This whole "car insurance" conversation is making me anxious. LOL. My "six month premium" is due in a couple of days. Ye Gods... I am covered (on the "good" vehicle) to the max, because ... well, because I cannot escape the feeling that it's the responsible thing to do (no collision on the WonderVan -- do I mean collision? If it gets un-prettied, insurance won't give it a make-over...)
It really is costing me about the same to insure TWO vehicles as it would one, and BOTH are (monthly) less than what I paid YEARS ago for just one with Allstate, and, if I pay six months at a time, it still works out to under a hundred dollars a month, but... choking all that up at once makes me reach for the TUMS.
yeah thats hard. i dont pay the whole thing up front they deduct it monthly. im paying for two males under 25, aint no way i could fork over that kind of dough in one payment. does your ins co offer monthly payments? i know theres a slight fee for that service but i think its only a few dollars a month.
There was a time in my fairly recent history when I didn't have a car, and so wasn't paying insurance, and eeeeeeeeeeeyow, do they sock it to you if you've gone without for a while, regardless of the reason.
bills ... FREAKIN' BILLS! More, MORE MORE! Everyone wants MORE than they did the last time they came a knockin' be it six months ago, or one. If one more political BS thing happens, I may just tell EVERYONE to shove it, and invoke my "religious institution" exculsion rights. Can I hear a "HOOT!"?
hoot! hoot! yeah. i think sometime in the last 20 years the power shifted and instead of corporations existing for the benefit of people, people exist for the benefit of corporations and really we have all been sold for years on what we cant live without. maybe this recession will make people rethink that and if so thats a good thing.
... :) You friends are just WAY too accommodating sometimes ...
Seems to me the "mileage" useage tax is going to harm the rural, part time workers and persons taking advantage of the administrations efforts at continuing education on the governments dime. You can't expect someone living in the middle of nowhere' to walk to work. I've seen the corn fields and it's a long walk from one shanty town to the next looking for unskilled work or lessor paying positions. At the same time it just wouldn't be fair to waive it for rural minimum wage workers yet follow through with penalizing the rest of the nations everyday folks that simply depend on their car for their daily work routines. One thing this all will guarantee is that folks left and right will be deciding in the upcoming months which monthly bills to trim. They wont lose the cable and phones necessarily, but I guarantee the car insurance is a negotiable lapse when the decisions are made.
Agreed, in part, except for the insurance thing.
This whole "car insurance" conversation is making me anxious. LOL. My "six month premium" is due in a couple of days. Ye Gods... I am covered (on the "good" vehicle) to the max, because ... well, because I cannot escape the feeling that it's the responsible thing to do (no collision on the WonderVan -- do I mean collision? If it gets un-prettied, insurance won't give it a make-over...)
It really is costing me about the same to insure TWO vehicles as it would one, and BOTH are (monthly) less than what I paid YEARS ago for just one with Allstate, and, if I pay six months at a time, it still works out to under a hundred dollars a month, but... choking all that up at once makes me reach for the TUMS.
There was a time in my fairly recent history when I didn't have a car, and so wasn't paying insurance, and eeeeeeeeeeeyow, do they sock it to you if you've gone without for a while, regardless of the reason.
bills ... FREAKIN' BILLS! More, MORE MORE! Everyone wants MORE than they did the last time they came a knockin' be it six months ago, or one. If one more political BS thing happens, I may just tell EVERYONE to shove it, and invoke my "religious institution" exculsion rights. Can I hear a "HOOT!"?
... :) You friends are just WAY too accommodating sometimes ...
lol well true but on the other hand can you think of a better way to claim the seat next to you so you can spread out? (thinking of getting my own lil vile of glittery stuff for the lunch room:)
Now see? In the lunchroom you claim "your spot" with a from-home cloth napkin (folded properly like Ruth Chris, Arigato et al.) lay down a full set of silverware and then garnish the perimeter of "your space" with garlic powder. That should do the trick. If not, there's always reading a book upside down or the pretending to count on your fingers for freaking ever while murmuring "shhh, one sec" to anyone who tries to join you.
