Here we are, it’s March Madness! I’m not sure if you follow college basketball or not, but if you do, I hope your brackets are holding up. Mine is in bad shape with all of the early upsets. Not that it matters since my bracket is just for fun, but it stinks to do so poorly right out of the gate. Now my focus shifts to the Michigan State Spartans. I’m really hoping for a final four bid, but that’s probably just a little ambitious.

Also, you may have noticed a lot of guest posts in the past few weeks, and that’s because we’ve been doing a little traveling. We drove down to Florida and spent some time at a Disney resort. Unfortunately it was mainly for business, not pleasure. I did learn one valuable financial lesson while down there, and it’s expensive! I now know that if we ever take our kids to Disney it will either be some sort of package deal, or we’ll make sure to just get discount tickets and make sure we have a rental car so we can drive a few minutes away from the park to do all of our dining and pick up food at the grocery store. I’m sure not going to pay $2.19 for a single serving milk again!

Here are the links for this week:

The Secret to Saving Money – Having a hard time saving money and looking for the secret? Well, there isn’t exactly a hidden secret out there, but there are a few little tips that you can use to find money to save. Even if it feels like you’re broke.

The 5 o’clock Test – Can you work like an entrepreneur while punching a clock from 9 to 5 every day? It’s possible, and the times of being chained to a desk for eight hours every day might be begging for change, but unfortunately that isn’t usually the case with most employers.

Get Cheap Clothes Online or Elsewhere With These Tips – I just had a guest post about how to look like a million bucks without spending hardly anything, so this post is a great followup. You can get some great clothes online for real cheap.

SunTrust $150 Bonus – Want some free money? Here’s your chance. SunTrust is offering a $150 bonus. Get the details here.

Breaking Up is Hard to Do: Transitioning Well from One Job to Another – If you’ve ever had to change jobs you probably remember the stress of the situation. Especially if you’ve been with your prior job for any length of time. Breaking up is hard to do.

Tax Refund Loans – Costs & Alternatives – As people anticipate their tax refunds, some go one step further and get a tax refund anticipation loan so they can get their hands on the money even faster. Bad idea. Here’s why.

Four Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss Reviewed – Lazy Man reviews this great book. I’ve read it and have tried to apply many of the teachings to my own life. It’s not easy, but it’s something I’m still working on.

16 Ways Not To Blow Your Tax Refund – Getting a tax refund this year? Don’t blow it. Remember, this isn’t found money and it’s actually your hard-earned money that the government borrowed without paying you any interest. So, here are some smart ideas for your tax refund.

Five Pitfalls to Avoid When Buying or Selling A House – Buying or selling a home in this market can be a nightmare. Just ask me. We bought a house back in September and have still not sold our first house! Here are a few things to avoid if you’re looking at a real estate transaction.

Additional Reading

What Is That On My Credit Card Bill?

The High Price of “Low Cost” Payday Loans

5 Ways to Hurt Your Credit Score Without Using Credit

Affordable Health Insurance When You are Self Employed

About the Author: Jeremy is a retirement planning specialist and founder of Generation X Finance and the guide to Financial Planning at About.com. To learn more, follow Jeremy on Twitter.

Friday Finance Findings for March 19th

Raise your hand if you’re ready for spring. That’s what I thought. If you’re like me and many others up here in a cold part of the country you’re probably anxious for March to arrive next week and hopefully bringing warmer weather with it. It seems like it’s been an abnormally long and cold winter, but I think I end up just feeling this way every February regardless. But if I recall, I believe we had our first snowfall of the season back in October and we still have a lot of snow on the ground heading into March. As far as I’m concerned that’s near six months of winter, which is too much.

What I really love about the arrival of spring are the 3 Gs: golf, gardening, and grilling. I especially can’t wait for golf this year. Now that I’m working from home I will have a little more time to practice my game. Instead of just playing once every week or two I should be able to get a round in a few times a week. This will likely have a huge impact on my game. Gardening is going to be a bit of a challenge since we’ve moved. We no longer have a garden and also have a nice irrigated back yard so it’s tough trying to decide what to do. I’m almost thinking about doing a few raised garden beds but haven’t yet decided. But I’ll have to do something because growing fresh tomatoes is a requirement!

