Category: Finance Tips

When did you first learn about money, and what were those lessons like? Your memories might include your first piggy bank or an allowance, conversations about saving and spending with your parents, or observing the adults in your life making their own financial decisions. 

Setting your hours and making money on your terms are some of the highlights of being a freelancer. But the benefits of being your own boss come with added pressures and responsibilities. Tracking expenses, managing invoices, measuring profitability, and preparing for tax season are just a few of the accounting concerns that freelancers need to master. Following these boilerplate accounting tips for freelancers can help you better manage your income in a rapidly growing gig economy. 

While most people assume it costs money to file your taxes, you don’t have to pay to file. You may find it easier if you do. There are several ways to file your taxes for free. However, taxes are complicated, and the more complex your return is, the harder it will be to find a free method that meets your needs. 

Hiring a tax preparer is a great way to make sure your taxes are accurate. Or is it? According to recent surveys by NerdWallet and Go Banking Rate, a third of Americans hire someone to do their taxes. However, more than two-thirds admit to not asking for the preparer’s credentials or if they will be represented in the event of an audit.

Most people dread tax season because filling out tax forms is a hassle. Also, if you make a mistake on your taxes, there are serious consequences. The only thing worse than doing taxes is having your taxes audited for errors. But as scary as taxes may seem, for most people, they are relatively straightforward.

The IRS begins accepting tax returns the second week of February, which means it’s time to get started on your taxes! Every year more tax prep software options promise to help you save money and time. Does tax prep software make completing your taxes easier? Are paid versions worth it?

There are plenty of books, radio programs, podcasts and TV shows that offer advice on how to achieve “financial freedom.” It sounds nice in theory, but it’s a difficult term to define. One person might imagine financial freedom as living a lavish, millionaire lifestyle, while another may consider not living paycheck-to-paycheck to be enough. If there isn’t a textbook definition for this term, why is it important, and how can you get there?

Look around your house; how long does it take you to spot something you bought on an impulse? For most of us, it doesn’t take more than a few seconds. Impulse buys are any type of unplanned purchase, and it’s more common than you think.

When it comes to personal finances, it can be hard to describe how you’re doing and what you need. It’s easy to say “I’m not making enough money” or “I’m doing fine financially,” but that doesn’t shed light on what’s really going on. Can the cause of your financial woes truly be boiled down to the size of your paycheck, or are other factors, like debt and spending, weighing you down? Does “doing fine” mean that you’re “just getting by” with your money, or are you on a clear path to meet your financial goals?

If you want to make better financial decisions in 2021, you should start following personal finance influencers. Social media is a powerful tool, and we think it makes sense to use it to learn new skills and encourage ourselves to make smarter decisions.