This week (and probably part of this weekend) I’ll be wrapping up my Tax Year 2014 activities. As always, there will be much celebration afterwards. Since 2009 I’ve used H&R Block® Online Tax Software every year I’ve been able. In tax years 2012 and 2013, I had an investment vehicle unusual enough that the interview … Read more
Slaying a debt dragon is warrior code for paying off a debt. What will you do with that new-found money? Here are some good choices …. We know how it feels to have slain a debt dragon. We know the pleasure of watching the carcass rot in our front yard. We know the pleasure of … Read more
There’s not a thing wrong with free. In fact, free is one of my favorite four-letter words. But, it always pays to remember that “free” is not the same thing as “without cost.” Something that’s free may be without monetary cost, but there’s almost always some other cost. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. … Read more
The winter weather in our area, like other places in the country, has been pretty bone-chilling the past few days. Not nearly as bad as in the northeast, but still chilly. We learned the hard way a few years back that we weren’t quite prepared for a multi-day loss of power. We had kind neighbors, … Read more
Do you notice how some stores seem to have 50%-off sales a lot of the time? Does this make you think that the regular prices are about 100% too high? Walmart and Amazon.com aren’t like this at all. These two retailers are perhaps best known for their low prices. To offer low prices every day, … Read more
It’s a good idea to talk through big purchases (with your spouse, or with a knowledgeable friend) carefully before buying. The bigger the purchase, the more discussion there should be. You can save money and avoid costly mistakes with discussion. I learned a lesson recently about not doing this with a smaller purchase. It cost … Read more
A few weeks ago, my PC of a number of years began warning me to replace my hard disk drive soon. That in itself is pretty cool. (Not that my disk drive was failing, but that the operating system warned me before it actually did!) Rather than replace the hard drive, I opted for an … Read more
In-store fights on Black Friday are becoming as much tradition as Thanksgiving. Does the thought of scrapping it out with a stranger over a $9.99 DVD player appeal to you? Me neither. Thankfully, no one is going to reach into their computer to overturn your Amazon shopping cart or sever your internet connection. I’ve managed … Read more