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The Latest Facebook Scam Uses Your “Friends”
Tweet Share on Facebook March 31, 2010 Comment (6)If you get an email from a friend telling you that he’s been mugged and needs you to send cash immediately, you might want to give him a call first. Chances are, he’s safe at home and doesn’t need your help at all.
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The Lowest Tax States for Retirees
Tweet Share on Facebook March 29, 2010 Comment (43)If you’re working 40 hours a week or more in a cubicle, then you might enjoy fantasizing about the luxury of retirement. Will you spend it on the beach, drink in hand? Or hiking through the National Parks? Do you want to move from gritty urban living to the country?
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Gay Retirees Face Extra Challenges
Tweet Share on Facebook March 25, 2010 CommentGay couples headed towards retirement face a double-whammy: First, according to a new study, they are less likely to be financially prepared to stop working compared to members of the general population.
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The Myth of the Baby Tax Credit
Tweet Share on Facebook March 23, 2010 Comment (12)When Jim and Pam, the couple on NBC’s The Office, had a baby earlier this year, they might have anticipated a tax benefit for adding another member to their family. Like many couples, after shelling out for the nursery, baby clothes, and delivery costs, they probably hoped for some kind of break from Uncle Sam to compensate them for creating the next generation of citizens. But for the most part, new parents are disappointed by the tax benefits their babies bring and find their new costs far outweigh any savings.
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A New Era of Investing In Healthy Stock Picks
Tweet Share on Facebook March 22, 2010 Comment (1)Today’s guest post is from The Digerati Life, a personal finance site that offers ideas and resources on saving money, investing and money management.
Before the 1980s, the business world was filled with unethical behavior. Back then, it was almost okay to be harmful towards the environment because the green movement had not yet come of age. But fast forward to today, and everyone from our current President to the neighbor down the street in a fuel-efficient vehicle is championing a cause. Why not apply that do-gooding attitude towards your investments?
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Why the Customer is Often Wrong
Tweet Share on Facebook March 17, 2010 Comment (8)I’ve recently experienced, and heard of others experiencing, some pretty terrible interactions with customer service. First, when I went to get my new Maryland driver’s license, I was initially told that I didn’t have the proper documents with me, even though I had meticulously followed the online directions. Those directions failed to warn me that I needed two forms of proof of residency, not just one. The woman at the counter abruptly turned me away and was about to move on to the next customer before I found a second form of identification that she found acceptable.
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Reentering the Workforce in a Tough Market
Tweet Share on Facebook March 15, 2010 Comment (1)In an ideal world, we could leave and enter the workforce according to our own schedules. For some people, that might mean dropping out for a year or two – or longer – after the birth of a child. For others, it might mean taking an extended leave to care for parents in declining health. It might also mean being able to travel around the world for six months, knowing you can return to your full-time employment without penalty.
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Alpha Consumer Returns, Send Money Questions
Tweet Share on Facebook March 9, 2010 Comment (4)I am now back from maternity leave, which means the Alpha Consumer blog will return with regular postings about navigating the world of personal finance. While I was away, my financial life was turned upside down by changes in my personal life. First, I had a baby, which means that instead of spending money on dinners out and the occasional weekend getaway, I am now directing virtually all of my spare change toward diapers, toys, and baby clothes. (Not to mention daycare, which deserves its own blog post.)