I eat alone.
oh i like this...taking notes...the garlic powder is a nice touch!
today everyone is staying clear anyway because i have .....the dreaded cold.....no, no not the swine flu, a freaking summer cold and really its on the tail end ive had it since last friday but its one of those that starts in the throat and the grand finale is the runny nose so now im seeing that look of fear in peoples eyes since now they can tell i have a cold. i want to hang a sign around my neck that says grow up people its not always the swine flu fer crying out loud
Also, there's something anticlamactic finding yourself sitting on a 50 passenger bus with just yourself, the driver and that one townie that wears the aluminum foil wrapped around his earlobes carrying around a small vial of glittery liquid claiming it wards off demons and "city folk".
lol well true but on the other hand can you think of a better way to claim the seat next to you so you can spread out? (thinking of getting my own lil vile of glittery stuff for the lunch room:)
Now see? In the lunchroom you claim "your spot" with a from-home cloth napkin (folded properly like Ruth Chris, Arigato et al.) lay down a full set of silverware and then garnish the perimeter of "your space" with garlic powder. That should do the trick. If not, there's always reading a book upside down or the pretending to count on your fingers for freaking ever while murmuring "shhh, one sec" to anyone who tries to join you.
no! No mass transit for you. It's all ugly and smells icky. Carpool.
the problem with carpooling is that there is some social requirement that covers talking to people in the morning, every morning, or worse on the way home, or still worse, suffering thru someones musical choices on the radio. being social for me is best managed when i get to make the choice of whether to slam shut the doors and turn off the phone or engage. otherwise i can be a bit cranky. i struggle to maintain daily proximity with the people i love in life, its hard to imagine the consequences of being cooped up with someone im less fond of:)
Also, there's something anticlamactic finding yourself sitting on a 50 passenger bus with just yourself, the driver and that one townie that wears the aluminum foil wrapped around his earlobes carrying around a small vial of glittery liquid claiming it wards off demons and "city folk".
lol well true but on the other hand can you think of a better way to claim the seat next to you so you can spread out? (thinking of getting my own lil vile of glittery stuff for the lunch room:)
Anonymous wrote: I officially know someone who uses the term "mass transit" as frequently as I say Dar Williams. ;)
moi? lol. can you tell id really like to see some mass transit in these parts? even a bus fer crying out loud:)
No! No mass transit for you. It's all ugly and smells icky. Carpool. Also, there's something anticlamactic finding yourself sitting on a 50 passenger bus with just yourself, the driver and that one townie that wears the aluminum foil wrapped around his earlobes carrying around a small vial of glittery liquid claiming it wards off demons and "city folk".
Hey you. Yeah, but here in Florida twenty five percent of drivers are uninsured already, at 2.50 a gallon. Those 25% are the ones that just don't care, add to that number the ones that won't have the money to carry it and it's going to have a staggering effect on out own premiums. Especially as a No-Fault state. If there's a citation written the police take the tag, but what happens is people will come up with the cash to pay the ticket and the "driving without insurance" penalty, put a deposit on insurance (which they then drop) and hope for the best while they continue driving uninsured. Heads up, 1 in 4, and that's just right now.
Hey you, back at ya! Don't forget the "driving while license is suspended or revoked" citation, too. Get enough of those, and you can find your ass in jail.
And so the snowball grows. Throw 25% of the population in jail as an indirect result of not being able to afford insurance. LOL...okay, now I've totally drifted off topic.
Have a great day, ladies!
im thinking the denver boot is cheaper than throwing people in jail. certified letter followed by a boot and a fine each time and if the fine is higher than the insurance cost. well thats the punitive side of me that has with one exception been hit by people who didnt carry insurance and their lack of adds to all of our bills. the less punitive side says that we need to have alternative, working, forms of mass transit so that people, no matter where they live, can get where they need to go, efficiently, inexpensively and with an eye toward a cleaner world.
I officially know someone who uses the term "mass transit" as frequently as I say Dar Williams. ;)
Hey you. Yeah, but here in Florida twenty five percent of drivers are uninsured already, at 2.50 a gallon. Those 25% are the ones that just don't care, add to that number the ones that won't have the money to carry it and it's going to have a staggering effect on out own premiums. Especially as a No-Fault state. If there's a citation written the police take the tag, but what happens is people will come up with the cash to pay the ticket and the "driving without insurance" penalty, put a deposit on insurance (which they then drop) and hope for the best while they continue driving uninsured. Heads up, 1 in 4, and that's just right now.