While I think about spring you can enjoy these links.

TurboTax 2010 Has Some Nice New Features – I’ve been a fan of TurboTax for a number of years even though I now have a CPA do my taxes, but each year they seem to offer a lot of new improvements that make the tax filing process even easier. Here are this year’s new features.

Square Foot Gardening: How To Grow Vegetables In Your Own Backyard – This is similar to what I had in mind for our garden, although on a slightly bigger scale. I really like the idea of not having to prepare and till the existing lawn.

Mortgage Interest Deduction Myth – As Jim points out, the mortgage interest deduction isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. It’s nice if you have a large enough mortgage to make it worthwhile, but for many the standard deduction is still the better deal.

The Key To Living Frugally – Want to live a frugal life? It’s probably no surprise that requires living within your means. That can be hard these days, but here are some steps to help put you on the right track for a frugal life.

How to Get FREE Manufacturers Coupons – Coupons are great because they are an easy way to save money, but did you know that many manufacturers offer all sorts of coupons and usually all you need to do is ask? Learn how to get your own free coupons.

Do You Have to File a Gift Tax Return? – Did you give a child, relative, or someone else a substantial gift last year? If so, you may fall under the gift tax. My Dollar Plan talks about the gift tax and what you need to know.

Workplace Violence – Ever feel like punching that annoying co-worker in the cube next to yours in the face? You’re not alone. Workplace violence is a real and serious problem.

Graduate School Costs & Options – I spent some time trying to get an MBA a number of years ago, but in the end the costs began to outweigh the benefits. Choosing graduate school isn’t a decision to be taken lightly so it pays to understand the costs and options.

Credit Card Act: New Laws Are In Effect, So What’s Next? – As you probably know, the new credit card laws took effect this week. There are a lot of changes that affect almost everyone, so what’s next?

Analysis Paralysis: The Cost of Inaction – I’ve talked about this before, and the cost of waiting can be huge. People always want to wait until the time is right, especially when it comes to finances and investing. News flash: the longer you wait, the bigger of a hole you end up digging yourself. Waiting to take action could end up costing you more than the reason you waited to begin with.

About the Author: Jeremy is a retirement planning specialist and founder of Generation X Finance and the guide to Financial Planning at About.com. To learn more, follow Jeremy on Twitter.

Friday Finance Findings for February 26th

This week I wanted to kick off the Friday Finance Findings with a few fun pieces of trivia about money.

China was the first country to use paper money. Ancient paper money can be traced back to the Pai-Lu P’i-pi (white deer-skin money) of Han Dynasty (140 BC) and the Fei-Chien (flying money) of Tang Dynasty (618 AD). However, the Ming Dynasty notes are the earliest surviving paper money of which the 1 Kuan is the most common. Issued between 1368 and 1399, the note measures 222mm x 340mm.

The term “buck” relating to the slang for U. S. dollar originated from the Old West when buckskin was a common medium of exchange with Indians. Later as currency replaced the barter system, people still refer to a dollar as a buck.

The highest denomination note issued for public circulation in the United States is $10,000. The highest denomination currently in circulation is $100.

I hope you found that interesting, but if not, I’m sure you’re going to like this week’s links.

The Tax Filing Deadline is April 15th, but When Should You Mail Your Return? – A common question I get from readers has to do with taxes. Those who choose to mail in their returns are often confused by the deadline and whether that means when your return must be at the IRS office or if it’s just when it has to be postmarked. Here’s the skinny on the tax filing deadline.

9 Tips to Stretch the Life of Common Household Items – There are certain things that we all have to buy to keep things running smoothly around the house. Unfortunately, these things can begin to add up, so if there is a way to lengthen their usefulness it means less frequent purchases, and therefore money saved.

Wedding Invitation Etiquette: Should Kids Be Invited To Weddings? – This is a hot topic for those planning a wedding. Do you invite children or not? There’s no right or wrong answer as it will largely depend on what you’re looking for out of your wedding, but The Digerati Life has some tips on wedding invitation etiquette to help you weigh the decision.

