charity

Sometimes you just need to stop spending money for a few days. Maybe you are already over budget, or close to it, and the month isn’t over. Maybe you have savings goals with attached deadlines, and need to kick a little extra towards one of those goals before the deadline comes and goes. Or maybe [...]

As the year draws to close, it’s time to take stock of what you are doing to increase your overall tax efficiency. If you are looking to get a few more deductions, this is the time to do so, whether you are paying points for a mortgage or donating to charity. And another way you [...]

It’s easy to be down in the dumps these days. The economy is bad, and may or may not be improving. Unemployment remains high, savings account interest rates low, and the stock market shaky. It’s getting colder outside, which some people (ok, me!) may hate. And yet, there is much to be thankful for. If [...]

Understanding the many tax deductions can be nothing short of a minefield, and many taxpayers are unaware of the many deductions that can be used to legally reduce your tax bill. This article highlights just a few of the tax deductions that you can claim if your circumstances lend themselves.
Standard Deductions
A standard deduction varies depending [...]

The Cash for Clunkers Bill (aka. Gas Guzzler Rebate) entitles you to a $3,500 or $4,500 credit for trading a drivable car made within the last 25 years, with a combined city/highway fuel economy rating of 18 mpg or less to a new higher fuel efficiency car. If the mileage improvement is 4 mpg or [...]

As my son grows older I’ve been thinking about how I want to teach him about money. One thing that came to mind was never to say, “We can’t afford it”. No, I’m not going to buy him everything he wants. I just feel that “we can’t afford it” is such a terrible answer. For [...]

Achieving financial success doesn’t have to be difficult. You can achieve it as long as you want it and work toward it. Unless you’re one of the outliers, the road to financial freedom is a long one. As such, it’s best to bring along a good companion and have a road map to guide you [...]

I am down right bad when it comes to budgeting. I’ve gotten used to a save first and automatic payments lifestyle that budgeting has become a foreign language to me. However, a recent unfortunate event may put this lifestyle to an end and force us to take budgeting seriously. I have been refreshing myself on [...]

This article is part of an M-Network group writing project, the 12 Days of Christmas – Personal Finance Style. As the project moves through its days, I will be adding each article at the bottom of this post. We’ll be posting from December 1st to December 12th.
I know it’s tough to think about giving when [...]

Looks like another another miscue in the Carnival Land.  Sorry the carnival didn’t go out as planned this morning at the host site, so here’s an emergency edition of the Money Hacks Carnival #39.  Before I begin, just want to say thank you to everyone for your participation.

Photo by Meagen via Flickr
Credit and Debt

Five Ways [...]