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The 8 Most-Missed Tax Deductions and Credits
Tweet Share on Facebook March 11, 2013 CommentIt’s hard to believe we are going into the home stretch of the 2012 tax season. With not much time left, taxpayers often make mistake, as they begin to scramble to quickly get their taxes done or are not aware of tax deductions and credits and leave money on the table.
Here are eight of the most-missed tax deductions and credits:
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3 Reasons to Get a Checking Account With A Brokerage
Tweet Share on Facebook March 8, 2013 CommentWhen you hear the term “brokerage,” the first things that come to mind are probably stocks and mutual funds. Not many people would think brokerages would offer checking accounts, but many do.
Brokerage checking accounts are viable alternatives to the regular checking accounts offered by banks, which have become more expensive in recent years. As a result, many consumers have left their traditional banks for community banks, online banks, and credit unions—yet brokerages are often left out of the conversation.
Here are a few reasons to consider a brokerage for opening a checking account:
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4 Payday Loan Myths
Tweet Share on Facebook March 8, 2013 CommentIf you thought credit card interest and bank fees were bad, you probably haven’t looked at the payday loan industry. A recent report from The Pew Charitable Trusts sheds light on the payday loan industry and why people turn to them to borrow cash. According to the report, nearly 12 million Americans take out a payday loan every year. On average, borrowers take out a two-week loan for $375. Borrowers usually end up taking 5 months to pay back the loan, which has an effective annual interest rate of roughly 400 percent.
While those surveyed thought payday loans were necessary, given dire financial circumstances, a majority walked away feeling as though they’d been taken advantage of. In truth, payday loans are such poor financial instruments that many traditionally poor financial decisions are better alternatives. If this is the case, why do people still use them?
Pew’s survey examined the misconceptions fostered by those who borrowed using this type of lending. Here are four myths surrounding payday loans:
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Ask Yourself These Questions Before Purchasing Rental Car Insurance
Tweet Share on Facebook March 6, 2013 CommentSince the first rental car company was formed in Chicago in 1918, people have been renting and crashing cars they don't own-and facing the financial consequences for their actions.
You may be one of the millions of people who will rent a car while on vacation or when your car is in the shop this year. You'll be faced with a smiling agent, asking you if you want a number of different insurance products added to your rental agreement.
If you're like most people, you won't know the answer, so you'll make a snap “yes” or “no” decision on rental car insurance. But, if you do a little research in advance, you could save yourself $20 a day or avoid being responsible for a large bill in the event you have an accident.
Before purchasing rental insurance, ask yourself these questions:
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How to Save on Your Mortgage Payments in 2013
Tweet Share on Facebook March 5, 2013 CommentFor most homeowners, a mortgage payment accounts for about 30 percent of their monthly income. If you're determined to stick with your budget this year, take time to trim some of those housing expenses. You can free up some extra cash each month by reducing your monthly mortgage payment and then reconfigure your budget to better manage your household's monthly expenses.
Consider these strategies:
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Student Must-Haves for Scholarship Success
Tweet Share on Facebook March 4, 2013 CommentWhat materials should high school students focus on for scholarship success? How do most scholarship organizations get to know their applicants? Scholarship organizations have the tough job of deciding whom to bestow financial aid upon. NerdScholar recently did a Scholarship Study in which 5,865 verified private scholarships were analyzed. With this data, NerdScholar looked into what materials scholarship organizations requested the most:
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4 Easy Ways to Score Free Shipping
Tweet Share on Facebook March 1, 2013 CommentShopping online has its benefits, including convenience, quick price comparisons, detailed reviews, and online coupons. Unfortunately, many online shopping experiences go sour when consumers abandon their virtual shopping cart after seeing the accrued shipping charges. Shipping charges can add up quickly, especially on large and bulky items. Fortunately, there are simple strategies to increase your odds of not having to pay for shipping. Consider these four:
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What Really Matters When Picking a College
Tweet Share on Facebook March 1, 2013 CommentAs spring break arrives, high school juniors head out to college campuses to narrow a field of prospective schools. There are numerous factors for future college students to consider: cost of tuition, room and board, academic reputation, and campus life, to name a few. In the end, everyone values these factors differently.
Thanks to research conducted by college consultant agency Noel-Levitz, we have a good idea of which factors matter most and which should matter more.
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5 Ways to Avoid Medical Debt
Tweet Share on Facebook February 28, 2013 CommentMedical debt is one of the leading causes of bankruptcy in the United States. Here are a few ways to lower your health care expenses:
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Tax Terms 101
Tweet Share on Facebook February 28, 2013 CommentIt’s officially tax season, and even if you’re using tax software to make preparing your taxes easier, you may still want to know what some of the common tax terms flying around mean. Here is a handy glossary:
