We cover the basics and more about personal finance, answering frequently asked questions about credit and debt, identity theft, saving for college, retirement, estate planning, insurance, taxes, job hunting, and raising money-savvy kids. Check out the articles, columns, blog posts, radio shows and videos for tons of personal finance advice.
Twelve Ways to Save $1,000 in the New Year
For people who struggle with saving money, starting small in the new year is a great first step. If you want to save an extra $1,000 in the new year, you’ll need to stash away about $83 per month. There are many different ways to save, but your success depends on your personal spending habits. [...]
Tips for Insuring Your New Car
Winter can be a great time to purchase a new or new-to-you vehicle. Dealerships are often very slow—consumers are weighed down by holiday debt or hesitant to venture out in the cold to shop for a car—so car salespeople are eager to work with buyers. Before you run out to a dealer, however, it’s important [...]
Will That Early Mortgage Payment I Made in December Affect My 2014 Taxes?
Smart people use the month of December to work on tax reduction strategies. One of the most common tax reduction strategies is to pay your January mortgage payment in December. If you did this, you may be wondering just how doing so will impact your 2014 taxes—the taxes you pay in 2015. If you paid [...]
Retirement Saving Resolutions to Make Right Now
It’s time to start thinking about New Year’s resolutions, and you may want to put saving for retirement at the top of your list. I’ve found that for many people, saving for retirement isn’t a priority. If you’re young, you might think that retirement is years away and you have plenty of time to save. [...]
5 Tips to Pay Back Debt: The Ilyce Glink Show on January 4, 2015
Here are a few of the topics covered on this week’s WSB radio show. The economy at the end of 2014 [1:50] In the third quarter of 2014, GDP increased to an unbelievable 5 percent due in a large part to the lower gas prices that are freeing up funds for consumers. We are also [...]
5 Apps That Will Really Save You Money in 2015
“Spend less, save more.” It’s the third most popular new year’s resolution behind getting organized and losing weight, according to a Journal of Clinical Psychology study on resolutions. While I can’t help much with resolutions one and two (though it is helpful to apply the same principles to thinning your waistline as thinning your budget), the third one is [...]
Tax Deductions Extended Into 2014
Here's a quick list of the tax deductions Congress just extended to the end of the year. 1. Mortgage debt forgiveness. If you did a short sale in 2014, you will not have to pay taxes on the debt the lender writes off in the deal. 2. Deduction for private mortgage insurance. You can continue to [...]
The Best and Worst Things to Buy in December
With all the store signs advertising their holidays sales, it’s easy to assume that everything is at its best price in December. However, smart shoppers know otherwise. They only buy items in December that are truly on rock-bottom sale, and they wait until after the holidays season is over to purchase everything else. If you’re [...]
Must-Have Insurance Policies for Expensive Holiday Gifts
The holidays have arrived, and when it comes to holiday presents, whether insurance will cover an item is generally not top of mind. However, it’s important not to assume that your homeowner’s insurance will cover any expensive gifts that you may be giving or receiving, such as computers, jewelry, or even a vacation package. Giving [...]
How Do House Guests Impact Your Insurance?
The holidays are prime time for houseguests. Whether it’s your siblings and their spouses or an elderly relative, it’s important to be prepared for your guests before they arrive. Being prepared means more than just blowing up the air mattress and stocking up on snacks. It also means reviewing your insurance policy to be sure [...]