Archive for 2009


Closing on Our First Rental Property

Posted by Madison on April 27, 2009

We’re closing later this week on a 3 unit, 100 year old rental house. It’s in a prime location, close to the university and hospitals. It’s currently rented until summer of 2010. (In the area, leases are usually signed for the following school year in the spring.) It’s our first real estate investment and our […]

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Visual Guide to Tax Spending, Credit Cards, and Housing

Posted by Madison on April 23, 2009

We’ve had a huge week! My husband finally made a decision about his plans to work for the upcoming year, everything is almost finalized and we’ll be closing on our rental property next week, and there were some new developments with the loan modification that we’re considering pursuing. Add those to the mountain of paperwork […]

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Solar Energy Tax Credit: Will You Install Solar Panels?

Posted by Madison on April 22, 2009

The economic stimulus plan lifted the maximums on the solar energy tax credits, making the purchase of solar panels very appealing. Since we decided not to downsize and stay in our house long term, we’re considering installing solar panels this summer. I thought it would be fitting to celebrate Earth Day with some details about […]

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16 Second Quarter Financial Tips

Posted by Madison on April 20, 2009

Each quarter, I like to do a financial check in. It’s a good reminder to reevaluate some topics that have been on the backburner and a great time to address new topics that depend on the time of year. With tax season complete and summer on the way, here are tips to get your finances […]

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Lending Club Referral Bonuses

Posted by Madison on April 17, 2009

Lending Club is busy expanding their service right now, so Free Money offers just keep popping up. Lending Club now has a multi-level referral program for you to earn bonus money. How to Get Your Referral Money Sign into your Lending Club account (or open a Lending Club account if you don’t have one yet). […]

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Did You Miss the Stock Market Rally?

Posted by Madison on April 16, 2009

It wasn’t long ago that we were feeling the pains of a plummeting stock market. While it was hard to watch tens of thousands of dollars disappear from our accounts on what seemed like a daily basis, I kept reminding myself and everyone around me to stay put. We’re in it for the long term. […]

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Ask Madison: Last Minute Tax Questions

Posted by Madison on April 15, 2009

Tax day is here! Have you filed your tax return yet? If not, you can always file an extension. Don’t forget that the first 2009 estimated tax payment is also due today. Lots of first time home buyers are planning to file for the 2009 $8,000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit on their 2008 […]

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File an Extension to Lower or Hedge Your Tax Bill

Posted by Madison on April 13, 2009

Think filing an extension is only if you haven’t finished your taxes? Think again! An extension is actually a powerful tool to lower your tax bill, or place a hedge against your taxable income next year. Tax Extension Taxes are due on April 15, but an extension will get you an extra six months to […]

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Free Garmin nüvi GPS from KeyBank

Posted by Madison on April 10, 2009

It’s Free Money Friday! Since we’re busy traveling out of town for the holiday weekend, a free GPS offer seemed like a no brainer! How to Get Your GPS Open a new qualifying KeyBank account by April 24, 2009. Make one debit card transaction and a combination of two direct deposits and/or automated payments each […]

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Cashbaq, Housing, and a New Schedule

Posted by Madison on April 9, 2009

For those of you who check My Dollar Plan daily, you may have noticed a shake up in the schedule this week! It’s spring break, so I’m busy taking the kids on day trips, but I also thought it would be a good time to test a new schedule. Starting this week, I switched to […]

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