by Michele Cagan | Nov 20, 2023 | Personal Finance, Saving and Investing
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...
by Michele Cagan | Oct 17, 2023 | Making Ends Meet, Personal Finance
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...
by Michele Cagan | Jul 13, 2023 | Do Your Own Taxes, Owning Your Own Business, Personal Finance
Note: This article was originally posted in 2017 but has been updated with more current information. Depreciation is the most confusing part of the full home office deduction, but it can substantially minimize your current tax bill. That’s because when you reduce...
by Michele Cagan | Jun 1, 2023 | Personal Finance, Retirement Planning, Saving and Investing, You Need to Know This
Please Note: This article contains affiliate links. If you click on those links, I may receive compensation. What are the best investments for your retirement portfolio? That depends mainly on how much time you have until you want to retire – your time...
by Michele Cagan | Mar 24, 2023 | Making Ends Meet, Managing Debt, Personal Finance, Protect Your Financial Future, You Need to Know This
Bank failures have been splattered all over the news. And even if you don’t struggle with financial anxiety, you might be worried about how safe your money is in the bank right now. And it’s not just that we need to worry about, unfortunately. The lurking...
by Michele Cagan | Feb 21, 2023 | Do Your Own Taxes, Personal Finance, Single Mom CPA, You Need to Know This
Q. How can I tell whether I should take the standard deduction or itemize my deductions? A. If your itemized deductions will be more than your standard deduction, itemize away! Of course, with higher standard deductions, fewer people than ever are itemizing. But that...