Hey you, back at ya! Don't forget the "driving while license is suspended or revoked" citation, too. Get enough of those, and you can find your ass in jail.
And so the snowball grows. Throw 25% of the population in jail as an indirect result of not being able to afford insurance. LOL...okay, now I've totally drifted off topic.
Have a great day, ladies!
im thinking the denver boot is cheaper than throwing people in jail. certified letter followed by a boot and a fine each time and if the fine is higher than the insurance cost. well thats the punitive side of me that has with one exception been hit by people who didnt carry insurance and their lack of adds to all of our bills. the less punitive side says that we need to have alternative, working, forms of mass transit so that people, no matter where they live, can get where they need to go, efficiently, inexpensively and with an eye toward a cleaner world.
Hey you. Yeah, but here in Florida twenty five percent of drivers are uninsured already, at 2.50 a gallon. Those 25% are the ones that just don't care, add to that number the ones that won't have the money to carry it and it's going to have a staggering effect on out own premiums. Especially as a No-Fault state. If there's a citation written the police take the tag, but what happens is people will come up with the cash to pay the ticket and the "driving without insurance" penalty, put a deposit on insurance (which they then drop) and hope for the best while they continue driving uninsured. Heads up, 1 in 4, and that's just right now.
Hey you, back at ya! Don't forget the "driving while license is suspended or revoked" citation, too. Get enough of those, and you can find your ass in jail.
And so the snowball grows. Throw 25% of the population in jail as an indirect result of not being able to afford insurance. LOL...okay, now I've totally drifted off topic.
Seems to me the "mileage" useage tax is going to harm the rural, part time workers and persons taking advantage of the administrations efforts at continuing education on the governments dime. You can't expect someone living in the middle of nowhere' to walk to work. I've seen the corn fields and it's a long walk from one shanty town to the next looking for unskilled work or lessor paying positions. At the same time it just wouldn't be fair to waive it for rural minimum wage workers yet follow through with penalizing the rest of the nations everyday folks that simply depend on their car for their daily work routines. One thing this all will guarantee is that folks left and right will be deciding in the upcoming months which monthly bills to trim. They wont lose the cable and phones necessarily, but I guarantee the car insurance is a negotiable lapse when the decisions are made.
Agreed, in part, except for the insurance thing. Here in Florida, and probably all 49 other states, that if you let your auto insurance lapse, your drivers license is automatically suspended.
Let me share the story of how I found that out. I switched auto insurance carriers. My new carrier transposed two digits on my VIN when reporting it to the state. Geico reported the cancellation of my old policy. Allstate reported the new policy, using a wrong VIN. According to the state, my car wasn't insured. I received a letter informing me my license was suspended for failure to carry insurance.
Hey you. Yeah, but here in Florida twenty five percent of drivers are uninsured already, at 2.50 a gallon. Those 25% are the ones that just don't care, add to that number the ones that won't have the money to carry it and it's going to have a staggering effect on out own premiums. Especially as a No-Fault state. If there's a citation written the police take the tag, but what happens is people will come up with the cash to pay the ticket and the "driving without insurance" penalty, put a deposit on insurance (which they then drop) and hope for the best while they continue driving uninsured. Heads up, 1 in 4, and that's just right now.
Seems to me the "mileage" useage tax is going to harm the rural, part time workers and persons taking advantage of the administrations efforts at continuing education on the governments dime. You can't expect someone living in the middle of nowhere' to walk to work. I've seen the corn fields and it's a long walk from one shanty town to the next looking for unskilled work or lessor paying positions. At the same time it just wouldn't be fair to waive it for rural minimum wage workers yet follow through with penalizing the rest of the nations everyday folks that simply depend on their car for their daily work routines. One thing this all will guarantee is that folks left and right will be deciding in the upcoming months which monthly bills to trim. They wont lose the cable and phones necessarily, but I guarantee the car insurance is a negotiable lapse when the decisions are made.
Agreed, in part, except for the insurance thing. Here in Florida, and probably all 49 other states, that if you let your auto insurance lapse, your drivers license is automatically suspended.
