We like to compare ourselves to others all of the time when it comes to finances. We see what our neighbors are driving and wonder how they can afford that. We see the private schools our friends send their children to and wonder how they can afford that. The problem with comparing yourself to others […]
Archive for 2015
Don’t Be Fooled…
Posted byHappy April Fools’ Day! Most of you will be on the lookout for practical jokes today. Years ago, I shared The Best (and Worst) April Fools’ Day Joke that ever took place in my family. Since most of us are on the lookout today, we will avoid being fooled by the practical jokers in our […]
This month our most popular finance tips were discussing when it makes sense to pay annual fees on credit cards, our Amazon income report, successful retirement planning, a bonus from Barclaycard, and quitting the rat race. If you missed the most popular finance tips this month, here’s a quick overview: This Month’s Most Popular Tips: […]
Awhile back I converted my U.S. Bank FlexPerks Card to the US Bank Cash Plus Card to avoid the annual fee. Since you have to sign up for the Cash Plus 5% categories now, I added it to our list of Quarterly Rotating Rewards Cards. One of the benefits of the Cash Plus card is […]
There is a possibility that you may be suffering from double taxation. I know, we all suffer from double taxation, like when we pay sales tax when we purchase items with money that has been taxed by the federal government. Or when I used to work for the state government, and when I used my […]
2nd quarter cash back is here and it’s focused on restaurants and home improvements this spring! It’s time once again to get all the cards organized, activated and into a regular rotation. Reevaluate Quarterly Cash Rewards It’s our quarterly check-in to reevaluate the cards we are carrying to take advantage of the best 2nd quarter […]
Quitting the Rat Race at Age 39
Posted byMy husband’s office at the university is closing this fall. While he was offered another position (with a raise!), he turned it down and he’s taking this opportunity to finally quit the rat race. He will be 39. Congratulations Scott! Later this year, my husband is finally joining me on a new adventure. Just like […]
The topic of retirement comes up all of the time on the news, in the newspapers and magazines and in personal finance blogs. With so many different people talking about retirement, it not only gets confusing, it can also get overwhelming. Luckily, I am here to help. I will give you the guide to making […]
Claiming Dependents on Your Tax Return
Posted byMost taxpayers are well aware of the deduction that comes from claiming dependent children on their taxes. But what are the rules on claiming dependents on taxes? And what about other relatives? And, when can those formerly claimed as dependents on someone else’s return begin to claim themselves? If someone else can claim you as […]
How to Calculate Compound Interest
Posted byCompound interest is the most powerful force in the universe, which was supposedly said by Albert Einstein, though there is no proof that he actually said this. Nonetheless, compound interest is an amazing thing. Previously, I talked about how to calculate simple interest. Now, I am going to show you how to calculate compound interest. […]