Having a family can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life, but it can also be exhausting and expensive. Fortunately, if you do your taxes the right way those expenses can be alleviated a little bit. Paying taxes might not be fun, but the government will help families out as long as… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Taxes
Tax Tips For Military Personnel
When the tax season is upon you, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with paperwork. The system seems like it has so many unnecessary clauses that you don’t need to worry about, but it pays to be mindful of deductions you may qualify for ahead of time, especially if you or your spouse serve in the… Continue Reading
Marriage and Taxes: How Getting Married Changes Your Filing Benefits
Getting married can be one of the most exciting times in your life, but it’s important to remember that along with the wedding planning and honeymoon comes the reality of joint financial life. Luckily for most people, getting married actually leads to tax benefits. Here’s a look at what you need to know about marriage… Continue Reading
Important Questions to Ask to Find a Reliable Tax Consultant
Tax season is upon us again, and the April 15th deadline is coming much faster than we might imagine. The fact is, regardless of how competent you are in day-to-day life, far more than half of Americans today rely on a tax consultant to do their taxes for them. The complexity of today’s tax code… Continue Reading
Making Choices For Your Financial Security
Basic Tips to Plan for Future Financial Security- Keep Your Financial Future Bright! Most Americans aren’t on the proper path to be financially set for retirement. It requires a lot more planning than simply putting a pile of money into a savings account every month. Requirements for future financial stability differ from person to person,… Continue Reading
Improve Your Credit Score
7 Tips to Improve Your Credit Score If you have a low credit score, you aren’t the only one. Many Americans are facing difficulties acquiring sensible loans or credit cards because their credit scores are too low (FICO credit scores below 620). However, there is hope! Below are some tips on how to monitor… Continue Reading
5th Annual Unified Triathlon
On Sat. Sept 8th, I participated in the 5th annual Unified Triathlon to raise money and awareness for the Special Olympics. There were two events, the triathlon, followed by a much shorter course for the Special Olympians. It was a powerful event, despite the 95 degree temperature. All of the triathletes after finishing their event, stayed at he finish line to cheer the real heroes, the Special Olympians. I believe we were all humbled by their performance. We think we give 100%, but these kids compete with so much soul and determination, they put us to shame. To see the joy and accomplishment when they crossed the finish line, made us all think we can train that much harder.
Perhaps the most powerful moment came when Ronnie, a 14 year old boy with Down Syndrome, sang the National Anthem. He was a little off key, and had trouble with a couple of words, but I cannot remember a moving and heartfelt rendition. There was not a dry eye in the crowd, and it was a perfect send off for the triathletes. Everyone was high-fiving him before we hit the water. This is my first involvement with the Special Olympics, but it will definitely be a organization that I will support in the future.
-Robin
Find the Right Insurance for Your Family
Successfully Shopping for Family Insurance
We know that protecting your family is your number one concern. We also know that good health and stable financial plans are a part of that, which is why we have provided a simple guide on how to successfully shop for health insurance. The following tips can help you ensure your family gets the insurance they need at a minimum cost.
Calculate Your Total Cost
There are many factors that go into determining how much you are truly paying for health insurance. Keep the following in mind as you shop around:
- Is your deductible an annual figure, or do you have one that applies for each doctor visit?
- Make sure to add in any deductibles for lab work, emergency room visits, and other medical situations.
- Research the family deductible maximum, as well as the total out-of-pocket cost that must be reached after which insurance will pay 100 percent.
- Take into account how much you will end up paying throughout the year on co-pays for lab tests, hospital stays, trips to the emergency room, and office visits.
Regular vs. Specialized Doctors
Do you have a regular doctor you like to see? Make sure the health plan you want has your regular doctor on their list. The best way to do this is to call your doctor’s office and see if they accept the potential plan.
Is there a person in your family that needs specialized healthcare services? Every health plan has certain avenues you must go through for full coverage with a specialist. Keep this in mind when shopping for the most affordable and most convenient insurance.
