Earning ? Spending ? Saving ? Borrowing ? Protect
April 1 marked the kick-off of National Financial Literacy Month, an entire month dedicated to creating awareness of the importance of financial literacy and teaching individuals how to build and maintain healthy financial habits. In an effort to promote and standardize financial literacy across the nation, the Department of Treasury’s Financial Literacy and Education Commission has developed a set of core educational concepts that should be covered by financial literacy educators. The concepts include Earning, Spending, Saving, Borrowing, and Protect.
In honor of National Financial Literacy Month, we will be doing themed link round-ups each week to highlight a different core concept using the best of iGrad’s articles and resources. This week’s round-up will bring you the best and most relevant information within the topic of Earning.
The core concept, Earning, aims to establish a basic knowledge of money in the workplace by helping individuals understand their paycheck; teaching about potential employee benefits and taxes; and emphasizing the importance of education as an investment in ones future. To help you develop a stronger understanding of these fundamental lessons, we present a comprehensive collection of iGrad’s top resources on borrowing and other related subject matter.
Tax Day Deadlines
Beyond the famous April 15 deadline when tax season finally comes to an end and your taxes are due, there are other important dates you should know regarding your taxes. Here is a calendar of tax deadline dates throughout the year to be aware of...
Stop Paying for Tax Assistance! Try These Free Services Instead
The fear of getting penazlied for making a mistake on our taxes drives many taxpayers to seek out paid assistance each year. You should not be ashamed to ask for help, but you should be if you are still paying for it with all these free options…
IRS Tax Tip: Itemizing vs. Standard Deduction - 6 Facts to Help You Choose
When you file a tax return, you usually have to decide between itemized deductions or taking the standard deduction. You should choose the one that gives you the better tax benefits. These facts will help you determine which approach is best…
IRS Tax Tip: Free Tax Help for Military Personnel and Their Families
Are you or a family member in the U.S. Armed Forces? If so, there are multiple ways that you and/or your family can get free tax help in the U.S. as well as overseas. Here are four things you need to know about free military tax assistance…
IRS Tax Tip: 7 Important Tax Facts About Medical and Dental Expenses
If your medical or dental coverage did not cover expenses that you incurred for related costs in the last year, tax deductions might be available for you to cover the costs that your insurance didn’t. Here’s how to get the deduction…
IRS Tax Tip: Top 10 Tax Time Tips
To make the mandatory chore of tax filing easier and to help ensure a smooth process for taxpayers, the IRS has put together its top most important tax tips for you. Your return is due April 15 so take heed of these essentials tidbits of advice…
IRS Tax Tip: How to Get IRS Forms and Publications
Not sure where to pick up your various tax forms or unsure of even which kind you need? Not to worry. This list compiled by the IRS shares four ways taxpayers can get a hold of the necessary forms as well as find tax assistance if they need it…
IRS Tax Tip: 6 Important Tax Facts About Dependents and Exemptions
Being able to claim a dependent on a tax return is tied to a number of benefits, which is why it is important to know whether or not your dependent can be claimed on your tax return. But before making any claims on your taxes, be aware of these…
IRS Tax Tip: Taxable and Nontaxable Income
When filing your taxes, all forms of income must be reported, however, only some of those income types are taxable. If you are not sure what is classified as income, this list will clarify things. You will also learn the importance of knowing…
IRS Tax Tip: Who Should File a 2012 Tax Return?
Do you need to file a tax return this year? Your filing status, your age, your income type and amount will determine this, but even if you do not think you need to, there are beneficial reasons to do so anyways. Find out how to take advantage…
IRS Tax Tip: 8 Tax Benefits for Parents
Did you know that your children may help you qualify for valuable tax benefits to maximize your return, such as certain credits and deductions? If you are a parent, here are eight benefits you shouldn’t miss when filing taxes this year…
Job Hunting? You May Be Able to Get a Tax Deduction
As most individuals who have been unemployed will know, job hunting is a full-time job in itself. It requires you to invest considerable time and money you might not have. Fortunately, some job-search related expenses qualify for tax breaks…
Taxes for Beginners: Top 10 Must-Know Terms
Are you fluent in the language of taxes? Don’t worry if you are not. This crash course will bring you up to speed with a condensed glossary of the top ten terms you need to know to file your income tax return with ease. Ready to be bilingual..?
