Why I Won’t Spend the Same Amount on the Kids

Posted by Madison on December 21, 2007

Save the guilt and the cash. Give the kids presents based on wants, needs, and the ability to give. Do not give based on meeting a price that was spent on their sibling. I realize this is probably an unpopular stance, as I’ve witnessed many families make sure that all the kids get equal amounts […]

Continue reading…



Finish Your Christmas Shopping Under Budget

Posted by Madison on December 20, 2007

Christmas is only 5 days away. If you are like me, some shopping is done but not all of it. The last few gifts sometimes turn into impulsive buying just to get the shopping done! Here’s some ideas to finish off the shopping without breaking the bank. Gift Cards A gift card is probably on the […]

Continue reading…



Lots of Christmas themed articles at the Carnivals this week. Here’s each carnival, my article and one of my favorite articles from the other writers. Carnival of Personal Finance My article on how to get free efiling was included. Plonkee is celebrating a frugal Christmas. Carnival of Debt Reduction Featuring my Creative Debt Reduction Strategies. Free […]

Continue reading…



Why Am I Unpopular at Christmas?

Posted by Madison on December 19, 2007

I’d like to think that as the family financial guru, I give the best gifts! I put a lot of thought into each one and come up with gifts that will keep on giving, sometimes for the lifetime of the recipient. So why do people dread my great gift giving ideas?



Creative Debt Reduction Strategies

Posted by Madison on December 16, 2007

Usually we only consider two things when financing: getting the best price and getting the best interest rate for an asset. What if instead of focusing on financing the item you are purchasing, you focus on financing a cheaper item you already own? With some careful planning and foresight you can do just that. What am I talking about? […]

Continue reading…



Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

Posted by Madison on December 14, 2007

I have mentioned before that I have completed tax returns for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). If your are wondering what it is all about, here’s more information about the program:



Ten Tips for Holiday Shopping Online

Posted by Madison on December 13, 2007

Now that the holiday shopping season is in full swing, it’s time to search the Internet for the best prices on gifts. Here’s ten tips to save money while shopping. Combine the best price, cashback, and an online coupon and you can easily take 10% or more off the price! Here’s the strategies I like […]

Continue reading…



2007 Tax Information

Posted by Madison on December 11, 2007

Finishing up your taxes? Here’s the 2007 tax limits, credits, exemptions, deductions, phase-out and exclusion numbers all in one place!



Our Credit Limits: Over $1,000,000!

Posted by Madison on December 10, 2007

I recently discussed that we have $223,270 outstanding in credit card balances. The next logical question is how much in credit limits do we have to support this strategy? Over $1 million! $1,020,270 to be exact. The total includes credit cards and lines of credit. I thought it would be a fun challenge to see if […]

Continue reading…



Our Credit Card Balances: $223,270

Posted by Madison on December 9, 2007

In When Does the 0% Credit Card Really Expire? I stated that we had $58,980 on my American Express card. If that’s just one card, how much do we have total? And why? $223,270. Yes, you read that correctly. However, it’s all at 0% and accounted for. It is actually making and saving us money! […]

Continue reading…