Features
Gambling on college sports can have consequences
(ARA) - The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament tips off March 18. And while the 64 qualifying teams hope to make the Final Four, the rest of the country will follow the tournament through brackets illegally completed on college campuses, in office buildings and in sports bars.
What you need to know before doing your taxes online
(ARA) - It now takes more than 71,000 pages to cover and explain federal tax laws. So it's not surprising the vast majority of taxpayers look for help preparing and filing their tax returns. Use of online tax preparation and e-filing continues to grow at record rates. In fact, more than 32 million taxpayers e-filed their tax returns from home last year, according to the Internal Revenue Service.
Make a resolution to cut automotive costs in the new year
(ARA) - An annual tradition, Americans have their minds on resolutions for the New Year. While most hope to loosen their pants, others try to tighten their belt. Whether it is through eating out less, shopping less or traveling less, most try to cut costs in their life, timed to the change in the calendar.
Ten vital financial tips to take you through 2010
(ARA) - The few short months between New Year's Day and tax day offer an outstanding opportunity - and, for many of us, strong incentive - to take steps to improve our financial standing. The distraction of the holidays is over, and the arrival of tax forms brings into sharp focus the need to take charge of our finances.
Growing and maintaining a healthy business credit score in 2010
(ARA) - For owners of new and young small businesses, there are a plethora of elements that need to be managed and overseen every day to ensure success. While focusing on income, expenditures, employees and marketing, thinking about your business' credit can sometimes fall by the wayside.
Tips for making your job search easier
(ARA) - Whether you are facing a slowed economy or one that is bursting at the seams, there are ways to make your job search less frustrating. The problem is that you don't know where to start or how to be successful in that search. To get on the fast track with your job search, follow these hints and tips.
Starting over: insurance needs and budgeting as a newly single person
(ARA) - If you are facing 2010 as a newly single person, you will likely need to make some major budget revisions. Although you may no longer have to consider another person in your financial decisions, you now need to save for emergencies and retirement on just one salary. If you have children, their care is at least partially your responsibility and that must be factored in, as well as saving for their college expenses.
Greening your home to improve health and save money
(ARA) - You can just smell it. You install new carpeting in your home, and the air in your living room takes on a brash, chemical scent. That can't be good.
Enjoy a frugal 'family night in' without sacrificing the fun
(ARA) - It is no secret that more and more families are making tough decisions when it comes to their entertainment options due to the rising costs of "going out." But this doesn't mean that there is no fun to be had.
Tips on finding the right scholarship opportunities
(ARA) - Qualifying for a scholarship but not bothering to apply for it makes about as much sense as walking away from money left on a table to fund your education.
Take control of your household budget in the new year
(ARA) - Sticking to a budget is one of the top resolutions Americans make after the holidays, but many people aren't sure how to start effectively managing their household finances. Wise credit card use is a key step toward achieving such a goal. Understanding a few important facts now will help you to avoid surprises and get back on track when holiday bills arrive in the New Year.
Advice for putting your personal stamp on your wedding day
(ARA) - Recently engaged? Planning your wedding? Your moment in the spotlight has arrived, and for once in your life -- possibly the first and last time -- it's perfectly socially acceptable to make everything about you and what you want.
Planning, taxes and insurance tips to get your new business off to a successful start
(ARA) - With the unemployment rate at an all-time high, many people are starting their own businesses as a way to leverage their work experience. Starting a business is an industrious undertaking. Even the smallest home business has quirks and pitfalls that can make or break it. There are a lot of resources for those starting a business, but sometimes the sheer number of resources and the amount of input can be overwhelming.
How owners of small businesses can successfully weather the economic storm
(ARA) - Many small business owners cheered the emphasis that President Barack Obama put on supporting small businesses in his recent State of the Union address. As the president's focus indicated, small businesses are central to the economy. When small businesses are running strong, it's a good thing for all, from consumers to employees to other business owners. That's why it's important, if you own or plan on starting a small business, you make sure you're taking all the right steps to protect your venture.
Top 5 improvements for spring home sellers
(ARA) - To get your home sold at a good price in a buyer's market, you need to know what to invest in - and what not to invest in.
