Finances
Tips to Be Money Smart with Your Vehicle
The average new car payment surged to $725 per month at the beginning of 2023, compared to an average of $650 per month throughout all of 2022, according to Experian’s State of the Automotive Finance Market Report for Quarter 2 of 2023. While some of this spike is due to the increasing costs of…
Read MoreWill That Be Cash or Barter?
How swapping products and services could benefit your business Bartering, the act of trading goods or services with other goods or services instead of money, is more popular than ever. And with many businesses dealing with constrained cash flow, bartering may be a good way to create value for your business. The new world of…
Read MoreMultiple Jobs: Be Prepared for Tax Surprises
Working more than one job can help maximize income, but also potentially create a tax surprise. Here are several be aware of: Social Security Surprise: As a full-time employee, the most you’ll have to pay in Social Security taxes in 2023 is $9,932. The problem is each employer you work for will withhold Social Security taxes…
Read MoreBudgeting Basics
During inflationary periods, it is harder to balance your income with the rising cost of housing, food, fuel, health care and insurance. One of the biggest tools to fight raising costs is creating a budget and measuring it throughout the year. Here are some suggestions to help create a budget that actually works. Keep it…
Read MoreMastering Inventory: A way to improve your business all the way around
Mastering inventory levels is a key to many successful and growing businesses. Here are reasons why prioritizing your inventory management is something to consider for your business: Less shrink. Shrinkage represents cash that goes to waste because inventory is damaged, stolen, or past the sell date. Shrink represents an opportunity to improve the inventory control…
Read MoreMake Your Cash Worth More
Banking tips to help you cash in One of the side benefits of inflation is that banks are finally beginning to pay interest on your savings. Here are some ideas to help you make the most of your banked cash: Understand your bank accounts. Not all bank accounts are created equal. Interest rates, monthly fees,…
Read MoreThe Home Gain Exclusion: Make Sure You Qualify!
The home gain exclusion is one of the most generous tax breaks available to taxpayers, providing the ability to exclude up to $250,000 ($500,000 married) in capital gains on the sale of your personal residence. Here is what you need to know. Background As long as you own and live in your home…
Read MoreEveryone Wants a Piece of Your Income
There is an old wisdom: Put a live frog in hot water and he’ll jump out. Put a live frog in cold water, turn the burner on and you’ll have frog legs for dinner. This wisdom is not lost on some businesses as they know it’s easier to sell you a service once and then…
Read MoreCreating Financial Goals as a Couple
Financial goals make it possible for you and your partner to achieve the things you dream about. Here are several action items you can do to create – and achieve – financial goals as a couple: Start talking sooner rather than later. Finances can be hard to talk about. People sometimes feel guilty about debt or…
Read MoreKeys to Keeping Great Business Records
Your bookkeeping system is the financial heart and lifeblood of your business. When set up and operating properly, your books help you make smart decisions and seamlessly turn your financial data into useful information. Here are four key characteristics to building and maintaining a healthy bookkeeping system: Select the proper accounting method. There are two different…
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