Those Who Don’t A-S-K Don’t G-E-T – You’ve heard the phrase, “ask and you shall receive”, right? Well, it’s true in more ways than one. If you don’t ask for things you may have no chance in getting them.

New Mortgage Rules for Canadians – It isn’t just us Americans who are struggling with a tough real estate market and bad economy. Our neighbors to the north share many of our issues, and therefore they have some new mortgage rules as well.

2010 Federal Tax Brackets – Most of you probably just started to think about your 2009 taxes, but we’re already in 2010. Here are your tax rate brackets for this year so that you can plan ahead.

Frugal Living Could Change Your Life – Do you live a frugal lifestyle? If not, this post may make you think twice about it. Frugal living could literally change your life.

The Room that Craigslist and Yard Sales Built – I love Craigslist. I’ve found a handful of items for great prices. The problem is that I live in a very rural area so we don’t have the volume of people using the site like others have. But it’s still great. Here, Lazy Man shows us his room that Craigslist built.

How to Rise From Poverty – You don’t have to be stuck in poverty forever. Many of us have gone through tough times in our lives, but there is almost always a way out. If you look forward you can often find yourself in a better place.

Want to Work for Free? Start a Business – Having run a few businesses over the year I can completely relate to this one. Self-employment has many benefits, and working for free is often one of them.

How to Get Audited By the IRS – I’ve talked about how to avoid an IRS audit, but Flexo takes another approach and discusses how to get audited. Yikes!

About the Author: Jeremy is a retirement planning specialist and founder of Generation X Finance and the guide to Financial Planning at About.com. To learn more, follow Jeremy on Twitter.

Friday Finance Findings for February 19th

It’s already mid-February, which means we’re just two months away from the tax filing deadline! We’ve been talking taxes a lot this past week, but it’s so you can make sure you’re getting the most in deductions, filing your return on time to avoid penalties, and using the right software. In case you missed it, I’m holding a TurboTax Premier giveaway. If you’d like a shot at winning a free copy of some tax software that’s a great start. Do you have a simple tax return? You may qualify for a free tax return.

Don’t qualify for the free tax return package but still looking for a deal? You’re in luck. H&R Block at Home is offering a huge Valentine’s day sale on February 12-14 where you can get some of their tax packages for up to 70% off! H&R Block may not be known for romance, but the company has packed its 55 years of tax expertise into all H&R Block At Home products. And H&R Block At Home is written in plain English to eliminate tax jargon, simplify DIY tax preparation and instill confidence that the return is done correctly. What’s not to love about that?

Enough about taxes, it’s time for this week’s links.

How to Claim the Child Tax Credit for 2009 – Have a child? There’s a tax credit for that. While not everyone will qualify there’s a good chance that you are entitled to either a nonrefundable or refundable tax credit of up to $1,000 per child. Make sure you’re getting every penny.

Raise the Estate Tax to 100% – What? Why on Earth would we do this? Actually, there have been a number of wealthy individuals who have been advocating an increase on the estate tax for a long time. See how it may or may not make sense.

Finding Money Where There’s None – Living paycheck to paycheck and feel that’s just no more money left? Don’t give up. You may be able to find money even if it seems like there is none.

Should You Use Savings to Pay Off Debt? – This is a difficult question to answer. It’s important to have savings for those emergencies so that you don’t have to resort to using credit, but at the same time debt can eat away at your money and cost you thousands in interest. What should you do?

DIY Debt Reduction Programs: 3 Affordable Ways To Beat Debt – Speaking of debt, here are a few do-it-yourself strategies that you can implement to get you on the way to becoming debt free.

Money Saving Tips – Automotive Edition – Trying to save even more money? Look at your vehicle. For those of us who can’t rely on public transportation our vehicles probably take up a large portion of our daily budget. Here’s how you can save a few more pennies.

Nearly $1000 Spent in Baseball Tickets… I need Denny’s Free Breakfast – Usually we’re talking about saving money, but would you believe that Lazy Man just spent $1,000 on baseball tickets? Sometimes you have to splurge a little bit and spend money on something you enjoy.

