Ask the Readers: What Is Your Biggest Financial Accomplishment?

Editor's Note: Congratulations to Devon, Jenn, and Wealthy Zen for winning this week's contest!

Everyone has accomplishments in their lives they are proud of. Be it graduating from college or landing their dream job, most people have something they have done that makes them feel accomplished. Finances are no different! From paying off student loans to eliminating credit card debt to saving for a big trip or an emergency fund, most people have reached milestones in their finances that they are proud of reaching.

What is your biggest financial accomplishment? Paying off your debt? Building an emergency fund? Or...?

Tell us about your biggest financial accomplishment and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — one for random comments, one for random Facebook "Likes", and another one for random tweets.

Mandatory Entry: 

  • Post your answer in the comments below 

For extra entries (1 per action):

  • Go to our Facebook page, "Like" us, and leave a comment on this article telling us you did, or
  • Tweet your answer. You have to be a follower of our @wisebread account. Include both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" in your tweet so we'll see it and count it. Leave a link to your tweet (click the timestamp for the individual URL) in a separate comment.

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

Giveaway Rules:

  • Contest ends Monday, April 9th at 11:59 pm Pacific. Winners will be announced after April 9th on the original post. Winners will also be contacted via email.
  • You can enter all three drawings — once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.
  • This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered, or associated with Facebook.
  • You must be 18 and US resident to enter. Void where prohibited.

Good Luck!

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Selene M.

This year I'm putting aside any savings from coupons, rebates, sales, etc. Should have been doing this for years. This builds up an emergency fund as well.

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Selene M.

I follow on Facebook as Selene Montgomery

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Guest

Converting $15k in loans from family into the purchase of a pre-crash Cali townhouse; moving to the East and buying a small affordable home near DC, selling both in the peak of the market; paying off $60k in school loans and all credit cards; implementing a cash/debit only spending plan in the family; paying off early two cars and creating car savings accounts to collect what were previously car payment; paying half in cash for a second-hand replacement of our 10 yr old car; and now -- 10 years later -- being ahead about $400k counting retirement, equity, and cash savings. Greatest tools: Following the economic news closely, convincing spouse that debt-free is best, ignoring all pressure to live beyond means, and aggressively paying down debts.

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jennifer

The biggest financial achievement so far, is graduating from college with no student loans or debt. It certainly was not easy, but it makes all the difference now. Fortunately, my husband was also able to accomplish the same thing and we are now on the path to being completely debt free, including our mortgage.

Ashley Jacobs's picture

Awesome! That is quite an accomplishment!

Guest's picture

Graduating college with virtually no credit card debt. This may sound like a small accomplishment but it took focus and awareness to not fall into the trap that so many of my peers found themselves in after 4 plus years at the University.

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Josh

Paying off $8K in debt.

Ashley Jacobs's picture

Wow! Way to go! :)

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Connie

I have a few accomplishments. The first is paying of not one, but two Payday Loan companies. I cannot begin to tell you how good I feel and have learned valuable lessons from that. I now have an Emergency Fund (TFSA) with $1,000.00 in it and feel like I'm on top of the world. I no longer pay bank fees because I moved my money to a new bank. All of my bills are completely up to date, gone are the late payment fees :)

The knowledge I've gained and how I feel is AMAZING!!

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Josh

I liked WB on Facebook!!

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Jimmy

My biggest financial accomplishment would be to have eliminated all my debt, including my house. In 2010 I was able to pay off the mortgage (42 years of age) and remained debt free until this past month when I bought another home. Making extra payments, I should have this house paid for in 5 years while maintaining a 9 month emergency fund. I make $45k a year and live well within my means - my friends call me cheap, but I don't have a need for more than I already have. Happy that I am accomplishing my ultimate goal of having three paid rentals and living in another house by the time I retire - 20 years out yet.

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rm

My biggest financial accomplishment is paying off my mortgage in 10 years!

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Staycee

Graduating from college and starting a business from scratch with the mortgage on the building as the only debt against it!

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My biggest financial accomplishment was getting out of credit card debt is December 2011. I had around $3,000 in debt hanging over my head since I moved nearly three years before. I was laid off, then a job opportunity came up and I have to move quickly to take it and incurred more debt in the process. But I paid it off before Christmas and it was my present to myself. The financial security and peace I got from it was more than any gift could have done.

