Finance

The Best Uses for Your Stimulus Check

How To Spend Your Stimulus Check For Fiscal Responsibility

By | Articles, COVID19, Finance | No Comments
The IRS has already disbursed the first round of Economic Impact Payments. Otherwise known as the stimulus check, most people will not need to take any action to receive it. With an expected influx of cash coming, how should you spend your stimulus check? The debate over how people should spend their stimulus checks While there is not a current banking crisis, people all over the world are still adjusting to the new normal. Many Americans have already filed for unemployment or experienced a reduction in their work hours. Non-essential workers must stay at home, creating different needs than when they...
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How to Recognize Emotional Spending Triggers

How To Defeat Emotional Spending Triggers

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When you're having a bad day, do you ever go to the store for a pick-me-up? Some people prefer coffee, while others reach for the chocolate. How about a new pair of shoes? Our feelings affect our purchasing habits, and sure enough, there are a ton of emotional spending triggers out there. Are you able to recognize when you're under a spell? Discover how to nix impulse and emotional spending triggers for good. Read all of our tips below. Which emotional spending triggers happen the most? When it all boils down, emotional spending occurs because of three main things: -...
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An Inactive Credit Card is No Big Deal, Right?

An Inactive Credit Card is No Big Deal, Right?

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You decided to get out of debt a long time ago. You're currently watching what you spend and choose cash over any other form of payment. It's been months since you swiped. An inactive credit card is no big deal, right? Reopening an inactive credit card If your credit card is on the line of cancellation because of inactivity, call your credit card issuer if you wish to keep it open. Keep in mind, once an inactive credit card closes, most issuers won't reopen it. They are more likely to insist on establishing a new line of credit under updated...
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What Do I Do With My Tax Refund?

How to Spend Your Tax Refund Wisely

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The average tax refund ranges from $2,300 to $3,200. Although the figures vary depending on the state, Floridians are one of the highest receivers of cashback. No matter where you live, you've probably asked yourself the same question. How do i spend my tax refund wisely? Find out four financially smart options below. I filed my taxes, now what? You found the right tax preparer and filed your taxes. What happens next? More importantly, when should you expect your tax refund? Taxpayers who claim the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit may experience a refund hold....
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A Debt Settlement Agreement Could Have Tax Consequences

A Debt Settlement Agreement Could Have Tax Consequences

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More than 189 million Americans have credit cards, and it seems that accumulating debt is a part of life. What if you were in a financial bind, and you wanted to write it off? Could a debt settlement agreement be a solution? The answers are conflicting. Some say a debt settlement agreement can resolve your debt for pennies on the dollar. Others inform about the consequences. Below are some facts that you should consider before making a payoff. Is it bad to take a settlement on debt? Debt settlement is a practice that allows you to pay a lump sum...
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Reasons You Should Avoid a Friendship Loan

Reasons You Should Avoid a Friendship Loan

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We all want to be good friends. However, agreeing to a friendship loan usually comes with a slew of problems. Below are five reasons to decline when your friend asks for a loan. 1. Lending money to a friend could damage your relationship. Lending money to a friend could damage the friendship if the loan proves to be unsuccessful. The same goes for cosigning. Once you become contractually involved, any friendship loan that goes bad will be your responsibility. After lending cash to a friend or family member, 21% say their relationship with the borrower failed. It's a sad statistic, and...
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Automatic Payments Made Clear. What Are the Benefits?

Automatic Payments Benefit More Than Your Wallet

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In this busy world, are automatic payments helpful? If you're like most people, the answer is yes. A vast majority of our goods and services come with auto-pay subscriptions. Need to buy toilet paper? Get it delivered every month, automatically, then never run out again. While the set it and forget it model has a ton of benefits, there are a few things you should watch. In this article, we'll explain automatic payments in-depth, from the good to the bad, all the way to the ugly. Who uses automatic payments? Recent research has found that 89 percent of millennials have at least...
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Which Credit Card Mistakes Are You Guilty Of?

Which Credit Card Mistakes Are You Guilty Of?

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Credit cards are a staple of finance. They allow you to borrow money to make purchases. Most have revolving balance systems, and you pay month to month until your debt is gone. While the arrangement is simple, many people are guilty of making the same credit card mistakes. What are the most common credit card mistakes? Let's talk about debt. Of all the credit card mistakes a person could commit, having too much debt is the worst. However, there's a caveat. Not all debts are bad. There are ways to use credit cards wisely. For instance, let's say you need new...
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The Most Effective Way to Choose a Tax Preparer

The Most Effective Way to Choose a Tax Preparer

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The law requires employers to mail out W-2 forms no later than January 31. Being said, pretty soon, everyone will need to choose a tax preparer and file their taxes. Do you know what criteria your tax professional should have? Are there certain red flags? Find out before making your selection. Choosing a Tax Professional While the expertise of tax professionals varies, they all must have an IRS issued preparer tax identification number (PTIN). If they want to prepare your return for compensation, make sure your preparer enters their PTIN on the return filed with the IRS. They may omit the...
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Dining Out Expenses Are Eating Through Your Wallet

Dining Out Expenses Are Eating Through Your Wallet

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Nothing tastes better than food prepared by someone else. With consumer demand at a historical high, restaurants serve millions of hungry patrons. It's an experience that leaves our stomachs full, but wallets empty. Truly, dining out expenses add up. Americans spend a lot of money dining out According to a 2017 survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that American households spend about $3,300 on dining out expenses. That's $600 higher than in 2014. The service industry continues to rise, and so does its gratuity expectations. Tipping culture remains a thing. It's all hard-earned cash, without a doubt. However, if we...
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