Articles

May 18, 2012
Prepare Your Kids for Summer Job Expenses
High school and college students hoping to find temporary jobs may be in for a tough time this summer – once again – as they compete with older, more experienced workers in a still-struggling economy. But if your kid is fortunate enough to find work, there are a few things he or she – and you – should know about the economic and tax ramifications of temporary employment.

May 11, 2012
Avoid rude rental car surprises
I'm usually a pretty savvy traveler, but a recent car rental mishap reminded me that even when you take every precaution, things still can go awry.

May 04, 2012
For Mother's Day, Discuss Mom's Financial Future
On Mother's Day, children of all ages thank their moms for the many sacrifices made during their childhoods – and well beyond, considering how many adult children still hit up their moms for a loan or free babysitting.

April 27, 2012
How to Avoid Being a Bad Roommate
For many people, having roommates is a natural transition between leaving their parent's house and buying their own home. It can be a great way to trim expenses and save for the future. But if you're not careful, cohabitating can also devolve into constant bickering over finances and dirty dishes.

April 20, 2012
Should You Buy Wedding Insurance?
Disastrous wedding mishaps have long been a comedy staple, probably because so many of us can relate. What bride- or groom-to-be hasn't had nightmares about hurricane-force winds blowing over the reception tent or a drunken cousin falling into the wedding cake?

April 13, 2012
Should you adjust your tax withholding?
Now that tax day has passed, chances are you're either waiting patiently for your 2011 tax refund to arrive, it's already been spent, or you just wrote the U.S. Treasury a check and are in budget-cutting mode.

April 6, 2012
Knowing Which Financial Records to Save, Toss
If the memory of hours spent hunting for and organizing paperwork to file your taxes is still fresh, think about doing some financial spring cleaning so next year's tax preparation won't be such an ordeal.

March 30, 2012
Using Comic Books to Teach Financial Literacy
For decades, millions of kids have faithfully followed the adventures of their favorite comic book superheroes like Spider-Man and the X-Men – sometimes well into adulthood. Although often considered pure escapism, comic books also can serve an educational role – whether it's teaching the principles of science, demonstrating right vs. wrong or even helping kids learn how to read.

March 23, 2012
Put your tax refund to work
If you're among the millions of Americans expecting an income tax refund this year, you've probably already filed your 2011 return and are eagerly awaiting the money. But if you haven't already mentally spent your refund on a guilty pleasure, here are several great ways to better put that money to work for you.

March 16, 2012
Financial impact of adoption
It's hard to think of any act more generous than adopting a child. Many adoptive parents I know tell me it's the most personally rewarding thing they've ever done.

March 9, 2012
A financial to-do list for the recently widowed
Losing your spouse is one of life's most stressful events. Ironically, it's during that time of grief, when you're probably not thinking clearly or focusing on such matters, that you're expected to make many important financial decisions that will impact the rest of your life.

March 2, 2012
Can't Pay Your Taxes? Try These Tips
If you're worried you won't be able to pay your income taxes by this year's April 17 filing date, don't panic; but don't ignore the deadline and certainly don't wait for the IRS to reach out to you first. Acting quickly not only gives you more repayment options, it can also significantly lower penalties you might owe the government.

February 24, 2012
Empty Homes Need Additional Insurance
There are many reasons why someone might leave their home unoccupied for months at a time: Maybe you moved to another state and your old house is languishing on the market; or you can no longer afford your mortgage so you're working out a short sale and couch-surfing at your sister's house; or you struck it rich and are taking a six-month, around-the-world cruise.

February 17, 2012
Can Your Family Afford College?
I'm a firm believer that the more knowledge you acquire, the richer your life will be. But as college tuition and fees continue to skyrocket, students and parents increasingly are asking, "Is a degree really worth the cost?"

February 10, 2012
Financial intervention for your parents?
Sometimes it's hard enough just keeping track of your own finances. But, as many of us have learned, life gets even more complicated when your parents come to you for assistance with their money matters – or worse, when they don't ask for help but really should.

February 3, 2012
Take 'America Saves Week' to heart
After four years of coping with a stagnant economy, probably the last thing you want to hear is how important it is to sock away money for a rainy day – you already know that. But hear me out, just in case.

January 27, 2012
Talking Finances with Your Valentine
As you and your spouse celebrate Valentine's Day over a candle-lit dinner, you may want to avoid romance-killing topics like, "Honey, let's talk about our financial future." But you really should have that conversation sooner rather than later to keep your relationship on a healthy footing.

January 20, 2012
Tax strategies in a tough economy
For most of us, income tax calculations don't change much from year to year. But thanks to the roller coaster economy of the past few years, many people have undergone major life changes that can have a significant impact – good or bad – on their taxable income and how they should file taxes.

January 13, 2012
Beware of mystery shopper scams
Getting paid to go shopping may sound like a dream job, but buyer beware: For each legitimate mystery or secret shopper opportunity, probably hundreds more are scams. In fact, the National Consumers League (NCL) says complaints regarding fraudulent mystery shopper and work-at-home schemes were up nearly 9 percent during the past six months.

January 6, 2012
Women and personal finances
By many measures, women's lives have changed substantially in recent decades. According to a comprehensive government report called "Women in America" (www.whitehouse.gov/data-on-women), although certain social and economic situations for women have improved, when it comes to personal finances, many women still face challenging hurdles.

December 30, 2011
Easing student loan repayments
College costs are out of control. Total outstanding student loans hover around $1 trillion, second only to home mortgages. Student loan repayment takes a hefty toll on starting salaries even during good economic times. But with so many recent graduates unable to find a decent job – or any job – repayment can be a nightmare.

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