Shopping can be hard
@GardenGerty (166641)
United States
September 30, 2025 3:06pm CST
Every year I make certain to have my maximum pre tax flexible spending account taken out of my checks.
A new year begins tomorrow for me. October 1, 2025.
Due to some confusion on my part I started my day with over $400 still in that account. If it is not spent I will lose it.
During the year I pay co pays for Bob and I and get prescriptions and some over the counter things. I had never explore the online catalogue for my plan, though.
So this afternoon I have spent just over four hundred dollars. We will get packages or one package sometime within the next week. Tax free, and shipping free for orders over fifty dollars.
Lucky me, the web site keeps the totals. I came within $1.50 of spending it all.
I am using this as an opportunity to buy some things that I use on a regular basis, but also ordered things that I normally would not buy, like an acupressure cushion for my neck and an infrared hand held heat therapy, as recommended several years ago by my chiropractor. Oh, and a small tens machine, as recommended about four years ago by physical therapist.
I am so glad I did not have to walk around a store to do this.
By funding my FSA account I also reduce my tax obligation by about $500. I think @porwest would approve of this money move.
12 people like this
8 responses
@snowy22315 (199444)
• United States
30 Sep
Good job! I like when I can spend just what I intended to and not more.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (91341)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
30 Sep
SIGH I just do my best from SS to SS and thank the Lord I have a place to live and food to eat,
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (207237)
• United States
1 Oct
I hope you like the TENS machine. I bought one for my husband; but he never used it. I think it would have helped with his pain.
@porwest (111535)
• United States
3 Oct
I have never been a huge fan of FSAs because it doesn't really afford one the opportunity to make a financial decision, but rather a spending one—such as in "spend it or lose it." I'd rather be able to minimize my spending and be able to keep the difference.
I get the tax benefit as well. But perhaps you only actually saved $100 because you had to spend $400. If you got to keep the $400 and roll it, you'd be up $900.
At the same time, FSAs do serve a purpose, even if I think they are more designed for people who have difficulty managing their money. Same goes for "escrowing" on a mortgage. These are for people who will likely not be able to come up with the tax money or insurance money when it comes due to be paid—but someone who can manage their money well receives a greater benefit by not escrowing because they can earn interest on their money before it has to be paid out.
Either way, I am not at all saying you did anything wrong or are doing anything wrong. Just offering an expanded money related thought.
You still get a thumbs up from me, for whatever that's worth. 
