Are you low income and in need of help filing your 2011 Federal Income Taxes?  The IRS has a publication number 4134 which will give you the name and contact information for the Low Income Taxpayer Clinics in each state as well as the income guidelines that are used to determine if you are low income.

The Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) program serves individuals who have a problem with the Internal Revenue Service and whose income is below a certain level. LITCs are independent from the IRS. Most LITCs can provide representation before the IRS or in court on audits, tax collection disputes, and other issues for free or for a small fee. If an individual’s native language is not English, some clinics can provide multilingual information about taxpayer rights and responsibilities.

Low Income Taxpayer Clinics are not part of the IRS but they receive partial funding from the IRS via the LITC grant program. Examples of LITCs are nonprofit organizations exempt from tax under IRC § 501(a) that represent taxpayers or refer them to qualified representatives, and clinical programs at accredited law, business, or accounting schools in which students represent low income taxpayers who are having a problem with the IRS. Each clinic determines if prospective clients meet the income poverty guidelines and other criteria before it agrees to represent a client.  ~http://www.irs.gov/advocate/article/0,,id=106991,00.html

 

It is that time of year again that some people dread (if they have to pay) and some people look forward to (if they get a refund).  It is also an important time of year if you have even remotely considered going back to or starting college between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013.  The new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available online.  It is FREE to fill out and should be the starting point in determining if you can get assistance to start or go back to college.  You must fill out a FAFSA to be considered for student loans or grants.

One of the main things you need to fill out the FAFSA is to have completed filing your taxes for 2011 and have the paperwork handy.  What I do when I file my taxes is immediately fill out the FAFSA while my tax return is already on the screen.  I make it a part of my tax filing, Federal, then state and the finally FAFSA.  Until my FAFSA is completed I do not feel that my taxes are completed.

Remember the FAFSA form is FREE to fill out (if a site asks you to pay LOG OUT ASAP).  It WILL require your social security number; however, it is safe and secure.  You can also fill out the FAFSA in a PDF form and then mail it in or request a paper FAFSA by calling them at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) or 319-337-5665.  If you are hearing impaired, you can contact the TTY line at 1-800-730-8913.

There is also no obligation to attend college if you fill out the FAFSA.  It will tell you what you may be eligible for and your chosen school(s) will get a student aid report.  You can then meet with a school's financial aid office and see what you qualify for.  There are many programs out there that can help payu for college so if you have considered it...fill out the FAFSA and meet with a school....who knows you may be surprised!

Disclaimer:  I took my own advice and in January 2009 I started college at Oklahoma City Community College and I graduated in December with an Associates Degree in Psychology.  I am now attending the University of Central Oklahoma to obtain a Bachelor's in Psychology.  Trust me it is possible!!

More Frugal Tips /The Royal Family/From Our Readers /Guest Post

I have always been pretty good about putting money away for a rainy day but this year I am really taking it more seriously. We have already paid off all of our credit cards and we no longer use them. Right now we are working on paying off my car so that we can get my husband a new car. We are trying to be smart about our purchase. Waiting until we pay off the car we have now and then saving up to make a good down payment is a decision that my husband and I made last year. We are big fans of paying cash when you can and asking ourselves do we really need it if we have to charge it? We are making lots of changes in 2012, how about you?

Below are our Top 10 tips for saving money in 2012 you should think about if your wanting to make a change in your financial status.

Couples and Finance - The first thing you need to do is sit down and talk with your spouse and work on your goals together. You need to get real with one another and pledge to be honest with each other about your spending habits.Then make the pledge to keep each other accountable and create a budget.  I feel like this is the most important step and this you should be the first one you work on before moving on to the others. Check out our Couples and Finance post.

Say No to Charging - I can't tell you how much of a relief it is not to have credit card debt. Start working on paying those credit cards off and then put them away for emergencies only. Ask yourself, if I can't pay cash for it do I really need it? I can't tell you how many parents I see going into debt because they want to give their kids everything they cannot afford.  Don't worry your kids will survive if you don't give them that new toy they wanted that you can't really afford. You need to remember what kind of message and what kind of example you are setting for your kids.  Trust me they are watching and learning from your every move.

Plan for the Future -It is really important to start thinking about the future. My husband and I are really working on this right now. We have signed up for a 401k plan at work.  Check with your financial advisor or bank about possibly setting up an IRA or whatever works best for you.  Check your bank for special programs.  Bank of America has their Keep the Change program.  Anytime you use your debit card they round up to the nearest dollar and put the difference in your savings account.

