Finances
Watch Out For These Sneaky Vacation Costs
Going on vacation is a time to get away, relax and enjoy new experiences. But if you don’t pay close attention, extra costs can sneak up on you like tiny money-stealing gremlins. Here are several sneaky vacation costs to watch out for: Covert airfare increases. Airline pricing algorithms are programmed to store your browsing history to…
Read MoreSurviving Wedding Season Without Breaking the Bank
According to this survey by TheKnot.com, the average wedding in 2023 had a price tag of $35,000. And it’s not just the lucky couple doling out serious money. Wedding guests can also face steep costs between gifts and traveling to and from the big event. If you’re planning on attending a wedding or two (or three…
Read MoreKids Can Be Expensive! Here Are Some Tax Breaks to Help
Kids can pose challenges from every direction for their parents – feeding times, car seats, sleep schedules, strollers, child care, and of course…taxes! What most parents don’t consider is that these bundles of joy complicate their tax situation. Here are some tax tips that may help: Start a 529 education savings plan. 529 education savings plans…
Read MoreOh No! Your Tax Refund is Now a Bill
Many taxpayers start preparing their tax return with hopes of receiving a sizable refund, only to find out that their actual refund is much smaller than expected — or that they actually owe the federal government money instead! If this happens to you, here are some of the likely reasons: Higher take-home pay. Look at…
Read MoreWatch Out For These Unexpected Tax Surprises!
No one likes surprises from the IRS, but they do occasionally happen. Here are some examples of tax situations you could find yourself in and what to do about them. Kids getting older tax surprise. Your children are a wonderful tax deduction if they meet certain qualifications. But as they get older, many child-related deductions fall…
Read MoreTips to Turn Buying a Home into a Reality
Homeownership seems more out of reach than ever for many Americans, especially for those who have been waiting for real estate prices to drop. But there are still multiple ways to buy a home right now, or to position yourself for a future purchase. Build up your down payment. The higher real estate prices climb, the…
Read MoreTips 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…
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