33 Essential Items For Your Bug Out Bag – What’s a bug out bag? Well, it’s a collection of items that you keep on hand in the event of a crisis or natural disaster. Here are 33 things you need to have for your very own bug out bag.

How to Refer a Friend for a Job – These days it seems like we all know someone looking for job. As good friends and family members we’d love to help, but it isn’t always that easy. Here are some tips that you can use to help when referring a friend for a job.

Could You Survive Without Money? – I bet you’re thinking there’s no way you could survive without money, but what if you were really faced with that reality? Would you have the skills needed to really get by? Find out.

How to Keep Your Computer Files Safe and Sound – In this technological day and age we rely on our computers for almost everything. This reliance also means it can be devastating when our computers crash, get damaged, or files get lost. Learn how to keep your information safe and sound.

About the Author: Jeremy is a retirement planning specialist and founder of Generation X Finance and the guide to Financial Planning at About.com. To learn more, follow Jeremy on Twitter.

Friday Finance Findings for February 12th

Another Friday, another roundup. Before we get to the links I have just a couple of reminders. First, you have until 9 pm EST tonight to get an entry in for a $25 Amazon gift card. That’s right, make sure you leave a comment on the question I asked earlier in the week: what would you do if you had a million dollars? There aren’t that many entries yet so your chances of winning are pretty good.

Next, I wanted to remind you about the Generation X Finance email newsletter. You may have seen the signup form at the bottom of each post, but I just wanted to draw your attention to that once more. I’ve spent a bit of time in recent weeks polishing up the newsletter and now you’ll get a new article delivered to your inbox each week. This is an original and unique piece that isn’t just a copy of a post I made on the site earlier in the week so the only way to get it is to sign up. You will also be the first to know when there are time-sensitive deals that come along. I occasionally get special coupon codes or offers that may only last a short time so I’ll always let subscribers know about them first. So, at the bottom of the post below all of the links make sure you enter your information to get all the latest updates!

Choosing a Financial Planner – Thinking of hiring a financial planner? Not all planners are created equal. There are a few things you should look out for, some questions to ask, and credentials to be aware of before trusting someone with your money.

Six Common Myths about Stock Market Returns – If the past decade has shown us anything, it’s that the stock market isn’t what many of us thought. Just ask Dave Ramsey. According to him you should invest in growth stocks and earn 12% each year. Right…

Turbo Tax Free Trial! – Thinking of using TurboTax to file your taxes this year? Well, why not give it a spin for free! Ben tells you how, and also gives you some opportunities to win a free copy.

How to Claim Your Home Buyer Tax Credit – Do you remember that tax credit for new home buyers? I sure do, and even with the amendments to the credit we still got screwed with our new house purchase last year. But most of you will be far more lucky, so learn how to claim your credit this year.

The Ultimate Frugal Home Office – One thing I’ve been paying attention to more now that I work from home full-time is my home office. It’s a disaster, and I have a new desk on order and can’t wait to get organized.

Our Debt to the Future and Past – Did you receive financial assistance or items from your parents when you were young? Does this obligation automatically translate forward to your own children? Steve has some interesting thoughts about the subject.

How To File Taxes For Less – For many people, filing taxes costs money. There are a few ways you can file for free, or at the very least save some money. Here’s how.

Become Master of Your Financial Domain – Have you struggled with money in the past? Learn how to become the master of your financial domain.

Don’t Invest In The Stock Market – I always love Jim’s Devil’s Advocate posts. The titles always sound a bit absurd, but when you read the arguments there are usually some valid points.

Tax Tips for the 2009 Tax Year (And Some Giveaways!) – It might be 2010, but that doesn’t mean 2009 is completely behind us. Most of you still have taxes to do, so make the most of it. And don’t forget to sign up for some of the tax software giveaways.

About the Author: Jeremy is a retirement planning specialist and founder of Generation X Finance and the guide to Financial Planning at About.com. To learn more, follow Jeremy on Twitter.

Friday Finance Findings for February 5th

Just a couple of announcements before we get to the links this week. First, don’t forget to enter the Money Crasher’s epic New Years contest. There’s nearly $10,000 worth of prizes being given away! That’s huge, and I’m even giving away a new Kindle. You still have a few days left to get your entries in, so don’t delay.