Since then my wife and I have over a thousand dollars in our emergency fund and have remained debt-free (other than student loans).

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Carson

Paying down large amounts of debt since 2010.

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My biggest financial accomplishment so far is making a budget, sticking to it, and being on track to pay down my debt! I ought to have my 0% interest credit card paid down by November, and after that I can debt snowball to pay off my car and a personal loan (taken out to handle more credit card debt) in no time. Very exciting times!

Guest's picture

I tweeted! https://twitter.com/#!/junethomemaker/status/187182334330683392

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I like WB on FB!

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Alex J

So far, my biggest financial accomplishment has been halting credit card use. It is the first step to recovering right?

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Nicholas

My biggest accomplishment was graduating college with financial independence and having no debt when I started my career. I was able to get a good start on my retirement savings and not feel pressured.

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Nicholas

I have WiseBread liked on Facebook.

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Elizabeth

Getting my husband on board with an allotment system!

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Ewelina

My biggest financial accomplishment has been keeping my student loans to a minimum and then paying what I had off before I even graduated with my MBA.

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mkibrick

Our biggest financial accomplishment (at least in monetary value) is probably our emergency fund. We have 6 months of expenses saved plus an additional $10,000 in preparation for the baby we are expecting. This was all saved up before she was even conceived.

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Valerie

Being debt-free for over 10 years!

Ashley Jacobs's picture

Way to go!!!

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Kris

I paid off $27,000 of debt in four years, with the help of a non-profit credit counselor! :)

Ashley Jacobs's picture

Awesome! That is a great accomplishment!

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Tiffany

Our biggest accomplishments are:
-Husband graduating college.
-Paying off husband's massive 5-figure debt on one income in about 2 years, with a young child.
-Me: loosing 88 lbs. and still going. Husband loosing 30+ lbs.
-Teaching our 5 year old son about money, value, and math.

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Tiffany

Sorry - I didn't read that it was *financial* LOL. In that case, it's paying off my husband's $30,000 student loan in 2 years on one income, with a child. :)

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Diane

I like wisebread on fb!

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Diane

My biggest financial accomplishment is to have ZERO debt, other than $40K remaining on my mortgage and have a 831 FICO score after recovering from a bankruptcy caused by my ex-husband's business debt (community property state...).

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KelR1

Buying my first house!

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KelR1

Like you on FB.

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When, after 6 years of marriage, my husband and I finally sat down and drew up a budget. It's been such a blessing. We're getting out of debt, have more control, and feel like we're both pulling in the same direction.

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KelR1

Tweeted answer:

https://twitter.com/#!/KelRo1/status/187211173786169344

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Guest

My biggest financial accomplishment to date is keeping myself out of homelessness. Every month when pay my rent, I feel like the leaping, high-fiveing girls in the picture.

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Guest

I like you on Facebook!

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Shirley R.

Paying off my undergrad student loan 10 years early and finishing a Masters degree by paying cash and not incurring more student loan debt.

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Biggest financial accomplishment was paying off a credit card before! It was the greatest feeling in the world!

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Liked you on FB!

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https://twitter.com/#!/missluckybreaks/status/187215142646333440

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Lori Deaton

My sister and i spend 2 months exploring the US with an AMTRAK rail pass. We stopped in 18 different cities, stayed in hostels, and budgeted food costs. We each spent ONLY $2,500 for the ENTIRE TRIP!

Ashley Jacobs's picture

Impressive!

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Therese

We have been making a huge dent in paying down our debt (only a few student loans in addition to our mortgage) and have put aside an emergency fund.

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Rob O.

We moved from a $120k home to our new $250k home in Feb '10. Just before Christmas, we made the final payment! Paying off our house in under 2 years was a Herculean effort, but we saved boatloads of interest and no longer hafta deal with a BoA mortgage hanging over our heads.

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Rob O.

I keep up with your posts via Google Reader, but I follow you on Facebook too!

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Kim

Surviving two years with both of us unemployed (layoffs suck!) without missing a bill or going too far into debt (by careful spending, a small emergency fund, selling some items) and then paying off the debt that did occur within five months of one of us getting a job (I'm still looking but have some freelance part-time work while my husband is full-time once again).

This was our biggest accomplishment. I'm now working on getting a new emergency fund together because the money we had last time was a life saver (we had $8000 saved when we lost our jobs and without it we never would have managed). I'm proud that we paid our mortgage and all bills on time during our unemployment.

