Category Archives: Money

Your 15-point tax-return checklist

Posted on February 27, 2012 by

By Jeff Schnepper, MSN Money

Face it: The tax fairies aren’t going to file your tax return for you. Here’s a step-by-step guide to finding and filing those tax forms you’ve been avoiding.

It’s time to start thinking about getting those taxes done. Maybe you’re in a panic. Not to worry. Just follow Schnepper’s 15 steps to getting your taxes done, and you’ll be much happier. Ready? Here they are:

1. Get serious. Unless you’re focused, you’re going to see that receipt six times rather than the once you need. This is all mental now. Schedule a time to get to work and commit to that time. Then . . . Continue reading →

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9 great tricks for saving more

Posted on December 7, 2011 by

First trick yourself into building a cash cushion, and then trick yourself into keeping it. The process is profitable and might even be fun.

By Donna Freedman, MSN Money
In a perfect world, we wouldn’t need tricks to save money.

Life isn’t perfect, though. The national savings rate has edged up to around 5% — an improvement over recent years — but it means that Americans, on average, tucked away only about a nickel of every dollar.
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The 10 hardest retirement decisions

Posted on December 7, 2011 by

Before you decide to take this big step, take time to figure out the specifics: It can have a tremendous impact on the lifestyle that awaits.

The decision to retire can be sparked by a number of factors: reaching a specific age, hitting a savings goal or being laid off in a tumultuous job market. To support yourself without income from a job, you’ll have to make a series of choices about Social Security, health coverage and your investments. Here are 10 of the toughest decisions you will make before you retire.
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Posted in Money, Retirement, Social Security, Taxes | Leave a comment

12 myths about bankruptcy

Posted on December 7, 2011 by

Will you lose your house and retirement savings? When will you be able to borrow money again? Get the facts on these questions and more.

Like most big, bad scary things, bankruptcy has a reputation based on a few tidbits of truth and a lot of embellishment. And like most creepy crawlies, it’s not nearly as frightening once you know the truth.
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Posted in Bankruptcy, Credit, Credit Cards, Debt Issues, Money | Leave a comment

Is your spouse hiding debt?

Posted on October 6, 2011 by

By Liz Weston, MSN Money
When a husband or wife owes major amounts of money but is keeping the problem secret, marital honesty is undermined. Suspicious spouses should watch for warning signs.
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Posted in Debt Collection, Debt Issues, Money | Leave a comment

Money disaster? Fix your credit now

Posted on October 6, 2011 by

by Janna Herron, Bankrate.com
If your credit has suffered in the rough economy, you may be able to repair it more quickly than you think. And if you’re in the midst of trouble, you can minimize the damage.

It should come as no surprise that more consumers filed for bankruptcy or lost their homes in the past three years. Many are in line for a similar fate as the economy flirts with a double-dip recession. At the end of it all, consumers are left staring at what remains of their once-great credit scores and wondering when they can get credit again.
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Posted in Credit, Credit Cards, Money | Leave a comment