Couponing - I know, I know, we have talked about couponing before but I want those who still haven't jumped on the band wagon to really listen up.  Make the change to start couponing today and for every dollar you save using coupons put that into a savings account.  For example if you use a $3 coupon take that $3 and put it into a savings account.  If you are having to use coupons because you simply can't afford groceries start small. Put back a penny for every dollar saved.  I know it doesn't sound like much but it's a start and it will add up fast.  If everyone put forth the effort we could have a lot less people relying on food stamps and learning to helping themselves.

Clean out the Clutter - How many of you have a storage unit filled with collectibles and stuff you haven't used in over a year?  My husband and I just had our own little mini storage wars where we invited family to come over and take what they wanted out of our storage unit.  We figure if we have not used it by now we are not going to.  The rest was donated to a local charity.  Just by making this one change we are able to save $130 a month, that's a savings of $1560 a year.  Quit holding on to the junk.  Got collectibles just collecting dust? You can't take it with you so why not sell it, put the money in a savings account and let someone else enjoy them.  They are not doing you any good locked away in a dungeon.  You just gotta let go!

Pay Attention to you Bank Account - Start paying attention to your bank account and looking over it with a fine tooth comb on a weekly or monthly basis.  You will be surprised how much money you are spending at Starbucks or eating out.  Start looking for unnecessary things you can cut out.

Cut It Out - Call your local phone and cable company and find out what specials they are offering for the new year.  Take a look at what you really don't use and cut out what you don't need.  This also goes for car insurance etc.

Give Yourself an Allowance - A budget can be really hard to stick to if you don't make plans for some me time. "You work hard for the money" as they say,so make sure you put a little back to treat yourself every once in awhile.

Don't Impulse Buy - Impulse buying can be very costly.  Tell yourself your gonna wait and if you still want those new pair of shoes next month, then you can treat yourself.  You will be surprised how much less you will be spending because the window shopping experience has worn off.

Make Wise Decisions - Let's just be honest with each other hear.  I can't tell you how many people I hear say I don't have money or I'm broke but their actions directly affect the reason why.  The decisions we make today directly affect our future.  We have to start taking accountability for our actions.  Stop complaining about not having money and do something about it.  It's not about taking the easy road.   You have to work hard for the things that you want.

What steps are you taking to achieve financial freedom in 2012? If you pledge to make a change for 2012 reply here so we can help support each other and when you cross a milestone be sure to share it on our Facebook so we can celebrate with you. (Please note I am not a financial adviser, these are only my opinions)

Don't forget to download the ConsumerQueen.com Savings Toolbar.

 More Frugal Tips /The Royal Family/From Our Readers /Guest Post

 Winter is coming and so are the sniffles. A Delightful Home has a great DIY recipe for homemade vicks vapor rub.This makes a great natural chest rub.

Do you have a frugal DIY Recipe to share with us?

Don't forget to download the ConsumerQueen.com Savings Toolbar.

More Frugal Tips /The Royal Family/From Our Readers /Guest Post

One of the easiest ways to make money from your trash is to submit items for rebates.  Many just require the cash register receipt and the UPC symbol and possibly a form.  My favorite way to make extra money is to catch an item on sale, use a coupon to get the lowest price and then submit for a rebate.....a "triple play".  [Please remember not to talk bad about an item just to get the rebate on a product that says try it or your money back.....this could backfire and the item that you actually liked could be pulled off the shelf!]

Here are some rebates that are out:

Starbucks Viva Taste Promise

$5 Rebate on a Butterball Fresh or Frozen Turkey

Renuzit Holiday Fresh Accents Try Me Free

Various Prestone Rebates

Theraflu Rebate

Filtrete Air Filters

Bounce 6 Month Fresh Dryer Bar

Ideal Balance

(Thanks Jonathon)

Don't forget to download the ConsumerQueen.com Savings Toolbar.

Photo Credit: Infarrantly Creative

Do you have a lot of old broken crayons and glue sticks laying around? I found this great idea on Pintrest from Infarrantly Creative and I like to call them "Push Pop Crayons". Why because they remind of the old push pop containers. These are great for toddlers and easy to use.

1. Take your old empty glue sticks or scrape all the old glue out of the old containers and twist them all the way down.
2. Melt broken crayons in the microwave in a microwave safe container that you don't mind getting nasty. Infarrantly Creative used Dixie Cups.
3. Pour part of the melted crayons into your empty glue sticks almost to the top.
4. Once it hardens there will be a little hole in the middle so you will want to pour the remaining wax in. (You may have to reheat)

More Frugal Tips /The Royal Family/From Our Readers /Guest Post

 Many people probably think there really isn't a science to washing dishes when it comes to throwing them in the dishwasher.Well I'm here to let you in on a few secrets that you should know about your dishwasher to make your experience ... well run smoother?

