TresSugar

Briefing Book! John McCain Is Angry at Barack Obama

LibertySugar — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 12:47:12 -0800

John McCain and Americans are angry! So much for change Mr. President! - Town Hall

NY Gov. Paterson has worse approval ratings than Spitzer had during his sex scandal.

In olden times people didn't need BlackBerrys or bailouts. - Wonkette
Students speed up undergrad to save money. - Lemondrop
The first lady hates squat thrusts, do you? - FitSugar
Marge Simpson has lesbian fantasies? - Feminsting

$634 Billion Fund For Health Care - Right Prescription?

LibertySugar — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 11:30:44 -0800

In the $3 trillion budget unveiled today, President Obama includes a $634 billion, 10-year healthcare reserve fund. The fund is considered a down payment for expanding health care. Half of the money will come from raising taxes on those earning over $250,000 a year and the other half on Medicare changes.

The plan would have private insurers who sell Medicare plans participate in a competitive bidding process, which could save about $175 billion over 10 years. Drug makers would have to increase medication rebates to Medicaid patients. Also, hospitals with high readmission rates would receive less Medicare funds.

Politico reports that Obama's priorities for healthcare reform include: maintaining choice of insurance and doctors, ensuring affordable coverage, protecting Americans financial health, investing in prevention and wellness, improving patient safety and quality of care while being fiscally responsible, sustainable, and portable. You can read more about the entire budget on this White House site.

Do you support spending $634 billion to advance these priorities?

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Details of Obama's Budget: A Tax and Don't Spend Democrat?

CitizenSugar — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 03:00:09 -0800

Putting yourself on a budget isn't the most exciting thing to do, but when it comes to President Obama's first federal budget the details inspire hot debate. The final outline is yet to come, but Obama plans on cutting the federal deficit in half by the end of his term. The money will come from higher taxes on businesses and wealthy Americans, and much of it won't be spent in Iraq and Afghanistan, as the president plans to slash spending on the wars.

This year, the gap between federal spending and income could reach $2 trillion, more than 8 percent of the overall US economy. How does Obama plan to scale that number back? Here are some of the details:

The budget keeps the Bush tax cuts for middle-income families, but rolls them back for those making over $250,000. The top tax rate would jump from 35 percent to 39.6 percent.
The capital gains tax would rise to 20 percent from 15 percent for the wealthy.
The estate tax on estates over $3.5 million would remain at 45 percent.
There would be an aggressive effort on tax enforcement, targeting corporate loopholes.
The plan would kick off healthcare reform, by reducing spending on some health programs so Obama would have money to devote to new, expanded programs.
Less money would be spent on the efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The budget includes the cost for the war in Iraq and domestic disasters, something Bush excluded to make the deficit look smaller.

While critics argue against raising taxes in a recession, Obama aide David Axelrod says this is the plan that won the election. Do you agree?

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Relationship Protocol: Do His Spending Habits Affect Yours?

DearSugar — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:00:00 -0700

Even if you’re not married, a relationship requires certain financial negotiations: Who pays for what? And when? Often the lines are easily drawn, but sometimes things can get complicated, especially if your boyfriend likes to spend more money than you. It can be difficult to maintain a budget if your partner doesn’t, not to mention that it can often be stressful on a relationship. Is that true for you? Do you find that your boyfriend’s spending habits affect your own?

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You Asked: I Can't Stand My Family

DearSugar — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:00:00 -0700

Dear Sugar,

I'm a 23-year-old, recent college graduate living with my mom and her new husband. My mother and I have had issues with our relationship for years. I've always been her scapegoat whenever she needs to vent, which is almost every day. She seems to love belittling me. Her new husband is extremely difficult to live with - he's very condescending and puts other people down to lift up his spirits.

My mother puts her husband over me and my other siblings. She blatantly states that she doesn't care if what she says or does makes us feel bad. She consistently minimizes my contribution to the household, ignoring the fact that I have over $25,000 in student loans to pay off (with no help from her). I can't take much more, but right now I'm not financially able to move out. I have a job, but when grad school starts in two months, I have no choice but to quit. I don't know what to do or how to cope with this. I feel stuck in a really tight place. Any suggestions?

- Trapped Trina

To see DearSugar's answer, read more.

Dear Trapped Trina,

I'm so sorry that this is the current living situation that you're dealing with. There's no excuse for such treatment especially from your own mother. Both her and your step-father sound incredibly selfish and emotionally abusive, and sadly, I don't think that will ever change. Regardless of your financial constraints and the difficulties facing you, you absolutely must get away from them.