Tax Breaks Every Parent of a College Student Should Know About
With the cost of college continually increasing, families are looking for any way they can to save on tuition expenses. In their search for savings, very few are aware of these tax breaks that are tailored specifically towards college students…
6 Potential Red Flags That Can Get You Audited
As much as we all deplore taxes, they are simply a part of life and everyone has to deal with them whether we like it or not. Why make the process harder on yourself by getting audited? Here are (some suprising) red flags that you should avoid...
8 Ways to Spend Your Tax Refund Wisely
After enduring the strenuous period that is tax time, it is nice knowing that you have a tax return check arriving in the mail as a consolation for your efforts. Follow these financially smart tips and strategies to make the most of your extra money...
Financial Literacy: How to Decipher Your Paycheck (Video)
Have you ever tried to figure out what each line-item deduction is on your paycheck? Want to know where your money's going? iGradTV presents the college grad's guide to paycheck deductions, taxes, and those end-of-year W-2s.
Top 3 Advantages to Using Direct Deposit
One of the keys to successful money management is taking advantage of the financial tools and resources that make this easier to achieve. A great example is the direct deposit feature offered by many employers. Find out why you should be using this feature...
Employee Benefits Explained: Retirement and Investment
401(k), Roth, SIMPLE and ESOP—what do these all mean? If you are not familiar with these retirement and investment plans, it is time to learn. Each of these options offer different types of benefits that can help you plan for your future…
Personal Finance 101: Your Work Benefits Package—Health Insurance
To get the most out of your employee benefits package, it is crucial that you consider certain key items when choosing health insurance coverage, such as deductibles, providers and the overall plan. Here are the questions you should be asking…
Personal Finance 101: Your Work Benefits Package—Life Insurance
Understanding your life insurance coverage options is crucial to making sound financial decisions, yet this benefit is often misunderstood. We help assess your needs and explain your options to determine the best avenue to buy your insurance…
Personal Finance 101: Your Work Benefits Package—Disability Insurance
For young employees, income protection is an important benefit so it’s smart to analyze the group protection offered by your work for disability insurance. The details of your coverage options can be confusing so we explain them here..
Personal Finance 101: Your Work Benefits Package—The Extras
Depending on where you work, there are many types of unique benefits offered. Examining these benefits and how they can fit in your budget plan will help you maximize your employee compensation package. Here are some to look for and consider…
Do Single 20-Somethings Need Life Insurance
In your twenties, your future feels too distant to necessitate the purchase of life insurance, but it can be a good investment for certain young individuals. Each situation is different, however, so find out if it's the right choice for you…
Getting Intimate With Health Insurance
You moved out of mom's basement, but now you have to shop around for a health insurance plan - something you've probably never done before. The acronyms and deductibles and other buzzwords are driving you nuts. Here's a cheat sheet to help!
A Life Lesson in Life Insurance
You should review your life insurance needs each time you have a major life event like getting married, having a child or buying a home. Here is what you need to know to properly plan...
How Hourly Jobs in College Can Help You Nab a High-Paying Job
There are actual, quantifiable advantages to taking a job that’s just so-so, or “beneath” you, especially when you’re still in college or graduate school - or when you’re a newly-minted graduate looking for some workplace experience.
How to Use Self Confidence to Make More Money (Video)
Discover how to be self-confident enough to not devaluate yourself with customers and clients and increase your income.
Negotiating Your Salary
These do's and don'ts of salary negotiation can help you get the salary you deserve, whether you're entertaining a job offer or asking for a raise.
Salary Negotiation 101: Introduction (Video)
Introduce yourself to the tenets of effective salary negotiation.
