| |
| |
|
Personal Finance Information |
|
Live Green; Save Green!
Have you seen the recent article on a new "green" residential high rise in Battery Park? It's called The Solaire. For a look at the hopeful future of architectural efficiency, check out the myriad of cost saving and environmentally-friendly features of the building: http://www.batteryparkcity.org/concept/green The article got me thinking of ways to help you personally benefit from being environmentally-friendly, without having to re-locate! I've come up with two areas worth consideration. (1) Tax Credit for the Purchase of a Hybrid Vehicle New owners may write off $2,000 of the purchase price of the following models: Ford Escape Hybrid ('05) Initially, the amount was scheduled to be reduced in 2004, but new tax law allows the full $2K deduction until the end of 2005, at which point it drops to just $500. That gives you about four months to take action, but only if you're in the market for a car. One further benefit is that the deduction may be claimed directly on Form 1040 long-form, line 35 (it does not require Schedule A). Additionally, there are no income thresholds. There are, however, a few limitations. (a) It's a one-time deduction. (b) Only the original owner can claim the tax break. (c) You must take the deduction in the year you put it on the road, or file an amended tax return within three years of original intended filing date. (2) Conserve Your Gasoline! At nearly $3/gallon, filling up 20% less often could save the average commuter $400/year: (a) Use a sunshade. A cooler car requires less air conditioning. (b) Don't top off your tank-The excess is lost as fumes, and make sure your gas cap is tight. (c) Combine trips-Cold engines use more gas than warm ones. (d) Avoid peak traffic times-Idling uses unneeded fuel, and unnecessary time. (e) Optimal efficiency for most cars is 55-60mph. Speeding may cost you more than a ticket! (f) Clear your car of junk. Extra weight uses up gas. (g) Keep your tires properly inflated and rotated. Check them every 2 weeks. (h) Get regular oil changes, and check your air and fuel filters while you're there. (i) Finally, in your home, a programmable thermostat can save you an additional $150/year. © 2005, Matthew S. Clement, All rights reserved. Matthew S. Clement is a financial planner and investment advisor representative with Financial Network Investment Corporation, member SIPC. He provides holistic wealth management and retirement planning to individuals and businesses. He can be reached in New York at (845) 942-8578, or by email: ClementM@FinancialNetwork.com.
MORE RESOURCES:
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Portfolio Planning can Lead to Irreconcilable Differences The judge had to ask the question, and we had to answer it in order to get our divorce finalized. It was all supposed to be pro-forma. Adverse Debt Levels Blight UK Consumers Personal Finances Debt levels are at an all time high in the UK. The younger generation tend to be feeling the pinch the most, but parents are increasingly being required to bail them out, often at great expense to their own limited mortgage or retirement savings. Budgeting is Bothersome It doesn't take much for you to get behind on monthly bills, but it sure takes some time to catch up. The comparison in my mind is to weight gain. Retirement Income Needs---Less Than You Think? It is widely written that you need 75% of your presentincome to maintain your present life-style in retirement. Ifyou make 100 thousand now, figure 75 thousand inretirement. Money Matters - Really! One of the biggest challenges facing black RELATIONSHIPS today are finances. Many people mistakenly feel that money does NOT matter. What's New in Checking - From Designs to Photos Just about everyone has a checking account. Checks present easy ways to make payments and they have simply become a way of life. Healthy Eating On A Budget It is possible to eat a healthy, balanced diet without breaking the bank! Here are some suggestions:-Eliminate junk food. You may have to do your grocery shopping alone, since children (and sometimes spouses!) are often the ones who request the junk foods. Benefits of Personal Finance Software In this age of information, keeping track of your finances does not mean an archaic jumble of ledgers, calculators, and papers filled with calculations in chicken scratch. Now everything can be taken care of on your computer through personal finance software. Budgeting the Key to being Financially Stable Single Mother's in need of Financial GuidanceBudgeting is key to being financially stable. A budget is a systematic plan for the expenditure of a usually fixed resource, such as money or time, during a given period. Budget Planning - Its Elementary My Dear Watson Does it feel like you have to be Sherlock Holmes to solve the mystery behind balancing your personal budget? Are you living a mysterious thriller where your realization of "financial independence and security" is a vicious repeating cycle of debt? Don't be afraid?.. Resources to Help You Learn About and Protect Yourself from Identity Theft There is a new bill that is being passes, it is a very weak bill but if passed, it will prohibit using a social security number for identification purposes. This bill should take affect in 2006. How to Draw a Personal Budget that Works Many people spend their little income haphazardly without any planning and end up getting broke before month-end. They then borrow to make ends meet and end up with more problems that they fail to repay their debts promptly. How to Save Money in a Grocery Store Now there are ways to save money in the grocery store, and they may or may not take much effort on your part to learn some great ways to save money. Your greater savings can often be found in the perishable departments of a grocery store. How To Place an Online Order for Checks - It is Easy as 1-2-3 If You Have an Existing Account and 5 Minutes, You Can Place Your Online Order that Easy!Ordering checks online has become very popular for a number of reasons. The main reason for the majority of people is because they can choose a fun design that fits their personality that is not available at their local bank. Grocery Savings - Your Kitchen is a Goldmine! Your food budget is the most flexible area of your household budget. Grocery savings will free up a significant amount of money if you need to balance the budget, or fund your savings accounts. Top 10+ Ways to Jumpstart your New Year's Finances! Of course, these don't have to be done in any particular order! Just pick one or two that particularly apply to your situation. * Create your 2005 filing system. The Changing Shape of Family Finances Super-mumsIt seems that the proof of maternal efforts is no longer found in the pudding ? it's in the spending. Women are increasingly outsourcing personal grooming tasks and the pressure of looking good, feeling healthy, maintaining a tight ship and IQ level has meant that housecleaning and gardening are again fashionable methods to promote the family brand; housewifery is now a career, with all the attitude of 21st century post-feminism. Budgets And Eating - Can They Co-Exist? Whatever your reason for having a tight budget, thetruth is that going to the grocery store without a planis a BIG budget breaker. And sadly all that cash endsup vanishing into our stomachs and then. Are You Sick of the Financial Insecurity of Fluctuating Seasons and Income? Finding a stable and secure income that will come year in, year out, no matter what happens on the farm, will give you real peace of mind. By investing off farm, you are not only providing a secure income now, but also preparing for retirement. The Origins of Check Writing People haven't always written checks to buy goods and services. But you know that right? So how did people transfer money from one place to another in times of old?In ancient times the most popular form of money exchange was the trade.
|
| home | site map | contact us |
