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Show F5 SAVINGS GAME But that only means they overpaid at the rate of more than $100 a month throughout all of last year and are only now getting back their money back — with no interest. What's worse, some taxpayers are paying the equivalent of 50 Refund, Why This year I messed up big time with our income-tax return. So Yad that Georgina and are getting a $101 refund. That's only the second time we get one, the last time more than 10 years ago when I didn’t know any better and thought that getting a refund was a gooddeal. A lot of people must think the same way because from twothirds to three-quarters of American taxpayers get a refund — an average of $1,268 this year, according to the Internal Revenue Service. put up with overwithholding Washington, D.C. 1 tip: when all it takes to changeit is filling out a half-page W-4 form with their employer. At least thereis a campaign go- percent annual interest rate to ing on to get people to save their refunds, which I'm afraid is probably a losing proposition based on my perception of human nature, but most definitely worth a try. hands on their refunds a few Not Invest It? your refund,” said Howard Rosen, executive director of the Competitive Policy Council in some preparers just to get their weeks early — when they could Inetead of Tax Somehow I don't think many people would go for No. 1 or No. 2, yet most Americans continue to have kept the moneyall along by not having so muchwithheld from their paychecks. I know you've probably readit many times before, that you should adjust your income-tax withholding so you comeout even at the end ofthe year. But I suspect that human nature being what is it, millions of people will continueto iook at a tax refund as a form of“forced savings.” Butlet me paint a couple of sce- narios: 1. Yourboss cuts your pay $100 every month, but promises to give you everything back — nointerest, of course — more than a year “The bottom line is, improve your own financial security and strengthen the economy — save “Do not have more money than necessary withheld,” hesaid. “The extra money each payday throughoutthe year is of more value if it is earning fering my ownidea on how to deal with those $1,200 refunds. Besides adjusting the withholding, I suggest taxpayers who are getting these fat refunds sign up for an automatic investment plan that takes that same $100 every monthout of their paycheck and gives it not to the IRS interest- at 10 percent, will turn into $700,000 in 40 years, a working lifetime for many people. Rather than just save your return, you can invest your return and over time accumulate a small fortune Wantto give it a try? interest in a savings account or free, but to themselves as an in- Humberto Cruz, a savings being used to retire debt.” I knowthat, of course, even if vestmert in a solid, long-term performing mutual fundorstocks strategist, lives in Coral Springs, last year I too had more than neeessary withheld from my own pay- purchase plans. check. Td like to make amends by of- that offer no-commission directHere are someenticing numbers: That $100 a month, invested Fla. Write him c/o Tribune Media Services, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1400, Chicago, IL 60611. Send e-mail messages to: HCruz5040(at)aol.com LarryH. Miller Lexus |<: WANT REAL SPEED? UPGRADE YOUR 286/386/486 COMPUTER CLEAWEST TO ASC 686-150 mhz SYSTEM (Faster than a Pentium® 166mhz) $599. Includes Mother Board, AMD CPU, 4-72 Ram Slots, Fan, PCI & ISA, 256k DURST ache Lobes i ince, RAM [i monde le extra. OWE 1 486 DX-4 120 Upgrade 5x86 133 MHZ Upgade later. Would youlike that kind of forced savings? 2. Your mortgage lender says you have to send an extra $100 $215.00 i LABOR $249.00 Hl INCLUDED Multi Media Upgrades 4x cD ROM Kits Starting at $149.00 Include: CD ROM Drive, 16 bit Stereo Sound Card, MODEM SALE > GET ON = STHE NET= 20 every month if you wantto stay in your house. More than a year lat- er, he'll give you the money back, again with no interest. Forced 463-1999 $27,900 §701 savings again? 7 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera SOUTH STATE STREET Cobra XL 486 0X4 100MHz y Cobra XLT Pentium 433MHz, . $1529"° B= Be ae cae liek aachrhahael © 264-3636 Care 2PotTESM www.NACorp.c Tu aaron Cola) art ireteti} 6970 South 300 Wes mo}shs) 0645 U eoeeriR-sekerCa AWARD-WINNING COMPUTERS. AT FACTORY DIRECT PRICES. WITH LOCAL SERVICE AND SUPPORT. Here are some of the awards we've won so far just this year. Independent national computer publications applaud Micronfor both the technical excellence of our computers and our competent and courteous customer Awardedin January service and technical support. We think you will too. | HOMER| APRIL Awarded in April ramet) bhne 1998 Awarded in April Awarded ia February 6-Time Winner Awarded in January HOURS: Micron1 Electronics STORE Mon—Fri 9:00-7:00 :: __ Saturday 10:00-5:00 |= MICRON ELECTRONICS, INC. |