Second, in case you didn’t catch my post last week about it, I’m working with a fantastic new company called Bundle. It’s a fun way to sift through all sorts of spending data from around the country. You can see how you stack up, compare different cities, or simply comment about what others are saying on the site. If you have a few minutes I’d encourage you to check it out and see how the data looks for where you live. You’ll also see me over there writing some content and commenting on what others have found.

Investing 101: What Are Bonds? – Most of us know what stocks are, but what about bonds? We know they are usually safer, but beyond that they remain a mystery for many. Learn the basics behind bonds and when you should use them in your portfolio.

Common Myths about Stock Market Risk – The stock market is a risky place, right? There are certainly some risks involved, but usually these risks get blown out of proportion in bear markets. Here are some common myths about the stock market and the reality behind them.

Free Turbo Tax Software! – It’s tax time, so what’s better than some free software to file your taxes? Be sure to check out Ben’s giveaway to try and secure your very own free copy of TurboTax.

Do You Have a Worst Case Scenario Plan? – What’s the worst case scenario for you and your family? Most of us have an emergency savings set aside to help in an emergency, but what if things get even worse? How can you possibly get by after exhausting those resources? You’d be surprised how you can find extra money each month if you look hard enough.

How To Apply For A Loan At A Peer To Peer Lender – Peer to peer lending is really taking off, and I’ve been lending with LendingClub for a while now. It’s been a great way to earn some decent interest on my money while helping people out at the same time. If you’re curious about how to go about applying for a peer to peer loan, here’s a good walkthrough.

Why Direct Stock Purchase Plan Still Makes Sense – In this day and age the DSPP has kind of fallen by the wayside. With cheap or free discount brokers and the plethora of ETFs to choose from people haven’t looked to direct purchase plans as much. Actually, they still make sense even today.

How to Choose a Retirement Strategy – Or Not – The message here can be summed up by saying not to get bogged down with the details. There are a lot of decisions to make when it comes to your finances, but rather than worry about making the best possible choice now, just do something and adjust your plan as you go and as needs change.

Should I Save For Retirement While In Debt? – Yes. That’s my opinion any way. Sure, your retirement savings shouldn’t put you in a position that significantly hampers your ability to get out of debt, but you also can’t ignore the power of compound interest. Having something saved for retirement even, even if small, can far outweigh the little extra interest you’ll pay.

Saving for College – An Exercise in Depression – Are you saving for your child’s education? If so, here are some sobering details for you to consider.

How Does the IRS Pick Tax Returns to Audit? – Ever wonder what the IRS is looking for when choosing who to audit? Wonder no longer.

When Should You Start Investing? – If you’re reading this and haven’t started yet, the answer is yesterday. There’s no right or wrong time to start investing and many people wait far too long because they want to do it when the time is right.

About the Author: Jeremy is a retirement planning specialist and founder of Generation X Finance and the guide to Financial Planning at About.com. To learn more, follow Jeremy on Twitter.

Friday Finance Findings for January 29

By the time you’re reading this I will be on my way to New York. I’m spending a few days there to party with the rest of the crew over at Bundle.com, which launched just this week. It should be fun since this will be my first time in Manhattan. It’s interesting that I’ve been to many of the great cities in Europe, but I’ve never made it to NYC which is right in my back yard, relatively speaking. Either way, while I’m doing that, make sure you go poke around over at the new Bundle site. There is some interesting data and you can learn a lot about your spending habits compared to others.

When I get back on Monday it will be time to really kick things into gear as I start my first full week as being completely self-employed. There are a lot of things I’m looking forward to spending more time on and I’m sure it will be just as exciting for all of you. So, stay tuned! Here are this week’s links.

Saving With Purpose: The College Savings Fund – Saving for the sake of saving isn’t good enough. You need to save with purpose. All of your money that you set aside for the future should have a specific goal tied to it. After all, if you don’t know what you’re saving for, what’s the point of saving?

2009 Federal Tax Brackets – It’s tax time again, and Ben  breaks down the 2009 tax brackets.

New Car Tax Deduction – Speaking of taxes, did you buy a new car last year? Good news. You may be entitled to a new car tax deduction. See if you qualify.

