article thumbnail

Family Budget Spreadsheets 2021

Family Balance Sheet

Years ago, there was a month where I hadn’t planned on a large property tax bill and I wasn’t sure where we were going to find the money. We could afford a camping trip, we could pay our tax bill on time, and we could pay cash for Christmas, but we needed to PLAN for it. .

Budgeting 130
article thumbnail

Introducing: Family Budget Spreadsheets

Family Balance Sheet

There was a month in 2013 where I hadn’t planned on a large property tax bill and I wasn’t sure where we were going to find the money. We could afford a camping trip, we could pay our tax bill on time, and we could pay cash for Christmas, but we needed to PLAN for it. Personal Escrow – Use this spreadsheet to plan for your high yearly expenses, such property taxes, association fees, insurance, etc.

Budgeting 160
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

How to Budget (and Pay) for Yearly Bills + a FREE Speadsheet

Family Balance Sheet

They can cause a panic, especially when just one bill is into the four figures, like our property taxes or auto insurance! property & school taxes – due yearly. Not sure how to budget for your once-a-year bills?

Bills 130
article thumbnail

Four Reasons to Have a Gravel Driveway

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

Because of this, in April 2013, Maryland lawmakers implemented what is referred to as a Rain Tax. According to The Washington Times : “The Rain Tax essentially charges homeowners for any surface of land they own that does not absorb rainwater. Gravel Doesn’t Cause The County to Raise Our Property Taxes. I grew up with gravel driveways. Where I lived, everyone had one.

2013 210
article thumbnail

Create a Personal Escrow Fund | 31 Days to Organize Your Finances

Family Balance Sheet

Does your property tax bill give you anxiety? Our homeowners insurance and property taxes are not tied in with our mortgage so we receive those bills and are responsible for paying them instead of the bank that owns the mortgage. property & school taxes – due yearly. Welcome to 31 Days to Organize Your Finances. By the end of the month, my goal is to help you have a detailed financial plan for your family.

Finance 100
article thumbnail

A Goal Without a Plan is Just a Wish

Family Balance Sheet

On top of our normal day to day expenses, the new property taxes were due, we had more ownership expenses than we realized, and we had a family to feed. As much as I wanted to be a property owner, the extra debt was beginning to suffocate us. Selling the property and going back to renting wasn’t the way I wanted to handle the situation, so I sat down and created a step-by-step plan.

Goals 222
article thumbnail

How I’m Managing our Family Budget during the Pandemic

Family Balance Sheet

I’ve shared before that April is the most expensive month of the year for us because our homeowners/auto insurance and property taxes are all due, along with any federal or state taxes that we might owe.

2020 246
article thumbnail

Selling Your Investment Property?

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

If your relationship with that investment property has soured, maybe it is time to sell. You bought the property in hopes that your renters would pay your expenses while the property appreciated. Before you start spending your profits, take a breath and then sit down and think through what your net gain or loss might actually be – after taxes and all selling expenses. Taxes. Real estate is subject to yearly taxes by the county.

2014 186
article thumbnail

Things I’ve Learned During 30 + Years of Home Ownership

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

Eminent domain allows governments to seize personal property if it is in the public good. At that, we were luckier than some, who in areas around us lost their entire property (well they were paid a pittance for it) so that a race track and shopping area could be built. We have a dry run on our property which, when it rains, carries the water off to a river. But the makeup of a location can be changed by governments hungry for additional tax dollars.

2015 209
article thumbnail

Why You Should Be Skeptical of Financial “Rules of Thumb”

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

And what happens when you add in property taxes, utility, home insurance, and maintenance? Rules of thumb are often used to make various financial decisions. While they can be helpful when it comes finding a starting point, rules of thumb should be approached with a degree of skepticism. Circumstances — And the Markets — Change. Many rules of thumb are based on a specific set of circumstances.

2013 213
article thumbnail

Benefit from My Financial Mistakes

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

I also wish that we had taken on loans to buy investment property after we got financially established after our first 15 years. By purchasing used vehicles you save on the initial car price, the sales tax you pay upon purchase as well as the property tax you pay each year and the amount you need to insure it. Although my spouse and I have done well financially, there are things I wish I had done differently! Here are some of my financial mistakes.

