Friday, January 27, 2012
Are you eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit?
Today, January 27, 2012 is National Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day. This credit is designed to give money back to hard working taxpayers who earned less than $49,078 in 2011. But, surprisingly millions of dollars go unclaimed each year. According to statistics, one in five people that are eligible for EITC of up to $5,751 fail to claim their money.
Those with disabilities or caring for people with disabilities, limited English speakers, those living in rural areas and those whose employment or marital status changed in 2011 are at the highest risk of overlooking the refund.
To help rectify this problem, WE Connect has created a quick and easy online EITC calculator called the WEb Connector EZ. Developed by Intuit, Inc., this program asks four easy questions and within minutes lets taxpayers know whether they qualify. After using the calculator, enter your zip code and locate free tax assistance programs available from the IRS and local community agencies.
Click HERE to connect to the WEb Connector EZ in English or Spanish.
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
Return holiday gifts without the hassle
The holidays are finally over and now it’s time to take back those unwanted gifts. Consumer and money-saving expert Andrea Woroch shares her top tips for getting the most value from the returned items.
Research the return policy
Retailers with websites usually post their return policies under links for Customer Service, FAQ, or Help. You’ll find lots of small type, but it’s worth reading through all the mouse scrawlings to know exactly what you’ll face.
Keep an eye on the date
Some stores have extended the number of days during which you can return holiday gifts, but most still hold to their standard policy. Remember the expiration date is from the time of purchase. In “Return rules at 8 big retailers” published last year, Consumer Reports found the average return period ranged from 30 to 180 days.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Get discounted gift cards this holiday!
If you’re looking to save money on gift cards, visit CardCash.com and then use the following tips to save even more!
1. Monitor all merchants to see when they run sales.
2. Use a shopping caparison website to find the merchant that has the items you want for the cheapest.
3. Apply for a cashback credit card. Some credit cards can give you 1-4% cash back on your purchases.
4. Use the cash back credit card to purchase gift cards to your favorite merchant at CardCash.com. The average savings is 15% off with some merchants and can go as high as 35% off.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
DailyDeals.com is the answer to Groupon
Although Groupon has grown in popularity, it only allows consumers to take advantage of deals in their area. But what if you can get discounted rates every day of the week both online and nationally? DailyDeals.com saw this void and decided to fill it. The new website, which launched earlier this month allows consumers to save up to 60% on clothing, home improvement items, electronics and much more.
DailyDeals.com has given us a sneak peek to upcoming deals on their website:
1. On Black Friday, the site will be featuring Fashionplaytes.com, a website where young girls can design their own clothing.($40 for only $20)
2. On Cyber Monday, they will be featuring Jewelry.com for sitewide jewelry.($100 for just $49)
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Prepare your portfolio for natural disasters
Natural disasters such as tornadoes and tsunamis, whether local or international, can have a great impact on international economies and markets. You may not be able to control the occurrence of natural disasters, but there are steps you can take to limit its impact on an investment portfolio. Tetsu Tanimoto, Managing Director of Investments for Merrill Lynch Wealth Management shares his top 5 tips for preparing your portfolio.
Diversify Investments
The safest portfolios are those diversified by several factors, including sectors and industries. This kind of portfolio has the ability to withstand a multitude of unpredictable events, such as impacts to international industries and markets caused by droughts, storms and fire. Diversification may not ensure a profit or protect against a loss in declining markets, but a widely diversified stock portfolio can help you weather downturns and even take advantage of markets as they improve.
A portfolio that includes a mix of overseas investments is another way to protect your investments in times of international financial stress. If a major disaster reduces the value of a currency in the international marketplace, having your portfolio anchored in various international currencies can keep your plan on the right path.
Establish Access to Liquidity
For a country in crisis, quick access to liquidity is vital. The same is true for the investor. In light of recent market events, having a strategy for cash allocations is key. A portfolio of financial assets that consists of cash, bonds, listed shares or listed property securities can be an important source of liquidity. Work with your financial adviser to determine the size of the cash holdings in your investment portfolio, should a disaster trigger a market downturn.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Free shipping deals!
Update your office or wardrobe for Fall by shopping online. If you’re worried about expensive shipping costs, head over to FreeShipping.org to see if your favorite stores are offering, just like the url says, free shipping. Here are some online retailers you may be interested in purchasing from as suggested by consumer savings expert Kendal Perez:
J. Crew
First Lady Michelle Obama loves this brand and now you will too! J. Crew is now offering free shipping on all purchases over $175.