Budgeting

Facebook’s Challenging Environment

27/03/2012
By
Down graph in front of newspaper stock market tables

Facebook’s meteoric rise from dorm-room-prank to one of the world’s most valuable companies (based on recent valuations) has been well documented. The website is used by hundreds of millions of people worldwide and in February of 2012, Mark Zuckerberg, the famous CEO of Facebook, announced that the Company had filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for an Initial Public Offering. Facebook seems poised to capitalize on its success and its soon-to-be inflow of fresh capital, but is it all tailwinds for the company or does it face considerable headwinds as well? Competitors Want a Piece of the Pie Competition from other social media companies, including the up and coming Google+, could affect the profitability of Facebook. If users choose to migrate to other social media sites, Facebook’s current staggering usage rates (845 million active users a month) could drop dramatically, and with fewer users come lower income from...

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Five Tax Refund Tips You Won’t Want to Miss

26/03/2012
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Tax Tips

Depending on whether you are required to cough up some unexpected tax money or you are owed a refund, tax season can either seem like doomsday or like Christmas in April. Even though most people dread the filing process, it is more than worth it to discover that you have a sweet refund check headed your way afterwards. What you choose to do with that money is up to you—use it for a tropical vacation, buy yourself a new gadget, or improve upon that credit score and put it towards chipping away at your debt. What I want to share with you are some tips for getting the most out of your tax return, and to remind you of certain tax credits that you might not be aware you are eligible for. 1. Put some money into that IRA while you still can First of all, if you don’t...

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Things to Avoid When Strapped for Cash

25/03/2012
By
Strapped for Cash

If you’ve hit rock bottom financially your thoughts will most likely turn to finding ways to get quick cash. But when stressed with mounting bills, creditors’ calls and a continual sinking feeling you may not make the wisest choices on how to stem the tide of debt. Life’s troubles naturally ebb and flow, so if you’re in a down spot – no matter how dire it seems – there are some things you should really think twice about before doing. Here are a few… DON’T: Sell or Pawn Things You Love No matter what the item, from your grandma’s furniture to that cheesy beer lamp that makes you smile, do not get rid of the things you really love unless it’s a life or death situation. That doesn’t mean you should avoid streamlining your life and simplifying. But it does mean that pawning or selling something that has great...

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Have proper personal finance habits – Learn the tricks

23/03/2012
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personal finance habits

It is very necessary for you to have proper personal finance habits in order to stay out of debt. The major problem with most Americans is that they fail to live within their means. What you should understand is that saving is an integral part of your life and you should spend less than what you earn. However it is seen that most of the times people spend more than what they earn and this leads to the root of all debt problems; mounting credit card bills. Keeping your credit card debt under control is of utmost importance to you. This will enable you save money and not fall into debt problems. Debt problems are something that gets difficult to get out of once you get in. given below are some personal finance advice that you can make your own to keep away debt. Make your money’s worth work...

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Seven Top Tips for Managing Your Day-to-Day Finances

22/03/2012
By
manage your finance

Managing your finances can be a challenging task, particularly if you are living on a limited budget. It may seem as though you have already spent each paycheck before you even receive it. Fortunately, there are seven simple strategies you can use to more effectively manage your finances and avoid the stress of financial emergencies. 1) Forecast Income and Expenses at the Beginning of Each Month Documenting income and expenses may seem like a common sense way to manage finances, but relatively few consumers take the time to complete this task each month. Forecasting your bills, discretionary expenses, and earnings at the beginning of each month will give you a clear picture of where your money will go. Use a spreadsheet to document household income, including dates when you or your spouse will receive paychecks. Income documentation should also include money derived from sources other than a job, such...

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The Case for Frugal Collecting

21/03/2012
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Frugal Collection

My husband and I live on a tight budget. We rarely go out to eat, we price compare everything from cantaloupes to health insurance, and new ways to save money are constantly on my mind. But in spite of our frugal lifestyle, we both have a weakness for collecting. Show us a decent deal on an item for one of our collections, and we just can’t walk away. Books are definitely my biggest weakness. There are a couple of book series that I’m looking to complete, and when I find the next book at a used book store I usually can’t resist. Some people would say that that’s a very bad thing. They would declare that having a collection leads people into spending more than they have without letting themselves consider the consequences. But I actually don’t think my collecting is a bad thing. In fact, I would argue...

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Spring Cleaning Your House Frugally and with Ease

21/03/2012
By
making cleaners frugally

Spring has arrived, at least in my part of the world it has. And with that comes spring cleaning. I typically rebuff all methods of cleaning, it’s one of my least favorite activities to do. However, the other day I was looking around and noticed that my window sills were pretty dirty. I also have children with allergies. I think it’s safe to say that this place needs a good spring cleaning. I’m not a fan of expensive cleaners that are usually full of heavy fragrances. Therefore I went on a search for some frugal cleaners and since I’m fairly lazy, some short cuts too! All Purpose Cleaners One of the best cleaners that I have used around my house is a mixture of hot water, vinegar and bit of dish detergent. I put it into a spray bottle and use it to clean everything from the counters to...

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Financial Tips for Nannies and Other Self-Employed Workers

20/03/2012
By
coins

Nannying is a rewarding and fulfilling career for many kid-loving people with nurturing personalities, but the job can be more complicated than that of an aid at a school or day-care facility. Most nannies are independent contractors; they pay their own taxes, purchase their own health care benefits, and manage their working lives as business owners, unlike regular employees. If you feel called to become a nanny, here are a few factors you should consider and prepare for. Taxes If you have ever worked at a regular job, you know that income and Social Security taxes are taken out of your check before you even see it. When you work as an independent contractor, you are responsible for paying your own income taxes and the full amount of your Social Security tax, including the portaion an employer would pay. The IRS will likely require you to make quarterly payments...

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Start Saving for College!

20/03/2012
By
Education savings

You cannot know what lies ahead. In ten years time you could have a thriving career in your intended field, you could be in a completely different discipline from the one in which you graduated, or you could find yourself unemployed for any number of reasons. If you are not careful, by the time it takes you to graduate college you can find yourself with piles of debt and no way to even start to pay it off. These are all reasons why it is absolutely essential to start saving now, while you are in college. There are a number of ways in which you can do this, what follows are a couple. 1. Open a Savings Account Most banks offer you the chance to open a savings account. What this usually means is that a small portion of your account will be transferred and kept in savings so...

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Help your Attorney Win your Case by Following some Simple Rules

20/03/2012
By
lawyer_simple_rules

Many people who find themselves face to face with the U.S. justice system for the first time are at a loss about what they can do to maximize their odds of a favorable outcome (or to at least minimize the odds of an unfavorable outcome). Whether you are involved in a civil or criminal proceeding, keeping a level head and following a few simple rules can give you (and your lawyer) the edge needed to achieve a favorable settlement or ruling: Don’t wait to hire your lawyer – Each day or week that you wait to hire a lawyer is time that you might be arguing or representing yourself – and making a mistake. It is important to hire a legal professional who have expertise and can view the matter objectively. Also, time is often of the essence in a potential legal case. If you delay consulting with an...

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