Articles by Jill


Is a Financial Fast Right For You?

Posted by Jill on July 12, 2010

At the beginning of the new year Washington Post finance columnist Michelle Singletary “invited” her readers to a 21-day financial fast. Singletary introduced the fast at her church years ago, and says that many people have used it to jump-start their “path to prosperity.” I agree that the path to financial freedom starts with commitment […]

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Emergency Fund or Retirement First?

Posted by Jill on July 7, 2010

A friend of mine recently asked me a question: “Should I be putting extra money into emergency savings or an IRA at the end of the month?” Allocating funds and/or setting priorities for saving is something that many people struggle with. Order to Prioritize Your Savings Most experts will agree that first and foremost you […]

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4 Quick Mid-Year Financial Checkups

Posted by Jill on July 6, 2010

I looked at the calendar the other day and couldn’t believe the year was already half over! It seems like just yesterday we were ringing in 2010, and now 2011 is just 6 months away. The summer is a time for vacations and cookouts, but don’t forget to pay attention to your finances too! Follow […]

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How to Make SmartyPig Withdrawals

Posted by Jill on June 30, 2010

When I asked Are CDs Obsolete? I mentioned that SmartyPig was an alternative to CDs. As you recall, when I wrote about my experiences with SmartyPig, I found it easy to use, and its interest rate to be downright irresistible. At the time, the only thing I hadn’t done was actually meet one of my […]

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Are CDs Obsolete?

Posted by Jill on June 28, 2010

Once upon a time, Certificates of Deposit (CDs) were a great way to put away money for a fixed period of time. A CD ladder could help you get the overall best interest rate by locking in funds for longer amounts of time while still giving you access to portions of your cash every month […]

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Increasing Penalties for Health Savings Accounts

Posted by Jill on June 22, 2010

We continue our in-depth look at the health care bill and how it might impact your finances. This afternoon, we’ll cover HSAs and HDHPs. I often trumpet the combination of a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) and Health Savings Account (HSA) as an effective way to save money on health insurance and receive a tax […]

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Flexible Spending Accounts, or FSAs, are an excellent way to pay for healthcare expenses using pre-tax money. If you take full advantage of FSAs (find out how much you should put in your FSA), you can save money on eligible expenses ranging from over-the-counter medicine to the cost of transportation to and from your doctor’s […]

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New 1099 Requirements Hiding in Health Care Bill

Posted by Jill on June 21, 2010

Over the last week, we’ve been taking an in-depth look at the health care bill and how it might impact your finances. Today we will cover the new 1099 reporting changes. Much has been written about the impact of health care reform on small businesses. But one hidden provision of the bill that has seemingly […]

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Over the next two weeks, we’ll be taking an in-depth look at the health care bill and how it might impact your finances. Today, we’ll cover how the bill will change the insurance landscape for those in their 20s. Health Insurance for Young Adults A few days ago, we talked about the new individual mandate […]

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Health Care Bill Impacts: The Individual Mandate

Posted by Jill on June 14, 2010

Over the next two weeks, we’ll be taking an in-depth look at the health care bill and how it might impact your finances. First up is the new health insurance individual mandate. Health Care Bill Individual Insurance Mandate One of the most controversial provisions of the new healthcare bill is also the one that will […]

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