THE TOUGH PART COMES last. Saving for retirement is pretty straightforward: You sock away as much as you can, favor stock funds, diversify broadly, keep investment costs low and make the most of tax-advantaged retirement accounts. By contrast, paying for retirement can involve mind-boggling complexity—and a big reason is the tax code. The good news: Once you quit the workforce, you have a fair amount of control over your annual tax bill, especially if you […]
Mint, one of the best budgeting apps, shut down early in 2024. As longtime budgeting fans, we’ve had a difficult time finding a replacement with in-depth net worth tracking that’s both affordable and easy to use. In order to find our ideal budgeting software, we spent hours researching the best budgeting apps on the market, and this round-up is the result. Our top pick ended up being Lunch Money, but this article has reviewed a […]
While frugal habits are often praised for saving money, not all of them work for every millennial. Others find it hard to follow advice as these can feel like sacrifices rather than smart choices. While these habits work for some, they’re not always practical or realistic for everyone in this generation. 1. Skipping the Morning … Read more
Let’s be honest, no one likes paying income tax. And you definitely don’t want to pay more than your fair share – but many people do. Taking advantage of income tax deductions is one of the best tax-saving strategies that you should know about to lower your tax bill every year. Here’s how you can do that. Do You Even Know What a Tax Write-off Is? Tax deductions reduce your taxable income. Less income means […]
Saving money and saving the planet are two of the most important things that everyone should be focusing on. The great news is that you can kill two birds with one stone (figuratively, of course – we’d never advocate for harming animals here) by making certain upgrades to your home. There are a few eco-friendly additions that every homeowner should be considering, and the great thing about them is that they can help to cut energy costs as well. It’s a win-win situation, and it’s time for everyone to take advantage of this opportunity. Smart Thermostats and Energy Efficient Lighting Energy bills are the bane of homeowners, and they can be staggeringly high in the UK – especially in winter. Cutting these costs can be an excellent way to improve your overall finances, so it’s something you should seek to prioritise. Pretty much everyone knows this, but how can you do it while helping the planet at the same time? [embed]https://youtube.com/watch?v=Xa-jrrBnNSw&si=ZZl_PVicJzMMVaKx[/embed] The solution to this problem is using smart thermostats, which make it much easier to control the temperature in different parts of the home. You can keep track of how much you’re using in certain rooms and realise where you are wasting energy. According to the latest research into the impact of smart thermostats, these tools can help cut energy costs by more than 10 per cent, thus saving costs and reducing your carbon footprint massively at the same time. Energy efficient lighting is another thing you need to jump on if you’re truly interested in cutting costs. This involves LED lightbulbs, which use up to 80 per cent less energy than standard ones. On top of that, they can last 25 times longer so there’s less waste.
Living frugally is not about deprivation but about empowering yourself to make smart choices that stretch your budget further. Boomers in retirement need to save … Read More 20 Frugal Habits for Boomers in Retirement To Stretch Their Budget
When you hear the phrase “frugal living,” what springs to mind first? Are you thinking about a saving maven who’s always pinching pennies? Or do … Read More 4 Steps To Make Frugal Living Part of Your Daily Routine
If you’re looking to cut costs without sacrificing quality, buying in bulk can be your secret weapon. Amazon offers a wide variety of items that come with bulk discount options, making it easier than ever to save money on essentials. From household staples to pantry must-haves, purchasing these products in larger quantities helps you get more bang for your buck. Here are eight Amazon products you should always consider buying in bulk to maximize your […]
State debt across the U.S. has surged to new highs, posing serious challenges for residents. When states carry debt that outpaces revenue, it often creates financial strain, leading to budget cuts and the possibility of tax increases. This burdens consumers with rising living costs and skewed debt-to-income ratios. To shed light on this fiscal challenge, World Population Review delves into the national debt landscape, analyzing government debt levels across different states. Read the rest
You will not get rich by saving pennies. The best path to wealth is through investing and saving big on living expenses. But Little Things … Read more
It’s easy to overspend around the holidays. I know that when I’m armed with wish lists from kids and family members, I have a hard time avoiding the shopping frenzy that seems to take place every time I leave the house. After all, those sales are tempting and who doesn’t need that third coffee pot at such a steal of a deal? If that’s your struggle too, not to worry! Today I’m sharing my favorite […]
Tax debt can be a stressful topic, especially when it’s unclear who’s liable for covering it within a marriage. If your spouse has back taxes, understanding whether you’re liable for your spouse’s tax debt is essential. Whether you’re newly married or recently discovered an old tax debt, this article will help answer your questions. By […] The post Am I Liable For My Spouse’s Tax Debt? appeared first on CuraDebt.
Discover has been around for decades. Most people know about its credit cards, which were first introduced in 1985 by Sears. At the time, it was novel because it had no annual fee and offered cardholders a higher-than-average credit limit. Today, Discover Bank (FDIC# 5649) is headquartered in Greenwood, DE. It offers a wide range of bank accounts, from savings, checking, and CDs to loans and credit cards. At a Glance 4.00% APY No fees No miminum balance requirements Checking account, money market, and CDs are also available from Discover. Who Should Use Discover Online Savings If you are in the market for an online savings account, Discover is a solid choice. It consistently has a high interest rate and there are no fees. The drawback is that there are no physical branches, so you’ll have to access the account through the Discover website or via the mobile app. You also can’t deposit cash. Discover Alternatives Savings APY4.00% APY1.00% APY4.00% APYMonthly fee$0$0$0Minimum balance$0$0$0Learn moreLearn moreLearn more Table of ContentsAt a GlanceWho Should Use Discover Online SavingsDiscover Bank Online SavingsOther Discover Bank AccountsChecking AccountMoney Market AccountCertificates of DepositDiscover Bank Fee StructureDiscover Mobile Banking Smartphone AppDiscover AlternativesCapital One 360American ExpressAlly BankIs It Worth Getting? Discover Bank Online Savings Discover’s High Yield Savings account earns 4.00% APY with no minimum balance requirement. Interest is calculated daily and applied to the account monthly. The account doesn’t charge a monthly fee or any other kind of fee. There is no excessive withdrawal fee, stop payment fee, returned item fee, or insufficient funds fee. There are several ways to deposit money into this online savings account, such as direct deposit, online transfer from a checking account, mobile deposit, and mailing a check. However, you cannot deposit cash at Walmart like with the checking account. If you set up direct deposit, you can receive your funds up to two days early with Early Pay. Go to Discover Other Discover Bank Accounts Discover offers a full range of bank accounts with a few (good) twists. Checking Account Discover’s checking account has no fees and no minimum balance requirements. Also, its Cashback Debit card allows you to earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in spending per month on your debit card (see website for details). Cashback on a debit card is rare. Since it’s an online bank, depositing cash is a little more difficult. Discover allows you to deposit cash at any Walmart in the U.S. for free. You can add cash up to four times per day, or seven times per week and the money will be available in your account in about ten minutes. The ATM network is huge – 60,000 locations – and they use Allpoint and MoneyPass’s networks. You can also enable Balance+, which acts as overdraft protection. This feature allows you to use your debit card to overdraw the account up to $200 with no fees. To qualify for Balance+ you must