As the year draws to a close, it’s time to think about what’s coming in terms of your taxes. Even though the new year hasn’t started yet, it’s a good idea to start getting ready. After all, you might have a few deductions to squeeze in. And, you’re guaranteed to be happier if you have your documents together and you aren’t scrambling to prepare your taxes at the last minute.
Here are some ways to ensure you’ll be ready for tax season:
It’s that time of year again… time to throw away your money!
Okay, I mean, it’s time to get ready for Christmas!
For many Americans, spending can get out of control during the holidays.
According to the American Journal of Psychiatry, compulsive spending affects one in 20 Americans, leaving many men and women feeling worse after the holiday than they did before the malls put “Jingle Bell Rock” into constant rotation.
Compulsive spending is an addiction, no different from any other.
We all know that our credit score can help determine loan eligibility and interest rates. After all, credit scores are an indicator of how well you handle debt. But if you’re not in the market for a mortgage or a personal loan, it’s easy to assume that your not-so-hot credit can’t really hurt you.
The truth is that it’s more than just lenders and banks who are checking credit reports and making decisions based on your credit history. Even if you have no plans for new debt, ignoring your credit score can hurt you.
Here are three surprising ways your credit report could be used against you:
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Tomorrow is the infamous Black Friday in America, where shoppers go out in throngs in the wee hours of the morning and scrabble, kick, and run for the best deals around. Whenever I think of Black Friday shopping, I envision a newscast from my childhood that showed fresh-faced young mothers beating the crap out of each other to get the last Cabbage Patch doll.
Looking back, I think that incident actually occurred closer to Christmas than Thanksgiving, but that same ruthless consumer mindset is what I relate to Black Friday. “Buyer Beware,” takes on a WHOLE new meaning the day after Thanksgiving. Here are a few tips to keep you sane, safe, and on budget during Black Friday shopping.
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You choose how to pay every time you make a purchase. Sometimes you can choose from several methods of payment, and other times, you’re limited by your location. My wife and I use a combination of credit cards, debit cards, checks, and cash, depending on where we’re making our purchase.
What methods of payment do you use? Do you have a preference?
Pros: Credit cards are a very popular form of payment, and they let you pay on our own schedule. They help to build credit, which will assist you in making large purchases in the future. Credit cards can also have rewards. My wife and I have a travel perks card that gives us about 2.5 cents per dollar spent towards flights.
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One of the ways that you can spend less on certain purchases is to buy items that come with rebates. A rebate can save you anywhere from 50 cents to $20 or more on an item.
Getting that rebate isn’t always straightforward, though, and you could miss out if the paperwork is lost. Here are some things to remember as you take advantage of rebates:
First of all, you need to make sure that you understand the terms of the rebate. What do you need to do in order to qualify? Most of the time, you’ll need to fill out a form and include a receipt. Sometimes, you’ll need to do more. Make sure that you carefully follow all of the directions — from getting your paperwork turned in well before the expiration date to including all of the requested information.
If you don’t follow all of the instructions exactly, you could find your rebate claim rejected. That can be very disappointing, especially if you’re expecting a hefty amount back.
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