Timing is Everything: Why You Should Wait for the “Right Moment”

May 02, 2013

Yesterday, my colleague Greg Ward published a blog post about a friend who was awarded a $1k vacation that he has yet to use in 2 years because he’s waiting for the “right moment.” Greg then points out how many gift cards and reward points go unspent each year by people who may be doing the same thing. Well, I am that friend so let me explain why it actually can make sense to wait for the “right moment.” Continue reading “Timing is Everything: Why You Should Wait for the “Right Moment””

Don’t Wait for “Just the Right Moment”

May 01, 2013

As I prepared my bath this Sunday, I noticed a brand new package of epsom salt on the edge of the tub. My daughter and I like to pour it into the tub to help relax aching muscles, but as I stared at the unopened package, the thought occurred to me that if I opened this package I would no longer have a brand new bag of salt.  For some reason the thought of not having a brand new bag of salt was holding me back from actually opening and using the salt. Continue reading “Don’t Wait for “Just the Right Moment””

When Is It Worth Hiring an Expert?

April 26, 2013

Within the last month or two, I’ve had to travel (for work) to cities that I have never visited before. And, I wasn’t quite sure which airlines served some of the smaller airports or what hotels looked better online than in real life. As someone who is accustomed to being on unfamiliar turf and living from a suitcase for a bit, it still never hurts to have a conversation with someone who knows the area. Continue reading “When Is It Worth Hiring an Expert?”

Tax Planning for 2013 Begins Now

April 24, 2013

Just because tax season is over doesn’t mean your tax planning is done.  Whether you owed the IRS money or got money back, tax planning is something you can do all year.  Consider these tax tips: Continue reading “Tax Planning for 2013 Begins Now”

April Showers Don’t Always Bring May Flowers, But May Mean Bringing Gifts

April 23, 2013

After receiving an invitation to my niece’s bridal shower scheduled for the last Sunday in April, I rushed online to see what selections were left to choose from on her Macy’s bridal registry. Hmm, should I go for the $100 Lenox vase, the $149 Cuisinart coffee maker, or perhaps the $399 Victorinox suitcase?  Continue reading “April Showers Don’t Always Bring May Flowers, But May Mean Bringing Gifts”

What’s the Point of Carrying a Prepaid Debit Card?

April 15, 2013

I’m a big basketball fan, so I’ve been pretty much glued to my TV the last few weeks watching the NCAA Basketball Tournament. And while I love the tournament, the only downside to catching the excitement live are all the commercials. And I have seen a ton of commercials over the last month. Continue reading “What’s the Point of Carrying a Prepaid Debit Card?”

From Trash to Cash: Tips for a Successful Garage Sale

April 10, 2013

How do you know when spring has officially arrived?  Is it the return of the song bird?  Is it the lengthening of the day, the warm sunshine, or the fresh air?  For me, it’s the emergence of “garage sale” signs that go up every weekend. Continue reading “From Trash to Cash: Tips for a Successful Garage Sale”

Make Spring Cleaning Pay Off For You

April 09, 2013

This weekend’s beautiful weather gave my husband spring fever to take out his big boy toy from the garage for a spin.  He calls it a classic Corvette, where I would say it’s more of a clunker.  Not only does it drip oil on the garage floor, but it takes up a lot of room too.  Continue reading “Make Spring Cleaning Pay Off For You”

Dude, Where’s My Card?

April 04, 2013

It was April 1st so I hoped that it was just an April Fool’s joke. I was at the grocery store checkout and reached for the credit card that I generally use for groceries but it was nowhere to be found. After paying with a different card, I called the credit card company to see when the last transaction was. Fortunately, it was at the restaurant where I had lunch that day so no one else had used it. After putting a temporary hold on my credit card, calling the restaurant and everywhere I had been afterwards and searching my home and car, I had to accept that it was gone and cancel the card. Continue reading “Dude, Where’s My Card?”

