BASE® Viewpoint

What Would A Penny A Day Do For You?

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:56:00 GMT

It is that time of year that everyone starts the New Year with the ever-famous New Year’s Resolution. That being said, I will admit that I, like so many others, have added being healthier to my 2012 to-do. In looking for new ways to do this, I came across an article that discussed reducing the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. Again, like many others, I am guilty of having an occasional soda that is full of sugar, and the very article I came across discussed the ill effects of such consumption. It also highlighted something that comes up in conversation on a daily basis, at least in our office, which is health care.

The "Soda Tax: What Can a Penny Do?” article made me think about how many times I may have purchased a sugar laden beverage, and how many pennies that might equate to. After adding up all those pennies, I then got to thinking about what I could have bought with those pennies. Knowing that I don’t drink a sweetened beverage every day it doesn’t come out to be $365, but it still comes out to be the amount of a few nicer items that I passed on purchasing because I thought it wasn’t worth the expense.

As a self-employed business owner, I ask you to think of how many pennies that would equal to you and what you may have passed up. Often times we encounter self-employed business owners that would rather save their pennies than invest in the BASE® HRA. If they only sat and thought of the pennies that could be saved for making an investment that doesn’t even cost a penny a day. They could be saving an average of $3,900 in tax savings each year – that’s a lot of pennies!

So what does a penny mean to you when you look at it over the course of 365 days? I hope if you are a self-employed individual you will start thinking about that sweetened beverage you might purchase. Just imagine it being taxed and imagine that one penny being added every time you purchased that beverage. I think you would be able to see the value of investing less than a penny a day on something that will save you on out-of-pocket medical expenses and health insurance premiums in the long run. Contact BASE® today to see how many pennies you could be saving with the BASE® HRA.

Anne Case
BASE® - Director of Marketing

Show Me The Money

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 08:29:00 GMT

As a busy working mom with two kids under the age of six and going to school full time, I understand the importance of time. In fact, there are days of the week where my schedule is so full I do not even have five minutes to spare. However, one thing I always make time for is shopping on Black Friday. Why do I participate in that craziness you ask; the answer is simple, saving money!

This year for example, I spent three hours waiting in line at Target. After they opened the doors, I was in Target for approximately 45 minutes, but I saved over $600! That is a savings of over $150 an hour!

While I haven't gotten into the 'extreme couponing' I do have friends that have. When they talk about their victorious shopping trips, they do not mention the items they got for free. Instead, they mention those trips when they were able to actually make money on the purchase.

The same principle applies to our BASE® Section 105 HRA. For a small yearly fee, you are able to save an average of over $3,900. Looking at the numbers in an alternative way, the BASE® HRA plan can provide an average savings of $3,900 for roughly 10 hours a year of your time to administer – over $390 an hour!

Call BASE® today to see what you could be saving!

Hannah Greiner
BASE® – Benefit Specialist

Great Gifts

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:38:00 GMT

Boy, have times changed! I remember one Christmas my sister and I got homemade doll beds and blankets and we thought it was the best thing ever! Seems funny that something so low tech could bring so much joy. Imagination was a wonderful thing that could turn the simplest gifts into the best gift ever.

I can’t believe how young you can be to have technology in your life. I purchased my grandson, who is 8 ½ months old, a wooden horse (to be put on springs or made into a swing) at an auction last week. I thought it was awesome and loved the square shape and the slightly worn off paint. When I put him on it he looked excited but was carefully studying it. He tried to bounce on it – it didn’t bounce since it wasn’t attached to any springs yet, it just sat motionless on the floor. Then I noticed he was looking at his walker (it literally has all the bells and whistles) then he would look at the horse. Then he gave me a look as if asking, “Where are the buttons to make it talk or sing?”!

I do have to admit, I purchased my grandson a baby laptop. My husband, who I lovingly refer to as an IT geek, thought this was the coolest thing ever. I’m sure it will be played with because it lights up, talks and is brightly colored. I think everything I have purchased for him, with the exception of clothes, lights up, talks or plays music. Maybe this way in a few years he’ll be able to help me on the computer!

As 2011 is drawing to a close, give yourself a gift, a gift of future tax savings. Call BASE® today, to see if you qualify for a Section 105 HRA. Now is the best time to enroll and realize a full year’s savings. Our client’s average savings is $3900 a year. Tax savings realized with a Section 105 HRA could be what helps you save to buy your child or grandchild a high tech gift that could put them on the fast track to success!

Have a safe and wonderful Holiday Season!

Laura Radebaugh

BASE® Administration/Adjudication Specialist