Money Girl's Quick And Dirty Tips For A Richer Life

Taxes probably aren't your favorite topic, but the more you understand about them, the more money you can save by legally cutting your tax bill. Laura answers seven tax-related questions about working remotely, living abroad as an expat, and doing freelance work. Get the Money Girl book at http://www.MoneyGirlBook.com.

If you've ever wondered if you should invest in precious metals, it's time to get more information. Laura answers a listener question about owning gold in light of the political climate. She'll explain why investors choose gold, how to buy it, and what amount might be right for your portfolio.

Claiming the home office deduction is a smart way to make certain expenses fully or partially deductible. But there are strict rules to qualify. Find out who can claim the often-overlooked home office deduction, which expenses are deductible, and how to figure out the amount you can deduct. Maxing out legal tax breaks helps you keep more of your money so you reach your financial goals faster. Get the Money Girl book at http://www.MoneyGirlBook.com.

Laura interviews a Social Security expert about how the program works and what you need to know even if you're nowhere near retirement age. They discuss who's eligible for benefits, pros and cons of taking early retirement, how to avoid expensive Social Security mistakes, and the future of the program. Get the Money Girl book at http://MoneyGirlBook.com.

Retirement accounts can be the best way to secure your future--but the rules can be confusing. Laura answers four IRA questions about who's eligible, the rules for doing rollovers, and tips to retire early. Get the Money Girl book at http://MoneyGirlBook.com.

Laura answers questions about how to build credit, manage credit utilization, correct credit errors, handle past due accounts, and prioritize debt the best way possible. Read or listen to the audio podcast for key tips to maintain good credit for life.

Money Girl interviews a 529 college savings plan expert on how to fund higher education for yourself, a child, or grandchild without going broke. Learn how to choose the right 529 plan and use it wisely, how much to save, what the funds can be used for, and the tax benefits that make these special accounts the perfect way to save for college.

Five important traits to look for when choosing a life partner (plus many to avoid) so you're more likely to have a happy and successful financial life together. Read the full podcast here: http://bit.ly/1F40uGs

Do you have concerns or unanswered questions about investing for retirement that have kept you from getting started? It's time to get more clarity so you can move your finances forward with confidence instead of staying stuck and never building wealth. Laura answer 3 questions about how to choose the best accounts, cut investment fees, and manage risk the best ways possible. Get the Money Girl book at http://MoneyGirlBook.com.

Want to become an entrepreneur while avoiding all the potential pitfalls? Laura interviews Patrick McGinnis, author of The 10% Entrepreneur about why you don't have to choose between your current career and starting a profitable side business. Find out how to balance financial stability and volatility with grace and embrace where even a part-time venture can lead you. Get the Money Girl book at http://www.MoneyGirlBook.com. Read the transcript at http://bit.ly/2sOhmWA Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW MONEY GIRL Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoneyGirlQDT Twitter: https://twitter.com/LauraAdams

Woohoo, it's the 500th episode of Money Girl! Let's celebrate by going behind the scenes. Laura shares the Money Girl story, how she got started as a personal finance expert and author, how the podcast began, its major influence on her career, and how the show gets created for you each week. Get the Money Girl book at http://www.MoneyGirlBook.com.

While having bad credit can be a roadblock when applying for a loan from a traditional lender, it doesn't mean that you can't get a loan. Laura covers 6 lending alternatives to get a loan even if your credit is less than perfect. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/1YkHwH7. Read the transcript at Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW MONEY GIRL Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoneyGirlQDT Twitter: https://twitter.com/LauraAdams

Handling debt wisely is one of the most important parts of your financial life. Laura answers 6 questions she recently received about student loans, HELOCs, and credit card debt. You'll learn tips to protect your credit, use existing home equity, manage student loan repayment, and prioritize your personal finances.

Laura interviews Jocelyn Paonita Pearson, a scholarship expert and founder of The Scholarship System. They talk about how to pay for college without loans by using scholarship funds. After years of trial and error, Jocelyn cracked the code on how to get a free ride through college. She got over $126,000 in scholarships and graduated completely debt free. You’ll learn common scholarship myths to avoid, different types to go after, the best age to start applying, and a free resource to learn more. Get the Money Girl book at http://www.MoneyGirlBook.com.

We love our pets, but they can be expensive! Laura discusses what it really costs to own a pet and 5 tips to cut expenses for a current or new furry friend. This post is dedicated to her sweet yellow Lab, Dixie, who's resting in peace after 17 years of loyal companionship. Get the Money Girl book at http://www.MoneyGirlBook.com.

Laura interviews Mike Kinane, a HELOC expert and Senior Vice President for Consumer Lending at TD Bank. They discuss just about everything current or future homeowners need to know about getting a home equity line of credit. You'll learn how you can spend funds, amounts you can borrow, qualification guidelines, potential fees, rules for claiming interest as a tax deduction, and what to do when interest rates are moving up. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2p6tZXx

It's time to get clarity on your investing questions. Laura answer 7 questions from the Money Girl community about a variety of investing and retirement topics. You’ll learn how to get higher investment returns, retire early, prioritize accounts, do rollovers, know when you should invest, and rules for managing multiple retirement accounts. Cut the confusion and you'll have more success! Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2py0GAM

Ever wanted to make sure your kid would end up rich? The secret to having a secure future or paying for college could be setting him or her up with an IRA--an underutilized vehicle that many people miss. Laura explains the benefits of starting an IRA for minors, the rules for eligibility, how to open an account, and when you can spend the money penalty free. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2p1wfUG

Taking advantage of a retirement plan at work and an IRA is a smart way to cut taxes and save more money for the future. But having multiple accounts can change the rules. Laura answers a listener question and explains how to avoid pitfalls so you leverage multiple accounts to reach your retirement goals. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2nJuaaB Get the Money Girl book at http://MoneyGirlBook.com.

There are many ways to legally shelter your income from tax so you save money. Laura explains 8 ways to reduce your taxable income so you pay less tax. You can take advantage of some or all of them, no matter how much or little money you make, to keep more of your hard-earned money. Read the transcript at http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/node/9591