Guest's picture

MY biggest financial accomplishment was being able to save up for a trip to Ireland. I waited until it was the smartest/cheapest time to travel, and saved even more. Being able to pay for that trip without having to dip into savings, or go into debt, really made the trip that much better. :)

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Sarah

My biggest financial accomplishment is definitely paying off my car! It was a long time coming and it just feels amazing to have the title in my possession!

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Sarah

I also follow you on FB!

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Happy Love

Automatic investment withdrawals for a Roth IRA since my 20's.

Donna Freedman's picture

I like you on Facebook.

Donna Freedman's picture

Tweeted.

Donna Freedman's picture

There have been several and I can't decide which to cite, so I'm giving you the most recent achievement:
I finally obtained a university degree at age 52 and did it without incurring a dime in debt. In fact, the grants and scholarships I applied for and won paid even for my books and related expenses. Whew.

Guest's picture

paying off my credit card debt, definitely. but ask me in a year or two and i'll say paying off all my debt!

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My biggest accomplishment is I have made/enacted a plan to pay off all of my credit card debt in 4 years while living in America's most expensive city!

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Liked on facebook

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My tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/GirlNDGuideTF/status/187231133291913217

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Jennifer Rusch

When I was able to max out my 401K contribution to the limit.

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Abbie

Being able to pay our rent without being evicted has by far been the greatest financial accomplishment we've had. For years we struggled with not having enough funds to pay rent. But now I am proud to say that we have been living at the same residence for the last 5 1/2 years.

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Jennifer

Ten years ago I pretty much had a negative credit score. The electric company wouldn't even sell me electricity for my apartment because of my credit. Today my credit score is 791. That is the result of many tough lessons learned the hard way, a lot of sacrifice, and self education. And now I am able to pass on that education to my daughter, who is about to begin college with her degree already paid for.

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Patrick

I'm particularly proud of the emergency savings cushion I've built, my ability to pay for cars (used) with cash, and my continued contributions toward my girls' college funds.

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Margaret Davis

As contrary as it sounds, my biggest financial accomplishment was declaring bankruptcy. I'd been living for years robbing Peter to pay Paul, using credit cards like they were cash and not having any type of budget or spending plan. When DH and I both lost our jobs within a month of each other it forced us to take a hard look at our money situation and face reality.

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Rebecca B. A. R.

So far it has been to save back over $50,000 in our (mine and my husband's) retirement (we are in our mid-30's). This was only really up until 2007, b/c since then the recession has hit us hard and there have been stretches on no work, unemployment and underemployment. We haven't had to tap into that retirement account, though, thank goodness!

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Francesca

My biggest financial accomplishment thus far has been paying off my credit card debt! Damn, it feels good. After that, saving up a modest emergency fund was much easier.

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Kaye

Well, we are still working on paying off debt - and the biggest thing on my mind is a large chunk of it we just got rid of, but our biggest is probably being car loan free for 6 years now...and my hubby has even bought 3 cars in that timeframe - but we did it all with cash.

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jj

My biggest accomplishment was saving enough money to buy a 2-year old certified used car with cash!

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GuestLeon

Getting a secured credit card and almost paying off my mortgage!

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buying a new car.

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Silence

Finally saving enough to purchase a house and have emergency funds.

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Jason E.

So far it has been me getting serious about finances and deciding to get out of debt not accept it.

