Sue Ellen King had circled her retirement date on the calendar: March 8, 2015. She had worked as a critical care nurse and nursing educator at University of Florida Health (UF Health) in Jacksonville, Fla., for 38 years; co-workers joked that she was there when the hospital’s foundation was laid, which happened to be true. […]
Category: Finance
6 Lessons From the First Year of Retirement
Once you get through the first year of retirement, you probably think you can coast for the next 30 years. That’s not necessarily true. This is not the time to get comfortable. Things are never that simple in retirement. As you head into year two, it’s the perfect time to assess what you’re doing right […]
3 Practical Tips for Eating Organically on a Budget
Whether or not organic food is better for you is a hotly debated subject. Is the extra money we spend actually worth it? The general consensus seems to be, essentially, “Yes, but only sometimes.” We spoke to a few experts to see how you can best work organic into your budget without spending a fortune. […]
3 Ways You Can Save Your Budget From Drunken Spending
After a night of $1 beers at a New Orleans-themed restaurant, Jim Jacobs went home and got on his laptop. “I booked airfare that night for a guys’ trip to New Orleans,” said the Philadelphia resident. What Jacobs didn’t think about was the fact that he’d just gotten laid off from his job. “It was […]
Six misleading refurb tips that won’t save you cash
Including why you should you tell a builder, architect or designer how much you have to spend hen it comes to budgeting for a home renovation there’s a lot of “expert advice” available to guide you on how best to save or spend the money you have. But a lot of it is conflicting, so […]
Money Matters: Money gifts
Maybe you received a very nice monetary gift for your birthday and you just don’t know what to do with the money. We are glad you are being careful about its use, and would suggest the following points for your new funds. Prioritize your long- and short-term goals. Goals should be realistic and specific. Your […]
How To Deduct Your Car
When you use your car for both personal and business reasons and you are not fully reimbursed through your employer for the business expenses, you can deduct those costs from your taxes. How do you go about claiming these deductions? Assuming that you itemize, you have two general paths: Standard Mileage Method – The IRS […]
If you have a good credit score, take advantage of these 3 perks
When you have good credit and seem trustworthy to financial institutions, it can pay off in perks. Many creditors use the FICO or VantageScore scoring systems, which combine financial data collected from major credit bureaus Equifax, Experian and TransUnion to determine your score. Each system ranges from a low of 300 to a high, or […]
Travel tips to save this Easter
Many South Africans are taking to the roads – or even the air – as they make the most of school holidays and vacation time during Easter. These breaks however, often put a strain on the budget, even when families choose to have a “staycation”. Taryn Schmidt, Head of Marketing and Communications at short term […]
7 Smart Ways to Spend a $1,000 Tax Refund
You could be coming into some money soon. According to the Internal Revenue Service, in 2017, 111 million Americans received tax refunds, with the average amount being $2,895. Of course, you may not be due anything. The IRS anticipates approximately 41 million Americans won’t receive refunds this year. But let’s say you get a refund. […]
3 Top Retiree Tax-Planning Mistakes
You’ve submitted tax forms for many years. How difficult can it be to submit them in retirement? It isn’t difficult – as long as you take into account basic changes that occur in retirement and the corresponding tax challenges. Fortunately, you can learn from those who have retired before you. We are happy to pass […]
Grow Your Freelance Business: Budgeting for Success
Budgeting doesn’t have to be a dirty word Budgeting isn’t the most glamorous topic to talk about, and it isn’t an ideal way to spend a Friday night. It is, however, one of the most helpful things you’ll do with your finances, especially if you’re wanting to become a full-time freelancer. Think about it: the […]