Financial Risks and The People You Trust – We all hold different levels of trust for certain people, but with whom do you trust your financial decisions? The results may be a little bit shocking.

Claiming Extended Warranty with Your Credit Card – We’ve heard for years that one of the main benefits of using a credit card over a debit card is the additional level of protection you get when buying something that goes bad. These warranties can be helpful, but have you ever had to use one? Would you even know how? Here’s the scoop.

Is Life Fair? – No, life isn’t fair. We can see this on a daily basis. But should it be fair? It’s a difficult question to answer, but at the end of the day it seems like there needs to be some inequality for things to work properly.

Actively Managed or Index Funds? – This discussion will never die. There are periods of time when actively managed funds to better, and history shows us that index funds fare better over time. But is one really better than the other?

Seven Things You Must Do to Prepare for An Emergency – Emergencies can and will happen. Just look at what’s going on in Haiti. Life is unpredictable, so the best you can do is prepare for an emergency before it happens.

About the Author: Jeremy is a retirement planning specialist and founder of Generation X Finance and the guide to Financial Planning at About.com. To learn more, follow Jeremy on Twitter.

Friday Finance Findings for January 22nd

You want news? I’ve got some news for you. Starting next week I join the ranks of the self-employed, often referred to as a ‘problogger.’ Things didn’t work out with my employer, so here I am. It’s going to be an exciting, yet somewhat scary journey. The biggest concern is losing a big chunk of our household income. That hurts, especially when you are carrying two mortgages. Even so, it’s doable, but until I can begin to kick things up a notch with online earnings it’s going to be tighter than it was.

But that brings me to the good news. For one, the readers are going to be the true beneficiaries. With more time and all restrictions lifted in terms of what I can talk about I’ll be able to publish more content and spend even more time interacting with all of you. I look forward to that. This new lifestyle change also allows me to focus more time on my other endeavors. You may remember that I also write about financial planning over at About.com so I’ll be able to create more content over there as well. What you probably don’t know is that I’m also working with a new personal finance startup company. They haven’t launched yet so it’s still under wraps, but I’m flying out to New York next weekend to join in a celebration of the public launch. And finally, I have a bit of a side project slowly taking shape that will feed off of and work as a companion to this site.

I know, it’s a lot of stuff going on and a lot to digest. Imagine how I feel! So, all I can say is to stay tuned in the coming weeks as things begin to ramp up. The best way to stay on top of what’s going on is to get free feed updates, follow me on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook, and sign up for free email updates in the form near the bottom of this post. You’ll be the first to know what’s going on and when new items are being launched or discussed.

I think I’ve covered everything, so on with the links.

The Two-Income Myth – Steve over at Brip Blap talks a little bit about going from two incomes to one and the difficulties surrounding the decision, not to mention the peer pressure from others.

Get A Financial Education In Your Twenties – It’s a little late for Generation X to get in on the financial education in their 20s, but it isn’t too late to apply the same advice even if you are just a little bit older. The sooner you start the better!

How to Break Free from Your Escrow Account – Escrow. If you have a mortgage, you may already be quite familiar with this term. In many cases it’s a requirement, but if you can break free from the escrow you may be able to streamline your finances to your advantage.

Free is to Frugal as Clear is to Water – Want to be more frugal? Start getting stuff for free. That’s right, there’s nothing more frugal than free. The Sun highlights some of the ways you can find free stuff and save a ton of money in the process.

Workplace Culture Shock: Adjusting to a New Company Culture – This is something I’m going to be going through in the coming weeks. No, I’m not changing employers, but I’m going from a 9-5 job to working at home. Just like switching corporate cultures, it’s going to be a total change of pace!

Emergency Funds for the Financial Flu – Think of an emergency fund as a way to prepare for a financial flu. You never want to get the flu, but if you’re prepared for it when it strikes it’s a lot easier to deal with.

Get Paid for Getting in Shape – Happy new year! So, how is that resolution to get into shape treating you? I know the feeling, but if you want some incentive, how does money sound?  Lazy Man talks about how you can get paid to get in shape.

