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5 Ways to Save Money by Saving the Planet
Tweet Share on Facebook April 17, 2012 Comment (3)Americans have been hearing the phrase "recycle, reduce, reuse" for decades to limit the impact modern society has on the environment. Earth Day 2012 occurs on April 22 and there's still time to make a long-term commitment to your savings account and the planet by going green.
The advancement of technology over the years has given consumers many ways to go green and get environmental tax credits, monetary rebates or ongoing savings in return.
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6 Shopping Habits Hurting Your Budget
Tweet Share on Facebook April 16, 2012 Comment (8)If you’re struggling to keep that budget in order, make sure your day-to-day shopping habits aren’t to blame. Certain habits can make you more likely to spend money you don’t have and buy things you don’t even need. Planning ahead can help you get your spending on track, but there are a few other things to watch out for. Here are six shopping habits that are putting a damper on your budget:
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Tax Moves for Procrastinators
Tweet Share on Facebook April 13, 2012 CommentThe deadline for filing taxes is just around the corner. Thanks to the 15th falling on a Sunday and Emancipation Day falling on the 16th, taxes this year are due on April 17. For the procrastinators among us, the extra two days offer a refreshing reprieve.
It also gives us two more days to make sure we are taking all the deductions we’re entitled to. So as you fire up TurboTax this weekend, consider these five last-minute tax moves.
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8 Forgotten Credit Card Perks
Tweet Share on Facebook April 12, 2012 Comment (11)One day, while browsing my local Apple store, a young couple came into the store in tears. They just purchased an iPad about five hours ago and, in their zeal, managed to drop it on the floor. The screen was badly cracked. They were wondering if Apple could do anything for them but, unfortunately, Apple couldn't. Once they made the purchase and took delivery, it was out of the company's hands.
What if I told you that, depending on your credit card, you might have recourse? Credit card companies offer a lot of under-advertised perks to cardholders in an ever-escalating battle to entice new customers. There is a whole menu of perks out there that most people don't know about, and protecting owners from their own clumsiness is one of them (Sadly for that couple, I didn't remember this while I was in the store.)
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How to Get Free Gas With a Rewards Card
Tweet Share on Facebook April 11, 2012 Comment (1)How good does nearly two months of free gas sound right about now? Let’s see, the national average price of regular gas is already around the $4-per-gallon mark and the U.S. Energy Information Administration doesn’t project it to peak until May, so … pretty good. Well, that’s essentially what the Pentagon Federal Credit Union is offering with its Platinum Rewards Visa Card--the best gas rewards credit card on the market, according to a Card Hub examination of more than 1,000 credit card offers.
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What Online Resellers Need to Know About the 1099-K
Tweet Share on Facebook April 10, 2012 Comment (3)If you are a reseller who utilizes Amazon or eBay, you should know that the government passed legislation targeting resellers who are not paying taxes on their profits. Starting with the 2011 tax year, sites like these will begin filing 1099-K forms with the federal government for all users who earn more than a certain transaction number or sales figure.
If you already pay taxes on your sales revenue, you may barely notice the new legislation. However, if you've been flying under the radar, your days of avoiding taxes are finished. Here's what resellers need to know regarding the 1099-K.
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7 Simple Ways to Save Money on Healthy Food
Tweet Share on Facebook April 9, 2012 Comment (5)Eating a diet of mostly unprocessed, wholesome, raw, and even organic foods can help you maintain a healthy weight and even give you more energy. However, healthy food doesn’t always come cheap. Free-range eggs, organic chicken, and many organic fruits and vegetables are often priced at a premium and you might find only a very limited selection of healthy foods at your local grocery store. Shopping the perimeter of the grocery store will make it easier to snatch up some of the healthiest items, but you still need to be wary of prices. If shopping for groceries at Whole Foods or other health food stores puts you well over budget, you need to be smarter about how you shop and what you buy.
Here are seven easy ways to save money on healthy food:
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Why You Shouldn't Pay Your Taxes With a Credit Card
Tweet Share on Facebook April 5, 2012 Comment (2)If you're one of the many taxpayers who owe 2011 federal income taxes, you might be tempted to charge it to your credit card. Several years ago, the IRS partnered with several providers to give taxpayers the opportunity to pay with a credit or debit card. You could still pay by check, which is free, but the IRS included these new methods to reflect the changing times.
Unfortunately, paying with a credit or debit card almost never makes sense. There are two reasons why you shouldn't charge your taxes on your credit card.
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6 Ways to Save on Easter Shipping
Tweet Share on Facebook April 4, 2012 Comment (2)Easter is just around the corner. Maybe there’s someone in your family, or a good friend, who would appreciate an Easter basket, a box of cookies, or a bouquet of flowers this year. If you need to ship your Easter present, you’re going to have to think fast, because Easter is fast approaching. However, even though you don’t have a lot of time, your options aren’t limited. It’s possible to get a nice present and save money on shipping this late in the game; you just need to know where to look. We’ve got six suggestions to make your life easier. Rest assured, your gifts will get there before the Easter Bunny does, and you won’t burn a hole in your wallet to make it happen.
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Top 10 Strangest State Taxes
Tweet Share on Facebook April 4, 2012 CommentMany local economies are hurting these days, and state governments are looking for any way they can nickel-and-dime residents. While having your take-home pay eaten up by taxes is no joke, some of the tax laws created to get a little more of your money are admittedly pretty funny (some would say just plain laughable).
Below are 10 of the strangest local taxes by state. Are you one of the taxpayers contributing?
