Pennysaverblog – Page 209 – Smart Finance and Money Saving Tips

Taxes

5 Tax Tips For Independent Contractors

Working as an independent contractor is a great way to make a living without answering to a boss, but unfortunately it doesn’t absolve you of your responsibility to pay taxes. Everyone must pay their due, and that includes independent contractors like you. If you’re unsure how to go about filing your taxes as a contractor, or just want to maximize your benefits, read on to learn about the top tax tips for independent contractors everywhere.

Learn About the Filing Process
Independent contractors go through a different filing process from that of standard employees. Rather than incurring automatic tax deductions from your pay and receiving a W-2, as an independent contractor you are expected to make calculated tax payments on a quarterly basis throughout the year. You handle your own taxes, rather than relying on an employer to calculate pay deductions. It may seem like a lot of trouble, but learning this new filing process and sticking to a quarterly payment schedule makes sure that you won’t fall behind.

March 30, 2013

Outdoors

5 Frugal Gardening Tips For Spring

Springtime is here. As the weather is warming up, the days are starting to get longer and we all start to see the beginning signs of plants and flowers in bloom, we totally understand why you might find yourself having the urge to get out and do a bit of gardening.

Due to the fact that sometimes the cost of equipment and tools can be a little expensive, we wanted to be able to provide you with some frugal gardening tips for spring. That way, while your garden may end up looking like a million bucks, you won’t have to spend that much money for those kinds of high-end results.

Know where to get your plants. There is sometimes a misconception that in order to start a garden, you need to buy new seed and plants when that isn’t necessarily the case. There are local nurseries and botanical gardens that will sell you their plants that appear to be a bit more withered and worn for a discounted price. You can also speak to them about giving you plants that are considered to be out of season. Also, if you are planting a fruit and vegetable garden, remember that many of the foods that you already have in your refrigerator have seeds in them. Preserve some of those rather than purchasing new packets.

March 29, 2013

Debt

5 Tips For Avoiding An Upside Down Auto Loan

If you are searching or want to apply for a loan to purchase or make payments on a vehicle, the last thing you want is to be upside down on your debt. Being upside down, or “underwater,” simply means that you owe more money to your lender than your car is actually worth. Sometimes if the window to pay back your loan is extended and your car has rapidly depreciated in value, you can find yourself in this situation. In order to avoid being upside down on an outstanding debt to a lender, it is important that you consider a few things and weigh your options even before you apply for the loan.

Here are 5 tips for avoiding an upside down auto loan:

Consider Depreciation Before You Buy

One of the best ways to avoid negative equity or being upside down on an auto loan is to purchase a car model that won’t depreciate to a certain point where it becomes more expensive than it is really worth. Many luxury cars will put you upside down on your auto loan almost immediately after purchasing it. You want to find a dependable car that will last and that you can sell in the worst-case scenario that you can’t pay back your loan.

March 27, 2013

Money Saving Tips

How To Create A College Savings Plan For Your Kids

We all want to give our children the best opportunities they can get, but that is not always easy in today’s world, nor is it simple. A college education is a necessity for career opportunities in many industries, but the rising cost of education is making it very hard for many students to get their credentials without accruing massive amounts of debt. No one knows where this trend will go in the next few years, which makes it ever more necessary to make sure that you’re prepared. Starting a college fund for your kids is a great way to keep them on track for success, but how can you start saving?

The best way to begin creating a college fund for your kids is to know what kind of savings account options are available to you. A standard savings account with your bank may seem like the easiest choice, but it is not always the most beneficial. If you hold your child’s college fund in a savings account, it will still be counted as part of your total estate. This will make it more difficult for your child to receive financial aid from the government when he or she starts college.

March 26, 2013

Health & Beauty

Is Addiction Treatment Worth The Cost?

Addiction is a serious problem that affects people all over the world today. No country, class, or ethnic group is immune to the effects of addiction. This is a problem that hurts not only the addicted, but their immediate families and entire countries. A staggering amount of money is spent on incarcerating individuals for drug-related crimes, and this rarely does much to help the underlying problems. These people are in need of legitimate treatment, and while there are many options available, many are skeptical as to whether certain treatments are really worth the cost.

Treatment for drug addiction can be very expensive. Many of the currently available treatment programs are in-patient residential stays that give addicts a chance to break free from their addictions in a positive and encouraging environment. This system, though positive and often productive, can be very expensive. Some treatment centers have tried to cut costs by shortening the lengths of their programs. Some centers, for example, offer a 10 day program at a cost of $15,000. That cost is easily offset by the changes that occur when an individual kicks addiction. Other treatment centers have found a way to offer outpatient drug rehab for those who have both finished an inpatient treatment program and are now looking for some support, or for those whose addiction is perhaps a little less severe, so they may not benefit from inpatient treatment the way someone who is heavily addicted would.

March 26, 2013

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