To get out of debt, you can focus on one debt at at time, starting with highest rate or starting with smallest balance.  When I was in debt, I didn't want to accept the road out would take over a year.  I wish I could go back and say don't worry about that; just the next year financially is going to be about retiring debt.     If you can get rid of the car loan, that's good too.  There's no reason to aim to keep some debt.   Don't worry about investing or donating until you're done with the debt.  One thing at a time.  When the debt's gone, you'll have money to invest.  As for donating, I try to donate to people I know.  I asked my kids' teachers if they know anyone struggling to pay for Internet during this corona virus crisis.  It was nice to be able to help.  I could not have helped 20 years ago when I had debt.   It will go faster than you think, not just in terms of perception, but in time.  You'll find new ways to pick up OT, bonuses, things to sell, or whatever over the time when you're paying off the debt.     Regarding the OP topic, get your HR office to update your W-4 form so they take less out for taxes and so you don't get much refund.  That way you have more money from each paycheck to pay debt or do whatever you want with. ... View more

" For some context, I wanna buy a house at some point in my life." This doesn't directly relate to refunds, but it reminds me of how before I bought my first home I thought there was something complicated about it.  But it's all about saving money in a savings account until you have enough for a good down payment.  I was 22 when I first thought about it.  It seemed like forever, but you can save money over time, and it builds up faster than you think because you occasionally get bonuses, OT, odd side jobs, raises, etc.     If you're getting a big refund, you can update your W-4 form and increase the number of exemptions so they take less money out of your paycheck and you don't have to ask for it back in the form of a refund.     It's odd how felt like there was some complicated theory behind buying a house at age 22.  It's just saving money, finding any opportunities to make extra money to save, and watching for a bargain on a house.   ... View more

That sucks. Your problem is only tangentially related to your refund.    If the refund is big enough to make a difference in your life, they’re withholding too much.  You can update your W-4 and get a bigger paycheck and less refund.  Then you use that money to follow your dreams and get away from the jerk.    As for the jerk, I would try to let the authorities deal with him.  They’re not perfect, but engaging with him emotionally just encourages him.  If you don’t react, people will eventually see him for what he is, and he won’t be able to affect your jobs.  Find a geek to get him out of your devices, or use a flip-phone temporarily.  It’s easier said than done.  But in a year you’ll see he’s just another low-life. ... View more

This scenario happened to me 10 years ago.  I was making good money on a 1099 (contract) project after a W-2 job ended.  The W-2 job was understood to be temporary from the beginning.  Despite all this, I was able to collect unemployment as long as I was searching for another W-2 job.  The WI unemployment office told me their world is W-2 jobs, and they ignore 1099 contract jobs.  Once I got so busy with 1099 projects that I couldn't honestly search for a W-2 job, I informed the unemployment office.  They seemed surprised I told the truth rather than just submitting applications to jobs I would never take and collecting the unemployment benefit until it ran out.  They said whatever unemployment money was left would still be available if I started looking for a W-2 job again.   ... View more

I think Amway people are independent contractors, so they can get a 1099, not a W2.  The 1099 shows all the money they paid you, and you show all the money you spent on your Schedule C.  You're also supposed to generate 1099s for people you pay as independent contractors.  Amway may handle that.  I'm never clear on exactly who gets 1099.   You don't need a business entity like LLC or S-corp.  You can just be a sole proprietor without any accounting help.  You can open a bank account as your name "doing business as" (DBA) [a business name of your choosing].  (This is based on my past as a contract employee. I am not an expert in accounting or law.)   I think the very premise of network marketing orgs like Amway is a scam.  The premise is you're buying into a network to promote products, but in the age of the internet that looks like a fig leaf for a pyramid scheme.  But I hope it works for you anyway.  Keep the money in that DBA account so you can track how much you're making or investing in the business.    ... View more

" mine [refund] never sent" Do you mean when you fill out your return, it shows you didn't overpay so you don't get a refund? Or does your return show a refund, and they don't send it?  If that's the case, you should complain.  You may be able to get them to send past years' refunds.   If you're not entitled to one because you didn't overpay, that's a good thing.  You don't want to overpay and then have to ask for the excess back. ... View more

Here’s what works for me: Do not associate pieces of income with particular expenses. Just add up all income for all sources and make a plan for what you’re going to do with all that money. Every month has irregular income from rebates, OT, tax refund etc, and every month has irregular expenses. It’s easier to add up all the incomes into one number and then decide what to do with that entire amount. Write down the simple plan of how to spend your money because if it has more than a few items it’s hard for your brain to store it. Your brain should be used a) to think up creative ways to get the things you want with limited money and time and b) ways to make more money. Your brain is much less effective than paper at keeping track of lists. ... View more