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Have you noticed that your paychecks have been a bit larger than normal lately? That’s because in 2011, the government is cutting the social security payroll tax paid by individuals from 6.2% to 4.2%.
How much is that in stone cold cash? If your annual income is $40,000, that’s $800 over the course of the year divided among your bi-weekly or monthly paychecks. If you earn $80,000 annually, your extra pocket money is $1,600. For those who make $106,800 or above, you’ll see an extra $2,136. Since social security is taxed individually, married couples could get up to a $4,272 take home pay boost for the year.
Now, what should you do with your extra moolah? Sheryl Garrett, the author of the Personal Finance for Dummies Workbook, a Certified Financial Planner and founder of the Garrett Planning Network, suggests these 10 ways to wisely spend your money, in order of importance for increasing your financial standing for years to come.
Balance Your Budget
If you live paycheck to paycheck, or on a tight budget, the extra $66 per month (if your annual income is $40,000) could mean the difference in paying your electricity bill this month – or not. This month, balance your budget with the fatter paychecks. Next month, adjust your budget so your expenses and income balances when the payroll tax cut expires. Since this bonus money is a one-year deal, don’t rely on it next year to cover basic expenses. Focus on other expense-reduction strategies: negotiate your next lease, use coupons at restaurants, ditch buying grocery items that are spoiling in your fridge, or change your IRS withholding if you get a refund every year.
Settle old debts
“Wouldn’t it be nice to pay off your mom and dad for the money they lent you for an apartment deposit?” says Garrett. Use this money to pay off any money you borrowed from family or friends.
Pay Off Credit Cards (and keep them that way)
Credit cards are easiest to attack, since you see the bill each month. If you use Mint.com, you can set up a goal to pay down your credit-card debt, and Mint will prepare a customized plan for you based on your cards’ balances and interest rates.
Boost Your 401(k) Contributions
If you’re currently not taking advantage of the full amount your employer will match on your 401(k), use your extra cash here. Once you’ve fulfilled this amount, deposit any remaining funds in a Roth IRA.
Contribute to a Roth IRA
Unless your adjusted gross income is higher than $122,000 if you’re single, or $179,000 if you’re married, filing jointly, you are eligible to contribute up to $5,000 in a Roth IRA. (The contribution limit is $6,000 if you’re 50 or older.) If you haven’t already made that contribution for 2010, you have until April 18, 2011, to do so. You can also, of course, contribute another $5,000 for 2011. While the amount you contribute is not tax deductible, you’ll reap the benefits once you start making withdrawals: all your withdrawals, earnings included, are completely tax-free as long as you’ve held them for at least five years. (And, of course, you need to be 59 ½ or older to make penalty-free contributions.)
Buy Yourself Marketable Skills
Enhance your ability to earn money in any of a number ways. If you’re actively looking for a job, consider hiring a resume service to help polish your resume. If you’ve been thinking of going back to school, take your GRE or GMAT test. Take a continuing education course. Buy a snazzy suit for interviews. The key is to spend cash in a way that will boost your income, now or in the near future.
Invest in Your Health
If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to improve your health, now is the time to see a nutritionist. If you’re a smoker, join a stop smoking program. Buy a bicycle to save on gas, or caulk your windows or insulate home. With every investment, think: will this save me money next year by doing this action?
Shop for Organization Tools
Luckily, Mint.com and basic tax software is free, but consider upgrading to the non-free version if you have a home business or more complicated tax forms. If your important documents are scattered across the house, buy a file cabinet or an expandable file organizer. The better organized you are, the easier it will be to manage your money.
Take a Vacay
If you already have all these categories covered, take a vacation. A yoga retreat, cruise or weekend with your honey at a B&B may be just what you need to return home and spend quality time tweaking your budget to perfection.
Reyna Gobel is a freelance journalist who specializes in financial fitness. She is also the author of Graduation Debt: How To Manage Student Loans and Live Your Life.
Marriage can be hard enough some days. Throw money into the mix, and things can get downright ugly. However, just as disagreements in other aspects of your married life don’t have to result in permanent rifts, disagreements over money don’t have to ruin your relationship. As with all things in marriage, money issues need to be worked through. Here are some ideas for overcoming disagreements about money in marriage:
Know Thyself
One of the best things you can do is understand your relationship with money. In order to articulate your position on money to your partner, you need to be able understand. Think about why you spend (or save) money the way you do. You should also come to grips with why you don’t like the way your spouse handles money, and determine whether or not your own preferences and money prejudices are coloring the situations.
Avoid Money Discussions When Angry
Before discussing money, make sure that you are both calm. One way you can do this is to make an “appointment” to discuss money. That way, you know to calm yourself beforehand. Money discussions should take place when you are both as rested as possible (not after a long day of work) and when you are not hungry. Try to find a comfortable location when discussing money, so that both of you are in a more forgiving frame of mind.
Listen to Your Partner
You and your spouse should take turns listening to each other’s ideas. Listen without interrupting, except to ask clarifying questions. Then, expect the same respect from your partner. You should be able to explain your position as well. If you both agree to listen respectfully, you will get a better idea of each other’s positions, and you will have something to work with when deciding what to do next.
Remember Your Big Picture Goals
Hopefully, you have some big picture goals as a couple. When disagreeing about money, it is a good idea to pull out your shared goals for retirement, a vacation, kids’ college or your emergency fund. Together, you can determine what actions will best help you reach your bigger shared financial goals. Taking the time to re-connect to the commonalities you share will be a big help.
Let Each Person Control Some Money
You should each have control over some of the money. This should be available for you to use how you want. With separate spending abilities, it makes it possible for you buy what you want — even if your partner doesn’t agree. Make it a rule that each spouse will respect what is done with the discretionary spending each has.
In some cases, the best idea is to have separate accounts if you have a hard time agreeing on what to do with money. Make sure that each of you contributes to a central pot for household expenses, and then you can each have separate checking accounts. However, even in such a setup, it is important to touch base and make sure you are still working toward shared money goals.
Be Willing to Compromise
Finally, you have to be willing to compromise. Any relationship has some give and take, and you and your partner need to be ready to give up a little something. With some thought and planning, it is possible to disagree about money without causing serious problems.
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