Archive for posts by Kent Irwin

Today’s post comes from Mary Hunt of Debt Proof Living, and author of 7 Money Rules for Life Dear Mary, I am reading your book, “Debt-Proof Living,” and have begun tracking my expenses. I have a home-based business. Should I include business expenses or just personal expenses in the tracking? Lucy, Vermont Dear Lucy,You should… Read More »

The following are great articles this week from other personal finance blogs that I follow: Five Reasons You Might Not Get a Tax Refund from Wise Bread Are Frequent Flyer Miles Taxable from Five Cent Nickel 5 Ways to Increase Your Credit Score Moolanomy.com Economics is Fun Video Series from All Financial Matters Free Lunch… Read More »

Excellent article at Smart Money about these 5 Little-Known Tax Deductions is worth checking out: Medicare Insurance and Long-Term Care Premiums Medical Expenses Paid by Someone Else Real Estate Taxes Paid by Someone Else Home Mortgage Points Paid by Someone Else Fees to Charge Taxes to Your Credit Card

The 2nd of 13 Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University Classes is Relating With Money. I love this class, because it helps couples understand their differences and work together. This is probably one of the reasons why about 75% of married couples that attend the class report this has helped improve their marriage.  Just understanding that we approach money with unique styles, non-judgmentally, is good… Read More »

The following are great articles this week from other personal finance blogs that I follow: 15 Frugal Ways to Battle Boredom from Wise Bread 5 Myths About Renter’s Insurance from Five Cent Nickel Important Tax Filing Dates Moolanomy.com Least & Most Expensive Cars to Insure from All Financial Matters We paid cash for a couch… Read More »

The Great Recession that started in 2007 has thrown millions of families into financial disarray.  I have been looking for a timely book to recommend to people to provide the tools, motivation, learning, change and inspiration people need.  The wait is over. Mary Hunt, one of the top 3 greatest personal finance writers of our… Read More »

In 1989 and 1991 we had our two babies at a cost of $10 each. We made a $10 co-pay at the first pre-natal visit, and all expenses including birth up through the baby’s 3-month checkups were covered by that first co-pay. Few people, perhaps other than Senators, receive health care today at such a… Read More »

These days everyone wants to spend less money. With increasing costs to healthcare and gasoline, grocery costs seem to be of the things to be increasing faster than inflation, and represent a large percentage of people’s budgets. Monthly expenses are either fixed like rent/mortgage, car payments and utilities, while other areas are variable such as groceries and… Read More »

The 1st of 13 Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University Classes is Super Saving. This is an excellent class to start with and begin to set the goal to accomplish  Baby Step number one; saving $1,000 in an emergency fund. The emergency fund will provide the safety net, or insurance, when something happens in life like a car… Read More »

The following are great articles this week from other personal finance blogs that I follow: Best Money Tips: How to Throw a Fun and Frugal Super Bowl Party from Wise Bread Will the IRS Disallow Backdoor Roth Contributions? from Five Cent Nickel What is COBRA Insurance and a Critical Warning to Know from Moolanomy.com Total Returns for 2011… Read More »