When it comes to money terms, people tend to be intimidated about asking for clarification. They’re afraid it’ll make them look uninformed or stupid, but this isn’t the case: there’s nothing wrong with asking for a definition. (Chances are, someone else in the conversation will be wondering the same thing.) But just in case you’re […]
Few things can strike dread into the heart of the average American like tax season. Considering the complexity of filing taxes — and the potentially high stakes for making a mistake — it’s no wonder that anywhere from 20% to 25% of taxpayers wait until the two weeks before April 15 to prepare and file […]
Four years ago, I started my life as a blogger. I was delighted to be bringing in the extra income, but I didn’t think about the tax implications. As an independent contractor, there were exactly zero taxes taken out of my pay. That same year, our adjustable rate mortgage adjusted down, resulting in less interest […]
Recently, there’s been a lot in the news about database security breaches. From Target to Michaels to Neiman Marcus, it seems like any major retailer could be the target of a database breach. And, of course, that puts your information at risk. A few years ago, one of my credit card numbers was stolen as […]
Introverts get something of a bum deal. They’re urged to “get out of their shell” when they’re perfectly happy listening to conversations rather than participating. They’re more likely to be told to smile by strangers. And they’ll often lose out on saving money when given the chance to haggle — especially considering the fact that […]
As usual, you can blame the Polar Vortex. In this case, it’s increasing the demand for propane gas, one of the key sources of heating for thousands of homes and businesses. From the middle of December through January, the price of propane increased by more than $1 per gallon. Even more alarmingly, prices jumped as […]