Are You Saving Money Just to Save, Or Saving With Purpose? – Without goals, nothing has purpose. This goes beyond money, but when you think about it, what are you saving for? Don’t just save for the sake of saving. Save with purpose!

Additional reading:

S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats

The Five Best International Mutual Funds For Your IRA

Is A Safe 8% Return Realistic?

How to Get Your Free FICO Credit Score

What the New Changes in Credit Card Rules Mean for You

How Does The CARD Act of 2009 Affect Credit Card Holders?

How To Make Money With A Blog

2010 Roth IRA Conversion, Important Things to Know

5 Steps to Get You Hired as an English Teacher Abroad

Top 10 Money Movies of the Decade

10 Frugal Ways to get Fit this Winter

You Need a Budget (YNAB) 3.0 Personal Finance Software Review

5 Tips for Making Extra Money

Don’t Forget About The Free YNAB Giveaway

Does the World Need Yet Another Credit Option?

Areas to Automate Your Finances

If you liked reading Freakonomics then check out their next offering: SuperFreakonomics book review.

Your Spouse: Financial Teammate or Financial Enemy?

About the Author: Jeremy is a retirement planning specialist and founder of Generation X Finance and the guide to Financial Planning at About.com. To learn more, follow Jeremy on Twitter.

Friday Finance Findings for January 15th – Going Pro Edition

If I haven’t mentioned it yet, happy new year! I hope everyone is excited about 2010 as I am. After what we’ve gone through in terms of the economy, real estate market, and wild ride in stocks, I think we could all use a little break to see things start to get back to normal — whatever normal is these days anyway. I’m sure many of you have made some new year resolutions, set some goals, or otherwise have plans to make 2010 the best year ever. You’re not alone. For me, it’s time to really get down to business on the site and you can expect a lot more content in the coming weeks.

On a sad note, the start of the new year means it’s also tax season. It won’t be long and you will be receiving those W-2s, 1099s, and all sorts of other tax documents in the mail. Tax time is never fun, but it comes around each year like clockwork. So, rather than waiting this year I challenge you to get a head start. If you use software such as TurboTax or H&R Block At Home you can actually start filing your return online for free. Then, you’re only charged if you decide to go forward and submit your return with them. Getting a head start and the ability to enter your data for free first will help you get a good idea of what your refund or tax bill will look like. Then, if it seems out of line with your expectations you might consider getting an accountant to do your taxes. But whatever you do, don’t wait around because you don’t want to miss the tax filing deadline!

Here are the links for this week:

What Was Your Biggest Money Mistake in 2009? – I’m looking for readers to share their mistakes and lessons learned over the past year over at about.com. If you made some money mistakes or learned valuable lessons last year I’d love to hear about them!

Delaying Roth IRA Contributions One Year Could Cost You $74,000 – Is money tight and you’re thinking about skipping your IRA contribution this year? It could cost you. In fact, it could possibly cost you to the tune of over $70,000. See how to make sure you’re not leaving money on the table.

How To Be Successful in the New Year – We would all like to be more successful in the coming year, but how do you actually put these goals into action? It isn’t always easy, but there are some tips you can use to help you be successful in the new year.

2009 Financial Goals Evaluation – As we continue with the new year theme Frugal Trader looks back on last year’s goals and evaluates just how well things turned out. Setting goals is one thing, but going back and evaluating your progress is what will really set you apart.

Avoiding Tax Return Fees & Penalties – Paying taxes is bad enough, but paying your taxes late, owing the IRS more than you thought, and paying penalties and excess fees just rub salt in the wound. Don’t let that happen to you this year.

Investing For Beginners: Basic Steps To Start Investing – Investing for the first time can be an intimidating endeavor. There are so many options and real money at stake. It’s no wonder so many people simply never invest — they are just overwhelmed. Don’t be. Here’s a good walkthrough for beginners.

How to Earn High Returns with Lending Club – I’ve been a fan of Lending Club for a while now and it’s because I have had success in finding great returns and high-quality borrowers that don’t default. Learn some of the secrets to get you the most return on your Lending Club money.