Salary Negotiation 101: Part 1 (Video)
Learn how to increase your income earnings with salary negotiation tactics and what common mistakes to avoid in the process...
Salary Negotiation 101: Part 2 (Video)
Get top tips about how you should value yourself as an employee and and how to increase your value in the eyes of employers and clients...
Salart Negotiation 101: Part 3 (Video)
Find out what the Eeyore Syndrome is and how to avoid falling prey to it, and pick up useful advice about how you should value yourself and how you can earn more money with your salary...
Fun Companies That Want to Hire You
Free lunches, massages, theme park passes, tuition reimbursement, huge gyms--who wouldn't want to work at these companies?!? Learn about the great benefits offered at to employees at these businesses.
Psychological Tactics: Devaluing Yourself as a Freelancer (Video)
Discover how to be self-confident enough to not devaluate yourself with customers and clients and increase your income.
Stand Out in the Sea of Resumes with Continuing Education Units (CEU)
Stay on top of your career, and your resume, by loading up on Continuing Education Units (CEUs). A few hours here and there not only helps beef up your resume, but also keeps you on top of your game with new industry leads, technology and best practice.
Distance Learning Universities
Thinking twice about your career? With layoffs and cutbacks, many people are reconsidering their career paths and goals, which may lead some to go back to college. Distance-learning universities, or online colleges, make it easier to fit higher education into your schedule.
Meeting Students' Demand for Online Education (Video)
Dean of School of Education of National University, Dr. Carl Beyer, discussing the importance of Online Education and the change in the trend in student bodies…
Kick the Tires and Look Under the Hood: Investing in Your College Education
If you are planning to go to college, you need to spend some time considering the value of what you are buying and what it will cost you. I guarantee that thinking about value now will help you get the most education for your money.
Why Giving Up is Not an Option
College students and recent college graduates are being told their degrees are worthless, there are no jobs, and the real world doesn't need them. This English major calls the media's bluff - and gives four tips she used to find her entry-level job.
How to Get an Internal Transfer at Work
Are you bored or dissatisfied with your job? Don't run for the hills just yet! Consider an internal transfer to another position within your company. It's often an easier, less stressful change and iGrad's got your guide…
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Should You Pony Up Cash for Continuing Education?
Experts, recruiters, and career coaches dish on whether recent college graduates should invest more money in continuing education to bulk up resumes and help them land their first real jobs.
Should I Go to Grad School Right After I Finish My Undergrad? (Video)
Watch this video to find out facts you should consider before making the decision to jump into Grad School immediately after finishing your Undergrad.
How to Further Your Career By Using Online Training Programs
Online training to learn a computer program, language, or any other skill that can help you in your career, is time well spent whether you’re employed or unemployed. More often than not, your employer will be impressed with your desire to learn and happy to foot some or all of the bill for this type of training. Just make sure to explain how the skill will make you more effective at your job.
Top Tax Tips for the Self-Employed
No matter what the nature or name of your freelance business is, it's important to have an effective tax planning strategy to avoid debt, or worse yet - being audited...
26 Must Have Resources for Tax Time
Tax time is stigmatized as being a huge hassle. That's why we've rounded up 26 great resources, on topics from student deductibles to deadline dates, from glossaries to how-to's, to help both tax rookies and seasoned vets get by with ease..
What Tax Deductibles Can I Take for Using My Car?
Are you racking up costly miles driving around on company work errands? If so, there are tax deductibles for which you’re business-related car expenses may qualify you for. We explain how to calculate costs for the largest refund possible…
Top 5 Ways to Spend Your Tax Return
You worked hard through college, saved every penny and avoided big drinking tabs and shopping sprees. Now you’ve received your first tax refund from your first professional position—what are you going to do with it?
The States With The Heaviest Student Loan Debts And Highest Delinquency Rates
Borrowing money is a great way to pay for college but it comes with a lot of responsibility and if not managed properly, you may find yourself in a situation of high student loan debt and even delinquency, like many other students in the US as shown...