Hospital Availability
Do any of your family members travel? If so, you may want to see what different hospitals and doctors the plan you are considering covers. You don’t want to end up paying extreme costs simply because someone needed medical care outside of your home area and couldn’t find a covered medical facility.
Prescription Coverage
Protect your prescriptions with a plan that has full coverage. Be thorough and make sure every important medication is covered—sometimes a prescription can fall under a group that isn’t covered by your insurance provider.
Making Smart Auto Financing Decisions in Today’s Economy
Borrow Smart in This Recovering Economy
Let’s face it, recovering in this economy can be tough; however, borrowing doesn’t have to be thanks to the changing financial landscape. It has taken a few years, but finally interest rates are starting to fall and credit restrictions are loosening, making car financing easier than it has been in quite some time. This can be attributed somewhat to car shoppers who are now planning ahead for their trip to the dealership, reducing the higher trend in the past of impulse buying.
What do you need to do in order to be a smart car shopper? Here are some things we think you should have in mind as you start planning for that trip to the dealership:
◦ Keep to a Budget – Your monthly car payment should be under 18% of your monthly income. Make sure to add in other expenses like monthly fuel and insurance costs when you start planning your purchase. Maybe consider buying a used model if the new car you want is above your ideal budget.
◦ Access Your Credit Report – Looking at a free credit report can tell you if there is anything you should be correcting or anything you should be aware of that may be adversely affecting your credit score. Getting everything worked out with the credit bureaus now makes it easier to finance your car later.
◦ Secure a Pre-Approved Loan – By getting pre-approved for financing before you even start looking for a car, you can go to the dealership with confidence that you know exactly what you can afford. This will enable you to spend your efforts looking at and test driving cars you know will be within your budget. There’s nothing worse than finding the perfect new model only to discover that you can’t secure the proper financing to fit your budget.
◦ Know the Important Terms – If you are going to purchase or finance a vehicle, make sure to brush up on your financial and leasing terms so you understand exactly what you are agreeing to.
◦ Save for a Larger Down Payment – You should make a down payment of 20% regardless of your credit level. This is beneficial in two ways:
▪ If you have good credit, it will reduce the amount of money you end up paying in interest in the long-term.
▪ If you have poor credit, it will increase your likelihood of being approved.
For more helpful tips on securing loans and monitoring your finances in the current economy, contact CCFI today!
Getting Your Credit Report For Free
How to Get Three Credit Reports a Year for Free
For anyone concerned with maintaining their financial health, it is very important to keep tabs on your ongoing credit rating. At Community Choice Financial™ Inc., we’re serious about your credit status and financial security. Our commitment to providing responsible services and solutions to consumers is unmatched, and we specialize in helping you deal with day-to-day finance matters. Since being aware of the contents of your credit report is essential to keeping a close eye on your credit score, we recommend that you take advantage of this easy method to get three free credit reports over the course of a year.
The Real Deal, No Strings Attached
A credit report will list all the credit accounts and loans you have outstanding, along with a record of your monthly payments. This is highly useful information, in part because you will be able to see if there are any accounts linked to you that you know nothing about. By reviewing your credit report, you will also be able to correct any discrepancies that appear due to neglect or malicious activity such as identity theft.
By law, annualcreditreport.com is the only authorized service from which you can get a free annual credit report. Three major agencies — Equifax, Experian, and Transunion — compile financial information from which your credit report is generated. To ensure that you get a report from each of the major credit agencies, it is suggested that you set yourself a schedule of three dates (with 3-4 months between each), and visit annualcreditreport.com on each of those dates to request your report from one of the agencies. On the next date, request from a different agency, and on the last, get your report from the remaining service.
It’s simple, easy, and best of all, it’s free. Plus, you will have all the information you need to monitor your credit situation.
Trust CCFI for All Your Financial Needs
We are happy to provide essential financial products and services, specializing in
offering prepaid debit cards, check cashing, short-term loans, and money transfers. Our network includes 12 brands with 492 retail outlets in 14 different states. When you visit one of our locations, you will have access to a host of responsible financial services and helpful products that you can depend upon. Let the professionals in the Community Choice Financial™ Inc. network help you today!