Save Money with Homemade Holiday Gifts
Practical tips for inexpensive gifts and sharing time instead of buying stuff. Encourages baking, helping elders with chores, and cooking a casserole to give the gift of time, stressing blessings over expensive purchases.
Family Financial Meetings for Stable Planning
A yearly discussion on finances helps couples stay in sync and reduce stress. Cover important documents debts and assets budget goals vulnerabilities responsibilities and self insights to improve financial management and planning.
Better Credit Cards From Credit Unions Studied
A Pew Charitable Trust study finds credit unions offer lower median rates and fewer penalties than banks. Among 400 institutions, 12 large unions posted 20 percent lower advertised rates than banks, with lower cash-advance fees and late-payment penalties, while several unions advertised balances under 10 percent.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pew Health Group
Pew Charitable Trust
Bank of America
BAC News - People
Discover Financial Services
Dfswi - News - People
Capital One Financial
COF - News - People
Wells Fargo
American Express
Boeing Employees
Navy Federal
Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union
Expiring 2009 tax breaks you may tap now
The 2009 stimulus measures include the first time homebuyer credit up to 8000 for buyers of homes purchased before December 1 2009 and income rules. The article notes some breaks may be extended but urges action if beneficial and directs readers to IRS guidance.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Congress
Obama
IRS
Irs.gov
IRS Tax Tip 2009 guidance on deductions for taxes paid
IRS outlines limits for itemized deductions on real estate taxes up to 500 dollars per filer and up to 1000 for joint filers, plus a sales tax deduction for new vehicles up to 49500 dollars. Phaseout begins at 125000 AGI for singles and 250000 for joint filers, noting a distinction from the prior Cash for Clunkers program.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
IRS
Irs.gov
Tax tips covering COBRA subsidies and education deductions
Health insurance tips note a 65 percent COBRA subsidy for workers laid off before December 31 2009 in firms with 20 or more employees and insured plans. Also outlined are the Tuition and Fees Deduction up to 4000 and educator expenses up to 250 for teachers with 900 hours.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
COBRA
Human Resources Department
Department of Labor
Dol.gov
Ebsa
IRS
Irs.gov
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David K. Randall
By Jason Alderman
orimStar
Slinatty Star Chaedin
CommStar.org