Do you have an FSA? An FSA is a Flexible Spending Account. It is a pre-tax benefit account offered by employers that lets you set aside money from your paycheck to pay for eligible out-of-pocket healthcare or dependent care expenses.
Funds can be used for things like co-pays, deductibles, and prescriptions, which lowers your taxable income. A key feature is the “use-it-or-lose-it” rule, meaning you typically forfeit any unspent money at the end of the plan year (thanks, PayChex).
A lot of these FSA plans expire at the end of the calendar year, which means you have 31 days to spend it up. If you have already seen your doctors, refilled your prescriptions, and visited any specialists this year (don’t forget the dentist and optometrist!), one way to make sure you utilize every last cent of your FSA funds is the OTC or Over-the-Counter Benefit.
- Pharmacies like CVS have entire sections of their website dedicated to FSA/HSA-eligible products.
- Walgreens has a section on its website, too.
- And for those Amazon Shoppers- Yeah, Amazon has an FSA/HSA Store.
Online Glasses companies like GlassesShop are a smart way to pick up a few extra pairs of glasses on a budget to stretch those last few FSA dollars. That includes prescription sunglasses, too!
And for my readers with Medicare or Medicaid, check out my post here about OTC benefits you may not have otherwise known about.
Back in the “olden times” of couponing, the first of the month was the best day for money savers. New coupons would be available to print; the first Sunday of the month (barring any holidays) would have a lot of new high-value coupons.
This week has been a whirlwind of adventures. Today, we are doing some thrift store adventures for porcelain dolls and back-to-school shopping.
Hewes Family Fun 