The Best Credit Card Offers with Rewards

By Joe Taylor

Credit cards don't have to force you into debt. In fact, if you use them the right way, credit card rewards can actually earn you money. Over the years, I've tweaked my spending so I use credit cards to pay for everything. That way, I rack up a frequent flyer bonus, a cash back rebate, or special perks with every purchase. I like to review what's in my wallet from time to time, replacing cards I don't use that often with new accounts that offer special signup bonuses.

While I still carry a few wads of emergency cash around, it's easier than ever to run most everyday purchases on rewards credit cards. Check some of these...

By MoneyBlueBook

Anyone can make money online with eBay by selling products, but you have to be prepared to put in a lot of time and effort doing manual labor, packaging, and shipping goods. If you are willing to put your back into it, you can easily make quite a bit by buying the most popular consumer products from wholesellers and selling them on eBay. So many people claim to offer wholesale lists on eBay, but don't even bother with them. Their sources are useless and the majority will try to swindle you. It's a dangerous world out there so first, a few general rules of caution to abide by that will save you plenty of time, money, and headache. Unfortunately, many people disregard these rules every day, and lose thousands of dollars to scammers.

1) Never Buy Products From Anyone Who Wants To Be Paid By Western Union.

If someone asks for payment by Western Union, do not respond to them and avoid them immediately. Their low priced merchandise might be tempting, but it will almost always be a scam. Remember, it is your own responsibility to verify the reputation and legitimacy of the seller. Western Union is not responsible for the non-receipt or quality of any goods or services.

Common Western Union scams include, but are not limited to the following:

By MoneyBlueBook

As I may have mentioned before, I'm a recovering attorney - and a fairly young one at that (I'm in my late 20's). Right now I'm in the process of working at home on my online blog and business ventures for a few months before returning back to my full time work as a contract attorney.

So how did I end up doing this type of work instead of using my law degree to pursue a so-called real legal career? Sometimes I ponder about what my dream job might have been had I not gone to law school, since it wasn't my passion in life to begin with. My decision to attend graduate school was more due to process of elimination. I started out college on the pre-med track to become a doctor, did well in my studies, got bored with chemistry and biology, and eventually shifted gears into computer science. I loved taking programming theory and practice courses and did very well, but after a few semesters, I decided that I couldn't see myself stuck as a computer programming nerd - so I moved on (how ironic, now that I've come full circle again). So then I decided to go the business route and major in finance. After a few more semesters during which I did pretty well, I pondered what else was out there. However, by then I had enough college credits to graduate and my parents were beginning to wave the tuition baton, "encouraging" me to move onto bigger and better things.

By MoneyBlueBook

In the world of taxes and financial planning, the terms adjusted gross income (AGI) and modified adjusted gross income (modified AGI or MAGI) are particularly significant. They are frequently used to calculate and determine the extent of certain benefits and deductions. AGI in particular is used to determine qualification to take certain itemized deductions and used to calculate taxable income. It is also the key determinative factor to rebate payment under the 2008 economic stimulus tax package. Qualification for the stimulus payment is not based on salary or after-tax take home income, but rather on the taxpayer's total adjusted gross income, which is a terminology encompassing a broader range of income sources.

The term modified adjusted gross income is particularly important as well. It is used to determine qualification to take certain tax adjustments like the child tax credit and eligibility for certain education expense credits. Overwhelmingly though, the MAGI's significance is most commonly associated with tax deferred investment retirement accounts (IRA's). It is a key income factor in determining Roth IRA contribution limits and phaseouts, as well as qualification for IRA to Roth conversions. The higher the MAGI, the more the Roth IRA contribution limit is reduced and ultimately phased out. The MAGI term is often overlooked because the amount calculated in MAGI is often similar or even the same as the adjusted gross income for most ordinary tax situations.

For clarification, here are the income and deductions that comprise both the AGI and the MAGI:

1) Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) - is comprised of

By MoneyBlueBook

Updated IRA and Roth Contribution Tables For Tax Year 2009

Because of the power of compound interest, it is never too early to start saving for your future and planning your retirement nest egg. The earlier you start taking advantage of tax deferred investments, the more money you'll have to live on when retirement rolls around. Don't count on dying young to relieve you of the need to save either. Statistics show that improvements in medical technology and lifestyle changes, coupled with increased health awareness are extending our lives longer than before.

For the younger, single people out there, I know it can be strange discussing retirement so early on, but you must remember that your actions now have a huge impact on your future welfare. The cash you invest today in a tax deferred retirement account has a disproportionately more significant impact on your wealth level than money invested later. Don't delay or keep putting it off - even catch up contributions won't be much help if you wait too long to save for retirement.

When it comes to saving for retirement, there are a variety of tax deferred options such as the common employer sponsored 401K plan. But there is also the Traditional Investment Retirement Account (IRA) and the Roth IRA. Both are excellent ways to save for the future but you must be mindful of IRS rules when funding them - by being aware of the annual contribution limits, the contribution deadlines, and the applicable income phaseout ranges. I've created a list of

By MoneyBlueBook

Business credit cards have grown to become a commonly accepted and practical way for small startup businesses to acquire access to needed venture credit. Not only do they offer benefits unique to business office and supply demands such as higher credit lines, better credit card rewards, and more versatile expense tracking, they offer also the opportunity for growing businesses to build up their business credit history. This is important because one day the business may need to draw upon that developed business credit history to acquire corporate loans.

Individuals Can Apply For Business Credit Cards With Their Social Security Numbers

What many consumers seemingly overlook is that business credit card benefits can be available to them as well and are not reserved for complex business entities alone. Card applicants don't have to be part of a corporation or a limited liability company (LLC) to qualify. Ordinary individuals can go into business for themselves and establish their business operation as a sole proprietorship. If you are self employed, a freelance worker, or an independent contractor like myself, you may very well be operating as a sole proprietor already. In the eyes of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the government, and credit card companies, the individual and his or her sole proprietorship business are one and the same for legal and income tax purposes. The only significant difference is when it comes to record keeping and business tax deductions. As sole proprietorships are entitled to write off their business expenses against their income, most are encouraged to