Archive for the ‘LearnVest Daily’ Category

The Affordable Way To Be A Foodie (Slide Show!)

The Problem.
We love fancy jams and cheeses from the farmers market, but we have a hard time planning our schedules around going. Plus, there are a limited number of sellers, so you can’t exactly go comparison shopping for gourmet granola (we found 45 different varieties on Foodzie).
The Solution.
Check out an affordable online marketplace that allows you to buy local and artisanal food directly from producers. Think of it as an edible Etsy.
The Action.
Visit Foodzie, launched in December 2008. It supports small gourmet foodmakers by giving them their own online storefront from which to sell goods. This provides consumers with access [...]

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Day 17: Tackle Retirement Accounts In Five Steps

Total Action Time: ~20 Minutes
So, you have a sense for the differences between the retirement vehicles, but which one is right for you? Roll up your sleeves – it is time to get serious about your financial future!
Learn:
Let’s talk about your options:
1. If your employer offers a 401(k) matching plan, enroll! Contribute as much as you can (up to the $16,500 limit) to get your full matching benefits. If your company does not match and you can save more than the $5000 IRA contribution limit, you should definitely still contribute to your 401(k)!
2. If your company doesn’t sponsor a 401(k) [...]

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Risky Business: How Likely Are You To Suffer Identity Theft?

Posted By: Minda Zetlin

The Problem.
How to know if you’re at risk for identity theft—or, worse, if someone is attempting to steal your identity right now? Simply looking at your credit report, or credit card and bank statements may alert you as much as a year after crooks have started using your personal information. We’d rather catch them before that.
The Solution.
Figure out how high your individual risk of identity theft is, and then stay on top of it.
The Action.
MyIDScore.com is a free service from ID Analytics, an anti-fraud software developer whose clients include banks and creditors. My ID Score assesses how at-risk you are [...]

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Day 16: What’s An IRA/401(k) And Why You Should Care NOW

Total Action Time: ~10 minutes
The topic of retirement is daunting, we know. So deep breath, we’ll make it easy!
Retirement is expensive. We’re not just talking about fancy vacations; we’re talking about critical expenses like proper healthcare and visits to your children.
Learn:
Experts suggest that the amount you’re estimated to need for paying bills during retirement equals about 70% of whatever you made in the years before that. Saving early makes a real difference.
If you contributed to a Roth IRA every year starting at age 20, you could retire as a millionaire! Here’s why time is your biggest asset: Chelsea and [...]

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Stop Procrastinating! 4 Steps To Mentally Prepare Yourself To Tackle Your Taxes

Posted By: Amanda Clayman

Even Albert Einstein lamented that “the hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.” Though taxes are complex and tedious, the number one reason we dread April 15th is simple: Nobody likes to pay tax.
Here’s how to get over procrastination and take the sting out of doing taxes:
Step One: Put Emotions Aside.
When we’re stressed out or on high alert, it is much harder for our brains to weigh options, predict consequences, and solve complex problems. No matter how good you are at multi-tasking, it’ll be much harder to think clearly when your brain is engaged in a [...]

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