• Do you feel your dishes never get clean or they always end up having left over film from those dishwasher tablets? The trick is to always run hot water in your sink before you run your dishwasher, especially in the winter time.You see if you don't, by the time the cycle is 1/2 over your water is just getting hot.Water temperature should always be 120 - 140 degrees.
• Jet Dry is a must.
• Appliances are now using less water so you really only need 1 tablespoon of detergent.Within the last year the government had all the phosphates removed from detergents.
• Did you know that breaks down better in water? I have been told by the experts that Finish powder is the best.
• The government is now regulating how much water we can use in dishwashers. New dishwashers run longer but use less energy.
• Always put your delicate items on the top rack and and all your pots, pans etc on the bottom rack facing towards the center.
• You can run white vinegar  through the cycle to clean and deodorize your dishwasher.
• Did you know that a load of dishes washed in the dishwasher requires 37% less water than washing by hand?
• Did you know the "Rinse Hold" setting uses 3 to 7 gallons of water for each use?

I hope these dishwasher tips were helpful and thanks to my super secret dishwasher guy who gave me all these great tips but wished to remain anonymous LOL. Stay tuned for when we teach you how to make your own dishwasher detergent as well as your own rinse agent from home.

Don't forget to download the ConsumerQueen.com Savings Toolbar.

More Frugal Tips /The Royal Family/From Our Readers /Guest Post

The hussel and bussel of Black Friday is over but the stress of the Holidays  is only just beginning.Don't worry though we have 10 Holiday survival tips that are sure to help you have a stress free holiday.This year spend less time worrying about to how plan, organize and tackle and spend more time with your family.

• Purge those Toys : Now is the time to go through old toys. Pull all the ones with broken wheels and missing parts. You may have toys in good condition that your kids have simply outgrown. You can donate then to the Salvation Army.
• Wrap Now :  Start wrapping gifts now as you buy so your not scrambling at the last minute.If you have several kids, use one color wrapping paper for each child so it makes Christmas morning smoother.
• Make a Check List: Start a check list of all things you are wrapping so you don't forget what you bought and end up buying double.
• Delegate: Don't try to tackle your entire to do list yourself.Get the family involved and delegate those chores.
• Preparation: Prepare holiday treats and gifts early. Cookies freeze well as do diced veggies etc. for recipes.
• Stock Up: Now is a good time to stock up on things like batteries. There is nothing worse than opening up presents on Christmas day only to find out batteries are not included. Make sure you have plenty of screwdrivers and scissors on hand to make Christmas day go smoothly.
• Shop Ahead: The day after Christmas is a great time to shop for the next year. You'll save up to 50% and save your insanity as well.
• Keep it Simple: Take the emphasis off 'things' and put it on what is most important, the people!
  Visit family, tell old stories, go over photo albums and have a meal together. Invite old friends and new. Enjoy the food, music, laughter and love. No Gifts.
• Take Time for Yourself: Go get that mani & pedi you have been putting off. Grab hubby and plan a date night. It's important to take time off from the holidays and focus on making sure you are rested and ready to get back in the game.
• Make a Holiday Binder: Start collecting holiday recipes, making a guest list, shopping list and even decorating ideas. This will ensure you don't forget anything important. You will be able to keep everything in one place.

(Thanks to Princess Karen and CQ Readers  Kelli H., Laurie C. and Melissa T. for submitting tips. )

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More Frugal Tips /The Royal Family/From Our Readers /Guest Post

With the holidays coming up , I bet many of you will be getting gift cards as gifts. Most people probably throw them away once they are all used up but did you know those used up cards can be pretty useful? Check out these 12 uses for old gift cards and credit cards.

• Get rid of air bubbles when putting up new wallpaper by rubbing around the edges and corners with your gift card.
• Great for removing candle wax
• Stabilize wobbly legged furniture.
• Use as a straightedge
• Use as a letter opener
• They make great play toys for kids who love to play house.
• Use as an ice scraper
• Cut and make into a Guitar pick
• Make a light switch cover
• How about Monopoly Money
• Scrape gunk off your shoes
• Get those sticky price stickers off when you get home.

Don't forget to download the ConsumerQueen.com Savings Toolbar.

Guest Post by: Amy Ecker loves to write about fine dining, travel the world & work on improving her credit score.