pack a day

April 15 looms on the horizon. There may be any number of reasons that you are not prepared to file a tax return, from not having your dividend statements back, to waiting to get a home buyer tax credit, to straightforward procrastination. No matter your reasons, you can actually file for an extension. Any taxpayer [...]

When it comes to money saving ideas, some people go way out of their way to save a dime while others casually use products that cost hundreds of dollars. For example, is it worth drying a piece of Saran wrap?  Some folks (mostly from a previous generation) would put the wrap on the window to [...]

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 [...]

iPhones are often criticized as expensive and ostentatious. Why buy a smart phone when you can make calls from a $10 pay as you go phone? It may seem like a waste of money, but used properly an iPhone can be a powerful tool in your personal finance arsenal. Here is just a small sampling of [...]

This week, when you find yourself scrambling for a last minute gift, dreading the shopping malls, you may be able to take advantage of regifting. During any time of gift-giving, from weddings to baby showers, Christmas and birthdays, you inevitably unwrap at least one present, and are rewarded with pure puzzlement. A myriad of thoughts [...]

Thanksgiving is only a few days away, and for some of us, financial concerns are more prominent this year than any other years in the past. However, that’s not what Thanksgiving is all about. Regardless of your financial means, you could have a wonderful and inexpensive Thanksgiving. In this article, I am going to cover [...]

Last week, when the President signs the expanded aid package, my husband and I (and many others) breathe a collective sigh of relief. The expanded aid package includes a seven month extension of the First Time Home Buyer Credit. While many people do not support the extension, I am grateful for it. Granted, my position [...]

It’s Open Enrollment time at most employers, the time when you get to choose your benefits coverage for next year. You will review your chosen options, and make changes to them as needed. It’s important to be familiar with last year’s benefits. You may get a summary, but can use your paystub to see what [...]

Most people go on vacation with expectations of a non-stop extravaganza or with the hopes of an interruption-free solitude. That’s what I call setting yourself up for failure. Neither of those two is going to happen. We both know it. Whether you are envisioning a week of beach lounging and Pina Coladas or a week [...]

Having a pet can bring great joy, laughter and comfort to all around. Unfortunately, they can also mean additional, even unexpected, expenses in today’s already tough economy. According to the ASPCA, approximately 500,000 to 1,000,000 cats and dogs are currently in danger of abandonment due to the economic downturn. While caring for a pet is [...]