Dec. 21 -- Giving
can save you money during the holidays (BRIAN BETHEL) Giving of yourself during the holiday season —
or during any season — can be immensely rewarding, and in
most cases, you can easily claim contributions to charities on
your upcoming tax forms.
Nov. 30 -- Starting
a new job can be stressful, challenging (BRIAN BETHEL) A new office may house the job of your dreams, but
it doesn’t mean the transition will be easy.
Nov. 28 -- Brady
fifth-graders share their ideas of true wealth (Nancy Robinson) Being the author of a series of books about airplanes
for kids has taken me to hundreds of schools all over the country
this year.
Nov. 16 -- Plan
ahead to keep money crunch from spoiling holidays (BRIAN BETHEL)
The holiday season comes but once
a year, but your pocketbook can feel the pinch long after the
final strands of tinsel exit your abode.
Sept. 21 -- Inheritance
must be reported to determine eligibility for benefits (Ken
Hargis) Q. I get Supplemental Security
Income because I am elderly and have no income. My brother recently
died and left me the money he had in a savings account. Will this
extra money affect my SSI benefits? Will my SSI payments stop?
Sept. 21 -- Banking On It - Know
your needs before picking a checking account (BRIAN BETHEL) A
checking account is a basic financial tool, but picking the right
one can be confusing. Flavors of accounts range from interest-bearing
to accounts that limit you to a certain number of checks a month.
Sept. 21 -- Sometimes
money just costs too much (DORIS WILD HELMERING) I recently heard an interesting comment: “Money
costs too much.” Although I don’t know who originally
said this, I believe he or she was on target. First of all, money
costs years and years of working. In fact, money costs most of
your life.
Aug. 31 -- Nine
things to do before you interview:
Getting past a job interview successfully can be stressful. But
if you are willing to do some preparation work beforehand, you
can edge just that much closer to landing the job of your dreams.
Aug. 31 -- Career
fairs are valuable resource for students: If your campus hosts a career fair, you should
try to attend. These are great opportunities for you to start
your job search, even if you’re not graduating soon.
Aug. 27 -- Heart
of Texas for sale in Brady ... by the square inch: BRADY — Ever get the itch to own a small ranch?
Just a little ranch deep in the heart of Texas? Well, now you
can. It is dirt cheap, too. For almost nothing, as far as Texas
spreads go, you too can become a Texas rancher, stand in the sun
and squint, look over your portion of the earth and smile with
satisfaction, knowing it is not just any old land, but Texas land,
and land that is right smack dab in the middle of Texas to boot.
Aug. 17 -- Be
cautious when contemplating Internet trading: If you like cutting out the middle man, then the
Internet could become your stock-buying dream come true.
July 20 -- Qualifying
for credit when you’re over 62:
If you’re an older consumer who has paid with cash all
your life, you may find it difficult to qualify for credit. You
may also find it harder to get a loan if your income has decreased
after your retirement or the death of your spouse. Consider these
tips:
July 20 -- Estate
planning can protect your heirs (Brian Bethel): Life ends. That’s the bad news. The good news
is that you can be prepared for it. With proper estate planning,
you can set up safeguards to protect what you own and those you
love.
June 29 -- Here's
how to tell if you're ready for a career move: Everyone needs a change. Some need it more than
others. Changing your whole career, though, is a major step —
one that many dream of taking, but few actually do.
June 15 -- Will
military retirement offset Social Security? (Ken Hargis): Q. I am a military man and I’m going to
retire soon. I also have enough credits to receive Social Security
benefits. Will my benefits be offset because of my military retirement?
A. Generally there is no offset of Social Security benefits because
of your military retirement.
June 15 -- Retirement
planning takes compromise between spouses: I’m seeing a couple in their early 60s who
are concerned about their retirement. Between the two of them
they have $140,000 in savings. Their home is worth about $160,000.
They still owe approximately $38,000 on it.
May 18 -- Travel
agents offer tips on airline ticket savings (Brian Bethel): If you gotta fly where your heart takes you, or
at least where the kids want to go for summer vacation, then you
can easily spend a bundle.
May 18 -- Safeguarding
your nest egg: According to
the U.S. Department of Labor, there are several common causes
of errors when pension benefits are calculated. Keep these tips
in mind to protect your pension from dwindling.
Apr. 20 -- Bankruptcy
has implications you should know:
Bankruptcy isn’t so bad — or at least, that’s the
way it would seem from the millions of Americans who chose to
either liquidate or pay back their debts that way.
Apr. 2 -- Surge
in credit cards poses new dilemma for parents: FORT WORTH — A few months ago, Bill Meadows
intercepted a piece of mail sent to his 10-year-old daughter,
an offer for a low-interest credit card.
Feb. 16 -- How
to select a long-distance service:
Competition in the telecommunications service industry is heating
up and consumers are benefiting from fewer prices and expanded
features. To choose from the more than 700 firms looking for customers,
consider the following:
Jan. 19 -- Tomorrow
Fund helps pay for students' futures (Brian Bethel): When you send your kids to college, you spend money
like there was no tomorrow. For many Texas families, though, tomorrow
has already been taken care of in the form of the Texas Tomorrow
Fund, now in its fourth enrollment year.
Jan. 19 -- Social
Security Q & A: Q. How much
money can a retired person expect to receive from Social Security?
A. For Social Security beneficiaries, the average monthly benefit
amount for a retired worker is $780, starting in 1999. The maximum
monthly retirement benefit payable is $1,373, starting in 1999.
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