A Personal Finance Blog for Regular Folks
The holidays have come and gone!
I’m sure many of you have gotten a gift card or two as a gift. I know I love getting a gift card to a store I love!
Don’t go spending what’s on those cards just yet though. With a little forethought you can make sure you use the gift card wisely and maximize it’s benefits. This way you make the gift card more valuable.
[Read more…] about How to Use Gift Cards Wisely to Maximize Their Value
There’s been a bit of a ruckus with the release Suze Orman’s pre-paid debit card — the Approved Card.
Her card joins other celebrity cards such as the Rush Card and the Kardashian Card.
The problem, many claim, is that pre-paid debit cards come with fees to use them. With Suze’s card, people are claiming that she is just profiting from her audience.
I’d like to show you an alternative to pre-paid debit cards. In fact, I’m going to show you how to make your own pre-paid debit card!
First though, let’s go over what a pre-paid debit card is.
[Read more…] about How to Make Your Own Pre-Paid Debit Card – And Suze Orman’s Approved Card
Since 2008 and 2009, owning a home is about as in style as teased hair.
As foreclosures continue and people end up selling their home for less than what it was worth, renting has become the new way to live. Not owning a home takes away the investment risk that is inherent in home ownership.
If the housing market would continue to falter, you’re not out anything.
Because of the distaste towards home ownership, renting has taken off.
Rental rates continue to rise and the amount of highly sought after apartments or homes continue to fall but according to a recent survey, 57% of renters are missing an important piece of insurance:
Renters Insurance!
[Read more…] about To Do This Year: Buy Renters Insurance
There’s a story that the media has missed in all of their 2011 wrap up stories.
It’s one of those rare feel-good economics stories that deserves to be relived because in 2011, one group above so many others who tried, showed that they have far more power than what they thought.
It’s not a story about Wall Street bankers, Washington politicians, the Tea Party movement or even the Occupiers.
It’s about you.
You, the consumer, showed that when you speak, you can influence the actions of the world’s biggest companies.
Not convinced? [Read more…] about Three Stories That Prove Consumers Still Have Power
We normally think of mutual funds as investment vehicles—which they are—but they can also offer valuable ways to save money on income taxes this spring and beyond.
There are steps you can take with mutual funds right now that can lower your tax liability either for the 2011 tax year or, failing that, for 2012. Yes, there are ways to save on taxes with mutual funds!
Some of these are time sensitive, so you’ll want to either make your moves now, or position yourself to be able to take advantage when tax time comes around next year. The important thing is to move on this — the windows close quickly.
[Read more…] about 4 Ways to Save on Taxes with Mutual Funds
