to make it work. I just don't know how. Who decided to put Christmas at the end of the year, anyway? LOL.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-17-2007
Wed, 11-26-2008 - 7:11am

Pay the taxes The late fee on taxes are out of this world around here. Mine have to paid by the first of December or it goes up almost 100.00 each month I wait Now that is throwing money away.


You can always go to stores like Second Time Around and get great toys cheap because they are used and Good will too is a great place for toys.


Then make a deal with your self that starting in January you will be putting a few dollars away for the taxes next year just consider it part of living in the house.


Make some interest as the year goes on. Hey you can use the interest to buy toys next year for Christmas. free money


Mary Ann


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2005
Wed, 11-26-2008 - 8:07am

While it doesn't help this year, for next year you should put aside 1/12th (if it's an annual bill, 1/6th if you pay them twice a year) so that when things like this come up you

Jennifer


 


iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2003
Wed, 11-26-2008 - 8:29am

I think you made the right decision putting the house first. As the child of a parent who was less then responsible with money, I can tell you, they pick up on the anxiety and stress caused by being forced to move. The best thing you can do for your children is be financially responsible and create a warm and loving environment.


The good news is that young children are still of the "more is better" mentality. You could go to the dollar store and grab some colouring books, crayons and craft supplies, wrap them individually and the children will be thrilled!!!


Bex -


"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift -thats why its called the present."



Bex -

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-23-2007
Wed, 11-26-2008 - 9:15am

It sounds like what you are saying is you don't have all the money for taxes, regardless of Christmas. Our taxes doubled this year. We paid what we could (about half) and then used a 0% check from from one of our CCs (one that we had paid off). We have that at 0% for a year; but, I know I'm doing it backwards. Better to save for next year instead of paying on last year's. In all reality, the taxes were quite a blow to our budget so this is where we are.

Do you have a CC that offers a limited time 0% or 3.99% for life? Just make sure that's all you use it for, then put the payback in your budget.

And, of course, scale back your Christmas spending. Kids are easy. Wait until you have teens.

Dee


iVillage Member
Registered: 07-05-2006
Wed, 11-26-2008 - 10:09am

You spoke to my heart...I have been thinking about this a lot lately. We have been trying to decide on a budget for Christmas and it's been so hard. We want to get our kids these big gifts that they will be excited about but realistically we just can't do it. I had a conversation with a friend yesterday about Christmas and how scary it was that almost everyone we know is scaling back. What does that say about how good the stores are going to do this season? I told her we were trying to spend only 300 dollars this year and she couldn't believe how little we spent. She didn't know how we did it. I told her that it just wasn't worth it to spend more than we could afford in December and then regret it in January. It's better for us to be able to pay our bills than give our kids these big presents which they forget the next day. Last year we scaled back on Christmas as well. We spent 50 dollars per child and got them a few 10-20 dollar gifts. Games and action figures...they really loved it. So instead of the big gifts, we may again focus on smaller gifts this year. Although it also helps that we know the grandparents will be getting our kids big ticket items. It doesn't make us feel so bad. They are both getting a Nintendo DS this year from grandma.


Abbie

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-25-2006
Wed, 11-26-2008 - 11:46am

Amy,


Have you already contacted the county to see if they offer any sort of payment plan or hardship programs?

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-12-2008
Wed, 11-26-2008 - 2:55pm

If you are getting a tax refund over $1000, you are paying too much taxes.

 

Steve