Last month, my family and I traveled to Destin, Florida for spring break. We decided to drive across the country — from Minnesota to Florida and back — because we thought it would be cheaper than flying. But to be honest with you, we only assumed that was true.
We never actually ran the numbers.
Love can sometimes be blind, especially in the midst of an engagement and wedding planning. While I don’t think that love suddenly disappears after the honeymoon, like many would suggest, I do think the reality of finances can hit couples hard after they settle down.
Here are three smart financial moves every couple should consider before tying the knot:
If you feel you need to have a lot of money to really enjoy life, I am afraid you are sadly mistaken.
The greatest things in life are those worthwhile experiences and subtle occurrences that sometimes most individuals simply take for granted. While Madison avenue may think that having expensive “stuff” and the like are what lead to happiness, below are some ways you can still enjoy yourself without spending a fortune.
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One of the pitfalls of being self-employed is what happens if you lose your business through no fault of your own. If you worked in a traditional job, you’d know what to do next: apply for benefits at the local unemployment office. But things are trickier when the job you lost was your own business. However, it is still possible for you to qualify for assistance as you move on to the next chapter in your life:
1. Be careful if you incorporate. If you collect a salary from your incorporated business, then you have been paying self-employment tax. Ditto for sole proprietors and partnerships. This means you made contributions to your state unemployment insurance fund, and you are eligible for benefits if you lose your business. On the other hand, some small business owners have been trying to avoid the self employment taxes by not paying themselves a salary. If this is the case, then don’t be surprised that you are denied if you apply for unemployment relief.
Incorporating your company has other benefits like separating your personal tax liability from that of your business. It also protects the owner of a business from any personal financial liability if the corporation needs to declare bankruptcy. Incorporation is one way to protect yourself from the ups and downs of self-employment, but avoiding taxes isn’t one of them.
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I think every parent can relate to having way too many baby and kid clothes piled up in their homes. It seems like no matter what, clothing quickly piles up from hand-me-downs and gifts — even if you never buy new clothing for your children.
In an effort to get rid of the excess clutter while making some extra money, over the past three years, I have sold baby and kid clothes in several different ways.
Here are 3 of my favorite places to sell children’s clothes quickly and easily.
No one was anticipating the rates on loans to come down, but we are seeing extremely low rates again. This is awesome news for those looking to buy on credit, but people who already have loans should also rejoice since there is now a good chance that you can refinance to save some money. After all, getting a good rate on your loan is one of the better ways to save money over time. A lower interest rate is vital if you want to save more money — especially on larger loans that span a longer period of time.
If you want the best possible loan, there are some tried and true tips. Michelle Dosher is the managing editor of the Home and Family Resource Center at the Credit Union National Association. She has 4 tips that will remind you to get back to basics as you attempt to get the best loan rate:
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