Deciding when to claim Social Security benefits is one of the most important financial decisions you will make during your life. Over 66% of today’s recipients are totally or critically dependent on their Social Security benefits to maintain their quality of life in retirement. Your choice of claiming early at age 62, delaying until age […]
Three Things to Consider Before Claiming Social Security Benefits Read More »
any of my readers want to get out of debt – especially at the beginning if the New Year when they’ve made various financial resolutions. One recurring question I’m often asked is: which debts should I pay off first — student loans or credit card debt?
Which to Pay Off First: Student Loans or Credit Card Debt? Read More »
Tax season is upon us and if you’re expecting an IRS tax refund you’re probably quite eager to see that check. After all, the IRS says the typical tax refund tops $2,600 – a nice chunk of change. Normally, most taxpayers get their IRS refunds very quickly, especially people that file their tax returns electronically.
5 Reasons You May Not Get Your IRS Tax Refund Read More »
Entrepreneurs and would-be business owners are almost always super passionate about their careers. The problem, however, is that passion doesn’t always translate into cold, hard dollars. And needless to say, funds are often needed to get that dream business off the ground or to sustain it financially. Having run two of my own businesses for
5 Steps to Financing Your Business Read More »
College is awesome, right? For most of us, it’s the first time we tasted freedom. The freedom to do whatever, whenever you want. The downside is that you have more responsibility, too, especially on financial matters. You get bombarded with credit card offers designed to put you in debt and keep you there. You may
A Student’s Guide To Filing Taxes Read More »
o matter how good (or bad) you may be at managing money, if you’re carrying a lot of personal debt, those bills can erode the value of your hard-earned income or savings. For most people, having a mountain of credit card debt and high-interest loans not only puts a dent in the monthly budget, it
How to Become Debt-Free Read More »
Q: You’ve previously said that getting student loans discharged in bankruptcy court is nearly impossible. I owe over $100,000 in student loans and have been in deferment for like 6 or 7 years. Is it true that if you don’t make any payments they get discharged after 7 years? I am very overwhelmed, stressed and
Getting Student Loans Discharged In Bankruptcy Read More »
The Earned Income Credit (EIC), also known as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), is designed to help you keep more of your hard earned money. It is a refundable tax credit, meaning you could qualify for a refund even if you did not have any income tax withheld from your paychecks. This article explains who is eligible
About The Earned Income Tax Credit Read More »
Many folks trying to reduce their credit card debt turn to credit card balance transfer offers to achieve their goal. But while such transfers can be effective when used judiciously, they do have potential pitfalls. Before you accept any new credit card deal, consider these 10 issues. THE GOOD You could save money The major benefit of a
What You Should Know About Balance Transfer Offers Read More »
Q: I just read your interview in USA Today. How did you manage to pay off $100,000 in credit card debt in only three years? I owe close to $35,000 and feel stressed and overwhelmed. I’d appreciate any advice you can give me. Thanks!
How I Paid Off My Credit Card Debt Read More »
My husband, Earl, and I love to establish annual goals together as the New Year approaches. Some people call this process “making New Year’s resolutions.” We call it goal setting. Whatever the case, this yearly ritual helps keep us focused, it strengthens our marriage and goal setting often even saves us money. For all these
10 Financial New Year’s Resolutions Based on What I Learned the Past Year Read More »
Are you spending like the rich this holiday season – even if you’re not a millionaire? Many Americans are indeed engaged in over-the-top spending. But there’s one big difference between those from average-income households and individuals from truly wealthy families: the average consumer trying to “live large” is paying for those extravagant holiday purchases with
Spending Habits of The Rich and Not So Rich Read More »
What is the 1040EZ? The 1040EZ form (aka the EZ form) is the simplest and shortest form you can use to file your federal income taxes. Each year over 20 million people file this form, around 1 in every 6.5 federal tax returns filed. This article explains who can use it, the information required to fill
Tax Form 1040EZ Explained Read More »
The holiday season always puts me in a festive, giving mood – mainly because it reminds me of the importance of the importance of faith, family and friendship. In the spirit of the holidays, I’m going to be giving a $100 gift card to one lucky reader of AskTheMoneyCoach.com. This gift card comes compliments of
Win a $100 Gift Card Via The Money Coach & #WishForOthers Contest Read More »
When you’re shopping for a new car, conventional wisdom holds that it’s cheaper at year-end to buy the outgoing model year of a vehicle you want rather than the new incoming model year. The thinking is that dealers are more willing to negotiate in the months of November and December in order to move existing
How To Get The Best Deal When Leasing a New Car Read More »
