You put a can or bottle into the machine and it gives you a voucher or money back for your efforts.

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It is important to register yourself as such with the administrators as soon as possible, to be within a chance of getting some of your money back, or obtaining the goods you may already have paid for.

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If a gas well is a 15 year investment life, and with productions declines, 80% of your money comes back in the first 4 or 5 years, the IRR would assume you are compounding this cash at 23% for the remaining term of the investment.

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With many prepaid debit cards, it would be easy for someone who found it to use up your remaining balance without getting caught, and you may be less likely to get your money back than you would be with a traditional credit or debit card that was reported as lost or stolen.

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The money is out of your estate now, yet if you need or want it back later, you can take it.

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Consulting work or starting a business that falls back on your skills is a great way to make some money and position yourself as an expert.

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Of course, if you owe the feds money (for student loans or back taxes, for example) or if your refund is otherwise earmarked for seizure (such as child support obligations), your refund will be offset by the amounts owed.

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If trimming spending doesn't get you to that magic number, consider temporarily cutting back on contributions to your individual retirement account or 401(k) and using that money to bolster your emergency fund, says Mr. Weingarten.

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