https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 24 Jul 2026 03:43:56 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-fsas-really-save-you-that-much-money#post-1230346 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 14:42:07 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1230346@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh yes - totally worth it!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-fsas-really-save-you-that-much-money#post-1230241 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 14:14:31 +0000 Crisark 1230241@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: It may not be a FSA account. Hra, Hsa and Mra accounts are all really similar but don't provide all the money up front. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-fsas-really-save-you-that-much-money#post-1230230 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 14:11:45 +0000 regberadaisy 1230230@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Crisark: yea, I don't know what the regulations are. But none of my FSA money was ever available upfront. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-fsas-really-save-you-that-much-money#post-1230204 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 14:06:53 +0000 swurlygurl 1230204@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You should definitely do it! Once you figure out how to get reimbursed, it's not too difficult. I just wish it was $5,000/kid! And, you can put in only the amount you think you'll spend on childcare - you don't need to put in the whole $5,000 :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-fsas-really-save-you-that-much-money#post-1230198 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 14:05:31 +0000 Crisark 1230198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: That's not the federal ruling. I do this for a living.<br /> The Medical Flexible Spending Account money is always available all up front at the beginning of either the plan year or calendar year. (depending on your company)<br /> The Dependent Care always has to be paid in prior to the money being used.<br /> Those are the Federal Guidelines. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-fsas-really-save-you-that-much-money#post-1230175 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 14:01:40 +0000 regberadaisy 1230175@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Crisark: my FSA money was/is never up front!<br /> And any money in my dependent care account rolls over.</p> <p>LOL all this to say, read your plan rules carefully. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-fsas-really-save-you-that-much-money#post-1230168 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 14:00:19 +0000 Crisark 1230168@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: Is it the medical Fsa account or the daycare Dca account that you are being offered?<br /> The Dca account, you have to contribute the money before you can use it. The Fsa you get all of the money up front.<br /> Also, the 'carry over of $500' isn't that cut and dry. Each employer has the option to adopt this new ruling but they don't have to. And, if they already offer any 'grace period' into the next year to spend the money they can't adopt the '$500 carry over' at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-fsas-really-save-you-that-much-money#post-1230165 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 13:59:39 +0000 regberadaisy 1230165@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: the way I look at it. Tax is usually around 30% of our paycheck so you're saving 30% on childcare. I would calculate how many weeks she'll be in daycare that PLAN year and put up to that amount in your account. Because it's UP to 5K but you don't have to put 5K. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-fsas-really-save-you-that-much-money#post-1230160 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 13:58:04 +0000 Alivoo01 1230160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like @sunny: says, it's pre-tax dollars and for me, every little bit helps! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-fsas-really-save-you-that-much-money#post-1230156 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 13:57:01 +0000 lawbee11 1230156@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: $150/week for full-time. But we don't have to pay for weeks she's not there and my DH is a professor (has summers off) so there will be several weeks where she's not in daycare. And some weeks she'll be there part-time, which is about half the cost of full-time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-fsas-really-save-you-that-much-money#post-1230118 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 13:48:51 +0000 regberadaisy 1230118@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: How much is your chidcare?</p> <p>FSA for childcare expenses is different than the one for medical reimbursement. Make sure your employer offers the one for childcare.</p> <p>Depending on your plan some gives you a cc. With mine it's a online reimbursement and it is super easy. I get daycare to email me a receipt. I upload to the site and see the money in my acct within 2 biz days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-fsas-really-save-you-that-much-money#post-1230062 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 13:37:02 +0000 HabesBabe 1230062@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It is for us, but we have a health FSA-- nothing for childcare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-fsas-really-save-you-that-much-money#post-1230057 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 13:36:08 +0000 looch 1230057@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: yup, agreed! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-fsas-really-save-you-that-much-money#post-1230048 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 13:33:46 +0000 sunny 1230048@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It is for us! You are saving the tax because you are paying your expenses with pre tax money. I wish the limit were higher. We will use up the $5000 in the first 3-4 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-fsas-really-save-you-that-much-money#post-1230039 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 13:31:32 +0000 lawbee11 1230039@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My employer is currently having open enrollment for FSAs. If you have an FSA for childcare expenses does it really save you that much money? The whole reimbursement seems like kind of a pain. I know the max is $5,000 but M doesn't start daycare until the end of February so we won't spend $5,000 on daycare costs this year. I am worried about setting aside too much and losing it (though apparently now you can roll over up to $500). What do you think? Are FSAs worth the savings? </p>