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Most Recent Articles
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- Choosing A College Savings Plan
There are two basic types of tax-free college savings plans, the Coverdell educational savings account and the 529 savings account. Each has advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation of the individual family.
529 college savings plans allow parents, and in some cases grandparents and other family members, to contribute tax-deferred money to a savings account earmarked for college. The money gains tax-free interest and there is no tax assessed on the principle if it is withdrawn to cover eligible college expenses. The current tax rules will be in effect until 2010, but even if Congress does not reauthorize that section of the tax code, tax will still only be applied to the earnings on the account, not the principle. - You Can Stick To Your Budget
Recent studies have shown that Americans are spending less money on necessities than ever before. Yet, more Americans are also in debt. The unspoken fact that makes both those statements true is that Americans are spending more and more money on luxury items. Experts recommend creating a budget and sticking to it to avoid debt, but most people find that difficult to do without feeling deprived. However, there are a few things that you do quite painlessly to stay within set spending limits.
Pay cash. That's right; people spend more when they use plastic, whether it's debit or credit. Experts surmise that people simply don't pay as much attention to totals as they do when they have to count out actual money. But resist the temptation to withdraw funds $20 at a time. You'll rack up huge ATM fees. Instead, withdraw a set amount each week and see if you can make it last.
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