If this past April 15, you found yourself on the receiving side, getting a refund on your taxes, consider adjusting your withholdings. The IRS web site has an online calculator which will help you determine the correct number of exemptions to claim on your W4 submitted to your employer. If you were using your tax withholdings as a vacation fund, why not consider having a fixed amount saved from each paycheck and moved to a savings account? At least if you need these funds during the year, they will be available. Otherwise you are lending Uncle Sam money and not getting any interest.
Joe
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With all my discussion about Solar Energy and the rise in Gas prices, here’s a timely Mike Keefe cartoon from the Denver Post;
Enjoy the weekend!
Joe
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There are two images that come to mind on this holiday, permit me to share them both with you today.
The image above is not the signing of the declaration of independence, but its presentation to congress. A beautiful painting, currently on the back of our two dollar bill. (You can click on it to view a much larger image)
Above is the “Spirit of 76”, originally known as “Yankee Doodle.”
Have a safe and happy holiday.
Joe
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Regular readers know where I stand on Variable Annuities, and I though thought I’d share this quote from a Suze Orman interview on CNN Money which caught my eye;
“I hate them with a passion – a passion! – especially in a retirement account like an IRA. Variable annuities have all these extra fees and tax issues and penalties, but – oh, that’s okay! – because they give you a tax deferral. But a retirement account is already tax-deferred without all those fees. It’s absolutely ridiculous. I think variable annuities exist for one reason only: to make money for the financial advisers who sell them.”
I’ve had some disagreements with some of her advice, but lately I’m finding more of her quotes that are right on target.
Joe
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In a simulcast of publishing both here, and my main web page, where I publish a monthly article, I am happy to offer my List of Lists;
Ever since 1977’s “Book of Lists“, our fascination with lists and sets of rules has grown. David Letterman’s Top Ten List has been going on for decades with no end in sight. These are Rules of Money that I’ve saved over the past few years, enough to post my favorite “List of Lists”. If I missed one of your favorites, please leave a comment and I will add it.
Take your time, enjoy the list, and send me your thoughts.
Joe
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