Group Vacation Money Saving Tips

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My family and I are currently vacationing in Florida with a group of friends. We’ve done this several years now, and always have a great time. Over the years we have developed a portfolio of ways to save money. Previous Vacation Money Saving Articles Some techniques I’ve already written about here on Enemy Of Debt: Road Trip: The more people in your family, the more it costs to fly across the country. We take a few days to drive down instead. Not only does it save us money, it provides opportunity for family bonding and adventure. Group Meals: Several people […] Read more »

Fist Pump Friday: I Love You Like A Blogger Roundup – 3/22

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Greetings from the road, EOD Nation! The family and I are on a road trip to Destin, Florida for our annual spring break vacation.  The hotel we’re at tonight had free food available in the lobby tonight including breadsticks, salad, and soup.  Instead we opted to go out to a Mexican restaurant, and the food was subpar.  We should have just stuck with the free food at the hotel.  Lesson learned, you just don’t pass up free food! Fists up for my favorite posts of the week! Posts That Make Me Fist Pump Comparing Annual Household Expenses from Money Beagle […] Read more »

Credit Card Rewards Cost Me $140

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Credit card reward programs put real money in your pocket if used correctly. Used incorrectly they can actually cost you money. A recent personal experience is a textbook example of how dangerous credit card rewards programs can actually be. I noticed I had $40 of Best Buy reward dollars about to expire. Not about to let $40 be wasted I hunted around on their website for something to buy. I found an inexpensive drone that I could get for no additional money out of my pocket. However, the reviews were terrible. One of them pointed off to a different drone, […] Read more »

3 Scenarios for Which VAT Loans Make Sense

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Collecting and remitting value-added tax (VAT) is something nearly every UK business has to deal with. Sometimes though, circumstances work out in such a way that a business does not have enough money in the bank to pay VAT when due. Then what? One option is to take a look at vat loans. A typical VAT loan is a short-term loan intended to cover a company’s tax bill. VAT loans take many forms. They can be based on credit card receipts or invoices. They can be straight up small business loans offered as secured or unsecured instruments. It really just […] Read more »

Fist Pump Friday: I Love You Like A Blogger Roundup – 3/15/19

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Recently, I’ve received my yearly 2% cash back bonus from Costco, as well as my cash back rebate from my Costco Citi card.  I’ll be using those funds for this weekend’s activities, which means everything we do this weekend is essentially free.  Some of the extra funds will go into our emergency fund, while some will go towards some new spring clothing needs of the family. Fist pump for extra funds, AND my favorite posts of the week! Posts That Make Me Fist Pump Weekend Reading: The Problem With FIRE Edition from Boomer And Echo The Ugly Truth About Consumer […] Read more »

My Daughter Is Taking A Personal Finance Class!

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My daughter asked me to look over her class registration form for her senior year in high school. We made sure she had all the required classes first, then discussed electives. I was tickled when she stated she thought a personal finance class was a good idea. I think her exact reasoning was, “So she can be a smart, independent woman.” A quote from somewhere I’m sure. Financial Education Is Important If high school prepares students for the rest of their lives, giving them the skills needed to be productive successful adults, then personal finance should be a required class. […] Read more »

Fist Pump Friday: I Love You Like A Blogger Roundup – 3/8/19

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Well, here we go again.  Another snow storm is forecasted to hit Minnesota this weekend. The snow totals from this system will likely push this season’s snow total into record territory as the snowiest winter ever recorded in my city.  The county’s salt stock piles are depleted, and the supplier is unable to send more. This doesn’t bode well for road conditions in the near future. But, on the bright side, I don’t mind being holed up in my warm and comfy house! Now get your fists up for my favorite posts of the week! Posts That Make Me Fist […] Read more »

Best Buy’s Lease to Own Program: Friend or Foe?

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Electronic retailer Best Buy is rolling out a new lease to own program that would have consumers potentially pay double the retail cost of products. The program takes advantage of people with poor credit for no other reason than, they can. Lease To Own Program Background People wishing to purchase an item using the lease to own program agree to 12 monthly payments that may add up to over double the retail cost. The terms of the agreement state the consumer doesn’t own the item until the last payment is made. Best Buy claims the program is for people who […] Read more »

Towards a Stable Financial Future: 4 Pros and Cons of Paying Off Your Mortgage Early

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Buying your own home is a major financial decision and almost as soon as you have signed on the dotted line and agreed a mortgage deal your thoughts might start to turn to how you can pay this huge debt off as quickly as possible. Getting yourself into a position where you are the owner of your property and don’t have to pay a mortgage every month will often give you the feeling of greater financial freedom and prosperity, so is it a good idea to formulate a plan to pay the loan off early? Here are some key points […] Read more »

Fist Pump Friday: I Love You Like A Blogger Roundup – 3/1

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One down, two to go. I filed my son’s tax return this morning, which was accepted by the IRS within minutes. Next up, I’ll do my daughters (which will take minutes), and start gathering the data for my own. Hoping to mark taxes completely off the todo list this weekend. Fist pump for putting another tax season in the rear view mirror, and my favorite posts of the week! Posts That Make Me Fist Pump 10 Ways to Simplify Your Finances to Save a Ton of Time and Money from Couple Money 6 Ways We’re Saving Money After Buying a […] Read more »

3 Reasons You Shouldn’t Buy H&R Block Tax Software Online

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I’ve used H&R Block tax preparation software for years. It’s available in physical form from retailers, as well as downloadable online directly from the H&R Block website. While downloading the software may be convenient, there are a few reasons you might make a special trip to buy a physical copy instead. Buying a physical copy of H&R Block tax preparation software could save you money, and be more convenient to access your returns if needed in the future. Physical Copy Is Cheaper Buying a physical copy is cheaper than buying the digital version online. Below is a cost comparison of […] Read more »

4 Under-the-Radar Expenses that Contribute to Debt

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Contrary to popular belief, most people living in the United States carry some form of debt. Indeed, only about a quarter of the population is currently debt-free, and many Americans will spend most of their adult life in debt. However, that doesn’t have to be the case. Simply making a few small, but meaningful, lifestyle changes can put you back on the path toward financial stability. Today we’re going to analyze four under-the-radar expenses that often contribute to debt and explain how you can avoid, manage, and reduce them in your own life: Home-Improvement Projects In the practical sense, owning […] Read more »

Fist Pump Friday: I Love You Like A Blogger Roundup – 2/22/19

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This is the snowiest February on record here in Minnesota, and we’re not done yet.  Another major snow storm is forecasted this weekend, and potentially more next week before the end of the month. We’ve had snow day after snow day from school, and the white stuff is piling up everywhere.  On the positive side, it’s easy on the budget since it’s hard to spend money when you’re stuck at home! Fist pump for snowstorms (I think?) and my favorite posts of the week! Posts That Make Me Fist Pump Where’s My Tax Refund? How to Check Your Status from […] Read more »

How to Deal with Personal Debt and get Your Finances in Order

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Debt is something that can cause many sleepless nights, if it gets out of hand. Ideally, you should learn how to manage your finances, by checking out the best personal finance blogs, and seeking professional advice if necessary. This can help you to keep your finances in order and avoid having issues with debt. However, many Americans struggle with financial literacy and find themselves in situations that they cannot handle. In fact, debt is a common factor in the lives of many people in the US. The average American has around $38,000 of personal debt. This is aside from any […] Read more »