Aug
1
Should You Buy a New Car for Better Gas Mileage?
August 1, 2008 | 3 Comments
… get it titled (licensed). Excise tax in this state is 3%. If I spent $10,000 it would cost me $300, $20,000, $600. You get the point. So it would require 2 months of gas just to pay the tax on the vehicle. What about the $10,000 to $20,000 (or higher) I would have to pay for the vehicle itself?
That just doesn't make sense. If you really want to save money, drop your cable TV subscription or cell phone service. Stop eating out as much. These things are optional.
When Does …
Jul
30
The Real Reason I Paid Off My Mortgage
July 30, 2008 | 14 Comments
… seem to be a short-term low-risk investment that will return an after tax return in excess of most 30-year fixed mortgage interest rates. About a year ago, several online savings accounts were offering 6% APY, and PenFed had a 6.25% CD promotion. Those might have tempted some of the more risk adverse people, as they were probably safer than paying down your mortgage.
Jeff is making a good point here. Interest rates (for investors/savers) are terrible. That is the number one reason I …
Jul
29
More Reasons to Pay Off Your Mortgage
July 29, 2008 | 4 Comments
… you are able to take advantage of this deduction then you should. However, paying $1 to save $.30 just doesn't make sense to me.
There is no investment that is as secure as a paid off mortgage and that also returns 8-12%. I really wish there was, but I don't know of any right now. I'd be all over it.
What I'm really looking for is the formula I can plug into Excel that demonstrates that paying off your mortgage is a bad decision. As of yet, I have not come across it.
I'm …
Comment by Jeff: … of time (around 30 years) is reasonably secure—and it …
Jul
14
… even though she had prepaid for the room through an online travel agency, plus held another $300 for possible incidentals without her knowledge. Because her card is tied to her checking account, she was broke.
And consider the experience of Scott Huelskamp, editor of a trade publication for rehabilitation professionals. He checked into The Red Rock Casino Resort Spa outside Las Vegas for a conference and was asked for a card to cover what he calls "the dreaded incidentals" he …
Jun
26
When Will I Get My Stimulus Check?
June 26, 2008 | 40 Comments
… should be in the mail by:
00 – 09
May 16
10 – 18
May 23
19 – 25
May 30
26 – 38
June 6
39 – 51
June 13
52 – 63
June 20
64 – 75
June 27
76 – 87
July 4
88 – 99
July 11
- Stimulus Payment Schedule (irs.gov)
Mailing Date is Based on Social Security Number of the First Taxpayer
The mailing date of the stimulus payment is based on the social security number of the person listed first on the tax …
Comment by Chris: … you payment of $300, that sounds correct. You would …
Jun
25
Should I Pay Off My Mortgage? The Easiest Test Ever
June 25, 2008 | 4 Comments
… should do that.
What do you think? Have you paid off your mortgage? Do you want to? Leave a comment and let me know what you think.
Comment by Jeff: … when you have a 30 year fixed mortgage (and don't have …
Jun
23
Do I Need Flood Insurance?
June 23, 2008 | Leave a Comment
… and Hurricane Katrina are so devastating.
Don't Wait Until It's Raining
Flood Insurance takes 30 days to kick in. That means you should buy it now, not when the authorities are telling you to evacuate your home.
Flood insurance can reduce the a pain of a flood. Imagine not only losing your home but also having no money to rebuild. Without flood insurance, that's the reality many flood victims face.
Any Other Questions?
Please post your questions in the comments below.
Jun
10
6 Ways to Spend Your Stimulus Money
June 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment
… Make an Extra Mortgage Payment
I know you love your mortgage and you want to keep it for 30 years, right? Maybe not? Well the only way that mortgage is going away is by you paying it off. Forget about the tax deduction that most people can't take, that's a real estate industry marketing ploy. Paying off your mortgage frees up your cash flow for other things. Imagine how much you could save and invest if you paid of your mortgage.
Make an Extra Car Payment
Do you …
Jun
9
Time Is Money: Finding Time to Workout
June 9, 2008 | Leave a Comment
… to lunch commitments.
But the biggest problem (for me anyway) is the waste of time. Spending 30 minutes in traffic just to work out really bothered me. What an incredible waste of time. There had to be a better way.
How I Do It Now
I wasn't working out and I started to put on a little weight. If you work in an office all day, there are not a lot of opportunities for physical activity. Something had to change.
As luck would have it, my wife's schedule changed at work. She …
Jun
4
Stimulus Payment Notification - What Does It Say?
June 4, 2008 | 16 Comments
… Qualifying Children
The calculation is based on the number of qualifying children multiplied by $300. A child is generally considered a qualifying child for the calculation of your 2008 stimulus payment if the child was born after December 31, 1990, and has a valid Social Security Number. The number of qualifying children shown on your 2007 federal income tax return was 1.
Whom You Can Contact With Questions
If you need additional information, please visit the IRS website at www.irs.gov …