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Here are four financial
tips that might make a difference in your pocketbook:
* If you've got your money sitting in a savings
account, you might as well stuff it under your
mattress. Some banks are paying only .2% on your
money. That's almost nothing. So it's time to find a
better way. I've told you in the past that many local
banks offer short-term CDs that pay out about 5.5% to
6%. But if you want a straight savings account, check
out
www.INGdirect.com. They offer a great online
savings account that's paying 4.5%. In today's world,
that's about as good as it gets.
* Gold has been a great investment the last few years.
If you decide to buy some, be careful! There are
plenty of scam artists and charlatans out there in the
gold business. Recently, a new type of "money" has
made the circles that you need to be aware of. It's
called the Liberty Dollar. The thought behind the
Liberty Dollar is interesting. A company called "Norfed"
makes the dollars. The company claims that each dollar
is backed by silver and gold, which it keeps locked in
a vault in Idaho. The trouble is, the Justice
Department says the Liberty Dollars are illegal. So if
you try to pay for something with these coins, you
likely will be arrested. I'm all for "just weights and
measures," but according to our government, these
dollars aren't worth the gold that supposedly backs
them.
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* It's tax time, and we all
need to maximize our charitable contributions to lessen
our tax burden. Bankrate.com says, "If you think your tax
deduction for charitable contributions ends when you write
a check to your church or drop that box of clothing off at
the Salvation Army, think again. You may be cheating
yourself. The Internal Revenue Service allows several
different ways to take tax advantage of your goodwill..."
The rest of the article gives some great tips for items
you can deduct legally. Check it out bankrate.com.
* And, finally, if you're
getting a tax refund this year, here are a few things to
consider. First, increase the number of deductions you
claim on your W-4 form. You don't want to give the
government an interest-free loan -- and that's what a tax
refund is. You overpaid your taxes last year and the
government doesn't give the excess back until you file
your taxes. Second, don't go on a spending spree with it.
Instead, pay off debt. If you don't have any debt, invest
it. If you stick it in your IRA, it will give you a break
on next year's taxes.
About the Author
Steve Kroening writes for
Success magazine and also publishes Wisdom's Edge. You
can get Biblical tips on health, finance,
relationships, parenting, and success, delivered to
your email inbox every week. Simply visit
http://www.wisdomsedge.com and sign up for this
free e-zine.
 
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Making-Surviving Recession, Layoffs, Credit Problems,
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