Some good news for Gizmo, I spoke to the vet yesterday and the plan is to reattach his lip to his lower jaw (in its correct position) again now that he's grown some connective tissue on top of the bone. So with luck he won't be disfigured or have a pocket of skin on the underside of his jaw that has to be flushed out as I'd feared.

Also good news for me, the vet said they weren't going to be charging me further boarding fees during Gizmo's recovery, and were going to reassess his medical bills to bring the price down some. I think the little fella has been earning his keep by charming everyone at the pet hospital and getting a discount.

So our governor issued an executive order allowing people to pre-pay their 2018 property taxes and avoid hitting the new $10k limit on property tax deductions, which would be great if (a) local tax collection agencies had any idea how to invoice 2018 property taxes in 2017 or (b) the IRS knew how the hell the new tax bill is even supposed to work.

(Or (c) my property taxes are paid into an escrow account as part of my monthly mortgage bill, so I don't even know how pre-paying them would help?)

The escrow doesn't matter, it is when the taxes are actually paid. They would have to be paid early by the bank.

My real estate taxes aren't over $10k anyway, fortunately. A lower corporate rate helps me since the business makes way more than me. This does zero to make me feel any better about this horrible tax bill. Come on 2018, change everything. Please.

Way to go, Gizmo!

If I had any doubts about the effectiveness of this Aptensio stuff for me, running out for a while has thoroughly convinced me. So much easier to get out of bed and do stuff! Applying my superpowers to correctly inputting invoices seems like kind of a waste, honestly.

Well, you just got free hair color so that's a start.

Indeed! Accepting gifts from generous friends and acquaintances is something I still struggle with convincing my inner self-sufficient hermit is ok, but can't argue with the results.

Yay, Gizmo!

My real estate taxes aren't over $10k anyway, fortunately.

The 10K limit covers both property and state/local taxes though - that will catch a lot more people. My property taxes are also paid through escrow, and while I don't think there would be a way to have the mortgage co pay them early, if you paid them early now, it would end up reducing your monthly payment down the line when they do their annual escrow reevaluation.

Good news, Gizmo!

Glad the medicine is working, -t!

My property taxes don't get anywhere near 10k, so I'm going to leave it alone and cross my fingers.

I know how to be financially responsible. I just don't do it, most of the time. My family has no idea how much I've fucked up my finances in the past. I'm doing okay now, I have a few credit cards to pay off, and I'm really trying not to get into a mess again. It's a combination of anxiety/depression and a stubborn reaction against being raised in a household where the money motto was "don't spend any money". Don't buy anything you can live without, buy the cheapest version of everything, everyone is out to rip you off. My mom would say, "It's not how much you have coming in, it's how you let it go out!" which, idk mom no. We'd have benefited more from learning how to handle having more money than basic survival needs, but none of us knew that. The Great Depression hung over our heads forever.

We don't have state income tax in Florida. Just real estate and sales taxes.

Just got the word that tomorrow is a short day. Hooray!

I think I may re-invent myself as a Rational Calendar Reform crackpot. 12 30-day months with 5-6 days of Non-calendrical time at the end of the year.

Mom was amazing with the fiscal responsibility. She was also raised by her Irish immigrant grandmother and born in 1921, so different mindset. Yeah, I know how to do it, but don't. What is worse, my sister pays my bills and does my books so when I eat out someplace crazy expensive, or do something financially reckless I tend to take out cash to do it so I can lie to her! I am a 63 yo teenager hiding stuff from my big sister.

At this age I am starting to think about it more. Mostly in wanting to have a paid off house and renewable energy and that sort of thing to have a minimal monthly nut when we retire. Still working on getting DH to live on a boat. That could happen too.