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Eileen

What Is Your Biggest Financial Accomplishment?
My biggest financial accomplishment: 20 years ago, my husband left me with 3 children, a house note, a new car note, and almost zero bank account, credit card debt, and taxes on land and house. Lost my part time job- when I stressed out, and old back injury put me in bed. I called credit card company, and offered to pay them $10.00 a month-they agreed. I took the new car to my husband,and took the old Nissan truck from him which was paid for. I still had an old yellow car in my driveway, so I had to pay car insurance on 2 vehicles. My back got better, and I asked my accountant/cpa if he knew someone who needed their house cleaned....he hired me to clean his 2 story home.
I signed up for food stamps until I found a full time job, called the bank and deferred my house note each month - explaining my delimma - each month it was deferred. Put all my cash (from the part time job) in envelopes, and lived on that cash- even had enough extra to buy the children a "special" treat at Poncho's buffet "to go" - 5 tacos for $1.00-(year was 1991) I bought 15 tacos for the 3 children, went to the Arboretum park, and had a great time every weekend for 3-6 months until I found full time employment.
I kept my promise to my oldest daughter, and was able to get her in a great University her freshman year, along with her scholarship and workschool - she did her part also. She paid her own insurance, and her fuel in her little truck I passed on to her...an old Nissan still running when her father left.
My sister-in-law babysit my youngest child, and I asked my friends at church and neighbors with boys and fathers if my son could hang out with them....they practically help me raise my son.
My oldest daughter graduated with honors, and was "Who's Who" 3 years in a row. She left the university and attended a smaller private college, which she paid for by working full time. She also paid for her car insurance and fuel, and food and clothes.
I purchased my career wardrobe at the "FireSale" Markdown Store...where big stores like Macey's and Dillards sell their old line of clothing for bottom dollar....I searched magazines for the latest styles, and accessorized...My new slim figure (less food for mom to eat), gave me a great look! There are some benefits for having little food to eat...(Hey, America, we eat too much!)
I kept praying and asking God to open a door for me for a full time job with benefits.
My food stamp worker, Caroline, listened as I told her how grateful I was for the foodstamps. However, I pefer to work for my food. She then pulled 12 applications off the wall and handed them to me to complete with the State of Texas. Six weeks later I was hired and I've been there 20 years now.
God is good, and He gave me good sense to be smart and spend wisely.
The envelope system worked for me, and I was able to pay all my bills off eventually. I even was able to sell my house for 2 x the price I paid for it!
I got my divorce, and I am now happily re-married for 16 years.
My children are stronger and wiser and see their mom as a fighter and a very smart lady.
I am stronger, and a lot smarter now....I save, save, save!!!!!

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Lynda

remaining debt free is my biggest financial accomplishment

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Lynda

tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/oshkoshbgosh123/status/187363090432659456

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Lynda

i like wisebread on fb

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Joan

Paying off my mortgage which means that I am now debt free. Starting this month all of the house payments now go to my retirement savings.

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Joan

I also like you of Facebook.

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I paid off my first credit card bill this past week!! Over $700 to Dell is gone!

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I "Liked" Wisebread on my FB account.

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Our (myself & husband of 18 yrs.) biggest financial accomplishment has been being on the SAME PAGE together for all these years (we are 39 & 42 with one child). We have 2 BAs and an MS between us and finished college with about $10K in loans that were paid off by 1998. We haven't paid a dime of interest on consumer credit since 1999. We buy our cars cash and our primary home was paid off in 2009.

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kristina

Paying off my mortgage.

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Jenn

Unfortunately, I recently graduated college and have lots of debt that I would like to get down. My biggest accomplishment has been establishing a budget and sticking to it while Im under-employed. Next I hope to find a job in my field that allows me to save a big and throw more at my debt.

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Chris in KC

Always buying used cars, gradutating college with money in the bank, and paying off my first home in less than 7 yrs. I did all this before Dave Ramsey came along...

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Debra

I liked you on FB. :)

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Debra

So far my biggest financial accomplishment has been to pay off my credit card debt. I learned the lesson the hard way in college, but I will NEVER get myself into that situation again!

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Guest

Our biggest accomplishment is living within our means and steadily paying down lots of student debt by doing a debt snowball. It started at 80,000 and now we're down to 30,000!

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Hannah

Paying off 25k in student loans, saving up an emergency fund and being well on our way to putting over 20% down on our first home! I'm very excited.

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Betty

My daughter has one more semester of under grad, and ingot her through with cash, no loans. I've been living so frugally for 3 years!

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Betty

Liked you and the post on Facebook.

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Becbeq

No debt on the cars, no debt on the credit card and just refinanced the home into a 15 year loan at a lower payment. We'll have the house paid off before hubby retires!

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sassy

My greatest would have to be purchasing my home. As a single mommy who doesn't receive child support or anything, I worked so hard to get to where I am at. My kids and I both benefit significantly due to my hard work.

Ashley Jacobs's picture

Congrats! That's awesome!

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sassy

liked and commented on facebook

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TrishB

Building a modest emergency fund. Still working on getting it to a level where I'd feel secure if I lost my job.

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michelle

I've saved up more than what I make in a year in my ROTH, savings, 401ks!