Schwab Reduces Online Stock Trade Commission to $8.95 – It’s been about five years since I last used Schwab, but they are really becoming competitive again. New lower trading commissions and they reimburse ATM fees… I might have to give them another try.

8 Questions to Ask Before Buying ’Stuff’ – Stuff. We all have it. Some of it is meaningful, while some of it just takes up space. Some of us collect more stuff than others. Either way, before you go out and buy more stuff there are a few questions you should ask yourself to decide if you really need it.

Here are more great reads from around the web:

101 Ways to Cut Your Spending This Year

Why I Don’t Want to Retire Early at Finance for a Freelance Life

How To Make Money With A Blog

New Year’s Resolutions are Bull$%@&

401k Hardship Withdrawal Rules

Adjust your 2010 Tax Withholding and Stop Loaning the Government Money

What kind of investments are considered fixed income investments?

Malcolm Gladwell’s new book, “What The Dog Saw” review.

10 Frugal Ways to get Fit this Winter

How to Choose High Yield Savings Accounts

How to add something POSITIVE to your credit report

Best Retirement Plans for Small Businesses

Roth and Traditional IRA Contribution Limits for 2010

About the Author: Jeremy is a retirement planning specialist and founder of Generation X Finance and the guide to Financial Planning at About.com. To learn more, follow Jeremy on Twitter.

Friday Finance Findings for January 8th

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I know it’s been a while since I did a Friday update, but it’s been pretty busy around here. The end of the year is always busy, but this time I’ve been gearing up to begin some work with a new startup company. They haven’t launched yet, but if all goes as planned we hope to see everything launch to the public sometime in January. It looks like it’s going to be useful and fun, so stay tuned for updates. I’ll be sure to share the site with you when it’s up and I’m guessing a lot of you will have fun participating. That’s enough of a tease for today, so on with the links.

Building Your Financial Safety Net – You can invest and save all the money you want, but if you don’t have a financial safety net in place you could find it wiped out in the blink of an eye during a crisis. Part of creating a sound financial plan involves protecting what you have so that you don’t end up with nothing at all.

17 Tips for End of Year Tax Planning – It’s that time of year again. You should begin thinking about some year-end tax planning. Sure, April 15th is still many months away, but things you do before the end of the year could minimize your tax burden.

Top 10 Wealthiest Canadians – We regularly hear about the wealthiest Americans in the news, but what about our friendly neighbors to the north? Who are the 10 wealthiest Canadians?

Lazy Man’s Gift Guide 2009 – Every year, Lazy Man puts together his lazy gift guide. There are always a bunch of good gift ideas, so be sure to check out the 2009 edition.

How to Stop Drinking Soda – Could you afford to shed a few pounds? Guess what? If you simply cut soda from your diet you could be well on your way to a smaller waistline. But giving up soda can be hard, so here’s some advice to help you kick he habit.

Heard of Stimulus Grants? Scams Abound – Don’t be fooled, there isn’t another stimulus check coming your way any time soon. But that hasn’t stopped scammers from trying to get people to believe otherwise.

TransUnion TrueCredit Credit Monitoring Service – The Sun has a review of TransUnion’s TrueCredit monitoring service. This can help people stay on top of their credit and catch possible identity thieves.

67 And Bankrupt: Are The Kids To Blame? – This kind of story is all too common. Parents obviously want to help out their children, but sometimes it can go too far. Remember, you also have to be able to support yourself!

How to Set Awesome New Years Resolutions – Raise your hand if you’ve set a New Years resolution before? Now raise your hand if you failed to follow through with that resolution? Hmm, I still see a lot of hands in the air. Well, setting resolutions isn’t a bad thing, but you have to know how to set the right kind. Here’s how to set an awesome resolution for 2010.

Pet Owner? The HAPPY Act May Provide Tax Deductions – Tax breaks for your pet? Surely this is a joke, right? Well, this isn’t as crazy as it sounds. Find out how The HAPPY Act may be providing some new and unique tax deductions.

About the Author: Jeremy is a retirement planning specialist and founder of Generation X Finance and the guide to Financial Planning at About.com. To learn more, follow Jeremy on Twitter.

Friday Finance Findings for December 11th