MEGA Millions

Sorry I've been MIA!  There are 19 days left of tax season and I am swamped.

When I do have a spare moment at work, I dream about what I would do if I win tonight's MEGA Millions lottery jackpot...

If you do win, check out my friend's blog for some great advice.

Good luck everyone!

Where Are My Tax Refunds?

Hello all!  Work has been super busy, so here's a short and informative blog post...

You filed your income tax returns, but you are wondering when you'll get your refund?  You could check them here:

Where is my Federal tax refund? 

You could check 72 hours after you e-file or 4 weeks after you mail you paper return.
You will need your social security number, filing status, and exact refund amount.

Where is my California tax refund?

You will need your social security number, mailing address, and refund amount.
You will generally receive your state tax refund within 7-10 days if you e-filed your return or 8-12 weeks from the date you mailed your return.

If you haven't filed your tax return and your household income is less than $50,000, you may be eligible for free tax preparation help.   Check out my previous blog post for more information.

Happy Monday!


All information provided here are intended as a convenient source of tax information. This information is general in nature, is not complete, and may not apply to your specific situation. You should consult your own tax advisor regarding your tax needs.

Pi Day

3.14

Happy π Day!

I didn't realize that today is Pi day until this morning, so I don't have a pi photo ready... But this is even cuter!

Buns from Chinatown, Japan
Photo by: Peter Lee

Google Doodle for Pi Day

Have a great day!

Minimizing Pet Finances

Being a dog owner and pet lover, inspired by a follow blogger, the following are some tips to maximize the joys of having a pet while minimizing the related expenses.

1. Adopt a pet!  Instead of paying a markup at pet stores, consider adoption.  Pet shelters are over crowded and there are many adorable fuzz balls who deserves a loving home.  I adopted my dog about eight years ago.  He was about one year old at the time and already house trained!

2. Groom your own pet!  Frequent visits to the groomer racks up the bills pretty quickly.  Consider DIY.  The weather was awesome this past weekend and I took the opportunity to spend some time in the backyard bonding and grooming with my four-legged friend.

3. Capture your funny pet moments on video and submit it to television shows for chances of winning prizes and money to spoil your pet some more!  (I am still working on this one... ) 

4. Preventative care - brush your pal's teeth regularly.  I know it's not the easiest task, but brushing your pet's teeth regularly will save from you costly teeth cleaning at the vet.

5. Spay or neuter.  Having one pet might be in your budget, but you may not be able to afford to take care of your pet's babies.  Check online for free local spay/neuter events.

6. Going on vacation?  Pet hotels these days are pretty awesome.  Some even have live web-cams so that you could see what your pet is up to.  However, boarding can be pricey.  I suggest looking for a pet loving friend or relative to help pet-sit.  Your pet may be more comfortable staying at a home environment.

My little one made a buddy when he stayed with my friend during one of my overseas vacation:

Having a pet should be an enjoyable experience and shouldn't have to thin out your wallet.  Please comment if you have more suggestions to save pet expenses.

Thanks for visiting!