Money

16 ways to cut expenses this year

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It's a new year, and that means it's time to get your financial house in order.No matter what mistakes you made last year, you get a do-over this year. The beginning of the year is a great time to make changes that will boost your bottom line going forward. But before you can make a plan to save … [Read more...] about 16 ways to cut expenses this year

Avoid phone scams, plus some apps that might help

Since I’ve been working from home full-time, I can’t believe the number of unsolicited phone calls I get. I’m used to the e-mail spam, of course, but I had no idea that scammers would be working so hard to get a hold of my personal information, or flat out steal my money, via phone.After doing … [Read more...] about Avoid phone scams, plus some apps that might help

FSA vs. HSA: Which health-care tax savings is right for you?

It's open enrollment time in most workplaces, as well as for those who use the Affordable Care Act exchange, which means health care consumers are trying to make sense of the alphabet soup of the available benefits.One choice many face is how best to maximize the tax savings that come with some … [Read more...] about FSA vs. HSA: Which health-care tax savings is right for you?

Health Savings Accounts: the triple tax advantage

Health Savings Accounts (HSA) are great way to save for future medical expenses and to reduce your current taxes.As we all face increased out-of-pocket medical expenses, one method to prepare is to open an HSA, which is like an IRA but offers a triple tax advantage. Your contribution is … [Read more...] about Health Savings Accounts: the triple tax advantage

How to get the best new car deal

You are ready to buy your first car. You can see yourself, driving in that shiny red convertible, feeling the wind in your hair. You might even go look at one in the dealership. But then, reality hits. The payments for that glam roadster are more than your rent payment. So it's time to shop smart. … [Read more...] about How to get the best new car deal

Tips for donating your car to charity

Donating a car to charity requires almost as much research as buying one. These tips will ensure there’s a tax benefit for you and that you're donating to a legitimate group.Know what your car is worth. Your vehicle does not have the same value to a used car dealer and to a charity. Current … [Read more...] about Tips for donating your car to charity

Beware of automatic renewals

I once got a phone call offering me a six-month subscription to a publication. I took them up on the offer. When I got a renewal notice six months later, I ignored it because I didn’t want to continue the subscription.Tip No. 1: You can no longer afford to ignore subscription notices for print … [Read more...] about Beware of automatic renewals

Expert advice on teaching kids about money

Do you remember your dad asking: “Do you think money grows on trees?” or “Do you think I’m made of money?” Well, yes, as a matter of fact, we kind of did. If anything, that attitude is multiplied many times by today’s kids.The time to teach our children about money is when they’re young, so when … [Read more...] about Expert advice on teaching kids about money

Expert advice on digging your way out of debt

When Miranda Marquit started writing about personal finance six years ago, she “was maxed out on my credit cards,” she admits. No more. And the publisher of Planting Money Seeds has a few words of hard-earned advice for anyone who has dug themselves into a debt hole so big they think they’ll never … [Read more...] about Expert advice on digging your way out of debt

How to buy a house with 5% (or less) down payment

One hurdle many would-be home buyers face – or think they face — is the need to come up with a big chunk of cash to make a 20% down payment. The good news is that you don’t have to have 20% down, even in today’s tight credit environment, to buy a house.Buyers with good jobs and decent credit … [Read more...] about How to buy a house with 5% (or less) down payment

My purse has been stolen. Now what?

Quin Ryan was doing a good deed by driving her niece to daycare. Grabbing only the toddler and an umbrella, she entered the school, returning to her car in less than seven minutes to discover her driver-side window smashed and her purse, left on the seat, gone. Out of pocket: $2,500.Drugs, … [Read more...] about My purse has been stolen. Now what?

Will your heirs have to pay your debts? Maybe

The share of all household debt held by Americans in March 2017 rose $149 billion, reaching $12.73 trillion in debt, according to the newest release by the New York Federal Reserve. And a 2016 report by University of Michigan's Retirement Research Center found that nearly 32 percent of Americans … [Read more...] about Will your heirs have to pay your debts? Maybe

How to create a retirement plan when you’re self-employed

Whether permanently or temporarily, by choice or by circumstance, many of us are self-employed these days. We're in this gig economy, where so many of us are making our own livings with our own small businesses. That's great. Except for one thing: People who are self-employed have to provide their … [Read more...] about How to create a retirement plan when you’re self-employed

7 strategies for frugal urban living (no cheapskates allowed)

The cost of living in a major metropolitan area runs higher than average. Frugal urban living is the ultimate oxymoron because there are just so many fun ways to spend money.Consumer temptations abound in the city. From parking and lattes to fashion and entertainment, the cosmopolitan … [Read more...] about 7 strategies for frugal urban living (no cheapskates allowed)

14 home improvements that save on your heating bill

Winter is definitely here, and for many that means high utility bills to heat their homes.While you can’t do anything about the chilly weather, you can take steps to make your home more energy efficient and pay less for heating.To start, the U.S. Department of Energy has a do-it-yourself … [Read more...] about 14 home improvements that save on your heating bill

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