Finance Globe

Most of us feel like we’re paying too much fore wireless service. Even switching to a cheaper monthly plan seems to barely make a dent in the monthly wireless bill. Review your bill. Don’t just pay your bill without reading through it to see what you’re paying for. You could be unknowingly paying fees for services you’re not using. You could be signed up for a more expensive plan that you realized.  Compare your plan to...

Some people say you should never loan money to a friend or family member. Money tends to complicate relationships, particularly if the borrower doesn’t pay you back as agreed. It’s easy to set a rule that you'll never loan money to people you know, but it’s just as hard to watch someone close to you suffer financially, especially if you can help. If you decide to loan money to a friend or family member, here are some tips to make the...

We know that skills like budgeting and smart spending play an important role in financial success. Without them, you can easily make critical mistakes that derail your finances. But budgeting will only take you so far. Here are six life skills you need to have to be financially successful. The ability to prioritize At any given time, you’ll have competing financial needs. While you may feel like they are all equally important – like saving money and...

Growing a garden can be very rewarding, providing you with food, flowers, and a beautiful landscape all season long - but buying an instant garden at full retail can be very costly. Fortunately, it's easy to cut your costs if you have patience and keep your eyes open for opportunities. Here are a few tips to get you started: Buy smaller woody plants. Cut costs on permanent landscaping by starting with smaller trees and shrubs and space them according...

We want to make more money in our careers, not less. Unfortunately, there may be instances where you have to deal with a pay cut. Your job may have to cut wages to stay in business, your commission may be lower, your own business may suffer a loss of revenue, or you could decide to take a job that pays less money. Dealing with a pay cut is far less than ideal, but navigating the reduction in wages...

It’s bad enough that you had to visit the doctor, hospital, or another medical facility. It’s even worse if you receive a bill, showing that you owe hundreds or maybe even thousands of dollars. If you find yourself in this position, you have a couple of options: •    Pay the bill in full.•    Contact the appropriate party in an attempt to negotiate a lower payment. Which option is right for you? While you may not want...

So, you have a tax refund coming your way? Or maybe you already received this money from the IRS, state, and/or local tax authority. In this case, you have a big decision: what will you do with the money? While some people immediately spend the money, others realize that it’s probably in their best interest to save. But this leads to another question: what is the best way to save a tax refund? There are a...

The IRS estimates that approximately 10 million taxpayers wait until the last days before the deadline and millions more will request an extension. If you haven't filed yet, you may be relieved to hear that this year tax returns are due on April 18th instead of the usual deadline of April 15th due to the observation of Emancipation Day. Residents of Maine and Massachusetts have until April 19th due to the observation of Patriot's Day. The...

Upon creating a budget, things can go one of two ways: •    You will do whatever it takes to stick with the budget.•    You will soon go back to your old way of doing things. Here is a tip: if you are taking the time to create a budget, you might as well give it a chance to succeed. If you have concerns about staying on track, here are three steps you can take: 1. Be...

It’s rare these days to start and finish your career within the same company. You'll probably change jobs at least once, possibly more. Anytime you're considering a new position, you should also consider the costs of switching jobs. You might lose your 401(k) match and stock options if you leave before you’re fully vested, or allowed to keep these benefits. Leaving the company before your five-year anniversary means losing these perks. You will, however, get to keep any...