Free From Broke

A Personal Finance Blog for Regular Folks

Glen Craig

What is a Refund Anticipation Loan (RAL) and is it Worth It?

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It’s tax season again, and if you’re expecting a tax refund you’ll probably want to get your hands on it as soon as possible.

In the past, taxpayers had to wait weeks upon weeks to receive a paper refund check from the IRS, but people sought a faster alternative.

The answer for millions has been the refund anticipation loan.

This option is offered by some tax preparation firms and is essentially a short-term loan taken out against your anticipated tax refund.

How a Refund Anticipation Loan Works

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Paying Taxes with a Credit Card: Pros and Cons

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Are you thinking of paying taxes with a credit card?

The thought of clearing a debt with the IRS in one fell swoop is certainly appealing, and if your credit rating is not in good standing in order to obtain a bank loan, that credit card can sure look good.

But is using a credit card to pay taxes a wise decision?

Before we explore the pros and cons of paying taxes with a credit card, let’s examine paying taxes through an installment agreement with the IRS.

First things first, contacting the IRS and working out an installment agreement is one possible option to manage your debt.  Complete the IRS Installment Agreement Request Form 9465.  If you owe $25,000 or less this process can be completed online.  The IRS may allow you up to 60 months to pay your tax debt.  Within 30 days, the IRS should let you know if your request has been approved and what you will be required to pay.
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10 Tricks to Get Textbooks For Less Money (Because Tuition is Expensive Enough!)

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Textbooks for less money. Now that would be helpful!

When I went back to school some years ago I expected tuition to be higher, and it was.  

That wasn’t a shock, though.  I know that tuition goes up every year and how expensive it is.  I was prepared for that.

Know what shocked me?  I was shocked at how expensive textbooks had become! Let me tell you, textbooks are not cheap! Well, not for those that don’t know the tricks for cheaper textbooks.

I found that some textbooks were easily $100+, some lots more.  I quickly realized I had to figure out how to get cheaper textbooks!  Read on and you’ll see 10 tricks that can save you a LOT on your college textbooks.

Here are some great ways to save on your college textbooks and get textbooks for less:

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Groupon American Apparel National Deal – Double Your Money, December 2015

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You’ve heard me talk about Groupon before.

I reviewed Groupon a while back.  They were the first big online deals site where you purchase a limited-time offer.  Many times, like for this deal, you get to double your money for purchases.

The truth is I don’t usually mention deals here on Free From Broke, but this deal is quite popular every year and Groupon is running it again this year.

I don’t want you to miss out.

Here’s today’s deal:

American Apparel – Groupon Deal

$20 for $40 worth of clothing and accessories from American Apparel Online and In-Store (you pick whether online or in-store).

or

$40 for $80 worth of clothing and accessories from American Apparel Online and In-Store.

I like deals like this where you double your money!  It comes just in time for the holidays in case you’re looking the grab some last-minute gifts for friends.  Of course, you can treat yourself as well.

Groupon deals tend to be for local stores and activities but occasionally they roll out a national deal.  This particular deal is limited to one per person, for U.S. residents only.  You can buy an additional Groupon as a gift.
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