{"id":15046,"date":"2020-07-10T10:30:00","date_gmt":"2020-07-10T14:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sourcelive.hr.msu.edu\/?p=15046"},"modified":"2020-07-09T14:01:45","modified_gmt":"2020-07-09T18:01:45","slug":"money-saving-tip-use-your-fsa-funds-to-prepare-for-summer-fun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sourcelive.hr.msu.edu\/?p=15046","title":{"rendered":"Money-Saving Tip: Use Your FSA Funds to Prepare for Summer Fun!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>While your summer plans may look a bit different this year due to COVID-19, there are still a variety of fun things you and your family can do while practicing safe social-distancing (<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/sourcelive.hr.msu.edu\/?p=15032\" target=\"_blank\">read more about safe summer activities on campus here<\/a>). Whether you\u2019re planning a mini road trip, family picnic, or trip to the lake, if you participate in a flexible spending account (FSA) you can use your funds to help pay for common summer necessities and\/or camps for your kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tips for Health Care FSA Funds<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Save an average of 30% by using your Health Care FSA funds on the following eligible expenses that double as travel necessities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Allergy medications<\/li><li>Blister care kits<\/li><li>Bug bite treatments<\/li><li>Orthotics\/insoles<\/li><li>Sun reader eyeglasses<\/li><li>Sunscreen<\/li><li>SPF lip balm<\/li><li>Travel first-aid kits<\/li><li>Traveling neck pillows<\/li><li>UV detection stickers<\/li><li>And more!<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Worried about buying something that isn\u2019t considered an eligible expense? Consider shopping at the online FSA Store for worry-free purchases since everything on the <a href=\"https:\/\/fsastore.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FSA Store website<\/a> is a guaranteed eligible expense. Be sure to check out their <a href=\"https:\/\/fsastore.com\/coupons\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">monthly coupons and promo codes<\/a> for additional savings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tips for Dependent Care FSA Funds<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have a Dependent Care FSA, chances are you haven\u2019t been able to use your funds on childcare as much as you originally estimated due to closures from COVID-19. However, don\u2019t forget you can also use these funds on summer camps for your kids. While many places are now offering virtual camp options, some places are still offering in-person activities with special social-distancing measures in place. See if any of the following options may interest your kids:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/spartanyouth.msu.edu\/Default.aspx?mode=query\" target=\"_blank\">Spartan Youth Programs<\/a> have a variety of virtual camps and activities for children and teens.<\/li><li>Creative kiddos can join the MSU Broad Art Museum online this summer for <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/broadmuseum.msu.edu\/sketchbook-club\" target=\"_blank\">Sketchbook Club<\/a>.<\/li><li>Join the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whartoncenter.com\/education-engagement\/wharton-at-home\" target=\"_blank\">Wharton at Home Summer Sessions<\/a> for a variety of online classes in performing arts.<\/li><li>The MSU Community Music School is offering virtual summer camp options for kids.<\/li><li>While summer camp at Lansing\u2019s Potter Park Zoo has been canceled, they recommend families explore the fun and fascinating world of animals during <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lpzoo.org\/virtual-conservation-camp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Virtual Conservation Camp<\/a> through the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago or <a href=\"https:\/\/brevardzoo.org\/education\/virtual-zoo-camps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Zoom-a-Zoo Virtual Camp Crew<\/a> through Brevard Zoo in Florida.<\/li><li>Find a variety of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eventbrite.com\/d\/mi--lansing\/summer-camps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">in-person camps in the Lansing area<\/a> with special social-distancing measures in place on Eventbrite.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don\u2019t have an FSA and are wondering if you should participate in one, learn more about the two types of FSAs available to benefit-eligible MSU employees on the <a href=\"https:\/\/hr.msu.edu\/news_feeds\/covid19-fsa-updates.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HR website<\/a> and consider enrolling in one or both types during the benefits Open Enrollment period in October this year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While your summer plans may look a bit different this year due to COVID-19, there are still a variety of fun things you and your family can do while practicing safe social-distancing (read more about&hellip; <a class=\"continue\" href=\"https:\/\/sourcelive.hr.msu.edu\/?p=15046\">Continue Reading&#8230;<span> Money-Saving Tip: Use Your FSA Funds to Prepare for Summer Fun!<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"__cvm_playback_settings":[],"__cvm_video_id":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0},"categories":[2],"tags":[457,123,124,411],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pb1fcA-3UG","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sourcelive.hr.msu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15046"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sourcelive.hr.msu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sourcelive.hr.msu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sourcelive.hr.msu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sourcelive.hr.msu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15046"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sourcelive.hr.msu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15046\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15048,"href":"https:\/\/sourcelive.hr.msu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15046\/revisions\/15048"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sourcelive.hr.msu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15046"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sourcelive.hr.msu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15046"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sourcelive.hr.msu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15046"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}