Let me share the story of how I found that out. I switched auto insurance carriers. My new carrier transposed two digits on my VIN when reporting it to the state. Geico reported the cancellation of my old policy. Allstate reported the new policy, using a wrong VIN. According to the state, my car wasn't insured. I received a letter informing me my license was suspended for failure to carry insurance.
apparently the administration is considering replacing the current federal gas tax with a mileage based tax and several states have also considered this and a few plans have been getting tryouts in the last year or so.
I hadn't heard this. Do you know which states are trying this out?
one plan has a device that is attached to the gas tank that records the mileage on the car and other has a gps device that would be installed in cars. there are fewer privacy concerns with the former but im not liking the latter at all. i dont want the govt to have this ability.
Where does this Big Brother crap end? George Orwell is up there somewhere yelling, "I tried to tell ya." GPS in the car for purposes of taxing the driver is completely over the top. Opportunities for abuse are far and wide. Do they say who is to pay for this GPS device or its installation?
Frankly, I don't like either suggestion, or the idea of taxing based on auto use, at all. I paid tax when I bought the car. I pay the annual registration, and pay to replenish the gas tank as needed. I'm also responsible for insurance and repairs and maintenance. I've already paid quite enough for my car, and continue to do so. An additional tax is just not necessary. What about the states that have an annual car tax? I think Connecticut is one.
But, before I leave this mileage counter thing. Each year, I sit with client after client asking them for their auto mileage for the deduction. I get answers like, "I drove around 18,000, 80% is business." Those are awfully round numbers for me. Perhaps a mileage counter will have some benefits. On that note, the standard mileage deduction better increase to cover the cost of that extra tax.
im also not sure this is economically sound as it would appear to hit commercial drivers especially hard which of course gets passed back to the consumer.
im worried too that this is the beginning of sneaky taxes. i hear that a big tax increase will be happening with beer and wine very soon. no, we dont have to drive and we dont have to drink alcoholic beverages but then too the promise that people under 200k would see no increase in taxes is fast becoming a joke. add to that the increase in state taxes to cover federal shortfalls and its fast becoming a different story.
OMG, I bought a pack of cigarettes yesterday. $5.55. Last time I bought cigarettes was like a month ago, and I bought a carton, it was $41. I thought that was bad. Right, I know I don't have to smoke, but I like a cigarette with wine or a drink. So, now both my vices are getting taxed through the roof. Yippee.
Seems to me the "mileage" useage tax is going to harm the rural, part time workers and persons taking advantage of the administrations efforts at continuing education on the governments dime. You can't expect someone living in the middle of nowhere' to walk to work. I've seen the corn fields and it's a long walk from one shanty town to the next looking for unskilled work or lessor paying positions. At the same time it just wouldn't be fair to waive it for rural minimum wage workers yet follow through with penalizing the rest of the nations everyday folks that simply depend on their car for their daily work routines. One thing this all will guarantee is that folks left and right will be deciding in the upcoming months which monthly bills to trim. They wont lose the cable and phones necessarily, but I guarantee the car insurance is a negotiable lapse when the decisions are made.
apparently the administration is considering replacing the current federal gas tax with a mileage based tax and several states have also considered this and a few plans have been getting tryouts in the last year or so.
I hadn't heard this. Do you know which states are trying this out?
oregon and new york have done pilot projects and the states seriously considering it now in addition to those two are ohio, pa, ct, texas and minnesota
one plan has a device that is attached to the gas tank that records the mileage on the car and other has a gps device that would be installed in cars. there are fewer privacy concerns with the former but im not liking the latter at all. i dont want the govt to have this ability.
Where does this Big Brother crap end? George Orwell is up there somewhere yelling, "I tried to tell ya." GPS in the car for purposes of taxing the driver is completely over the top. Opportunities for abuse are far and wide. Do they say who is to pay for this GPS device or its installation?
they are mandating that it be installed in all new cars registered in the state. if the technology were to be used solely for that purpose id have no problem with it but im thinking of the ezy pay cards that new york and mass have where law enforcement can go and check the card usage to determine where you were. with this system the gsp is always available for monitoring so essentially we will all have our electronic ankle bracelets on. not that we dont now with gps on all of our cell phones and the newer phones dont allow you to shut it off to law enforcement, only others. of course its still, for the time being anyway, possible to get a throwaway pay for usage phone to keep in the car for emergencies and leave the regular phone at home which is not something one can do with their car.
