Did Someone Use Your Social Security Number to File Taxes? Here’s What to do
The IRS says that millions of people have become victims of con artists that have used the victim’s social security numbers to file taxes. Once the scammers file taxes, they turn around and collect tax refunds from the government. Meanwhile, not only has the victim’s identity been stolen, they are also out of luck (at […]
New Tax Tools to Save Money and Time
The IRS says U.S. taxpayers spend an average of 13 hours reading up on tax rules, gathering paperwork, and filling out their tax forms. And let’s not forget, of course, that taxes are a big expense for most Americans. In fact, the typical U.S. family pays more than a third of its income in taxes, […]
Capital One Rolls Out Credit Tracker, Free Credit Scores for Customers
Keeping tabs on your credit score is a great way to help maintain good credit health. So people with Capital One credit cards will be happy to know that starting very soon, the bank will roll out free credit scores and a suite of credit-education tools. The new offering is called Credit Tracker, and it […]
Video: How to Find a Subprime Lender
When your credit is less than perfect, you may think you have no loan options. In reality, many subprime lenders will offer you credit or loans for products like credit cards, student loans, and even mortgages. However, a subprime loan will be usually be offered at a higher interest rate. Here’s what you need to […]
Stop Ruining Your Finances With This Bad Money Habit
Most of us have a bad money habit that can crush our finances. That bad money habit is failing to plan, learn about wealth management plans from Hawley Advisors, view the article at their blog. I cannot tell you how many times I personally have wasted money, gone into debt, or failed to save — […]
Video: Does Your Spouse Spend Too Much Money on Get Rich Quick Schemes?
Video: Does Your Spouse Spend Too Much Money on Get Rich Quick Schemes? Is your spouse constantly falling for the latest “get rich quick” scheme? From stacks of multi-level marketing brochures to shelves full of unsold products, does your home feel more like a warehouse of failed business ideas than a place of peace? If […]
Video: Good Financial Advice, Bad Results – Here’s Why
One of the biggest financial mistakes you can ever make is taking bad financial advice — or more accurately, applying financial advice the wrong way, at the wrong time, and for the wrong reason. Following so-called “good” financial advice can actually get you into a world of economic trouble if you’re not careful. So, think […]
Don’t Let a Car Title Loan Wreck Havoc on Your Finances
When you’re living on a fixed income or facing bills you can’t afford to pay, it can be tempting to consider borrowing from places like car title loan companies. After all, these lenders put cash in your hands in a way that’s convenient, fast and relatively drama-free — at least, at first. Yet a car […]
How to Eat Healthy Without Blowing Your Budget
When you look at eating healthy as an investment in your health, you’ll soon realize that you may end up saving a significant amount of money on healthcare costs over your lifetime. However, many people overestimate how much it actually costs to eat healthy and miss out on the opportunity to improve their health and […]
Are My Co-Pay Medical Expenses Tax Deductible
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, […]
Bitcoins Explained
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 […]
Is That Payday Loan You Took Out Even Legal
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 […]
I Pay My Mortgage On Time but I Have Bad Credit. Can I Refinance?
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 […]
How to Safeguard Your Tax Refund and Your Credit From Identity Theft
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 Creditors Are Spying on Your Social Media Accounts
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 […]