Ready for your European vacation? There are so many amazing places to visit and sights to see, but did you know that with these seven simple tips you can make your trip run more smoothly and even save money? Emma Miller on DailyFinance.com offers some great ideas in her article, Travel Checklist: 7 Money To-Dos to Tackle Before Your Trip. A must read before your vacation of a lifetime this summer!
Author: Debra Watkins
Bonus! Now What?
Bonus! What is the first thought that comes to mind?
Make this additional money work hard for you by following Allison Martin’s eight simple steps. Don’t worry, one is all about spending a little on yourself!
1. Tackle Credit Card Debt
2. Get Caught Up on Past Due Bills
3. Boost Your Emergency Fund
4. Beef Up Your Nest Egg Or Other Investments
5. Establish A College Fund
6. Home Improvements
7. Be Charitable
8. Live A Little
8 Wise Money Moves to Make With Your Bonus
Spending Plans to Achieve Your Dreams
In this 2013 article by Stacy Johnson, founder of Money Talks News, he shares ways to develop a spending plan for your life that will help drive you toward your goals. Stacy suggests thinking backward to specific, fulfilling experiences and creating your plan of action based on the happy moments in your life. Once you have a clear idea of what you want, the spending plan is no longer about deprivation but about achieving your dreams.
How to Develop an Effortless Budget You’ll Stick To
To Camp or Not To Camp?
Every summer, parents face the daunting decision of whether or not to send their children to camp. What kind of camp to choose? Day camp? Sleep-away?
The summer camp experience offers children so many life lessons, such as teamwork, resilience and decision making. Skills that are useful throughout adulthood. Not to mention a week or more break for parents! I will never forget my time spent at Ghost Ranch Vocal Camp. Todd Kestin feels the same way, 5 Ways Summer Camp Helps Your Child Prepare for Adulthood
Debt Relief Can Be Simple
Ever considered consolidating your debt in order to make it more manageable? Do you have a list of each of your creditors along with how much you owe? Or have you ever wondered why you don’t have enough on a monthly basis for all the necessities? Then this article is for you! How to Pay off Debt: 6 Steps to Success. Debt relief is a simple process if you form a plan and stick to it and if you need it, I am always here to help!
Texas, 529 College Savings Day
College is not always the first thing that comes to mind when you are preparing to have a baby. But it’s amazing how fast the years go as your child grows, and how just a little preparation can ease any transition in your life. Today is 529 College Savings Day, in Texas. Click Here to find out more about the plans Texas offers and take a step toward your child’s future!
The Tools You Need
Thinking about starting your own business, ladies? Ingrid Vaderveldt, former Dell Inc. entrepreneur-in-residence has created software designed specifically for female entrepreneurs with the possibility of available backing. There are three-levels of the product ranging from free to $49 per month.
The Austin company employs four workers and also includes a foundation focusing on women-related policies and women in developing nations. The business side of the startup provides mentors and business plans in addition to software products designed to provide budding entrepreneurs with tools Vanderveldt has already tried herself.
Sounds like a wonderful tool for small businesses that have large goals.
Former Dell exec seeks to boost women entrepreneurs with latest venture
It’s The Little Things
Reading this article made me realize that small details are very important, but that it takes observant people who are willing to act to make them count. What this young mother did with a pizza order, got her the help she needed.
This is also true in the accounting business. Small details that could save/cost you money can easily be overlooked. It takes an attentive CPA with an eye for detail to best serve your business interests.
Florida woman’s online order asks for pizza, police help
The “Art” of Investment
This article was especially interesting to me since I have an art gallery space in my accounting office. Of course, none of the works that I have exhibited fall into the category they are talking about, but imagine if you could avoid capital gains taxes all together through re-investment of your earnings from prior art sales. It’s the same principle as real estate purchases and has been growing in popularity recently, to the point where some “traders” are seeing art as a commodity. What do you think? Time to invest in some fine art?
Tax Break Used by Investors in Flipping Art Faces Scrutiny
Time For A “Tax” Break
We are now three days post April 15th, and so I figured we all needed a break from the more serious, tax-related articles. These photographs fascinated me. The grouping entitled Alien Forest is actually of microscopic, forest dwellers who hunt and feed on other microscopic forest dwellers. Hmm, kind of sounds like a microscopic version of the business world. Happy “tax free” weekend. Enjoy the photos by Valeriya Zvereva!