Going on vacation is a time to get away, relax and enjoy new experiences. But if you don’t pay close attention, extra costs can sneak up on you like tiny money-stealing ninjas. Here are eight sneaky vacation costs. Covert airfare increases. Airline pricing algorithms are programmed to store your browsing history to see if you’ve been…

Flexible working arrangements appear to be here to stay. But the benefits of working from home also come with the challenge of maintaining an appropriate work-life balance and a high level of productivity. Here are several ideas to consider if you’ll be continuing to work from home, either full-time or occasionally: Divide your day into…

As social distancing turns convenience into necessity, the number and types of activities moving to the internet is exploding. It’s important to remember that these virtual events often trigger real-world tax implications. Here are some things to keep in mind: Internet marketplaces – Proceeds of sales of goods and services on internet marketplaces can be taxable…

A dozen great topics! Often lost in the race to get kids through high school and on to life in the real world are basic financial skills. Here are a dozen financial concepts to consider explaining to your kids before graduating high school. How bank accounts work. While there are numerous online applications, consider using a…

The individual tax deadline of April 18th (yes, this year it’s April 18th!) is fast approaching. Here are answers to five common questions that taxpayers typically ask in April. What happens if I don’t file on time? There’s no penalty for filing a tax return after the deadline if you are set to receive a…

Most financial experts suggest keeping three to six months worth of household expenses in savings to help in case of emergency. But with record inflation, that task just got a lot harder to accomplish as virtually every safe place to put your emergency funds will not provide interest rates that keep pace with inflation. But…

A quiz to celebrate April tax month! With this year’s April tax deadline right around the corner, here’s a fun quiz that explores how states tax their citizens. So you think it’s rough in your state? Try answering the following questions: The moral of the story? Logic does not drive tax laws…legislatures do!

Interest rates are expected to increase this year in response to inflation that is running at a 40-year high. How will you be affected? Any interest rate revision can cause a ripple effect throughout the economy. Accordingly, the Federal Reserve’s actions probably will exert at least a moderate influence over financial choices that you may…

Leveraging the kiddie tax rules With careful tax planning, you can use the kiddie tax rules to reduce your tax obligation. Here’s what you need to know. Background The term kiddie tax was introduced by the Tax Reform Act of 1986. The rules are intended to keep parents from shifting their investment income to their…

According to a recent Deloitte survey, 91 percent of people agree to terms and conditions without reading the legal agreement. While reading through legally complex language may be slow and painful, it’s more important than you think. Here are four reasons why reading entire legal agreements make sense: You miss a major technicality. Many agreements have…