Remember when the Bush Tax Cuts passed? They were set to expire at the end of 2010. Then they were extended at the last minute, so that the rates in place would last for two more years. Now the original cuts are once again set to expire at the end of the year, wreaking potential havoc on the […]
I am one year and five months away from being fully vested in my agency’s pension plan. As I mentioned previously when I discussed what happens to your pension when a company goes bankrupt, I contribute 6.45% per paycheck and my employer matches this contribution. Another nice option for staying with my employer for an […]
Really? Another $25 bonus from American Express? My stack of $25 gift cards from American Express just keeps growing! The American Express cards are this week’s Free Money Friday offer! Make sure you take advantage of it soon because just like the offer we saw only 2 months ago, the offer expires at the end […]
There are many costs associated with raising kids. One cost I minimize is kids clothing. Don’t worry my kids aren’t running around naked all day. I use a twofold strategy for buying and donating that gets my overall cost for clothing close to zero. It’s a big savings during back to school shopping time. Photo […]
With interest rates continuing to be at all-time lows, now is a great time to buy a home or refinance your existing mortgage. When it comes to home buying or refinancing, closing costs can cost you (no pun intended). Many do not realize that some of the items listed as closing costs can be negotiated. […]
A lot of you are probably getting ready to send your kids back to school in the next few weeks. As everyone is getting into the swing of new habits, why not get inspired to organize your finances, in addition to those school supplies, by reading some of these great personal finance articles? Photo source: Twix […]
In Madison’s $3,000 Credit Card Application Spree she mentioned the new US Bank Cash Plus card. It’s a Quarterly 5% Rotating Cash Rewards Credit Card, but has a unique advantage over the other 5% rotating cards – you get to pick the 5% cash back categories – and there’s an additional redemption award! As possibly […]
If you’re looking for an online service to keep track of your finances in one place, it might be worth considering Personal Capital. I recently opened an account to check out Personal Capital and see how well it works. Personal Capital Review Personal Capital is a free service that puts all of your financial information […]
I recently heard some advice from financial guru Suze Orman about lending money to friends and family. Her basic view is that you need to have all of your own financial ducks in a row (8 month emergency fund, fully funded retirement account, fully funded 529 plans, secure job, able to easily pay rent/mortgage, etc.) […]
After finishing up my husband’s Credit Card Application Spree and redeeming all of the sign up bonuses, I’m ready to rinse and repeat and embark on my own application spree. However, since the current free money opportunities change so quickly, I’m creating a new target list for my own spree that includes the most current […]
