Gold – It’s Not Magical After All

by Kevin Mercadante May 8, 2013
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It often seems that gold only gathers national attention when it’s either setting a new record price, or going through a freefall. In recent weeks we’ve witnessed the freefall, and the media frenzy that accompanied it.

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Can You Retire Early in 10 Years?

by Kevin Mercadante May 6, 2013
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Let’s say that you want to retire 10 years from today – no matter what your age – is that even possible? It is, but you’ll have to rearrange your life in ways that most people are not willing to do.

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Social Security Benefits for Children of Deceased Parents

by Kevin Mercadante April 17, 2013
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You no doubt have life insurance and financial assets that they will inherit that will help provide for their care until they are adults. But one overlooked resource is Social Security benefits for children of deceased parents.

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How Rejecting Credit Cards Improved My Finances

by John Frainee April 15, 2013
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It’s been approximately five years since I owned a credit card. Looking back over that time, do I now regret the decision to ditch credit? Not in the least. In fact, rejecting credit cards was probably one of the best financial moves I ever made. I know, I know, that’s a bold statement. But stick with me, and I’ll explain why – it’s for more reasons than you think.

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3 DIY Craft Projects for Your Home

by Holly Jenkins April 12, 2013
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Furniture and decorations in our homes should be an extension of our lives. These personalized DIY craft projects will add charm to your home and will not be found anywhere else.

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5 Ways to Rent or Buy Movies on Your iPad

by Rich Avery April 3, 2013
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With its big, beautiful retina display screen and long battery life, your iPad is practically begging you to use it to watch your favorite movies and TV shows. Here are some easy ways to rent or buy movies on your iPad via download and/or online streaming access. And yes, some are even free!

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5 Advantages of a Roth IRA

by Khaleef Crumbley April 1, 2013
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One feature that makes the Roth IRA stand out from most traditional retirement accounts is the fact that you pay with after tax dollars. In other words, you do not receive a tax deduction for your contributions and technically, this means that you are paying taxes before you even decide how to invest your money! Here are some more advantages!

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Early Withdrawal Penalty Exemptions on IRAs

by Kevin Mercadante March 29, 2013
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IRAs aren’t just for retirement anymore. You can use proceeds from your IRA to cover a wide range of specific expenses, and the dreaded 10% early withdrawal penalty will not apply. You will still have to pay the regular income tax on the distribution in most cases, but since you most likely got a deduction as a result of the contribution, this is only fair. Here are some of the more common early withdrawal penalty exemptions for IRAs.

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Thrift Shopping 101

by Holly Jenkins March 27, 2013
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Maybe you’ve tried thrift shopping before and had a bad experience or didn’t find anything you wanted. If you’ve never gone thrift shopping, stepping into a thrift store can be intimidating. You could become overwhelmed by the amount of inventory or fear the horror stories about secondhand clothing. These tips can make you more confident in finding your treasure for a great price that fits your budget.

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The First Rule of Home Buying: Buy Less House than You Can Afford

by Kevin Mercadante March 25, 2013
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A home is a very large, long-term investment. The biggest decision you will make about it will be made at the time you buy it. All other decisions you make later will be governed by what you did at closing time. It’s not a stretch to say that buying less house than you can afford could be the single biggest financial decision you will make.

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