Tax time is coming up.  I’m not exactly looking forward to it.  I should be getting a refund, so that’s not the problem.  The problem is finding all the paperwork I need to complete my taxes.  Even if I have someone do it for me, I still need to find all that awful paperwork.  Did I get all my W-2s (how many am I supposed to have this year)?  What about the 1099s and the 1098s?  Will I have to fill out the 8812 or the 8888?  Where do I keep everyone’s SSNs?  It also seems like I am most motivated to get my taxes done January 1st but most of my information doesn’t come until February.  With everything being computerized now, I don’t think it should take a whole month to send out my income information and forget about even possibly seeing it early – it comes the last day legally possible.  I don’t really see the benefit to companies of putting that off.  Ah well, I’ll make it my New Year’s resolution to have patience with the tax system.

I find that whenever I need to apply for a loan I drag my feet until I can’t put it off any longer.  I once went into my long time bank to apply for an auto loan, waited the week they said they needed to look over my application and then went back when they didn’t bother to call to let me know their decision.  When I got there the loan officer dug around to find my application and decided then that she could approve me for the “full amount” I’d asked for – $500.  That was only 10% of what I had requested!  When I pointed this out she practically choked and declined me with an arrogant, “Oh no, I couldn’t approve you for that much, dear”.  How humiliating!  I knew going in that I might be declined but I though it would be a simple no, not a condescending put down.  I inquired about the result if I got a co-signer and she again said I could get $500 and suggested she was doing me a favor with that much.  I don’t like to have to beg for a loan – I’m going to pay interest and I deserve to be treated decently by whoever loans me the money.  That was 15 years ago and things are a lot easier nowadays.  It isn’t necessary to go through this kind of embarrassment.  You can apply for an Auto Loan online from anywhere in the country if you want.   No more sweating trying to think of the answer the loan people want to hear while under pressure.  Another great thing is that loan officers are willing to work with you to get you a loan no matter what kind of credit you have.

Oh boy, is it Christmas time! The time of year when we all overspend our budget. Either the item you want to get someone is sold out at the place where it was on sale and you have to shop at a higher priced store or the shipping on all those items you ordered online has broken the bank. Who exactly are you going to knock off your Christmas list to cover the overage? Grandma? How bout you just don’t eat till the next pay check comes through? Instead of spending your Christmas regretting all the things you should not have bought, why not get a cash advance? It’s convenient because you can have the money deposited directly into your checking account. Just remember, payday loans are for emergencies only – they aren’t meant to be used for every little thing and if you’re eyeing a new MP3 player, just wait for your next pay check. These loans are meant to be used for expenses you cannot put off. So if you need a little extra cash that you know you can pay back with your next check, why not take out a payday loan? It’s certainly easier than trying to refinance your mortgage.