Just like clothing and fashion trends, new phrases and terms have a way of inserting themselves in every day language. For some, these phrases are overused and annoying. For others, these terms do an acceptable job of explaining a situation. Here are a few terms that are making an entrance. See if you recognize them,…

One of the most common reasons businesses fail is due to lack of proper cash flow. The same is often true in many households. Here’s how this concept of cash flow applies to you along with some ideas to improve it. Cash flow defined   Cash flow equals cash coming in (wages, interest, Social Security…

  Consider conducting a final tax planning review now to see if you can still take actions to minimize your taxes this year. Here are some ideas to get you started.   Review your income. Begin by determining how your income this year will compare to last year. Since tax rates are the same, this is…

While there may be legal and Congressional challenges around the recent presidential executive order, here are some questions and answers about what is known so far about the announced student loan forgiveness program. Can the President forgive this debt? Who knows how this will play out, but maybe not. Only Congress has spending authority. And…

Paying bills is inevitable, but paying too much is not. Here are some tips to help you get a handle on your recurring monthly expenses. Investigate your recurring services. Start by taking stock of every service you are currently using. Review your bank and credit card statements and highlight all the charges that look like a…

Very few things in life can create a higher degree of stress than having your Social Security number (SSN) stolen. This is because, unlike other forms of identification, your SSN is virtually permanent. Here are some things that you can do to minimize the risk of having your number fall into the hands of the…

Underneath the still water of car insurance lies an unseen monster that comes up and attacks every car owner who has their car replaced after an insurance company declares the vehicle a total loss. Consider this true story: Becoming a victim…twice Your daughter is rear ended by a distracted driver while waiting to turn left….

Tax incentives for purchasing clean (electric) vehicles and installing high efficiency home improvements are some of the featured provisions in the recently-passed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Here’s a closer look at some of the bill’s tax provisions regarding the new incentives. Clean Vehicle Credit (formerly Plug-In Electric Vehicle Credit) Here is a summary of the…

You probably know how easy it is to spend a lot of money while on vacation. The best way to avoid overspending is to know the problem areas and be prepared before you go. Here are five typical vacation spending traps (and tips to avoid them): Paying full price. If you plan on going to an…

Credit scores are used to determine interest rates on mortgages, car loans and even the amount you pay for insurance premiums. Because of this, it is a good idea to review ways to improve yours. Here are some ideas: Look for errors on your credit report. The place to start is a review of your credit…