A time for giving – the holiday season. This is the time to review your charitable giving for the year and consider a year end gift before the tax year is complete.
There are many worthy organizations – which one(s) hold a special place in your life and heart? This is most rewarding personally plus you know the efforts and affects the organization truly is making in there area of influence.
There are ways to give more than once, almost like a double gift! Looking for a meaningful gift for a friend, family, co-worker or business associates? Make a donation in their name to a cause you or they support.
Donations to your local educational institutions for library or playground equipment or teacher supplies for student needs is always welcomed.
For an extra special interactive charitable gift, arrange to participate with the one receiving the gift. For example, select a charity with mutual interest between you. Next contact the charity for a list of their needs either to assist with your time or supplies to purchase. Set a date for you to go together to help or shop and deliver the donation. Take pictures and make it fun as well as meaningful.
Think of the lives you are affecting – including your own.
Do you have your estate planning completed? If not, your state and federal government have done it for you – and you might not like how they have arranged your personal affairs.
Scary thought isn’t it? Especially if you have children. This is an emotionally charged issue with many of us, but please do not put off completing this task as it is most important.
All of us need to have a will, guardianship legally established, documents dealing with health issues (living will and a medical power of attorney) and additional personal estate all legally documented and established.
Research the topic (again the Dummies series
Also discuss with your estate attorney how to approach your parents and their needs as they age and many time neglect this important preparation for the future.
This is the month I dread. Many of the financial tasks have been satisfying, but I will admit this is not for me..but we will do it anyway!
This is the month your employer distributes the insurance information with all the options listed. Your task is to seriously look it over. Consider the choices for you and your family and those you are not certain about or need more information regarding, get it from your employer, on-line research and library resources.
Consider cutting your prescription costs by using a generic version of the medication (seek your doctor’s advice, possibly a phone call will result in savings).
Look at the benefits offered at each place of employment and research your private and business benefits verses costs. Do you have double coverage on yours and your spouses insurance? Then see which is better and discontinue the other insurance. It is amazing the cost difference for the same or better benefits from one employer to another (and private companies too).
Would a Health Savings Account for your out-of-pocket medical expenses be a savings in taxes for you?
It is time to handle this month’s task…ready, set, go!
The theme for September is Back to School. For those of you with children with college ahead, start saving now. For relatives who would like to contribute, using part of the birthday or Christmas gift money possibly (worth a try), you will need to set up a college savings plan.
To research the saving plans and the various options for college, we recommend starting with Clark Howard’s web site.
For those of us whom this is not a need, no you do not get a month off from the financial tasks we are working on this year! Our task this month, is to review any previous month’s tasks and do what you have not gotten completed. Trust me, you will feel better once it is done…
Summer time…reading on the beach… improving yourself and preparing for the fall season is a great topic for one of your books. A trip to your local bookstore or public library will offer you many choices in the personal and financial aspects of your life.
What areas are you wanting to improve in the later part of this year? We typically like the Dummies series
Education is one of the greatest investments – for a lifetime.
Where have the months gone? It is mid-year and we have a financial check-up for this month.
Rebalancing can make a substantial difference in your rate of return on your investments – especially protecting in a downturn. Once you have decided your mix of stocks, bonds and cash, check all accounts and make any rebalance transfers to maintain your financial goals.
Does your retirement plan need rebalancing? Often this is sadly neglected – once in there we forget about it thinking our job is done until retirement. Not so!
If you feel like this is overwhelming, have you considered making an appointment with an independent financial planner? Personally we like a fee only type of financial planner for a once a year “get-an-expert’s-advise”. Not that we always agree, but it does get us thinking and it has made substantial increases in our financial standing over the years. For more advise on how to find this type of advice, we use and search the topics on the Clark Howard web site.
Do bank fees make you angry? That is a real hot button for me so I can’t wait to do the task for this month!
Are you happy with your bank and their service? It is time to research the services that credit unions, banks and on line banks have to offer you.
Decide which services are most important to you; lack of fees, brick and mortar location, personal attention for your business financial needs, etc.
Now go find the banking institution that meets your top requirements (check the interest rates and account minimums). With all the competition available, there isn’t any reason I can’t be satisfied with my bank. The only reason standing in the way is my lack of dealing with the search and the changes required!
Online bill pay is the best invention known to man, in my humble opinion. If you haven’t tried it, make that your next task after deciding your bank.
