Confused by your Tofes 161? Read this.
Have you recently left your job or been laid off? Make sure to keep an eye out for your 161, which your former employer will send you. Like your Tofes 106, this is another important form to keep on file. So what is it? (Quick recap if you’ve missed it: As of 2014, employers must…
Expecting a baby? Follow these 9 financial steps for a smooth start.
B’sha’a tova! You’re expecting! Or hope and pray to be expecting sometime soon. While you dream about what your future baby will be like and plan for the kind of life you will give him or her, it is important to think about how to finance these dreams. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered. We wish…
Looking for a job? Here’s our step-by-step guide to landing your next one.
So you’re looking for a job. Maybe you’ve been laid off, recently moved, hate something about your current job, or are looking to rejoin the workforce after an extended parental leave. If any of these things ring true, this post is for you. The market is hard these days. Everyone says it is. Sometimes it…
You just lost your job – Now what? Our step-by-step guide to Israeli unemployment benefits
Very few of us today stay in one job for our entire career. Most of us have or will end up unemployed at some point. Each of us personally has been there and done that too. There is so much power in knowing your rights. This way, you can stand up for yourself and receive…
Eyeing those cheap low-cost flights? Read this before you book.
We are so excited now that Europe’s low-cost carriers are returning to Israel! As of the writing of this post (February 2025), Wizzair currently operates out of Tel Aviv, while Ryanair and Easyjet are expected to return later this spring. Provided they actually stick around this time, this is huge news! Why? Because low-cost flights…
Our budget-conscious step-by-step guide to planning your next vacation
With foreign airlines gradually returning to Israel and some big birthdays coming up, we are in trip-planning mode again. While we plan our next family vacation, we wanted to take you along for the ride and show you exactly how we do it. Here’s looking at you, friends-who-tell-us-they-wish-they-could-travel-but-don’t-know where-to-start. 😉 Before you go, don’t forget…
Do you use a Rav Kav? If you do, you’re probably paying too much.
If you’re a regular reader of our blog, you probably know that we are happily car-free and have been for six and a half years now. In that time, not having a car has saved us upwards of 100,000 shekels – which has all been invested instead. While we occasionally rent a car-share car, we…
How to read your Israeli pension statement
Each quarter and at the end of each year, you should receive this document from the investment company that manages your pension account. Many people, including us in the past, would just ignore it and forget about it. However, not knowing what’s going on in your pension can be costly. You may be paying exorbitant…
How to read your Tofes 106
You probably remember reading our guide on applying for your own tax return. (Hint: It’s an awesome guide that can get you money back from the government. If you haven’t read it yet, make sure to read it here.) To file for a tax return, you need a 106 form. But what exactly is it?…
Your savings rate is higher than you think. Here’s how to calculate it.
We talk a lot in this blog about our savings rate and how we aim to get it over 50%, thereby saving and investing more money than we spend each month. But what exactly does that mean? Since our net salary from our day jobs isn’t the only money we have coming in – and…
Understanding your Tofes 101 – What it is and how to fill it out
If you’ve ever worked for an Israeli organization, you know that when you start a new job, or in January of each year, you are asked to fill out a 101 Form (Tofes 101). It’s a pretty long form which can be filled out by hand or digitally. But what exactly is it for? And…
How to file your own tax return like a pro (and get ₪₪₪ back!)
Have you ever filed an Israeli tax return? If you are a salaried employee in Israel, you are probably grateful for the fact that you don’t HAVE to. Your employer takes care of it for you. But can you? Should you? You may remember that we paid a company to do our tax return last…
Understanding your tlush maskoret (pay stub)
If you are an employee, you receive a payslip from your employer each month showing you what you were paid and what was deducted. For a lot of people this can appear like complete gibberish. Understanding what is written on your tlush (pay stub) is very important so you can make sure you are getting…
Your step by step guide to using BuyMe
Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored by BuyMe. It is legitimately confusing to use (on purpose, I’m pretty sure) but just about all of us get it, it is valuable, and it can free up real money for other uses. Chaval not to use it. I recently treated a friend to a much needed gals’…
Chasing the Fionist Dream 