Yeah, unless you really think you'd not do it, I say keep the lower monthly payment, and just overpay as often as you can. UNLESS there's a prepayment penalty.

I could never make double payments. Yes, I can pay down the principle without penalty, which is why I have the dilemma, but I'm just so annoyed. I guess I need a financial genius type (billytea? Jon B?) to tell me if there's a financial benefit to doing so. Because having that extra money was supposed to make paying the other bills easier, which means that I wouldn't be putting as much toward the car each month anyway. Maybe it's better to just have the higher payment, which will force me to pay enough to be paid off in two+ years. Grr. Argh.

ETA: The loan isn't 3%, it's 3% less than it was. I think it's 4.3% or therabouts, so still pretty good.

ETA2: But yeah, if I look at the big picture, I should probably pay the lower payment and put the extra toward the credit cards or the 10% loan I had to take to pay off the time share thing from the divorce.

I used to bite my brother when we fought physically, but that's only a side effect of CP in the sense that, as a crippled girl, it can be hard to get a physical advantage. Also, I didn't know about germs. Mom gave me *hell* when she caught me, with the understanding if the wound didn't clear up, there was more hell coming.

In conclusion, money sucks. Or owing it does, anyway.

In conclusion, money sucks.

I will so second this right now.

wrod.

I don't think I'm getting one, sadly. Which is stupid, because just because I made lots of money last year doesn't mean I don't need it THIS year!! This year is a whole different year!! Where I have been making no money for a few months!! Stupid rassenfrassen government plan.

Well, my understanding is that will then end up getting a bigger refund next year.

In other words, say your taxes are normally $2000 every year and that is what is withheld from your paycheck. Next year, your tax bill would only be $1400 because they are eliminating the lowest bracket just for next year. Instead of getting that $600 back next year, they are giving it to you now (and will note that down in your file for next year). Since you're not getting anything now, you should have a lower tax bill next year.

Maybe it's better to just have the higher payment, which will force me to pay enough to be paid off in two+ years. Grr. Argh.

Honestly, Kristin, unless you are going to be extremely disciplined about making extra payments, or putting it towards higher interest debt, I would do this.

I was expecting $1800 but only got $1200. Got it in the first round because of fortunate SSN and I filed the first day they had electronic filing. Apparently if I had made more I would have got more back. I'll be spending it all on luxury consumer goods, perhaps a lavish vacation. Not. Oh well, a tiny bit less debt.

I sent a revised version of the letter to step-dad. Gulp. Sister #1 thinks I am being way too subtle. Sister #2 thinks he won't care. Brother wants to go on a road trip with me. They didn't get it yet because his computer is off right now. (I have remote access as the family tech)

Using the economic stimulus $ to pay off my car is paying it off 8 months ahead of time on a 60-month loan. Basically, I've had the car a little under 4 1/2 years. It's a 2000, so it's only 8 years old.

Bear in mind that my last car (moment of silence for the dear, departed Sherman) was a 1991 Camry that I drove until 2004, when the transmission decided to go walkabout. At 13 years, that was a fantastic car (other than the transmission).

So I plan to drive the Spud for at least another 5 years, unless a piece of the International Space Station falls out of the sky and crushes it. t peers out window towards outer space with a look of suspicion

Although -- this is my ideal plan -- once I pay off my credit card, I'll start saving for my next car, because I *really* want to pay cash for it (rather than finance it), if at all possible. I know that's pie-in-the-sky, but I really want to shoot for it.