New credit card reform laws are going into effect in February of 2010 to provide more consumer protection. The reform was put in place to deal with what were some abusive practices of interest rate hikes and fees. You may recall a post from Pete earlier this year in which he talked specifically about the […]
Archives for December 2009
Seven New Years Financial Resolutions For 2010
This is an article from the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE), a non-profit dedicated to improving the financial literacy of all Americans. NEFE operates the site Smart About Money. Follow NEFE on Twitter at @nefe_org The new year is coming, and with it come the resolutions. Here are a few resolutions that you might […]
10 Year End Tax Deductions And Credits That You Can Claim In 2009
It’s the last week of the year, and it’s your last chance to take advantage of some last-minute tax deductions for 2009. If you’re anything like me, you’ll want to make sure that you do anything you can to lower your tax bill this year. 10 Tax Credits And Tax Deductions Increase your retirement account […]
What We Can Learn From Clark Griswold’s Christmas Vacation
Most people have a Christmas family tradition. Perhaps you exchange gifts at a certain time of day, go ice skating (at the mall if you live in the south like me), eat a favorite dish, or read the story of Jesus’s birth. I think our family has adopted most of these traditions. But one of […]
Good Customer Service And The Power Of Social Media: One Company Goes Above And Beyond To Fix A Problem Through Twitter
Christmas shopping season is in full swing, and with it, the long lines, crowded aisles, and frazzled shoppers. In an attempt to avoid the stores altogether this year I decided to do most of my shopping online. There are a variety of reasons why I like shopping online. First, you can shop in your underwear, […]
Do You Have Financial Purpose Or Do You Just Manage Your Money?
Steven Covey makes an important distinction between leaders and managers. Leaders are those who have vision and direction. Managers simply master the art of doing ‘it’ better and more efficiently. Covey offers the following illustration: The managers are those who are finding better swinging movements to cut more branches with less effort while the leader […]
2010 Home Improvement Tax Credits For Energy Efficient Products (Insulation, Windows, Heaters, Etc)
Congress has extended energy efficiency tax credits for most homeowners through the end of 2010, so if you’ve been looking to upgrade your water heater or windows and doors, you can probably still get a tax credit in the coming year. Some less common of the tax credits for home improvements will be around all […]
Sad News Of The Passing Of A Friend: A Tribute To Jason Mitchener
Over the 2 years that I’ve been blogging I’ve met a lot of interesting people, many of whom I would consider close friends. One of the most interesting people that I have met in that time is one of the talented staff writers on this blog, Jason Mitchener. Jason is a talented writer, contributing tens […]
5 Ways To Give More And Spend Less This Christmas
According to a recent survey conducted by the The Conference Board, U.S. households plan to spend, on average, $390 on Christmas gifts this year. That’s down from last year’s estimate of $418. Considering the economic turmoil many Americans faced during 2009, I’m not at all displeased with the 6.7% decline in spending from last year. […]
Do You Deserve To Spend? Is It Ok To Splurge Even When You Don’t Have The Money?
I’ve been thinking about a type of spending lately that I think causes a lot of problems similar to impulse buying. However, this spending is deliberate. It’s emotion driven and it can get you into credit card trouble quick, if not careful. Perhaps it’s at the end of a long week. Work has been a […]
Tax Considerations For Ministers
Since church ministers are in a unique tax situation it is important for all ministers to understand their unique tax situation. When you work and earn an income you will need to pay taxes. We should pay unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar, but if Caesar is offering you a tax break you should be […]
A Scam Or Not A Scam, That Is The Question: How To Make Sure You’re Really Getting A Deal
We are all too eager to spot a cool deal to save some money. Sadly, very often we are so eager that we forget about caution – and many scammers take advantage of that. What are you risking by running into an online scam? They can steal your money; They can steal your contact information […]
Lending Club Signup Bonus: Cash Bonus For New Investor Accounts Equals Free Money!
Lending club is offering a signup bonus for the month of December of $64.62, one of their best bonuses ever. To get the bonus click on our link, fill out your information and link your bank account. You should have your bonus cash in no time! Next? Start earning big returns on your money!
How To Teach Young Children About Money
How soon is too soon to teach a kid about money? Since it is hard to predict when your kids might “get it” I think it would be wise to have a system in place for when the child does.