Frankly, I don't like either suggestion, or the idea of taxing based on auto use, at all. I paid tax when I bought the car. I pay the annual registration, and pay to replenish the gas tank as needed. I'm also responsible for insurance and repairs and maintenance. I've already paid quite enough for my car, and continue to do so. An additional tax is just not necessary.
everyone pays federal gas taxes and state taxes too at the pump now as far as i know this will replace those so youll pay only for the gas and not the tax at the pump. however there is that psychological price barrier to consider. if gas prices are 35 cents a gallon and you dont see the tax bill till jujl or jan whats to keep the oil companies from jacking the price up to 2 bucks a gallon?
What about the states that have an annual car tax? I think Connecticut is one.
ct has a repub gov who is in a world of hurt right now becauise of the economy, due to the major employers in ct being either financial or insurance based, and all have taken a big hit so the economy has really tanked. right now they are trying to form a new budget and talking about bringing back the toll roads which were eliminated when a series of firey accidents at toll booths occurred. i own some investment property in ct and the tax bill has gone way up which will regretably get passed on. and yeah they also have a car tax which before this crisis they were going to eliminate as part of the a plan to give some tax relief for those who were paying thru the nose for other property tax. one of the reasons i moved had to do with taxes. i had a relatively small home and was paying nearly 800 a month in property taxes because of its proximity to new york city via rail and that in combination with high utility rates was killing me. they also have an income tax and ct used to have the distinction of being the state with the highest tax rates in the us. i laugh when the mass residents call it taxachusettes. its tax paradise compared to its neighbors. even tho ct is considering it i dont think it will pass. those eye in the sky traffic camers have been voted down year after year because of privacy concerns and this is even more intrusive.
But, before I leave this mileage counter thing. Each year, I sit with client after client asking them for their auto mileage for the deduction. I get answers like, "I drove around 18,000, 80% is business." Those are awfully round numbers for me. Perhaps a mileage counter will have some benefits. On that note, the standard mileage deduction better increase to cover the cost of that extra tax.
or people with second jobs taking the deduction if it becomes easily conveyed rather than taking the time to compile records. i think it might be a fine idea if the gadget they come up with reads only the odometer and not the where youve been aspect.
im also not sure this is economically sound as it would appear to hit commercial drivers especially hard which of course gets passed back to the consumer.
im worried too that this is the beginning of sneaky taxes. i hear that a big tax increase will be happening with beer and wine very soon. no, we dont have to drive and we dont have to drink alcoholic beverages but then too the promise that people under 200k would see no increase in taxes is fast becoming a joke. add to that the increase in state taxes to cover federal shortfalls and its fast becoming a different story.
OMG, I bought a pack of cigarettes yesterday. $5.55. Last time I bought cigarettes was like a month ago, and I bought a carton, it was $41. I thought that was bad. Right, I know I don't have to smoke, but I like a cigarette with wine or a drink. So, now both my vices are getting taxed through the roof. Yippee.
apparently the administration is considering replacing the current federal gas tax with a mileage based tax and several states have also considered this and a few plans have been getting tryouts in the last year or so.
I hadn't heard this. Do you know which states are trying this out?
one plan has a device that is attached to the gas tank that records the mileage on the car and other has a gps device that would be installed in cars. there are fewer privacy concerns with the former but im not liking the latter at all. i dont want the govt to have this ability.
Where does this Big Brother crap end? George Orwell is up there somewhere yelling, "I tried to tell ya." GPS in the car for purposes of taxing the driver is completely over the top. Opportunities for abuse are far and wide. Do they say who is to pay for this GPS device or its installation?
Frankly, I don't like either suggestion, or the idea of taxing based on auto use, at all. I paid tax when I bought the car. I pay the annual registration, and pay to replenish the gas tank as needed. I'm also responsible for insurance and repairs and maintenance. I've already paid quite enough for my car, and continue to do so. An additional tax is just not necessary. What about the states that have an annual car tax? I think Connecticut is one.
But, before I leave this mileage counter thing. Each year, I sit with client after client asking them for their auto mileage for the deduction. I get answers like, "I drove around 18,000, 80% is business." Those are awfully round numbers for me. Perhaps a mileage counter will have some benefits. On that note, the standard mileage deduction better increase to cover the cost of that extra tax.
