Goodwill Car Donation

Check out this new site that my friend started to educate people about donating their cars and the related tax benefits.
Goodwill Car Donation

Your 5-Step Game Plan For Buying A Car

Use this tip sheet to help make the process a bit easier.

By Jessica L. Anderson, Associate Editor

From Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, May 2009

1. Your top price. Run the numbers with our monthly-car-payment calculator at kiplinger.com/tools to figure out how much you can spend. Never reveal to a dealer your top monthly payment.

2. Financing. Get preapproved by your bank or credit union and know what rate you qualify for so that you can compare it with the rate the dealer's finance office offers you.

3. Target price. Look up dealer retail prices on Edmunds.com for each model you'll test-drive. Be sure to factor in options, mileage and the condition of the vehicle.

4. Competing deals. Arm yourself with printouts on similar vehicles from AutoTrader.com, Cars.com or the local classifieds. A competing offer is probably the best motivator for a seller to lower the price.

5. When to walk away. If something feels fishy or the price is too high, go to the next seller on your list. If you've done your homework, you'll know when the deal is right.

9 smart personal finance moves in 2009

Nice article on Bankrate on what could be a tough year financially.

1. Know yourself. 

2. Know where the money goes.

3. Know when to say no.

4. Know when to say yes.

5. Know when and who to ask for help.

6. Know your risk tolerance.

7. Know your portfolio.

8. Know your mortgage.

9. Know your credit.

Bankrate.com

Free real-time quotes from Google Finance

Google Finance now offers free real-time quotes. Check them out!

Steals of the Day

Just ran across a new website which lists deals and bargains from the top online retailers. Definitely add it to your bookmarks

Deals & Bargains

Tax Tip: How to get a replacement W-2

Kay Bell on Bankrate.com tells you how to get a replacement W-2 in case yours didn't make it to you in the mail, or if there is something wrong with it.

• Check with payroll
• Alert the IRS
• Form 4852
• Do-it-yourself W-2

Read the details at bankrate.

Mailbox alert!

The documentation that you will need to complete your tax forms is hitting the mailbox around this time.  Be on the lookout and start putting them in a folder so you will have everything when you sit down to do your taxes.

10 must know IRA terms

Another gem from Kay Bell on bankrate.com

10 terms you should be familiar with when opening an IRA account.

1. Adjusted gross income (AGI) 
2. Contribution
3. Deductible or nondeductible
4. Education IRA
5. Individual retirement account (IRA)
6. Modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) 
7. Required minimum distribution
8. Rollover
9. Roth IRA
10. Tax and penalty-free withdrawals

For the details go here.

Best investing moves to make in 2008

Thinking about investing in the new year?  Bankrate.com lists the following to try and make the best of what could be a scary investing year.

 

• High yield -- don't settle for less.
• Offset the falling dollar's effect on your retirement.
• Don't be afraid of foreign investments.
• Diversification and a long-term approach -- ho hum, but smart.
• See a financial adviser.
• Stuff your retirement plan.

 

More at Bankrate.

7 tax-filing moves you can make now

Kay Bell has a nice article on Bankrate.com that lists tips to make tax filing as painless as it can be this year. 

1. Get ready for the arrival of records.

2. Track down Social Security numbers.

3. Find your forms.

4. Decide how you want to do your taxes.

5. Consider electronic filing.

6. Use direct deposit.

7. Don't panic.

 

To read it in detail visit Bankrate.com