Why or how do so many people get into trouble with debt? When does it become a problem? There are so many reasons, such as job loss or, health problems, but overall it is a disconnect between income and spending, and not enough focus on financial management. I’d like to share a few simple ways […]
Expenses
A Primer on QuickBooks
What exactly is QuickBooks? QuickBooks is an accounting program that is used primarily by small businesses. It is very user-friendly, which makes it ideal if you are not an accountant. QuickBooks will enable you to take control of your business finances to help you to make better decisions. Business owners can keep track of receivables […]
Thinking of Starting a New Business?
Starting a new business can be an exciting endeavor. You get to be your own boss, create your own hours, and possibly achieve a greater sense of satisfaction. But what should you do to make sure your business is successful? Proper planning goes a long way, and a business plan is an excellent starting point. […]
FSA Plan = Money Saved
What exactly is an FSA plan and how can it save you money? FSA stands for flexible spending account, which is a special account that is used to pay for medical expenses on a pretax basis. In other words, the money put towards the plan is not subject to income taxes and social security/medicare taxes. […]
Price vs. Value
Understanding the difference between price vs. value will probably save you a lot of headaches, improve your finances, and even your life. To simplify, price is the dollar cost, while value represents the benefits or worth received. Price is very easily measured, and is an okay measure to use when purchasing goods and services of […]
Budgets are Boring
Ever wonder where all of the money went and you just don’t know what you spent it on? You’re not alone, but it’s still not a good thing. Here are a few simple ways to help you to keep track of your money on an individual level. We’ll address businesses in another article. Quicken: You […]
Home Office Deduction Simplified
The home office deduction is used by both small businesses and employees, which allows a deduction for using part of your home exclusively and regularly for business purposes. This allows a percentage of certain expenses to become tax deductible or at least more tax favorable such as mortgage interest, property taxes, rent, utilities, homeowners insurance, […]
Is Debt Really That Bad?
Is it bad to have debt? Should you pay off your debt early? What about credit cards? These are all questions to consider regarding your personal and business finances. Let’s take a look at the good and bad. If you view debt as a financial tool to help you to achieve your goals, then debt […]
New Car or Used Car?
When shopping for a car or truck, there are two big decisions to make: new car or used car and buy or lease. Let’s review the pros and cons of purchasing a new car vs. a used car, and we have written about buying vs. leasing in prior articles. New Vehicle Pros: The best thing […]
Are You Spending Too Much?
It is very easy to spend a lot more money than you should. Between ATM cards, credit cards, and online shopping, it seems that your money leaves your bank account automatically (actually, it sometimes does)! The point is to make sure that you are spending and saving money on the things that are important in […]