I'm screwed if it doesn't. Mileage is one of my biggest deductions. But, there is no round about figure to it. I have to keep exact records on miles driven. No counter needed. Most certainly would hurt commercial drivers as well as those that travel essential to the profession.
im also not sure this is economically sound as it would appear to hit commercial drivers especially hard which of course gets passed back to the consumer.
im worried too that this is the beginning of sneaky taxes. i hear that a big tax increase will be happening with beer and wine very soon. no, we dont have to drive and we dont have to drink alcoholic beverages but then too the promise that people under 200k would see no increase in taxes is fast becoming a joke. add to that the increase in state taxes to cover federal shortfalls and its fast becoming a different story.
OMG, I bought a pack of cigarettes yesterday. $5.55. Last time I bought cigarettes was like a month ago, and I bought a carton, it was $41. I thought that was bad. Right, I know I don't have to smoke, but I like a cigarette with wine or a drink. So, now both my vices are getting taxed through the roof. Yippee.
The wine always brings me back to a good smoke too. I decided I would give it up rather than have it interfer with my quit smoking program. but..........If you buy from the patels they carry native brands which are less than half the price. NO added chemical, and, all leaf. no stems and crap.Buffalo is close to that favorite brand.Not that I am encouraging smoking at all. Its is a killer. Especially to women. Gator
apparently the administration is considering replacing the current federal gas tax with a mileage based tax and several states have also considered this and a few plans have been getting tryouts in the last year or so.
I hadn't heard this. Do you know which states are trying this out?
one plan has a device that is attached to the gas tank that records the mileage on the car and other has a gps device that would be installed in cars. there are fewer privacy concerns with the former but im not liking the latter at all. i dont want the govt to have this ability.
Where does this Big Brother crap end? George Orwell is up there somewhere yelling, "I tried to tell ya." GPS in the car for purposes of taxing the driver is completely over the top. Opportunities for abuse are far and wide. Do they say who is to pay for this GPS device or its installation?
Frankly, I don't like either suggestion, or the idea of taxing based on auto use, at all. I paid tax when I bought the car. I pay the annual registration, and pay to replenish the gas tank as needed. I'm also responsible for insurance and repairs and maintenance. I've already paid quite enough for my car, and continue to do so. An additional tax is just not necessary. What about the states that have an annual car tax? I think Connecticut is one.
But, before I leave this mileage counter thing. Each year, I sit with client after client asking them for their auto mileage for the deduction. I get answers like, "I drove around 18,000, 80% is business." Those are awfully round numbers for me. Perhaps a mileage counter will have some benefits. On that note, the standard mileage deduction better increase to cover the cost of that extra tax.
im also not sure this is economically sound as it would appear to hit commercial drivers especially hard which of course gets passed back to the consumer.
im worried too that this is the beginning of sneaky taxes. i hear that a big tax increase will be happening with beer and wine very soon. no, we dont have to drive and we dont have to drink alcoholic beverages but then too the promise that people under 200k would see no increase in taxes is fast becoming a joke. add to that the increase in state taxes to cover federal shortfalls and its fast becoming a different story.
OMG, I bought a pack of cigarettes yesterday. $5.55. Last time I bought cigarettes was like a month ago, and I bought a carton, it was $41. I thought that was bad. Right, I know I don't have to smoke, but I like a cigarette with wine or a drink. So, now both my vices are getting taxed through the roof. Yippee.
apparently the administration is considering replacing the current federal gas tax with a mileage based tax and several states have also considered this and a few plans have been getting tryouts in the last year or so.
one plan has a device that is attached to the gas tank that records the mileage on the car and other has a gps device that would be installed in cars. there are fewer privacy concerns with the former but im not liking the latter at all. i dont want the govt to have this ability.
im also not sure this is economically sound as it would appear to hit commercial drivers especially hard which of course gets passed back to the consumer.
im worried too that this is the beginning of sneaky taxes. i hear that a big tax increase will be happening with beer and wine very soon. no, we dont have to drive and we dont have to drink alcoholic beverages but then too the promise that people under 200k would see no increase in taxes is fast becoming a joke. add to that the increase in state taxes to cover federal shortfalls and its fast becoming a different story.
