Is an inspection required when a home is gifted to you by a relative? This reader wants to know if she should get an inspection on the home that was gifted to her by a relative. Here’s what I suggest. Q: If a home is gifted to an adult child, does it need to be [...]
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 [...]
You may have considered leaving an inheritance to someone close to you—a child, a sibling, or perhaps your best friend. While it’s nice to know that you might make someone’s life a little easier by giving him or her money, real estate, or personal property, it’s also daunting to figure out how to go about [...]
Most people are generous by nature. We love to see the look on someone’s face when he or she gets the perfect gift—especially when that someone is a business associate with whom we’re eager to keep a good relationship. Unfortunately, the IRS tax laws limit tax deductions for business gifts to a total of $25 [...]
In January of this year, Congress passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA). It affects filing taxes for 2013. The good news is that couples earning less than $300,000 ($250,000 singles) won’t face many hits. But folks earning more than this threshold will be hit with substantially higher taxes. Let’s look at a [...]
Thoughts of gift-giving often run to gadgets, homemade items, food, books, and gift cards. While these ideas are great and can be thoughtful and unique, they are consumable to some degree. Another option is to give something that has the potential to really keep giving: investments. When you prepare to give investments as gifts, here [...]
Nothing says “I care” quite like a handmade holiday gift. Bonus: Homemade gifts can be a great way to stretch your gift budget and to let the whole family flex their creative skills. Here are a few ideas to jumpstart your DIY holiday gift list: Whatever you make, go assembly line. In other words, plan [...]
Are You Spending More, Less, Or The Same This Christmas? So many people are unemployed, federal government workers are getting a pay cut, that I wondered whether you'd be spending more, less or the same on holiday gifts this Christmas? So, I asked WSB listeners to share their Christmas spending plans. Are you spending more, less or the same? Please leave your comments on the blog. GIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF INFORMATION: CHECK OUT OUR EBOOK AND PODCAST DEALS - DISCOUNT CODES BELOW.
If you haven't already finished your holiday shopping, you've got just a few hours left, but many consumers are already anticipating their after-Christmas holiday returns. Merry Christmas, but let's not have too many happy returns. Gift returns, that is.
