You’re a small business owner, keeping busy, but there always seems to not be enough cash. An entire book can be written on this subject, but here are a few reasons why you may feel your business is short on cash: Taking too Much: Unless you have other income sources, you need to either take […]
Debt
Smart Ways to Cut Your Expenses
A previous article was titled, “Don’t Cut Your Expenses,” and this time I am going to give examples of cutting expenses in a smart way. Personal Expenses: With mortgage rates at record lows, now may be a good time to refinance your existing mortgage. You need to compare the savings with any upfront costs. If […]
Be Careful Who You Loan Money To
A friend is in a pickle and asks you for a loan of $5,000 because they hit some hard times and have some bills to pay. Do you help out your friend and say yes, or simply say no. If you say no, then your friend may get upset, get behind with bills, but hopefully they […]
Don’t Cut Your Expenses!
Shouldn’t a CPA be telling you to spend less and save more? Perhaps, but what if you are cutting back on your expenses too much and you are focusing way too much on not spending money? First, just to clarify, I do not advocate spending money foolishly or spending beyond your means. I am referring […]
Should You Buy a Home or Rent?
Several years back when the real estate market was red hot, it was almost a no-brainer to buy a home. A year or two later your home appreciated by thousands of dollars and was worth much more than you paid for it. We all know that this is not true now, so does it make […]
Don’t Take “No” for an Answer!
What does not taking “no” for an answer have to do with financial matters? Plenty! Very often when we ask for something the response is “no” or is not what we wanted. This can happen when dealing with business or personal matters and it can cost you significantly. When applying for a loan, it is […]
Taxable or Non-Taxable?
Which items do you think are taxable and which are not? The answers are below. Workers compensation Educational assistance Cancelled debt Expense reimbursements Fringe benefits Bartering Hosting a party and receiving payment (such as a candle party) Life insurance proceeds Unemployment benefits Federal income tax refund Taxable: cancelled debt (there are exceptions), fringe benefits, bartering, […]
Do You Watch Shark Tank?
You have probably heard of the show Shark Tank, which airs on ABC. The show is about entrepreneurs who pitch their products and ideas to a group of wealthy investors who are referred to as “sharks.” Hopefully, the sharks will bite and offer to invest some of their money in the fledgling businesses. Many […]
Penny Wise, Pound Foolish
What do I mean by penny wise, pound foolish? Saving a penny, but it costs you a dollar. Here are a few examples: Extreme Couponing: I watched an episode of extreme couponing years ago and the first thought that came to my mind, aside from obsessive, is that the coupon clippers spend way too much […]
What’s In Your Credit Report?
When we apply for loans, search for a job, or even take out an insurance policy, our credit report is used in the process. Your credit report shows all of your outstanding debts and lines of credit, including credit cards, mortgages, auto loans, and personal loans. Even accounts that have been closed or debts that […]