The Cheesecake Factory is mall food on steroids. Everything is bigger and extravagant, from the signature sugar-bomb desserts to calorie-loaded main dishes that barely fit on the tables. The chain restaurant is also pricier than more middle-of-the-road establishments like Chili’s or Olive Garden. Entrees tend to run from about $15 to $21, while fajitas at […]
About 30% of taxpayers won’t receive a refund this year, but it might work out better for them if they did. Tax refunds are bemoaned by obnoxious blowhards who will tell anyone who’ll listen that refunds “give the government a free loan.” As it turns out, they could give you a financial boost while preventing […]
Tax preparation software has improved significantly over the past several years, and more and more people are using it to file their own taxes. If you are debating whether doing your own taxes is right for you, consider the following factors: Simplicity of your Tax Situation – If you have relatively few deductions, few sources […]
If you’re concerned about having enough money in retirement, you’re not alone. And if you’re behind on savings, you’re in good company there as well. The average American’s 401(k) balance just reached $104,300, while the average IRA balance hit $106,000, according to Fidelity. But while these numbers actually represent an all-time high, they’re not all […]
Whether it’s a hotel stay, shopping or dining out, a vacation to Paris can be a pricey proposition, especially if you’ve got your sights set on an upscale trip. But there are plenty of ways to stretch your dollar in the City of Lights and have a high-end getaway. Barkley Hickcox, a Paris specialist and […]
Worried about sending your kid out into the world? You should be. As it stands, about 1 in 5 children in the U.S. don’t meet baseline levels for financial literacy proficiency, according to the often-cited PISA 2015 Financial Literacy assessment. That can become an issue when they need to make a budget, find affordable housing […]
“Delaying your purchases for a day gives you time to think about whether or not you really need the items, and it curbs regrettable impulse buys,” advises Marc Diana, CEO of MoneyTips. “Sale items may be an exception to this rule, but even then, question how badly you need the item compared to saving or […]
Saving money is one of the most important aspects of building wealth and having a secure financial foundation. Yet many of us have learned the importance of saving money through trial and error, and more importantly, experience. In school, we aren’t really taught about the importance of saving and many of us find that as […]
Your nest egg is made up of two component parts: the contributions you diligently make to your retirement accounts throughout your career, and the investment returns that those contributions earn for you. Not surprisingly, your contributions — and those of your employer, if you receive matching funds in your 401(k) — initially dwarf what your […]
Owning your own home is a life accomplishment for many adults, and keeping it looking sharp and adding your personal touches brings a sense of pride. It seems there are always things you want to improve, so don’t let a limited budget or lack of know-how hold you back from dreaming. There are plenty of […]
Help the Renters, Too For years, cities have struggled to help lower-income Americans find affordable housing. Many housing assistance programs approach this problem through making home mortgages more affordable. However, a new test program in Montana addresses an underserved area of the housing market – affordable rental homes – by making loans to help people […]
Summer is on the way and you’re tired of always sending the kids to Grandma’s to use her swimming pool. It’s about time you have a pool of your own. The only problem is there’s no money tree growing next to the site of your new pool. You need to approach this project economically so […]
