Retirement

Take a Good Hard Look at Your Retirement Nest Egg

Most people refer to their retirement savings as their “retirement nest egg”. In theory that’s the money that is made up from the many sources of retirement income, the many eggs you should be socking away so that when the time comes, you have those eggs to “cook up” a great retirement. I say “should” because reality is that an awful lot of people are leaving their cupboard bare and for a million reasons are not preparing for retirement at all. In fact, I am ashamed to say I have friends and relatives who are in their prime earning years and still have not saved a single penny for retirement!

So much for having a very sage financial blogger in your inner circle!

Social Security was never meant to replace your retirement nest egg. Are you doing all you can to plan for a secure retirement?

You may have ignored retirement when in your 20’s or 30’s, but when you are still saying “la, la, la, la, la” about it in your 40’s and 50’s, you are in a boat that is sinking fast. So right now is a good time to take a good hard look at your retirement nest egg and start bailing!

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Income & Career

Why Now Is the Perfect Time to Start a Side Hustle

For today’s guest post on why now is the time to start a side hustle, please welcome Chris Panteli from LifeUpswing.

In these uncertain times starting a side hustle is a must. Bringing in extra money can help in many ways. What would you use the extra money for?

Any extra money you earn could help pay debts off quicker, be added to a savings account to cover emergencies, or be used to pay for fun spending meaning your wages can remain untouched after all bills are paid.

If you want to start a side hustle to earn more money, now is the time to begin. Here are the reasons why, plus ideas for your side hustle.

This article will explain why it’s the perfect time to start a side hustle.

Why You Should Start A Side Hustle

It is extremely easy to find reasons not to do something, but there are lots of great reasons why you should start a side hustle. Here are eight fantastic reasons to start a side hustle.

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Taxes

You Will Pay These 6 Types of Taxes Forever

Please note this post contains affiliate links which help to fund this blog at no cost to you. Thanks for your support!

It’s a new year and with that comes the hope that everything is just plain going to get better. We all hope that. That means everything including your finances, especially after what will go down as a disastrous 2020 and so many who have suffered economically. But with a new year also comes the reality that “tax season” is now upon us. April’s due date is just a few months away and January is the start of your prep time for that event. But while your income tax returns get all the fanfare, there are different types of taxes we are subject to.

There are different types of taxes that you will need to pay. Understanding the different types helps you to plan and minimize your burden.

Taxes affect just about every facet of your life, even if you don’t realize it. Learning the different types of taxes you pay can help you understand the true cost of your financial fortunes. Here’s what may be a shocker to you. Income tax isn’t the only tax that you will be paying this year. In fact, you will be paying taxes every year…wait for it…forever!

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Family & Relationships, Personal Finance

Estate Planning: Planning Now Can Go a Long Way

Please note this post contains affiliate links which help to fund this blog at no cost to you. Thanks for your support!

2020 might go down in history as the year of canceled and changed plans, but it is over and 2021 is here. We are all hoping that the new year will resemble normalcy soon. Kicking off 2021 with a few simple money management plans is a great way to start that and turn over a new leaf. Now is the time to get organized, so first up, let’s focus on a few easy estate planning strategies.

While many of us put it off, estate planning is a critical component of your personal finances. Here's how to get started.

What Is an Estate?

In the simplest terms, an estate is everything you own—money and assets, including your home and your car—at the time of your death. When you decide—in advance and in writing—who will get your assets and money, that’s estate planning.

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Debt

How Can You Ever Dig Yourself Out of Debt?

We’ve all been there. Looking at the bills that just keep coming in and not having the funds or means to pay for them all. Financial stress is truly one of the most all-consuming kinds of stress that there is. And when you have a big pile of debt, digging out of debt can seem impossible.

Digging out of debt isn’t easy, but it can be done. You simply need to follow these steps to make a plan and stick with it.

It lingers in your mind like a fog, spilling over into other areas of your life, making it hard to concentrate on other things until you’ve been able to make a plan to get yourself out of the mess you’re in. It’s difficult to get yourself out of killer debt, but I promise that eventually you will be out of this tough spot! It’s been done by many and it can be done by you. So what can you do and how do you start?

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Food

The Pros and Cons When You Order Steaks Online

Please note this post contains affiliate links which help to fund this blog at no cost to you. Thanks for your support!

Note: In the spirit of the holidays, I am going to be recharging my batteries and taking some time off to celebrate and reflect. I will return with my next post on Tuesday, January 5, 2021, so I hope to see you all then and thanks for being a loyal reader! Happy holidays and a healthy new year!

Remember the old days when you would accompany your mother to the butcher shop to buy fresh cuts of meat for the family’s dinner? Every town, it seems, had a local butcher who knew everything there was to know about beef, pork, chicken, veal, and any other meaty delight he had for sale. He’d sell you the best steaks, the juiciest pork chops, and the ideal chicken for frying. He was the expert!

When you order steaks online, there are pros and cons to consider. Here's my advice and how to make the process convenient and tasty.

My, how things have changed! Today, most people purchase their meat at the supermarket from vast cases full of pre-packaged choices. Occasionally, the butcher will appear if you request a special cut or some other service that requires his attention. Otherwise, there’s rarely a connection between the two. And even less connected is the option to order steaks online.

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Credit

A New Year and a New Chance to Make Money with Credit Cards!

2020 has been quite the year, hasn’t it? If anything, money strategies and trying to “build” wealth haven’t been on the front burner for many. The idea of how to make money with credit cards hasn’t been on many people’s radars. In most cases, just getting by has meant being pretty successful with your money this year.

More than just convenient for making purchases, you can make money with credit cards. Check out my recommendations for the best deals.

But now we approach the new year, and there’s some light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully, life will become more normal at some point in 2021 and that means we all can get back to making our financial decisions the way we used to make them and want to make them again.

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More

Thinking of Santa and My 2020 Letter

You’re probably thinking, “What does a nice Jewish boy from Philadelphia know about Santa Claus?” Well, if truth is to be told, I actually have a relationship with the great friend of every kid and am not a stranger by any means. I’ll even share my letter to Santa Claus with you.

You don't have to be a child to write a letter to Santa Claus. Here are my thoughts as an adult, and my letter as well!

Santa Claus, represents for both you and I a very special friend, one who can give us some hope and encourage us to tow the line if we want to be rewarded for doing that and get a few of the niceties in life that we all seem to want! So, yes Santa and I go way back.

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