In these uncertain economic times, it is especially wise for individuals to have their finances under control. For most, to live within one’s means is to spend less than one takes in. Seems simple enough. Most people know how much money they bring in but not as many know where it is goes. According to […]
There is a saying that the only two things inevitable in the world are death and taxes. A close runner up taking the bronze medal would have to be inflation. Inflation is defined as a general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money. The Bureau of Labor Statistics tries to measure […]
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and its agents are not known for their soft and compassionate side. Most people view the IRS as the agency you don’t mess around with and for good reason. The IRS is part of the Treasury Department and has been given legal abilities to ensure that their job of collecting […]
Many Virginians can remember where they were at 1:51 pm on August 23, 2011. That is when Virginia was rocked with its largest earthquake in a century. The epicenter was located outside of Mineral in Louisa County, but it could be felt along the east coast from Georgia to Canada. When the shaking began, the […]
Many people believe that estate planning is only for the wealthy. A person who owns real estate, stocks, bonds or personal effects has an estate. Everyone should have a will, as it dictates how and by whom one’s final wishes are carried out when it comes to their estate. Nobody expects to die today or […]
The Constitution was amended in 1913 to include the sixteenth amendment, enabling Congress to levy a tax on incomes from any source. Certain tax rules were first put in place that enabled the deduction of expenses, namely interest on debt payments. Herein lies the birth of the present day mortgage interest deduction to the IRS […]
Social networking and media has become a part of nearly everyone’s life with sites such as Facebook.com, Twitter.com or Linkined.com. Having an online profile allows for easy communication among friends, family and business associates. The sites create an almost intranet feeling experience where nearly all needs of the user can be met without leaving the […]
In today’s economy, having an emergency savings account can help you sleep a little better at night knowing it provides you with a fiscal security net. Saving for emergencies doesn’t have to be difficult as there are many ways to do so without altering your lifestyle all that much. Here are 13 simple tips to […]
Personal finance can be defined as all financial decisions and activities of an individual, including budgeting, insurance, savings, investing, and debt servicing among other things. It’s been said that money makes the world go round and yet personal finance is something many learn from their parents and friends, through word of mouth, or tidbits of […]
When discussing personal investments, stocks, bonds and 401(k)s come to mind. It’s true—these are definitely considered investments, but the largest investment that an American family has tends to be their home. The difference between your home’s current value and the balance of any liens against it represents your home’s equity. It is this equity that […]