2014 180
article thumbnail

Should YOU Buy a Boat?

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

We own a lake front property, yet do not own a boat. These will include things such as insurance, property taxes, gasoline (to get to the lake and to boat on the lake), maintenance, boat slip fees and storage fees in off season. Although we live in the Midwest US, every weekend (and weekday during summer months) we see folks in their pickups hauling boats on trailers.

2016 153
article thumbnail

How Much Money Can You Live Off Of?

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

Any housing related insurance fees and property taxes are also important to include. There was a story that went viral last year about a young couple that was determined to see how little they could live on each day. The project was called the One Dollar Diet Project. The couple managed to live an entire month off of just one dollar a day for food expenses.

Money 159
article thumbnail

Turbotax Premier Federal + State 2015 (PC) (Digital Code) ONLY $64.97 (Reg $99.99)

For the Mommas

Get your taxes done right with TurboTax 2015 that is available at Walmart at a sale price of $74.97. Expert answers to your tax questions by phone included. Searches for 350+ deductions and credits, including tax-saving rental property deductions. Additional guidance for rental property income, expenses, depreciation and refinancing. Retirement tax help and our IRA tool helps you get more money back. Accurately deduct mortgage interest and property taxes.

article thumbnail

How to Save on Rental Cars

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

The sales tax, plus the ongoing higher property tax and insurance are really turning him off – and the van does fine if we drive it locally or just for a few hours to the lake. Airports are notorious for tacking on fees and taxes. Extra personal and property insurance ($6.95 Make sure the sites are including everything, including all taxes and fees. We will probably be renting a car for our vacation this year.

article thumbnail

How We Paid off Six Figures of Debt

Family Balance Sheet

We had been renting for over 10 years and we were ready to find a property to move our business to and eventually build our net worth. Our business was doing very well, and we were excited about the opportunity to own a property outside of our home.

Debt 130
article thumbnail

How our Debt Freedom Plan Prepared Us for the Pandemic

Family Balance Sheet

Our small business was going well, so we said so long to renting office space and purchased a commercial property in the summer of 2012. Also to top it off, I had a huge property tax due that month for our office building that was going to be difficult to pay for in light of the circumstances.

Debt 130
article thumbnail

How to Say No When a Sibling Asks for Money

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

She has not been able to pay the real estate property taxes on your parent’s house (which she inherited) and has come to you for help. Don’t forget to enter to win an iPad 3 here at PET. Only 1 day left. We are raised by parents to be nice to our brothers and sisters, to care for them and about them and to share with them – after all, they are family. But what if you have a sibling that for one reason or another, repeatedly requests financial help.

Money 264
article thumbnail

How to Save Money on Your Home’s Mortgage

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

The lenders use it to protect their interest in the property. PMI should automatically terminate once you have paid the loan’s balance down to 80% of the total property value. Get a property tax assessment. Your tax bill could be incorrect. Your state or province may be overbilling you for the cost of your personal property. The government will reassess your property value and in some cases you might be issued a refund.

Money 124
article thumbnail

Save Taxes: Negotiate A Reduction in Your Assessed Value

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

If you own real estate, you have been, or someday will be, confronted with a rise in your assessed property value. This usually leads to an increase in your real estate taxes! Increases in your assessed value can sometimes be negotiated downward, saving you tax money. Assessed value is the value that will be used in determining how much you will pay in real estate taxes. Most state laws require that assessed value be based on the market value of the property.

Taxes 160
article thumbnail

How to Start a Budget (and be successful at it!)

Family Balance Sheet

Many years ago, our cash flow sucked, we put Christmas on a credit card, and I wasn’t sure how I was going to pay for a large tax bill. A zero-based budget is planning for every single dollar of after-tax income. At the top, write the word, “INCOME” and then list all of your after-tax income sources for the month you’re planning, and total the income. If your paychecks are inconsistent, you will need to cautiously estimate your after-tax income.

Budgeting 133