The Simple Dollar • 25th June 2020

Best Money-Saving Apps

Money-saving apps are great for making every dollar in your budget count. Whether you’re using a savings app to divert extra change to a savings account or using it to help save money at the grocery store, you’re contributing to your long-term financial security with every swipe and click. The best savings apps make it easy to save, provide easy access to earnings and carry no cost for use. With these saving apps, you can carefully budget, boost your emergency fund, and save for a big purchase d

The Simple Dollar • 29th January 2020

Home Depot Project Loan Review

A Home Depot project loan provides customers with a line of credit up to a $55,000 maximum for financing a home improvement project. If you want a kitchen remodel or to upgrade a bathroom, the loan makes it possible to swipe a card at Home Depot to purchase the items needed to complete your project. A fixed 7.99% annual percentage rate may match your other interest rate options in the unsecured loan category, particularly if you have average or good credit. For consumers with exemplary credit or

The Simple Dollar • 14th January 2020

What is Loan-to-Value Ratio?

The loan-to-value ratio is a measurement used by financial institutions to determine the level of risk when extending a mortgage loan. When you buy a home, the LTV ratio expresses the monetary gap between your proposed mortgage and the appraised value of the property being purchased. Because the house and property secures a mortgage loan for the lender, a higher LTV ratio means a higher risk. A high LTV ratio can mean more costs for the buyer or a denied loan. You need a LTV ratio of 80% for mo

The Nest • 24th May 2019

Should I Keep My Retirement Statements?

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 all retirement-related forms and statements important while only select forms from other accounts are needed for your permanent files.

The Nest • 24th May 2019

When Will Your Score Change After Disputing Your Credit Report?

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 report during the dispute period and over the long-term if the dispute is proven valid. The length of time it takes to see a change in your credit rating after submitting a dispute varies, but you can expect the investigation of the dispute to take

The Nest • 24th May 2019

Does Having a Mortgage in Your Name Count Against You When Renting an Apartment?

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 count against you during an apartment search. However, if it is a financial plus, it improves your chances of securing a rental.

The Nest • 24th May 2019

How to Find Your Quarterly Earnings for Unemployment

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 benefits, your eligibility and benefit amount are determined by analyzing wages from four previous quarters.

The Nest • 24th May 2019

Why Does Social Security Need to Know Where Kids' Survivors Benefits Went?

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. The payments help caregivers provide a child with basic necessities and, when possible, additional comforts. To verify the responsible use of funds, caregivers file an annual expense report with the Social Security Administration (SSA).

The Nest • 24th May 2019

How Does a Basic Rent Deposit Work?

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 of normal wear and tear -- after you move. If you leave the property clean and in good repair, the landlord must return your money.

The Nest • 24th May 2019

Secrets When Filing Taxes

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 net you a larger refund and help you avoid unnecessary stress when dealing with the IRS. For most calendar years, income tax returns for the previous year must be filed by April 15. However, some years, this date falls on a Sunday and the filing

The Nest • 24th May 2019

Estimating Your Future Budget

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 needed for average monthly expenses helps you determine how much new debt you can afford, or how much money is required to maintain a certain standard of living in retirement.

Chron.com • 24th May 2019

Business Cell Phone Tax Obligations

Until the passage of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, businesses faced burdensome and complicated cell phone tax obligations because cell phones were considered a fringe benefit by the Internal Revenue Service. This classification meant employees must either pay taxes on the value of the phone and service or that a company must keep detailed records demonstrating that a phone saw only business use. The 2010 legislation nodded to the necessity of cell phone usage in many businesses and stream