Whittle Away at Your Waist, Not Your Wallet

April 02, 2013

Spring break isn’t only for college kids. I’ve been enjoying the last two weeks of March down in Florida for my own spring vacation for the past several years. But being on vacation usually means frequently eating out, which isn’t good for either my waist or my wallet.  Here are some tips I’ve found helpful to save on both calories and coins when on vacation: Continue reading “Whittle Away at Your Waist, Not Your Wallet”

Tips for Tax Day

March 27, 2013

The days are getting longer, but your fuse may be getting dangerously short if you are among the 25% of Americans who wait till the last two weeks to file your tax returns. Good old procrastination is probably responsible for many last-minute returns, but there are other reasons, too.  Some people believe that the chances of an audit go down if your 1040 rolls in with the tidal wave of returns submitted on April 15, overwhelming the IRS.  Others are still trying to get a hold of numbers and documents, not even sure what documents they need and what policies apply to them when it comes to reducing their tax burdens. So for those folks still spending their weekends indoors, despite the growing rumor that spring has arrived, here are some last-minute tips to save time and face when it comes to taxes. Continue reading “Tips for Tax Day”

Is Better Gas Mileage Worth the Price?

March 06, 2013

Have you noticed your wallet getting a little bit lighter recently when you fill up at the gas tank?  It seems the price of gas has gone up once again and depending on where you live, could be over $4 a gallon.  It may cause some of you to consider purchasing a vehicle that gets better gas mileage but before you do, consider how many miles you may have to drive before you recoup the cost of buying that new vehicle. Continue reading “Is Better Gas Mileage Worth the Price?”

What I Learned From Buying a Laptop and How It Can Save You Money

March 06, 2013

I walked into my local Best Buy and knew I wanted it as soon as I saw it. It was beautifully designed, sleek, and looked like the laptop of the future. It weighed only two pounds. And it was a pleasure to navigate using the touchpad, which perfectly synched the movement of the on-screen cursor to the movement of my fingers. Unfortunately, it was also manufactured by Apple, which meant that purchasing this laptop, the Macbook Air, would set me back at least $1,000. Continue reading “What I Learned From Buying a Laptop and How It Can Save You Money”

How To Have Too Much Cash

March 04, 2013

Cash is king. You hear that term being thrown around and for good reason – having available cash is vital to financial health. Without having a cushion of cash, you are very vulnerable and can easily be taken advantage of during hard  times.  When you have a solid emergency fund with enough funds to carry you for six to eight months, you can handle most emergencies — even a job loss– with out having to take extreme measures. Continue reading “How To Have Too Much Cash”

It’s Time to Rethink Automatic Payments

February 27, 2013

As the landscape of my financial picture continues to change, I must be willing to change with it.  I have shared with you my recent discovery that I am not having enough federal income tax withheld from my paycheck, so as I decrease my withholding allowances, I can anticipate a decrease in take-home pay.  Couple that with increases in expenditures such as groceries (I am thinking about adding a revolving door to my pantry now that my oldest son is about to become a teenager) and gas for the car and you start to see why I need to reevaluate my spending plan. Continue reading “It’s Time to Rethink Automatic Payments”

How to Avoid an IRS Audit

February 25, 2013

The IRS is a universally feared agency and for good reason. The IRS can garnish wages, seize bank accounts and lien property to those who owe them money!  That is not their first course of action of course, but they have the power to do all of those things so getting a letter in the mail from the IRS is something everyone wants to avoid. Here are some tips on how to do that: Continue reading “How to Avoid an IRS Audit”

The Mistake That Turned My Refund Into a Tax Bill

February 20, 2013

This past weekend I decided to prepare my 2012 tax return.  I typically like to do this early in the year so that I get my tax refund sooner rather than later, but something very strange happened to me this year: I ended up owing the IRS money!  This is unusual for me.  I’m usually getting money back, but call it a case of bad luck or just Murphy’s Law, after writing last week’s blog post on how to estimate the right number of allowances to claim on your W-4 so that you end up close to breaking even with the IRS, I ended up NOT breaking even with the IRS.  WHAT WENT WRONG? Continue reading “The Mistake That Turned My Refund Into a Tax Bill”