Comments on: No Stimulus Check No Problem, Create Your Own http://frugaldad.com/2008/12/28/no-stimulus-check-no-problem-create-your-own/ Tips for living frugal while still having a life Sat, 20 Mar 2010 18:11:29 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: marci http://frugaldad.com/2008/12/28/no-stimulus-check-no-problem-create-your-own/comment-page-1/#comment-14714 marci Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:56:22 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=1077#comment-14714 I wanted to open a Christmas Club savings account at the bank, like I did years ago, to save up for property taxes, ($772 this year) which come in Novemeber here. However, I found that they no longer have Christmas Club accounts that transfer a preset amount each month from checking and dispense it to you in November. I realize there are online plans, but I am NOT an online banking person, so maybe this will help others who also do not bank online. So - talking to the new accounts gal, we worked out a good alternative plan. Due to my age, almost 55 (the requirement for the waiver), she waived the $300 minimum opening deposit for another savings account. And due to my age, she waived any other transfer fees, and set up $60/month automatic withdrawals from checking into savings. This will give me an account dedicated to property taxes - and I'll know I have it without scrambling at the last minute because this year my kids all seemed to need personal loans from the Bank of Mom all at the same time :) I know I won't touch savings, but checking has always been an easy "yes" for them :) So, just saying, talking with your banker may open up some options and even waivers to you :) It never hurts to ask and to explain what you want to do. This will be over $600 - so it's my personal stimulus plan :) and just when I need it in November! I wanted to open a Christmas Club savings account at the bank, like I did years ago, to save up for property taxes, ($772 this year) which come in Novemeber here. However, I found that they no longer have Christmas Club accounts that transfer a preset amount each month from checking and dispense it to you in November.

I realize there are online plans, but I am NOT an online banking person, so maybe this will help others who also do not bank online.

So – talking to the new accounts gal, we worked out a good alternative plan. Due to my age, almost 55 (the requirement for the waiver), she waived the $300 minimum opening deposit for another savings account. And due to my age, she waived any other transfer fees, and set up $60/month automatic withdrawals from checking into savings. This will give me an account dedicated to property taxes – and I’ll know I have it without scrambling at the last minute because this year my kids all seemed to need personal loans from the Bank of Mom all at the same time :) I know I won’t touch savings, but checking has always been an easy “yes” for them :)

So, just saying, talking with your banker may open up some options and even waivers to you :) It never hurts to ask and to explain what you want to do.

This will be over $600 – so it’s my personal stimulus plan :) and just when I need it in November!

]]> By: SonyaAnn http://frugaldad.com/2008/12/28/no-stimulus-check-no-problem-create-your-own/comment-page-1/#comment-14674 SonyaAnn Mon, 29 Dec 2008 01:31:30 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=1077#comment-14674 I'm going to try to save an extra $20 a week. I figure I can squeeze it out of our gas budget since the prices are still low. I'm not going to change our budget though because I believe that the price of gas is going to go back up. But I still feel like the saving is "found" money. I’m going to try to save an extra $20 a week. I figure I can squeeze it out of our gas budget since the prices are still low. I’m not going to change our budget though because I believe that the price of gas is going to go back up. But I still feel like the saving is “found” money.

]]> By: beth http://frugaldad.com/2008/12/28/no-stimulus-check-no-problem-create-your-own/comment-page-1/#comment-14671 beth Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:02:22 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=1077#comment-14671 Although I think a lot of americans spending is tied to emotion and can sometimes be a lot more difficult than just "stop spending and start saving" kind of like losing weight...but nonetheless this really isn't a lot of money you're talking about and I believe most people could do this. I like the way you put it. Although I think a lot of americans spending is tied to emotion and can sometimes be a lot more difficult than just “stop spending and start saving” kind of like losing weight…but nonetheless this really isn’t a lot of money you’re talking about and I believe most people could do this. I like the way you put it.

]]> By: momstheword http://frugaldad.com/2008/12/28/no-stimulus-check-no-problem-create-your-own/comment-page-1/#comment-14670 momstheword Sun, 28 Dec 2008 23:58:19 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=1077#comment-14670 Great post! Eating out (even cheap places like we do) absolutely adds up. This is one of the things we have to give up as we go on our financial "diet" in order to reach our goals. All those little things (a pop here, a latte there) add up. Great post! Eating out (even cheap places like we do) absolutely adds up. This is one of the things we have to give up as we go on our financial “diet” in order to reach our goals. All those little things (a pop here, a latte there) add up.

]]> By: Vik Dulat http://frugaldad.com/2008/12/28/no-stimulus-check-no-problem-create-your-own/comment-page-1/#comment-14662 Vik Dulat Sun, 28 Dec 2008 16:15:34 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=1077#comment-14662 Great point. We can easily save enough money to have our own stimulus check. The problem these days with people is that they do not track their spending. Therefore, most are living on pay check to pay check or on credit cards. This is not a very good combination. Great point. We can easily save enough money to have our own stimulus check. The problem these days with people is that they do not track their spending. Therefore, most are living on pay check to pay check or on credit cards. This is not a very good combination.

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