So there’s been news of the Payment Protection Insurance or PPI scandal floating around for a long time now. Although we can try to make light of the situation by noting the bonus-like repayments that victims are receiving, or the boost in the economy that has come as a unexpected bi factor of the scandal;[1] … Read more
It is tax season once again, and it is time to fill out your tax form again. Every year, towards the end of January, most of us who are employees or professionals begin to get our tax information returns in the mail, called the Form W-2 or Wage and Tax Statement indicating our taxable income … Read more
As if the health risks weren’t reason enough to quit smoking, the amount of money you could end up saving might be pretty impressive by the time you retire. According to Paul Claireaux, researching on behalf of The Investors Chronicle, quitting smoking 20 cigarettes a day early on and putting the savings into a pension pot could … Read more
A lot of the daily transactions and activities of modern society are now being accomplished on the Internet, so it is not surprising that filing tax returns can now also be done online with Free File from the IRS. Since 2003, the Internal Revenue Service has partnered with some of the leading tax preparation software … Read more
There are many reasons why people would claim for compensation. When an incident occurs within the workplace or upon public property, it can often be due to safety negligence. Filing for compensation can lead to the problem being assessed by those that own and manage the area, and more often than not, they are ordered … Read more
Most of us expect a pretty decent tax refund every year. It’s a nice incentive to look forward to after working hard the whole year and staying productive! The size of the tax refund you receive depends on a number of factors including: Income Dependents Tax exemption statuses and the amount you withhold from your earnings … Read more
The way we pay for everyday items on the high street is changing, and some new advances that have been in the pipeline for a while are about to make their way into popular culture. For many people the prospect of paying for goods using their smartphone is something that has been in the cards, … Read more
Being in debt is one of the worst feelings in the world. You just can’t feel like you can control your financial situation. It is even worse if you’re in debt because of something outside of your control, like medical expenses or caring for a loved one. Regardless of the reason you’re in debt, there … Read more
Credit card debt affects millions of Americans, and carries with it a host of bad side effects such as hurting your credit score and leaving you in financial ruin. When you run up a large credit card debt, you risk incurring large interest rates that will sink you even further into debt. In addition, your … Read more
Homemakers who look for easy ways to save money can start off with their weekly food allocation in their budget. Meals and groceries comprise a substantial chunk of the usual expenditure in households, so any effective cost-cutting measures in this area can produce substantial savings which can be allocated for other household expenses. Save Money with Meal Planning Don’t compromise … Read more
Being a minimalist means different things to different people, because each individual has a different perspective on what he or she considers “minimal” or basic. What Does Minimalism Mean? But we can sum up the desire to live a more minimalist lifestyle as one that is not tied down to material wealth, possessions, career, or other … Read more
When you mention the minimalist lifestyle to the average person, thoughts of giving up all worldly possessions, leaving behind the life one is used to and leading an ascetic, lonely lifestyle with very few pleasures or indulgences may come to mind. Now, while becoming a religious monk does entail an extreme form of self-sacrifice and, … Read more
We’ve all tried saving money by not going out to eat, and most of us fail. We’ve tried saving money by eating at home, but dining out is important to our interactions with friends, colleagues & family get-togethers. Some people just feel too tired at times to prepare a meal on their own, so they … Read more
Issues of low self-esteem and unhealthy self-image are common among many people, albeit at varying levels and with different impact on each person. Some are more capable of dealing with these feelings on their own, while others need a more structured program, perhaps with the help of a support system or a professional such as … Read more
Time is a valuable resource that you do not pay for directly but are responsible for investing wisely and in productive ways. The way you manage the 24 hours you are given every day can spell the difference between your success or failure in achieving your goals. Often, you can get lulled into a sense … Read more
Most information sources you look up regarding financial management, whether these are online resources, help books, or even consultations with financial planners, will focus on or stress the importance of making a budget for your income and expenses. Debt consolidation and management planners also begin much of their advice with creating a budget for their clients, … Read more
The number of Americans using alternative financial services is on the rise. The most recent survey by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) reveals surprising statistics on just how many Americans choose to have little to no financial relationships with traditional banking institutions, choosing instead to patronize alternative financial services or AFS. Data from the FDIC survey now estimates … Read more
The year is quickly drawing to a close, and that means millions of people will be booking airline flights across the state, across the country, or across the globe to visit their family. A common mistake many people will make when booking their flights, however, is failing to purchase their flights with credit cards that … Read more
For many companies, health insurance enrollment is either here, or coming soon. Many employees will just allow their employers to renew whatever they had last year, but some employees will certainly want to re-evaluate their options. Upcoming Medical Procedures If you have an upcoming medical procedure, or you think something may happen then you should … Read more
Prepaid cards are an interesting financial product. They allow a person the convenience of traditional credit cards, without the interest and without the traditional ties to a bank. For some, prepaid cards are the perfect solution. If you are bad at paying off debt with discipline, or spending way more than you should, then prepaid … Read more
Free software is such an integral part of my life. Everything I do has free software involved in one way or another, and I thought it might be useful to highlight some of the free software I use to keep my life moving. Below are the free pieces of software I’m using. Finance Mint Mint.com is … Read more