What are you giving up to save money?

September 6, 2008

With necessities such as food and gas taking bigger
bites out of your budget, are you forgoing some little luxuries that previously you never worried about?

There is, of course, the cliche half-caf soy latte, but you could be buying store brands (aka private label) cereals or simply not going out, either for a meal or a movie.

Chocolate_candy_bar2
Marketplace, the American Public Media program that airs on NPR stations nationwide, found one Minneapolis business owner who is betting
(hoping) consumers won’t let the sinking economy beat their love of
chocolate. You can listen to the story, or read the transcript.

But almost $7.50 for a candy bar? Is that before or after the snack tax that a lot of jurisdictions tack onto some edibles? Either way, that chocolatier is relying on a lot of cocoa love!

That price makes my weekly Frappucino look reasonable. And yes, for now I’m still picking one up after I finish my regular weekly grocery shopping.

Have you given up some little luxury, at least for now, to save a few bucks?

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The More Tax Posts tab at the top of this page will take you to, well, more tax posts. You also can search below for a tax topic. 

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Tax Season 2026 Continues!

We made it. Tax Day 2025 is finally over. For most of us. When the filing season started on Jan. 26, millions who were expecting refunds filed immediately. Most of us got our returns to the Internal Revenue Service by April 15. But plenty of taxpayers also got extensions. They are looking at an Oct. 15 filing deadline.

Those procrastinating filers aren’t a problem. In fact, the IRS appreciates taxpayers who take time to fill out their 1040 forms correctly. It also is grateful that tax submissions are spread out a bit, especially now that the IRS is a leaner agency. Processing returns is easier when they arrive throughout the year instead of in massive bunches.

But enough about Uncle Sam’s tax collection issues. The focus now is on all y’all who filed for extensions, giving you another six months to complete your return. Since your new mid-October due date will be here before you know it, let’s get started now on meeting it.

The ol’ blog is here to help you finish up your extended Form 1040. You can start with January’s tax tips page, which has links to the rest of the year’s tips by-month collections. You also can peruse various tax categories for more tailored advice by clicking on the More Tax Posts drop-down menu at the top of this (and every) page.

And to make sure you don’t miss your new filing deadline, the count-down clock below will let you know just how much time you to file by Oct. 15. At the latest.e. (Note: I’m in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.)

Comments
  • I didn’t really give up my starbucks habit I stepped it up. My wife got a part time job at Starbucks to get out of the house and get a few hours a day away from our 2 year old. Everyday she brings me a coffee home which she gets as part of her daily allowance and each week I get a free bag of coffee 😛

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