Americans aren’t going to let prices at the pump keep them from hitting the road. Whether you’re driving to grandma’s house or a national park, putting some thought into your packing will get your trip off to a great start and ensure the safety and comfort of your passengers. With this in mind, consider these...
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Speak with your tax preparer to find out which of these changes are best for you. Given the state of the housing market, you might think the saying “There’s value in real estate” doesn’t mean as much as it used to. But there could be money in your house—in the form of potential tax savings....
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Be sure to light your home the right way. Electric lights are such a fixture of our everyday lives that we really don’t give them much thought. But every year, more than 28,000 residential electrical fires cause an estimated $1 billion in damage, according to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). So those simple lighting projects...
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Periodically reassess your investment mix to ensure you can meet your goals Did you reassess your 401(k) portfolio this year? Although you might be enrolled in a plan that automatically shifts your investment mix over time, only you know your long-term financial goals and how much money it will take to achieve them. Take a...
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Take these steps the next time you run into a traffic jam. Automakers are constantly coming up with technologies to reduce accidents in daily driving. But the reality remains that accidents, road construction and other factors will inevitably tie us up in delays. Getting through those delays with minimal frustration usually relies more on human...
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Debt-to-Income Calculator Plug in your numbers and see where you stand To calculate your debt-to-income ratio, add up all of your monthly debts (aka “recurring debt”), including your mortgage or rent, car loans, student loans, credit card payments and any other loans. Then divide that by your gross (before taxes) monthly income. Mortgage or rent...
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