save $$$ on dental bills

Saving money doesn’t have to hurt like pulling teeth or pulling the skin off your retina, but I want to inform you about this handy dandy little thing that I use to save money. 
  
A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is a benefit that many employers now offer as a part of their benefits plan. A FSA is a pretax benefit allowable under IRS section 125, section 125 is also another name for FSA.
 
This plan is awesome because you can set aside a specific pretax dollar amount for the year to help pay for: medical, vision, dental, over- the- counter items, and dependent care expenses. Think of your FSA as a savings account for medical expenses your insurance won’t cover. However, you cannot use your FSA to pay for health insurance premiums.
 
Pretty nifty, huh?
 

The pretax dollar amount that you contribute to your FSA for the year, is pretax money funneled directly from your paycheck and into your FSA. Note: the money that is deducted from your paycheck is not taxed.

Woo hoo! Uncle Sam can’t pillage that chunk!
 
Example: Jane makes $100 a week. She then decides she wants Lasik (to check out all the hot guys at the beach), sometime before June 2009. At the end of 2008 Jane peels herself from her chair and walks over to her Human Resource department. Jane is going to put aside $800 into her 2009 FSA to pay for her upcoming Lasik surgery on January 2, 2009. Jane’s company then calculates a $15.39 deduction from each paycheck ($800 aka 2009 FSA designated contribution/ 52 checks she gets a year = $15.39 a rough contribution for 52 checks). Jane then goes to the hospital on January 2, 2009 and she will get reimbursed for her Lasik bill with money in her FSA. I bet you are thinking, she has only had one deduction of $15.39 taken off her checks so far. Is the money in her FSA available? It doesn’t matter, the money is ready to use, even though she hasn’t worked hours yet. HAHAHAHA! 

Jane came up:

1. Putting $15.39 of un-pillaged by Uncle Sam (tax free money) for necessary healthcare. Sassy!
2. Getting taxed on the $84.62 a week instead of $100. Flashy!
3. Throw in using a credit card with (mileage or cashback) benefits to pay for the medical bill until you are reimbursed. Classy!
4. Coupled with the INTEREST FREE LOAN, hedged against future earnings. Woo hoo!

Oh yeah baby, you just saved yourself a discount equivalent to your tax bracket, to pay for a medical bill, you didn’t really want to pay in the first place. For people that don’t use a FSA you are paying your medical bills with money that Uncle Sam already took a bite out of, thus decreasing your buying power.

One major drawback is that if you lose it if you do not use, (usually) by March 15 the next calendar year. Verify this with Human Resources department since employer’s plans vary. Don’t forget you can always be conservative and designate a small amount.
 
You also need to let your HR department know how much you want to direct into your FSA, it is $5000 a year for those with dependents and $2400 for reimbursable medical expenses. Yes, you can pay for child’s daycare this way, or condoms and birth control pills. Whichever route you take these are all covered under your FSA. =D.

Repeat: Tax free discount equivalent to my tax bracket, money that acts as an interest free loan, so I can pay for medical bills that my crappy health insurance won’t pay! Me likey!

ruelala.com

If you can’t tell by now I like to bargain shop… I get a kick out of it…

I attribute my shopping addiction to a hardwired gene from the days of yore. Women are inclined to shop, because we are gatherers by nature. A long time ago, while the men were out hunting animals, women would wander the land collecting nuts and berries. (I am beginning to think I would have been a great gatherer). 

Let me tell you about this secret berry bush by my house… Just kidding, but I will let you know about this invite- only online sample sale, Rue La La. 

(Something we all say when that other girl gets the bigger berry.)

RueLaLa.com is an online store that has a set schedule showcasing select designers, which you can buy at steep discounts. The items on Rue La La range from sunglasses and clothing, to bedding and home goods. A few of the previously showcased designers are: Charles David, Mauviel, Nicole Miller, Prada, and Anabella Fiorento.

For the secret password, to Rue La La, please leave me a comment (with a valid email address) on this post.

ooOOoo la la

Bar Rafaeli (Leo DiCaprio’s woman) really outdid herself with this outfit! It is absolutely perfect for this in-between-season weather we are experiencing in California.

Seamlessly transitions well for hot days and cooler nights… 

Gorgeous!

OOoOOooOoo I want I want I want!