This isn’t the post about how charitable giving can help your tax bill (although it can). It’s a post about how a practice of charitable giving can fit in with the idea of financial discipline.… Continue Reading
Author Archives: JP
How Much Will Men Spend on Mom this Mother’s Day?
What’s the most important holiday for consumers in May? Hopefully, you didn’t forget Mother’s Day before you answered – because when it comes to spending, Mom is a big deal every year. In fact, it’s the second most expensive holiday next to Christmas. Research from the National Retail Federation’s Mother’s Day survey shows that the holiday is even more expensive for the average male.… Continue Reading
Tax Deductions for Having a Baby
Your life changes dramatically when you have a baby. Your taxes change too. I know. After becoming a mother or a father, the last thing on your mind is taxes. You are thinking about waking up in the middle of the night and whether your relatives have washed their hands before handling the baby. I’m sure the price of diapers would be a higher priority for your finances.… Continue Reading
Preparing for Next Year’s Taxes
Tax season has come and gone. The forms, the paperwork and all the worksheets are closed for another year. Before you forget the words “income taxes” for another 9 months (and before you put the tax folder in the box for the next 7 years), stop and think: “what could I be doing to make this all easier?”… Continue Reading
Is It Bad to Get a Large Tax Refund?
Of course tax time is stressful and confusing. We can list any number of mundane tasks that we’d rather have engaging our free time. I believe that cleaning bathrooms would even contend. However, for a large majority of Americans, completing your tax forms is not all pain for no gain.… Continue Reading
Why Seller’s Concessions are Popular
There is this famous phrase that gets bandied about in the housing market called a “seller’s concession.” It is not a hot dog stand out in front of an open house. It’s also not the seller signing away his first born to a new home buyer. If you are in the home buying or selling market, you want to know exactly what a seller’s concession is and how it can help you.… Continue Reading
What’s your financial philosophy on income?
Everyone has one. What’s your financial philosophy on income? You simply can’t avoid believing in something. Even believing in nothing requires belief. Creating more income for yourself is just another area in your life where this is true. Even though you may not have realized it, you have assembled a personal philosophy on how best to handle your finances. This post will help you to see the broad ranges of opinions that are out there and to help you identify what your money philosophy is.… Continue Reading
What’s the Average Easter Budget?
In a little more than a week, many of us will be stuffing plastic eggs full of money. Where we aren’t giving it away, we are stocking up on things that cost money. Millions of Americans will be celebrating Easter with their wallets doing a great deal of heavy lifting. There are traditional brunches to attend, candy to buy, gifts to hand out and spring clothing to don. When all is said and done, Easter adds up to be the third most expensive holiday of the year.… Continue Reading
Does It Matter If Your Car Loan Is Underwater?
You hear about underwater mortgages in every other finance article in the major publications. Does it matter if your car loan is underwater? I get excited when writing about finances online, because when you do people will invariably talk to you about finance. If there is one thing I love more than writing about finances, it’s helping actual people with their finances. That’s why I wasn’t surprised to get a finance-related call from an old friend of mine. As most of finance conversations go, my friend tossed several interesting financial concepts at me.… Continue Reading
Why the Phrase “Blanket Statement” Should Be Left Out of Your Comments
I have this dream where I’m presenting at a conference on grammar to an auditorium packed with writing experts. The next moment, the crowd is in uproar because I used passive voice in my concluding paragraph. I imagine this is what Dave Ramsey is going through every time someone critiques his signature Baby Steps program.… Continue Reading
