Dolans.com - Latest Articles

The Humpty Dumpty Dollar

Ken and Daria Dolan — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:31:00 GMT

As the dollar continues its downward spiral, here are our recommendations for where to put money.

7 Early Tax Tips That Will Save You Time and Money

Ken & Daria Dolan — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:16:43 GMT

» The IRS estimates that Americans spend 6.1 billion hours a year on tax prep. That's almost as many hours that 3 million full-time employees work in a year. You can easily cut down the number of hours you spend preparing your 2012 taxes by taking a few simple steps now. Trust us, tackling tax season in bite-size chunks will make the whole process less daunting. Here are seven simple, painless tips to save time, money, a headache and hassle down the road: Next: Get organized! « » 1. Create a system for organizing tax documents as they arrive. There is nothing worse than sitting down to finally do your taxes and realizing that you can't find an important document. So tip #1 is to have a record-keeping system in place before the first tax document ever shows up at your house. Your system can be as simple as a large envelope or an accordion file. Just designate a specific spot and make sure that everyone in the house knows about it. If you want to be even more organized, you can use our checklist of critical tax documents to track documents as they come in so that you...

[Read more]

How to Save Money without Scrimping on the Holidays

Ken & Daria Dolan — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:58:41 GMT

As you gather with friends and family over the holidays, you can still have plenty of fun without breaking your budget!

Here are six simple ways to spend quality time together that won't cost you a fortune...

[Read more]

Biggest Holiday Money Wasters

Ken & Daria Dolan — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:56:26 GMT

This time of year, the hustle and bustle of getting ready for the holidays can drown out the actual enjoyment of the holidays for many people. SO why not take a few steps that can simplify—and save money doing it?

Here are 5 surprisingly simple ways to save money on the trappings of the season while actually making you less stressed so you can enjoy them!

[Read more]

Holiday Tipping Guideline

Ken & Daria Dolan — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:41:11 GMT

A common question we get around the holidays is, "How much should you tip those who provide a service during the year?" Here are a few appropriate guidelines to follow for determining the right tip amount that won't leave you looking like Ebenezer Scrooge!

[Read more]

9 Tax Changes in 2012 You Need to Know

Ken & Daria Dolan — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:03:46 GMT

» We've talked a lot about the rising cost of just about everything this year: food, energy (including gas) and health insurance to name a few. In fact, inflation rose 3.8% this year, that's up from 1.4% last year, and far greater than the 0.18% inflation used to set the 2010 tax amounts. Fortunately for us, the IRS has noticed too. So how will these changes affect your bottom line? Let's take a look at the biggest changes you need to know about... Next: New Tax Brackets for 2012 « » New Tax Brackets for 2012 Thanks to the rising cost of living, federal income-tax bracket limits will jump higher in 2012. For a married couple filing jointly, the 25% bracket will kick in at $70,700, up from $69,000 this year. For single filers, the 25% bracket will start at $35,350, up from $34,500 in 2011. Next: Standard Deductions Jumps $300 « » Standard Deductions Jumps $300 About two out of three taxpayers claim the standard deduction, acccording to the IRS. The standard deduction for married-filing-jointly couples will jump to $11,900, a $300 increase. For single filers and couples who file separately it will rise $150 to $5,950....

[Read more]

6 Things You Need to Know About Gift Cards

Ken & Daria Dolan — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:37:35 GMT

» Forget iPads and game systems and jewelry. The #1 gift under the Christmas tree this year will be...gift cards. 80% of shoppers say they plan to purchase at least one gift card this holiday season, a survey by the National Retail Federation found. We're not at all surprised. Gift cards are practical, convenient and pretty much error proof. But before you go out and buy gift cards for everyone on your list, there are a few do's and don'ts you n you need to know to be gift card smart... « » 1. Make it personal The biggest rap against gift cards is that they are impersonal or thoughtless. Be sure you put time into determining what kind of gift card would best suit the person you're giving it to. Gift cards are now offered by banks, malls, retailers, theaters, airlines, hotels, Web sites, restaurants, state parks, and other places I'm sure, I haven't even thought of! So do your research… find out where your recipient shops frequently or give them a card for an experience (like seeing a show, visiting a spa or enjoying a state park). DON'T give a bank gift card tied to a particular...

[Read more]

10 Money Myths That Just Won't Die

Ken & Daria Dolan — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 17:35:03 GMT

There is an awful lot of bad advice out there when it comes to managing your personal finances... and some can cost you a small fortune if you fall for it. We're here to drive a stake through some dangerous money myths that just won't die...

[Read more]