Posted July 29, 2009 - 12:00 by Philip Brewer
Your IRA and 401(k) (or 403(b) if you work for a non-profit) are great tools for deferring taxes, and have other advantages as well. But because they're labeled "retirement" accounts, people are much too likely to put the wrong investments in them. Here's how to use them correctly.
Posted July 28, 2009 - 09:51 by Linsey Knerl
Do you have a tip for making sure your tax money comes back to you at the end of every year? Give us your views and insights into tax refunds now (before the year runs out), and we'll enter you to win one of two $10 gift cards from Amazon!
Posted June 19, 2009 - 09:19 by Philip Brewer
I spent my whole adult life trying to figure out how to get by on a lot less money, because I wanted to be a full-time writer and knew that it wouldn't pay enough to support the lifestyle I was living. Now that I've made the transition, I can see that I was worrying needlessly--there are three sources of big savings that come along almost automatically when you start to get by on a lot less money.
Posted June 18, 2009 - 23:09 by Xin Lu
A few months ago I wrote about several car buying incentives that were floating around. This was before the bankruptcy of Chrysler and GM and there was a rumor going around that the government would push consumers into buying new cars with a trade in program. Now it is official that a "cash for clunkers" bill has passed by both the Senate and the House. This $1 billion program was attached to the $106 billion war spending bill and offers vouchers to consumers who trade in their gas guzzlers. Here are some details on the program.
Posted May 28, 2009 - 07:10 by Philip Brewer
Having a prosperous country (as opposed to having merely a prosperous elite) depends fundamentally on the rule of law. The system can work adequately well with various sets of rules, as long as they're known in advance and fairly applied. During hard times, though, there's a strong temptation to ignore the rules in a search for a less-bad result. Both borrowers and lenders need to watch out.
Posted May 6, 2009 - 15:07 by Xin Lu
I just read a very interesting article by an American expat named Russell Shorto in the Netherlands titled "Going Dutch - How I Learned to Love the European Welfare State". The author describes his shock at a 52% top income tax bracket and his eventual acceptance of the social benefits of living amongst the Dutch. Here are some highlights of his experience and my thoughts on the subject.
Posted April 15, 2009 - 13:18 by Xin Lu
Today is April 15th, also known as the dreaded Tax Day in America. Due to the recession many people may find that they do not have enough money in the bank to pay what they owe. Instead of marching in the various "tea parties" happening today, this is what you can do if you find that you do not have enough money to pay Uncle Sam.
Posted March 25, 2009 - 10:52 by Xin Lu
Lately many top AIG employees who were targeted by Congress in the $165 million "Bonusgate" incident have returned their bonuses. Some people are still holding out, and in my opinion, they would be better off if they simply donated their bonuses instead of returning it to AIG. Here is an open letter to these employees and others who may be targeted and threatened with confiscatory taxes.
Posted March 25, 2009 - 08:44 by Catherine Shaffer
These are difficult economic times, but I'm getting tired of being told to spend my money on stuff, as if my personal saving habits are somehow ruining the economy. Instead of throwing money at retailers, let's throw it at people who really need it--the poor and disenfranchised who are most at risk in an economic downturn. Here are my top ten charity picks. I'd love to know what your favorites are, and will post a followup in a week or so with an updated list of recommended charities.
Posted March 12, 2009 - 09:44 by Elizabeth Sanberg
I have a confession to make: I love tax season. Not just the days when I do my taxes or when I file my taxes or get a chunk of change deposited to my account, but the entire Tax Season: from beginning of January when you're allowed to start filing until April 15: the big due date. Honestly, I think Tax Season is a lot like the Holiday Season. Don't believe me? Check out their similarities.
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