For many of us living in America, we strive to live a full life and we search for something we call the “American Dream”. I was reading a post on another site today that made me think a little harder about just what we’re striving for – and what the “American Dream” is. The definition […]
No Estate Tax In 2010 Means George Steinbrenner’s Family And Others Will Save Millions In Taxes
There are two things that are sure in life – death and taxes. And when you die, those two things could intersect. If your estate is worth $1 million dollars or more – your estate could be taxed up to 55% starting in 2011. Many people like to call it the “death tax”. This year […]
Roth IRA Withdrawal Rules
The Roth IRA is a wonderful investment option that many people take advantage of every year mainly because of it’s tax free growth and because it allows you to diversify your tax situation at retirement if you also invest in some pre-tax investment types like a 401k or IRA. While the ideal situation is to […]
Will The 2001 Bush Tax Cuts Be Extended, Made Permanent Or Allowed To Expire?
A month or so back we talked briefly about how the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts are expiring at the end of this year. Since then there has been a lot of additional talk about whether or not the Obama administration will be renewing the tax cuts before the end of the year. The […]
$8,000 and $6,500 Homebuyer Tax Credits Extended Again Through September 2010 Via H.R.5623
Last month I wrote about how many people were in danger of being left out in the cold with their first time homebuyer or current owner homebuyer tax credits. Because of the large number of homes being purchased, and the slow pace that many banks were taking on homes being bought that were short sales […]
How To Save Money On Health Care (When Having A Baby Or Having Other Medical Procedures)
One of the most expensive line items in a lot of people’s budgets is the health care category. Whether you’ve got a lot of health issues and just end up paying a lot of money, or if you have high ticket health care insurance, the costs can be quite high. Because the costs are already […]
There Are Times When Your Finances Take A Back Seat. Be Prepared With A Contingency Plan
Just over one week ago we had our first child, little Carter John. Ever since the day he was born, we have been focusing only on the baby – feeding him, changing his diapers, getting used to his schedule – and trying to stay sane. One thing we’ve learned in the past week is just […]
Our Baby Boy Was Born Yesterday!
Our little baby boy Carter John Anderson was born yesterday evening at 8:33 pm, weighing in at 8 pounds even, 21 inches in length. It was a bit of a tough delivery, with the cord wrapped around his neck twice, and then getting his shoulder stuck on the way out, but in the end he […]
The Financial Checklist For Newlyweds
First things first, congratulations to anyone who has recently married or is getting married. I wish you the best of luck. Once you get married, a lot of things change real quick. One area of change that takes some time to get used to is in your personal finances. Even if you decide not to […]
The Benefits Of Being A Stay At Home Mom Versus Being A Working Parent
This week is quickly turning into babies and family week. I’m sorry but I just can’t help myself, I’ve got nothing else on my mind lately, understandably. By this time next week I’ll be changing diapers and staying up nights with our new son. One topic that has been close to our hearts these past […]
What Expenses Should I Expect When Having A Child?
As my wife and I prepare for our journey into parenthood, one thing we’ve slowly realized is just how expensive it can be to have children. There are a host of big and small baby expenses that you may not have even considered, and as time goes on they slowly add up to a pretty […]
Things You Do That Could Cost You Money When Buying A Home
The last few years have been tough ones for the real estate market, and especially for the banks who have watched as thousands of their home loans have gone into default, and homes into foreclosure. Because the lending market has become so tough, lending guidelines have already started changing, making it tougher for some people […]
Devotional: Blessed Are His Sons
This father’s day, as we close in on just over a week until our son is born, I’ve been thinking a whole lot more than I usually do about what it means to be a father. It’s a scary thought and an exciting one at the same time. There are times that I think that […]
The Bush Tax Cuts Are Expiring. Will The 2011 Tax Hikes Bring On A Double Dip Recession?
At the end of the 2010 there will be a tax increase for all taxpayers, if something isn’t done. Back in 2001 the Bush administration helped to get an across the board tax cut passed that effectively lowered the marginal tax rates for all people paying taxes. (If you didn’t pay taxes, it doesn’t matter […]
