Paying taxes is a part of life, but taxes can be easy to budget for when you know about them well in advance. Unfortunately, you may be on the hook for taxes you don’t regularly take into account—and these so-called “hidden taxes” can quickly bust your budget. Tax tips: Scan your receipts for hidden taxes [...]
Where would you be without your mobile devices and computer? If you’re like most people, it’s likely you can’t imagine living without them. In order to protect your devices—and your wallet—from a costly technology breakdown or loss, it’s important to make sure you choose the right insurance policy. Here is what you need to keep [...]
When you bought your condo, did you think it would be the beginning of your real estate investing career? Perhaps you planned to rent it out for a few months while you were vacationing, or maybe you thought that you could one day move into a bigger place and rent out the condo as an [...]
For many pet owners, pets are family members deserving of the best care—especially when it comes to their health. That’s why many people consider purchasing an insurance policy in the hopes of saving money on their pets’ health care. According to a survey of pet owners by the American Pet Products Association, pet owners in [...]
The house next door to me just sold for $369,000. The owners bought it in the 1970s and paid $27,000. After all costs and fees, their profit will be over $300,000. That’s good for them—but what about for you? Is buying a home the right move? The real estate market is still good for buyers [...]
When you’re in a committed relationship, you and your significant other may consider opening a joint account in order to help you manage your money and household budget. Doing so can help you save money, but it can also cause big headaches. For this reason, merging bank accounts should only be done after the two of [...]
How to stick to your budget during holiday shopping. 8 tips to help you get into the spirit of the holiday season without going overboard. As you wander around the festively decorated stores with your eggnog latte in hand, it’s easy to get carried away by the season. Before you know it, your shopping cart [...]
Despite a recent upswing, today’s mortgage interest rates remain low. If you’re considering a refinance before rates edge up, it’s important to first understand your options. Refinancing your mortgage can be a good choice if you want to lower your interest rate or monthly payment, or if you need to tap into your equity in [...]
Over the years, I have regularly helped my clients with their tax audits after the IRS determined that their businesses were really hobbies. Filing taxes as a sole proprietor of a business means you can take advantage of tax deductions you may not have access to if your activity is a hobby, so it’s important [...]
