When it comes to fashion, men have had a free pass for far too long. In the Information Age, not knowing any better simply doesn’t cut it. Though casual attire is showing up in an increasing number of workplaces, there’s still something to dressing for success.
U.S. primary dealers feel first hike likely in 2014: Survey
February 22nd, 2012 
Tushar Mathur According to a January survey conducted by the New York Federal Reserve, U.S primary dealers feel a probability of the first interest rate increase in the second half of 2014.
The survey was conducted before the Fed’s January 24-25 policy meeting. Post meeting, Ben Bernanke, Fed Chairman, expressed caution about recent improvements in the economy and left the door open to further Fed bond buying to boost growth.
Know Your Taxes – Ad Valorem
February 22nd, 2012 Melissa Batai Ad valorem taxes, from the Latin, according to value, are ones that you must pay on the assessed value of real estate and other personal property. These taxes are different from sales tax because sales tax is based on a purchase transaction, while ad valorem taxes are based on owning an asset. Likewise, sales tax is usually charged once, while ad valorem taxes, such as property taxes, are charged over and over again.
Wal-Mart Inc posts decent earnings in the 4th Quarter of 2011
February 22nd, 2012 Tushar Mathur World’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart Stores, concluded the biggest quarter of its fiscal year with a mixed picture.
Wal-Mart (WMT, Fortune 500) maintained that revenue from operations in the fiscal fourth quarter, including the year-end holidays, rose to $1.51. It had estimated fourth-quarter earnings of $1.42 to $1.48 per share from continuing operations.
Fat Tuesday Partying on an Ash Wednesday Budget
February 20th, 2012 Tushar Mathur Mardi Gras celebrations are no longer limited to the Crescent City. You’ll find beads, baubles and fine Cajun food everywhere from big-city civic centers to small-town backyards. Throw together some Second Line jazz, a few party hats, home-mixed Hurricanes and a crayfish boil and you’ve got your own celebration.
Social Profiles a Debt Collectors Dream Come True
February 20th, 2012 Suzanne Cramer I raise my hand, guilty as charged; I admit to being addicted to my social networking sites and statistics support I am not alone. According to a recent study conducted by Pew Internet, Social networking sites and our lives the number of people using social networking sites has nearly doubled since 2008.
Why The Wrong Hotel Can Ruin Your Frugal Trip
February 17th, 2012 Ashley Eneriz Last October, my husband and I celebrated our anniversary in Newport Beach. It was beautiful, and I was excited to have gotten an amazing deal on a top rated hotel through Hotwire. In fact, we stayed at a very nice Hilton, paying about $60 a night.
Know Your Taxes: Consumption Tax
February 17th, 2012 Melissa Batai Consumption tax is a tax on goods or services. In the United States, consumption taxes have an important place in American history; the Boston Tea Party was a revolt against the British imposed consumption tax on tea.
In modern times, consumers pay a variety of consumption taxes.
Last minute Tax Tips
February 16th, 2012 Tushar Mathur Her are some quick last minute IRA and general tax tips:
• It’s not too late to get 2011 Tax Returns- If you fund your account by April 15, you can make a retroactive 2011 IRA contribution.
• Open a New IRA- All contributions are tax-deductable, depending on one’s income, and are available to anyone with no income restriction.
Is it okay to spend money when I still have debt?
February 16th, 2012 Erika My husband and I have paid off more than $14,000 in debt in the past two years of our marriage. We still have another $20,000 to go in student loans. But we recently decided to upgrade from a small studio loft to a two-bedroom townhome.
What Should You Do If Your Identity Is Stolen?
February 16th, 2012 Tushar Mathur Each year, hundreds of thousands of Americans fall victim to identity theft. While incredible advances in technology have changed the way that we do everything from shopping to catching up with friends, they have also exposed us to new security threats.
If you find yourself a victim of identity theft, here are some steps you should take immediately to lessen the impact that it has on your financial and personal life:
Contact all three major credit bureaus -
Equifax – 800.525.6285
Experian – 888.397.3742
TransUnion – 800.680.7289
Report that your identity has been stolen and request that each credit bureau place a fraud alert on your credit report.
Know Your Types of Taxes – Expatriation Tax
February 15th, 2012 Melissa Batai The United States government, unlike other governments, expects its citizens to pay U.S. taxes regardless if the citizens lived and earned their income in other countries. If you live abroad for a year and make a living in another country, you are responsible for paying taxes to the United States on that income.
Can You Live a Cash Only Life?
February 15th, 2012 Suzanne Cramer This may sound like a silly question but credit card companies would lead you to believe it is not possible to live a cash only life. Their marketing teams push hard to make us believe life without a credit card is just not possible.
Those of us that have been in debt or are struggling to get out know that credit cards are not all they are cracked up to be.
Hard Times Require a Pragmatic Approach in Managing Our Finances
February 14th, 2012 Tushar Mathur It is becoming more and more difficult to make both ends meet. With disposable income decreasing in real terms, our propensity to save is reduced. And this is impacting on our finances. Savings will affect investments that have a bearing on Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but the average household is unlikely to be concerned about macroeconomics.
Concern over earnings hits consumer spirit
February 13th, 2012 Tushar Mathur University of Michigan /The Thomson Reuters overall index of consumer sentiment reflected households’ anxiety over their finances. It fell to 72.5 in early February, from 75.0 in January. It was the first drop in six months.
The fade in morale comes in the face of the recent run of comparatively strong data, including solid job growth and manufacturing activity.
Three Financial Goals to Accomplish Before Saying “I Do”
February 13th, 2012 Ashley Eneriz Whether you have found the perfect life mate or not, there are three financial goals that everyone should work on before they walk down the aisle. Marriage is truly a blessing, but finances are the number one item couples argue about. To keep your marriage sailing smoothly and to give yourself a good start financially, work toward these three goals before saying, “I Do”.
