Ashley Mott

The ability to estimate your future budget lets you to plan for potential major expenditures, such as a home purchase, and is a major part of the equation when plotting out a retirement savings plan. Knowing the amount of money …

Filing your annual income tax returns may seem like a relatively straightforward process, and it largely is. However, there are a few tips and tricks, or secrets, that an average taxpayer may rarely explore. Careful consideration of these strategies can …

When you rent an apartment or home, landlords typically ask for the first month's rent in advance and a security deposit. The deposit provides your landlord with a financial cushion to cover any repairs the rental property requires -- outside …

While the typical image of a Social Security recipient is a senior citizen, the program actually pays benefits to a lot of children -- approximately 4.4 million as of August 2012 -- who have a retired, deceased or disabled parent. …

If you are laid-off from your job or lose your position because of downsizing, industry changes or other circumstances, unemployment insurance helps you continue to meet monthly expenses while you look for employment. When you initially file an application for …

When you have a current mortgage loan, the amount of the monthly payment may become part of a potential landlord's total assessment of your financial health. If the mortgage is part of a larger, negative credit situation, it could also …

When you spot a piece of incorrect information or see an item you don't recognize on your credit report, you need to dispute the information with all three credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Some disputes immediately alter your credit …

Statements from your retirement fund and related savings account need to be kept for varying periods of time, depending on the type of account generating the document. For example, the tax regulations associated with individual retirement accounts, or IRAs, make …