Recently I was discussing with some friends the need to track things. I track my exercise, the food I eat (trying to lose some weight), movies watched and books read. This is in addition to financial tracking. Needless to say, they think that I am a bit over the top. But if you are a …
Tag Archives: finances
Welcome to the Tax Season
First the good news, this year the IRS has announced an extension to the tax filing deadline of April 15th for individuals who itemize deductions on Form 1040 Schedule A and other qualified tax payers. To see if the extension of April 18th to file applies to your situation, check the IRS website at www.IRS.gov, …
Three Tips to Help Lower Prescription Costs
A new study by Harvard, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and CVS Caremark researchers has found a direct correlation between the amount of a patient’s out-of-pocket co-pay and the likely abandonment of the prescription, with patients having a co-pay of $50 almost four times more likely to abandon a prescription at a pharmacy than those paying …
401k Loans: A Quick Overview
According to the Investment Company Institute as of the end of June 2010, approximately 17.5% of defined benefit plan participants are carrying an outstanding loan balance.1 As unemployment continues to be an issue in most communities, what should you as a 401k participant think about before taking a loan?
Generally speaking there are two ways in …
Year-End Maintenance: Beneficiary Reviews
There are many competing items to manage in your overall financial picture but one that is critical to not overlook is an annual beneficiary review. A quick example of why this is so important: when Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight) passed away he had not updated his beneficiaries. This resulted in his estate being left …
Making SAT Preparation More Affordable
A nationwide study presented at the American Sociological Association in 2009 showed that students who took private SAT prep classes averaged scores 60 points higher on their SAT tests compared to those who didn’t take those classes with private tutoring and classes being the most effective method.[1] Higher SAT scores have also been linked to …
What’s in that Fine Print?
Once again we are all noticing the return of the credit card offer. For consumers there is some good news that accompanies this push for credit – The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act or CARD Act passed in 2009. The Act is designed to give a measure of protection to credit card holders …
A New Trend: Being Frugal
After the recent financial crisis and uncertainty in the jobs market, more and more people are looking to save money. These savings are to build an emergency fund, add to retirement accounts or to pay down debt. Frugal, thrifty and happy is the new black. “Frugal” came in at number ten on the “Top Words …
Being Financially Prepared for a Disaster
As we enter into hurricane season, now is a good time to check if you have a plan to safeguard your financial well-being. In the event of a disaster, you may have to act quickly and the most difficult time to start a disaster preparation plan for your finances is during a time of crisis.
Have …
