Zero Balance

Two minus four equals trouble when you are talking your budget. If you spend more money than you make, you will have money problems.

The problem is that you usually don’t realize what you’ve done until it is too late. It’s hard enough to keep track of checking account spending, but add credit cards, and spending can get out of hand. How many times have you used your credit cards to buy clothes, impulse items or even groceries, and said you’ll pay it back? But at the end of the month, you have nothing to pay it back with.

It’s easy to say you will pay it back next month, or when you get that bonus at work, or when you get your tax returns. Before you know it, it’s added up to a mountain of debt.

While credit cards aren’t the only way to spend more than you make, they are a number one enabler. Other ways to spend more than you make is by taking out cash advance loans or having an interest only mortgage. In the long run, they rarely work for your benefit.

It’s not easy to stop spending more than you make. But it is possible. Start by creating a budget. List all of your bills and all of your expenses and see what you have left over. Do this every paycheck. You have to know exactly how much money you have if you want to avoid spending too much. If you need to, sit and look at your bank account register for three minutes every morning. Write down what you’ve spent the day before.

Personally, my husband and I have found that the longer we go between looking at the checking account ledger, the more we spend. When we know every day how much we have left, we are able to spend more frugally. But if we both just assume that we still have x amount left, we get into trouble.

If you are a shopaholic, then there are ways to cut your need to spend. The number one way is to never step foot in the store. If you know that you will buy too much other stuff at Walmart, don’t go there for groceries. If you want to go in Hobby Lobby just to look, but know that every time you look, you spend $200 — don’t go in.

Another way to reduce that need is to go through what you already have. When you see how many things you already have, the need for more is lessened.

You know, everyone has lapses. If you have lived on a $5,000 a month spending habit on a $3,000 income for a while, you may be used to juggling things. And even when it starts falling in, you want to spend that $5,000. You may go out and spend too much every once in a while — you just have to deal with yourself when you do. Then get back on track.

There are people out there that live comfortably on $500 a month. There are others that make $5,000 a month that can’t make ends meet. It doesn’t matter how much money you make, it’s how you use that money. By keeping close daily track of your income and purchases each month, you can make it on almost anything.

Mano y mano, which one is better do you think a credit card with low, ongoing APR or one that offers 0% APR as an intro rate?

There are so many types of credit cards that offer all sorts of promotions and rewards that its definitely hard for a consumer to pinpoint which one would best suit their wants, needs and present financial situation. If, however, youve already managed to reduce your choices to just two and the battles simply between the low ongoing APR credit card and the 0% APR intro rate credit card then here are several tips to help you determine which one is the best credit card for you.

Are You Planning To Buy Anything Expensive Yes, the words zero percent can certainly be dazzling to the eye but is it something you really need? If youre planning to buy something very much expensive and thats beyond your budget then yes, it might be better if you go for a 0% APR intro rate credit card just as long as youre sure youll be able to pay off the full amount before the introductory period is over. Because if you cant and you dont, then whats the use of having 0% APR in the first place?

How Long Does The Introductory Period Last Generally, for credit cards offering 0% APR intro rates, the introductory period usually lasts from ninety days to fifteen months.

If youre going to purchase something expensive but you dont think you can pay it off before the introductory offer expires then its time to bring out your calculator once more. Compute how much your balance would be after the introductory period and see if its still lower than what youll pay with a low ongoing APR.

What Would The APR Be After The Introductory Period Going back to the previous situation, lets just say that you dont think youll be able to pay off the full amount in time. If the new APR is higher than what other low ongoing APR credit cards are offering then maybe, having a 0% APR intro rate credit card isnt the right credit card for your needs.

Are There Any Other Fees To Pay Whether its a 0% APR intro rate credit card or a credit card with a low, ongoing APR, dont forget to ask if there are other fees to pay. Naturally, its better to stick with the credit card with lower fees.

It can be hard to find a credit card to help rebuild your credit when you have had credit problems such as a bankruptcy. Many find it hard to qualify for any type of credit card if their credit is even slightly less then perfect. The following are some great alternative credit card options that can help you get your credit back on track and even put you in the position to eventually obtain a regular credit card if you so choose.

A secured credit card is an excellent choice for someone that might not be able to get a traditional credit card. You simply set up a special savings account and deposit say 300 and presto you now have a 300 line of credit. Should you default on your monthly payments then you do not need to worry because the money in your account will be used to pay the balance.

A store credit card or a gas station credit card are some other options for obtaining credit cards to help and straighten out your current credit problems. If you decide to take this route just make sure that you get a store credit card that reports to a major credit reporting agency. This way the money that you spend on clothes or even gasoline for your car can boost your credit back into good standing.

A prepaid credit card is yet another alternative to traditional credit cards. You pay a small activation fee and make a deposit and you have a line of credit equal to that deposit. The activation fee and the small fee that you are required to pay each time you deposit money onto your card are worth in to many consumers because of the purchasing power that having a credit card gives them.

Once you have gotten yourself a credit card to help rebuild your credit you need to practice responsible spending. Staying within your budget while using your credit cards will go far in returning your credit to where it should be.

Corporations Failing To Claim AMT Exemption Overpay Taxes By 11,000

Does your incorporated business pay alternative minimum tax [AMT]? If so, there is a 93% chance you have been overpaying your taxes by an average of 11,000 a year according to the Treasury Inspector General.

The Office of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration was created in 1999 to oversee the IRS. One of the duties of the Treasury Inspector General is to study and report the efficiency of the tax payment system, particularly the accuracy of tax collection efforts. Many of the studies conducted by the office reveal starting results, particularly when it comes to businesses overpaying their taxes.

As part of this oversight, the Treasury Inspector General is reporting that many small business corporations are incorrectly paying AMT. The AMT was enacted in the late 1990s, but proved to be a huge burden on small businesses. The tax was confusing and the paperwork was incredibly complex. An amendment was subsequently added to give small business corporations relief from the AMT. Section 55(e) of the Internal Revenue Code now contains language exempting small business corporations from paying the AMT.

Small business corporations can claim an exemption from the AMT if gross revenues average 5 million or less for the initial three years of business. Thereafter, the business can continue to claim the exemption as long as revenues average 7.5 million or less of each subsequent three year period.

According to the Inspector General, companies that fail to claim an exemption to the AMT are overpaying taxes by an average of 11,638 each year. 93% of small business corporations qualify for the exemption. Since the IRS has no duty to notify taxpayers of overpayments, many small business corporations have no idea they are overpaying taxes and are due refunds.

All taxpayers have the right to file amended tax returns for the past three calendar years. Contact us now to find out if you failed to claim the exemption to the AMT and are due a refund for 2001, 2002 and 2003. If you failed to claim the AMT exemption, you may be due a refund totaling over 33,000.