Q: My wife and I are preparing our taxes ourselves this year. We have over $1000 worth of medical co-pay expenses but we can’t get these expenses accepted. What should we do? A: I assume you are using a computer software program to help you with your taxes. If you and your wife are under age 65, […]
Are My Co-Pay Medical Expenses Tax Deductible Read More »
You may have heard about the rise of Bitcoins in today’s digital age and they are quickly becoming a popular alternative to cash and credit card transactions. Bitcoins are a legal form of currency as long as they are used for legal purposes. Even though they do not exist in the physical world, they hold
Bitcoins Explained Read More »
If you’ve ever been strapped for cash and turned to a payday lender for financial help, it’s possible that the payday loan agreement you entered into is actually illegal. According to a recent story published on PublicIntegrity.org, a man from Puyallup, Washington got a payday loan from Ameriloan, but soon found that the lender was
Is That Payday Loan You Took Out Even Legal Read More »
Q: Our credit has been bad for the past 6 years. We have 6 years left on our mortgage and have never been late. Can we refinance our mortgage? A: Thanks for reaching out to me on AskTheMoneyCoach.com. You didn’t specify what your credit score is, but since you said you have “bad” credit, I
I Pay My Mortgage On Time but I Have Bad Credit. Can I Refinance? Read More »
Imagine filing your federal taxes with the Internal Revenue Service, only to have your tax return rejected because some crook has already used your Social Security number and claimed a bogus tax refund.
How to Safeguard Your Tax Refund and Your Credit From Identity Theft Read More »
You just bought a new car and are excited to share the news with friends and fans on social media sites like Twitter or Flickr. Or, maybe you just splurged on a luxury vacation and are sharing a public update on Facebook. Whatever the case may be, sharing information about purchases and finances could
How Creditors Are Spying on Your Social Media Accounts Read More »
You finally found that perfect nanny or babysitter to care for your kids. Congratulations! But the work isn’t done yet. Did you know that hiring a caregiver comes with tax and payroll responsibilities? While most families are excited to find someone to help care for their little ones, the euphoria sometimes quickly disappears when they
How to Use Tax Credits for Child Care Expenses Read More »
Q: I was talking to a collection agent about making payment on a bill and she kept saying “how much can you pay, I cannot guarantee it will stop further action.” I felt I had to say an amount but I cannot afford it. She wants me to call her back and tell her how
How to Deal With Debt Collectors That Threaten You Read More »
If making more money and having more freedom are on your list of goals this year, you might want to try a new job – creating your own job, that is. Too many Americans get held back financially because they’re tied to dead-end jobs that don’t give people what they want: not enough money,
Why You Should Make This The Year of Your Side Gig Read More »
Now that Christmas, Black Friday and Cyber Monday have all come and gone, many U.S. consumers may be grappling with lingering debt – including credit card bills that could last well into the New Year. According to the National Retail Federation, the average American spent $737 during the holiday season. That works out to $602.1
Why You Need Credit Counseling Read More »
Can your landlord repeatedly pull your credit report anytime he or she wants? A reader of AskTheMoneyCoach.com claims that their landlord is constantly pulling her credit report month after month. Does she have the right to stop her landlord? Has your landlord pulled your credit report recently? Watch this video to learn your rights as
Video: Can A Landlord Keep Pulling My Credit Report? Read More »
We all know you should NEVER drink and drive, but few people realize the huge financial ramifications of getting busted for driving under the influence of alcohol. A DUI can be enormously costly – mainly in terms of the potential physical danger you pose to pedestrians, other drivers on the road, passengers in your car,
Here’s How A DUI Costs You $5,000 to $10,000 or More Read More »
Almost everyone has at least one bathroom that could use a little sprucing up. Why not install some eco-friendly fixtures or materials? These will improve the appearance, save money and help out the environment all at the same time! If you own your home, some of these cost effective upgrades will even increase the value. Let’s start
Eco-Friendly Updates To Your Bathroom – Save Money, Save The Earth! Read More »
If my husband gets his way, in about a year from now we’ll be replacing our 2003 Chevy Tahoe with his dream car: a new Cadillac Escalade. In all honesty, I love the Escalade too — especially the new 2014 and revamped 2015 models. They really do set the standard for luxury SUVs. Still, I’m always
New Credit Card Offers Special Perks to Future Car Buyers Read More »
One simple way to save more money is to curb your spending. Unfortunately, a lot of so-called “simple” ways to save cash aren’t necessarily easy. So I put together a list – with the help of my ever-frugal hubby – of 10 things you should stop buying now. And the good part is that all of
10 Things to Stop Buying Now Read More »
