Financial Blog
What to Do When You Use Up Your Emergency Fund (And why you need one in the first place)
Should I have an emergency fund? How much should I put in my emergency fund? Is it bad to use my emergency fund? I get those questions a lot… and the answers are always yes and it depends times two. First, having any money in an emergency fund – I don’t love that...
My Biggest Budget Buster (and how I keep it from getting out of control)
I have a confession to make: I live in a zoo. I have two dogs, three cats, and a fishpond full of koi. I love these guys so much – yes, even the fish - and I’ll do pretty much anything to keep them comfortable, safe, and happy. As you probably expect, that...
How to Get a $10,000 Tax Break for Your New Business
This post was originally published in 2018. It has been updated recently to include new links and the latest information, so you can use these tax breaks as you start your new business. It costs money to get even the simplest business up and running from scratch. And...
How to Make Estimated Tax Payments and Avoid IRS Penalties
So many people – especially newly divorced single moms and first-time freelancers – end up in tax trouble for one common reason: They don't realize they need to make estimated tax payments. So if you: Started a business Have a side gig Got unemployment Work from...
The 7-Step Start-Up Checklist
This post has been updated from the original post on starting a business, published in 2017. The links are all up to date and new information has been added. Congratulations! You’re starting a business, and I’m here to help you get things rolling. Getting started...