Talk to your college financial-aid department about looking into grants and scholarship programs or seeing if you're eligible for an increase in financial aid. If you absolutely must quit your job, which I'd avoid at all costs even it means dropping to a part-time schedule of classes, look for a new job with extremely flexible hours. On-campus positions are always a good option for full-time students as are babysitting and tutoring jobs. Every hour that you're not in school, doing homework, or sleeping, try to fill with money-making opportunities.

In the meantime, stay with friends if you can and scour the classifieds for cheap room listings. Do what it takes to move out; the stress and exhaustion you may have making ends meet will be far less than the distress, trauma, and emotional heartache you suffer by trying to cope with living at home.

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The How-To Lounge: Saving Money When Your Friends Aren't

DearSugar — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:00:00 -0700

There’s nothing quite like a night out on the town with friends to burn a hole in your pocketbook. In fact, hanging out with people - even a significant other - who aren’t trying to save money can put a serious damper on any budget you might have in place. But there are some great ways to maintain your savings plan while also enjoying the finer things! To see my ideas, read more.

It’s not a bad idea to let your friends know that you’re trying to save money. You don’t have to break the news, but casually mention it when you talk to them so they won’t be surprised when you don’t shell out for a spa weekend.
Eating out can get expensive, fast, especially if it’s a group dinner. While you can always be the girl that comes along and just orders an iced tea, I think it’s much better to simply tell your friends that you’ll meet them afterwards for a drink.
Better yet, try hosting something at your house. If they want to do dinner, try a potluck-style meal. If they’re all about going to the movies, offer up your couch for a movie night - popcorn is cheap.
For whatever reason, nighttime activities always end up being more expensive than doing something during the day. Next time you skip the Friday night meet-up, try to plan a Saturday morning walk or Sunday afternoon picnic since both can be as cheap as you need them to be.
Don’t feel like you have to say no if your friends want to pay for something on behalf of you. Often if a friend knows you're grappling with money concerns, she’ll be happy to pay your way just to enjoy your company. Obviously making a habit of this isn’t a great idea, but it really is OK to take her up on it once and a while.

It may get tricky, but stick to your budget! Keep your mind on the bigger picture and use your growing savings account as a reminder of what your sacrifices are accomplishing.

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The How-To Lounge: Celebrating Christmas on a Budget

DearSugar — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 10:00:00 -0800

In this special How-To Lounge, I am going to give Saving Up Sandie some tips on how to have a wonderful Christmas on a budget. I am sure many of you have questions similar to hers so check out my advice below.

Hi Dear Sugar! My live-in boyfriend and I are pretty broke this year and can't afford to buy lots of presents for each other, but we want to make the holidays, well, feel like the holidays. Do you have any suggestions on how to make Christmas special on a budget? - Saving Up Sandie

Click here to read more.

Instead of getting a big tree that costs a lot of money, opt for a miniature version and buy pine-scented candles to make your home still smell festive and alive.
Instead of buying extravagant gifts for each other, write one another a card. Sometimes it's the card attached to the gift that's the most meaningful anyway.
Since it's always fun to open something on Christmas, set a small dollar amount that neither one of you can go over and get creative! You don't need to spend a lot of money to give a good gift.
Instead of going out for Christmas dinner, buy a bottle of wine and cook dinner at home.
Invite family and friends over to celebrate with you - this holiday is really just about being together.
The holidays are all about spreading cheer so perhaps you and your boyfriend could volunteer on Christmas day, and give back to your community. Not only will you feel good about yourself, but bringing a smile to someone else is the greatest gift of all.

I hope these tips help and if you have any additional ones you'd like to share, please do so in the comments below.

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The How-To Lounge: Budgeting your Honeymoon

DearSugar — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 11:00:00 -0700

Just like your wedding, it is imperative to make a budget when planning for your honeymoon. According to TheKnot.com, today's average honeymoon costs anywhere between $2,000 and $5,000 but can be as high as $10,000 depending on how extravagant you choose to travel and the length of your honeymoon. I am here to offer some helpful tips on how to get the best bang for your buck.