Guest's picture

Here's my tweet!
https://twitter.com/#!/wealthyzen/status/187867047508709377

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Betty

Tweeted a response. https://twitter.com/#!/1bets1/status/187947859373588480

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joe hanlon

My biggest finacial accomplishment so far has been paying 75.00 dollars on back taxes the IRS said I owed to them. This story is true and was only possible for me because #1, I didnt own any assets like a home or property and my bank accounts where week to week with half the time zeroed out. #2 Equally important I was a Union construction worker working in times when jobs were undermaned and a guy like me could freelance and jump from job to job on a whim or a warning. (self employed people/ independant contractors are also empowered in this case).
To say either #1 or 2 does not pertain to you would automatically eliminate you from being able to dismiss the IRS backtax totals. If you do fit ito this group as I did then you need to know the rules and be willing to accept what steps you can exspect to take and know the importance of the timeline. In my case what brought all this into my lap was the IRS agent who handled my audit from a previous year wanted me to supply proof of all my write-offs/business expenses and I had every record short of one overnight expense at an out of town hotel. I lost the receipt somehow but figured I could get a copy and informed the IRS I could get a copy and send it in. Well long story short I learned the hotel burned down and the owner didnt rebuild the hotel and sold the land so there was no copy to be had and I just said OH WELL no big deal the IRS can just change this amount and deduct it from the refund I was due that year for overpayment of tax.... at least that was my figureing and when I was sent a bill for taxes owed for that yearinsted of 1100 dollar refund I was told I was sent this bill because I didnt co-operate and supply the information asked for and as a result ALL 12,500 DOLLARS OF ITEMIZED DEDUCTIONS WHERE DISALLOWED! (because they could was what the officer handling my audit told me later)! So this became personal and I was super pissed at the bullying tactics and if there was one thing this Irish catholic could NOT tolerate it was a BULLY and I informed them I would not pay one dime of this bill EVER and told this officer he had just created a tax protester and told him I cant allow a bully to push me around as I know bully's keep on bullying as long as they think they can get away with it. My hands where tied in my mind and morally I felt an obligation to personally make sure this BS didnt happen to anyone else and to make sure his name was attached to every communique/letter/response/and legal manuver I was to make for as many years as it would take at whatever chance I could take at burning this man/bully/enemy to the american public that I could take. This is what percipitated my greatest financial accompolishment to date in my eyes and if your interested in learning the rest of the story then I will gladly send you THE RREST of the story!!, and never try to sell you anything or attempt to trick you out of any money like some lowlife sponge that feeds on the weakest of us americans without conscience or care.... no mame or sir it's just a true story of my war with the IRS and how I eliminated a 64,000.00 dollar back tax bill and how I was sent 2000 dollar refunds for overpaying my taxes three straight years even though they had a judgement/levy/order to attach 50% of any wages I would earn during those three years.
this is just true and it's interesting from my view and worth while to offer another voice about one mans battle with the mighty IRS and how he didn't back down one inch and fought the good fight and felt his path was just and this info is just part of the payback I was part of back in 1981 til 88 or 9. We use to fight bully's all the time when we were kids but my kids are exspected to never fight back/defend themselves and to just report to the teachers or principal who beat you and let them deal with these bully's in there own appropriate and PC ways. Screw this crap and see what a dinosaur like me does to big bad bully's and how delt with the biggest baddest bully of them all..

joe hanlon

Guest's picture
Beverly

I don't facebook or tweet. However, if you want to include our greatest financial achievements, here they are. Since 1978 (year we married), we bought, remodeled and paid for our first home in 8 years. In 1987, we were able to buy land, have our "dream home" designed and built. This home was paid off about 2000. During this time frame, we were also able to buy a modular home for an adult daughter, pay for my college degree (plus paying off spouse's six years of college loans) and saved for retirement. In short: GOOD MONEY MANAGEMENT AND CHOICES. Since 2009, we have begun remodeling our "dream home" by renovating both bathrooms, altering a large hall closet to be a small home office and converting a "junk room" into a bedroom by having a closet/organizer built in. Light fixtures have been updated as has most of the flooring. What did we give up: some (not all) restaurant meals; designer clothing; a few (not all) vacations; most theater movies; the latest technology (still don't have an ipad, ipod or iphone) and impulse buying. Oh I forgot! We've also had all windows and exterior doors updated and all interior doors remodeled to fit the current building code even though we didn't have to. What would I do over? I'd start EARLIER to save money and save as much as I possibly could and find a really good financial advisor.