This holiday season, share the warmth of holiday gift giving by sending gourmet gift baskets, personalized gifts, gift cards and more to your favorite neighbors. The holidays are about giving gifts of meaningful and sentimental value and to show those that you care about how much you appreciate them. Utilize this guide to holiday gift giving to ensure a happy and stress-free Christmas season.
The holiday season is upon us once again, which means many will soon head to malls and shopping centers across the country. While elevators and escalators are safer today than ever before, take precautions to keep you and your family safe while you shop.
For many, the allure of a private getaway is strong, but concerns about maintenance and costs have made it seem out of reach in the past. If owning a vacation property has long been a dream of yours, now might be the time to make it a reality. The current economy fostered a buyer’s market, in which vacation homes with incredible amenities and in exclusive communities are available for better values than ever before.
Choosing a moving company is an important step in preparing for a move, allowing you to get estimated costs and moving dates to give your impending move more structure and a finite date. In order to make an educated decision, and to make sure you aren’t flying blind in the days leading up to your move, there are some key issues you should discuss with your moving company to make sure you understand how the moving process will go.
Going to college; getting your first job; moving into your own place. To these rites of passage, add one more: doing your own taxes. And, it doesn’t have to be scary. There is actually a simple way to do your taxes that can help you save money and time.
Last year alone, more than 440,000 Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) checks were reported lost or stolen. Despite the risks, millions of senior citizens, people with disabilities and other federal benefit recipients still receive their payments by paper check. Beneficiaries’ increased exposure to financial crime is one reason why the U.S. Department of the Treasury is phasing out paper checks for federal benefits by March 1, 2013.
Time flies, and between the hectic activities of the holiday season, work, school, household chores and playtime with your family (if you can fit it in), the only minutes you have left in the day are reserved for sleep and recharging your batteries. While it’s impossible to slow down time, you can find ways to consolidate some activities or eliminate tasks you’d rather not be doing anyway, presenting you with valuable me-time for rest and relaxation.
When the clock strikes midnight on December 31, 2012, many Americans will celebrate the arrival of a new year with streamers, confetti and a round of “Auld Lang Syne.” But when they wake up the next morning, January 1, 2013, they may not be as excited to learn that their federal taxes have increased.
Even though they’re still common, jokes about clueless baby boomers calling their kids to figure out how to use technology are starting to feel outdated. While today’s youngest generations are practically born with tablets, smartphones and laptops in their hands, grandparents are also adopting technology at a startling pace.
While it’s a bit of a stereotype to say men are from Mars and women are from Venus, when it comes to financial planning styles, the fact remains the sexes are worlds apart in their approach to saving and investing.
In an ideal world, you will retire and enjoy many years fulfilling your dreams and spending time with those you love the most. Your retirement years can be some of the happiest and most enjoyable years of your life. But while we all hope for the best outcome possible, it may be prudent for you to plan for the possibility that life may deal you a difficult hand.
Hunting for deals and door buster sales this holiday? There are several little-known credit card perks to keep in mind before you reach into your wallet.
More than 65 million people provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or elderly family member or friend, according to the National Alliance for Caregiving. In addition to providing emotion and physical support, caregivers are often entrusted to help their loved ones carry out financial decisions.
Whether it’s the new year, a new job, a new baby or simply the right time to get your finances order, the process usually starts with setting some goals. The first step in the process of achieving your financial goals is to recognize what needs to be done to put yourself in the position you want to be in. Once you’ve identified those goals, you just need to figure out how to accomplish them.
With the birding hobby’s growing audience of 60 million Americans and counting, you’re sure to have someone on your holiday list looking to attract more feathered friends to his or her yard.
If you’re the proud owner of an iPad, are you using it to its full potential? Here are four ways you could use your iPad to make life easier and more interesting.
Whether you’re trying to secure a job in a down economy or struggling to pay off college debt, achieving the American dream today comes with some difficult obstacles. These challenges can make it tough for tomorrow’s generation of investors to see beyond their current financial needs and look ahead to what they will need 30 or 40 years down the road. As a result, many young Americans find themselves behind when it comes to establishing actionable, long-term plans for the future.
It’s tax time and Americans are thinking about how they’re going to spend their tax refunds. According to the Internal Revenue Service, the average tax refund was close to $3,000 last tax season, so who wouldn’t want to get that money back in their pocket? Here are some tips to help you do that.
Valentine’s Day is more than roses, chocolates, and red and pink decorations. The holiday historically has been based on the romantic adventures of St. Valentine, but families now can make Feb. 14 an opportunity to celebrate all the loved ones in the family unit – everyone from grandparents to children.
Do you know what’s on your credit report? Do you know your credit scores? If you don’t, you’re not alone, but now is a good time to better understand how they work before you go apply for that loan. By waiting to check your report and scores until you want to buy a car or house, you may discover too late your financial history forces you into strict loan terms with high interest rates, or, worse, disqualify you from getting any loan at all. How can you avoid this situation?
Winter is prime time for attracting birds. Beckoning birds to your backyard in winter can be easier than in any other season if you provide what they need to weather and survive the coldest months.
Traveling is a wonderful opportunity to see the world, but it can come with stress that turns a vacation into an experience you quickly want to forget. Sticking to exhausting itineraries, eating an abundance of rich foods, and even planning a visit with family can turn an enjoyable vacation into a stressful experience. A little advanced planning can help alleviate some of the traditional stresses travelers experience during holiday visits, winter vacations and spring break trips, allowing everyone in the family to enjoy the journey.
In the rush of holiday shopping, it’s easy to lose focus and spend too much or to make decisions you later regret. Before you go shopping this year for gifts, decor and your entertaining needs, take the time to sit down and make a plan. Here are a few tips to help save you plenty of money.
Most pet owners can tell you that the first few days with a puppy in the house can be a handful, but the job of being a good pet parent does not stop when your new pal sleeps through the night for the first time. After you finish guiding your pup through his earliest life stages, it is important to keep in mind that he will be going through his own version of the “teen” years and will rely on a guiding hand.
Winter is here in many parts of the country, and even if your region is still experiencing relatively warm temperatures, you know Old Man Winter is on his way. Your thoughts may already be on preparing the snow blower for a long, hard winter, but before you break out the ice melt, don’t overlook the importance of winterizing your lawn mower.
Keeping resolutions is the hardest part of making them. If you’re like many, 2013 may be the year of getting your financial house in order. For some, that may mean getting out from credit card debt or paying off a student loan; for others, it may mean setting aside more for emergency savings or for retirement.
If the growing online shopping statistics from the past few years have been any indication, buyers will again be flocking to online retailers this holiday season – perhaps in larger numbers than ever before.
Creating better financial habits tops many New Year’s resolution lists every year. If it is on your list for 2013, there are a few steps you could consider to help you pursue your goals. Here are five common tips to help you improve your financial health in 2013.
Getting older means being a little more susceptible to a variety of health problems while traveling. However, with a little planning and some caution, baby boomers and seniors can have a safe, healthy and enjoyable trip.