Click here to read more

If you can, plan your honeymoon as far out as possible. Purchasing airplane tickets with advance notice is the best way to save money
Popular honeymoon destinations such as Hawaii, Bora Bora, Tahiti, etc. have peak seasons, so if you are on a tight budget, avoid the busy season
If you choose to travel abroad, make sure you check the dollar against the local currency before you book your travel plans
Be sure to talk about the activities you want to partake in before you leave for your honeymoon. If you want to snorkel, surf, or wind sail, take the cost of recreational sports into consideration when planning your budget
Restaurants in resorts can be very expensive, and while room service is convenient, I advise you to research local cafes and restaurants wherever your destination may be to save money and quite possibly, eat better food!
While the room is the most important part of the hotel to some newlyweds, weather is more crucial to others. Determine what is most important to you and choose your destination accordingly
Look into booking your honeymoon with a travel agent. Not only do they have insider deals, but they can alleviate an element of stress during your wedding planning
If you choose to plan your honeymoon yourself, be sure to mention to every customer service agent you speak to that this trip will be your honeymoon. Many providers offer a discounted rate or free upgrades for newlyweds
Recently, couples have opted to register for their honeymoon -- from plane tickets to hotel rooms, so that could be an option for you if you are on a tight budget

Your honeymoon should be as relaxing as possible, so make sure to get your budget squared away long before you get ready to pack your bags. Have fun and congratulations!

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The How-To Lounge: Budgeting your Wedding

DearSugar — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 09:30:00 -0700

Now that your save the dates have been sent and your time line is in place, it is time to budget for the big day. Weddings can be extraordinarily expensive and like everything else, the cost of an average wedding keeps climbing. With that said, outlining a budget is imperative before breaking the bank.

For tips on how to budget your wedding read more

Gone are the traditional rules of the bride's family paying for the wedding and the groom's parents paying for the rehearsal dinner, many couples are now taking on the expense themselves
No matter who pays for what, your budget will determine the kind of wedding you have so knowing what you can and can't afford needs to be determined before you get too carried away
According to TheKnot.com, the average cost of a 150 person wedding in the $25,000 range should break down like this:

Reception 48%-50%
Ceremony: 2%-3%
Attire: 8%-10%
Flowers: 8%-10%
Entertainment/Music: 8%-10%
Photography/Videography: 10%-12%
Stationery: 2%-3%
Wedding Rings: 2%-3%
Parking/Transportation: 2%-3%
Gifts: 2%-3%
Miscellaneous: 8%

While we want every aspect of our wedding to be perfect, sometimes we have to pick and choose our battles to keep the cost down. Perhaps you nix a course at dinner so you can have 10 more guests, etc.
While the invitation is the first thing your guests will see, you can cut the cost by printing your own invitations and going without a calligrapher for addressing
Flowers add a beautiful touch to any event, although they are expensive. Instead of using a florist, opt for a trip to your local flower mart the morning of the wedding and creating your own arrangements
The time of year and day can dictate the cost of your wedding. Saturday is the most popular day of the week for a wedding, so to cut the cost, opt for a Friday or Sunday wedding
Having an open bar can skyrocket your food and beverage bill. Offering only wine and beer is a good way to satisfy your guests while respecting your pocketbook
Music can really get the party started, but live bands are pricey. Having a DJ is a less expensive option, or you could always use your iPod for the musical entertainment
Eating buffet style and skipping out on passed hors d'oeuvres will cut the cost on wait staff
While there are places to cut costs, the photographer is not one of those places. Although your memories are priceless, a picture really does say a 1,000 words

Since you are spending so much money on your special day, be prepared for the unexpected-- don't skip out on wedding insurance. Every bride is unique and prioritizes her needs differently, so with a structured budget in place, hopefully your wedding day can be everything you always hoped it would be!

Stress-Relief Kit: Budgeting for Peace of Mind

DearSugar — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 15:31:00 -0700

This DearSugar feature is all about ways to understand, limit or manage stress. It's also meant to help you be prepared for stressful situations (thus the kit) and to know how best to care for yourself during the worst of it. And we can't talk about stress without talking about cash. We all deal with money worries, a bad money habit, or hopes that outnumber the dollars in our savings account, if we have a savings account.

For more information and an easy budgeting tool read more

The first, best tool for eliminating money stress is to make and keep a budget. We're always talking on this site about honesty and responsibility . . . well, there's no reason to put one's head in the sand about spending habits, especially if we don't respect that tendency anywhere else in our lives. But who has the time to sit down and make that budget tool? Well, the Consumerist does. I bring you the link to a downloadable excel budget template, all set up and ready to go! The link will direct you to a 9-Step Beginner's Budget, where you'll get a set of instructions for the excel grid, too.

It's one step toward a little more peace of mind and awareness, and toward creating the life you want. Anybody have a great budgeting trick or a story about kicking a bad money habit? We could all use a little inspiration!

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