More euro for your dollar: convenience and value in European cruises
(ARA) - There is so much to see in Europe that it can be difficult to narrow down your itinerary, and to give each destination its due attention. And inevitably, if you visit Europe, you start collecting purchased items, adding to the luggage you have to schlep, pack, un-pack and re-pack with every arrival and departure. It's a fun challenge, but a challenge nonetheless.
How to take your small business to the next level with branding and marketing
(ARA) - It's a tough economy out there, and existing businesses are competing harder than ever to keep clients and win new ones. In addition, more and more people who have been touched by unemployment woes are taking the leap to create their own small businesses. Whether your business is newly minted or a few years old, it's now more important than ever that you have a strong, visible presence.
Setting and sticking to your travel budget
(ARA) - Travel can be one of the biggest-ticket items you invest in each year, so it's worth it to plan ahead.
Simple tips to protect and organize your precious data
(ARA) - The old joke goes "death and taxes are the only things you can count on 100 percent." Add a new item to that list - disk and tape drive failure.
Buying a home? Tips to protect your biggest investment
(ARA) - If you're in a position to buy real estate, chances are pretty good you'll end up with a great bargain - perhaps a home you typically wouldn't consider in a different market. While it could remain a buyer's market for several months to several years, be aware that lending institutions are scrutinizing prospective homeowners more than ever.
Buying a home: know the difference between mortgage life insurance and individual life insurance
(ARA) - For many new homeowners, it can be very confusing to decide whether you should buy an individual insurance policy from a reputable life insurance company to protect your new home from the unexpected, or if you should purchase a mortgage insurance policy through your lender.
Get online to find great deals on travel this season
(ARA) - The travel bug is striking Americans across the country. Most of us feel a need to get away and recharge our batteries with a change of scene. If this urge to travel has struck your family, there are deals to be found, whether you're planning an in-state excursion, flying across the country or even boarding a boat for a cruise.
Smart ways for small business owners to save money
(ARA) - Starting or building a business isn't easy, but it shouldn't cost a lot of money, either. Here are some tips to get your business off the ground - or make it stronger - without breaking the bank:
Small-business owners see silver lining in the recession
(ARA) - The current gloomy economic conditions contain some good news for the small-business sector.
Five ways to use green technology in your home
(ARA) - "Green" living is no longer a trend; American homeowners' commitment to sustainability is here to stay, from all indications.
Opening the window to federal remodeling tax credits
(ARA) - As warm weather approaches and the tax credit for energy efficient replacement windows is in full swing, now is the perfect time to consider upgrading your home with new windows to help save on cooling costs in those hot summer months, and to also save on heating costs when winter rolls around again. The tax credit for energy efficient replacement windows and doors, originally introduced in 2009 as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is set to expire at the end of 2010, which makes this year the best time for homeowners to replace their windows and upgrade the look and feel of their home.
Home inspections help you sell
(ARA) - When you're ready to sell your home in the current market, you need to take every step you can to ensure a timely sale at the price you want. A surplus of homes for sale means that yours needs to stand out in style, amenities and quality to make an impression on potential buyers. The more steps you take to make your house sale-ready, the better results you'll get.
Understanding and avoiding pitfalls of the Making Work Pay credit
(ARA) - The Making Work Pay credit has many taxpayers confused, and for some, the confusion has led to the shock of smaller or delayed refunds. To help make sense and cents out of it all, TaxACT has provided the most essential information and tips for getting it right on your 2009 tax return.
Will you be fiscally fit in 2010?
(ARA) - The change from one year to the next presents the perfect opportunity to reassess our lives - where we've been, where we are and where we intend to go next. With signs the economy is slowly recovering, many people are likely to re-examine their financial health again as 2009 gives way to 2010.
How to know if your insurer can keep its promise to your family
(ARA) - When you buy life insurance, you aren't just making a simple purchase like a cell phone or other retail item. Instead, you are buying into a promise. You are paying premiums to an insurance company in return for the promise by that insurance company that it will pay a death benefit to your beneficiary in the event something were to happen to you. Sometimes the coverage you purchase can last 30 years or longer.
