Do you need to file a tax return?
Credit Sesame on when you do and do not need to file a tax return. As if you’re not already busy enough, tax season is in full bloom. It’s time to gather your tax documents and file your tax return. You may not have to file one, however, if you have a low income matching […]
Failing banks complicate the Fed’s task
Credit Sesame looks at how failing banks complicate the Fed’s decision on how much to raise interest rates. On March 22, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) announced that it was raising the Fed funds rate by 0.25%. This small increase says a lot about the conflicting issues the Fed is juggling. In the twelve […]
What if you cannot pay your taxes for 2022?
Credit Sesame discusses options if you cannot pay your taxes due for 2022. Famously, the U.S. Treasury Department developed tax evasion charges against Al Capone after the federal government could not build a criminal case against him for murder and other crimes. Capone was convicted of tax evasion in 1931. He served seven and a […]
What to do if you get a tax refund in 2023
Credit Sesame has a few ideas on what you could do if you get a tax refund in 2023. As of February 10, the Internal Revenue Service reported the average 2023 tax refund is $1,997. This is lower than the average refund of $2,323 in 2022. People who get their refunds through direct deposit get […]
Personal finance weekly news roundup March 25, 2023
Credit Sesame’s personal finance weekly news roundup March 25, 2023. Stories, news, politics and events impacting the personal finance sector during the last week. Fed makes a mild rate hike in the shadow of bank concerns Treasury Secretary clarifies stance on FDIC insurance Home sales break 12-month losing streak Dip in mortgage rates sparks increase […]
How the poor vs. rich were affected by the economy in 2022
Credit Sesame compares poor vs. rich households fared in the 2022 economy. 2022 was a strange year for the economy. The poor actually gained wealth last year while the rich got poorer. According to Federal Reserve data, the richest 0.1% of Americans lost about 8.1% of their wealth over the first three quarters of 2022. […]
How to avoid tax identity theft
Credit Sesame with tips on how to avoid tax identity theft. If you spend hours online each day, you’re not alone: On average, we consume more than six and a half hours on the internet daily, according to one study. That creates an ideal environment for criminals seeking to steal your personal information. As tax […]
Bank failures raise depositor concerns
Credit Sesame discusses the bank failures in March 2023. Two high-profile bank failures dominated the news recently, and the fallout from those failures will continue in the days and weeks to come. The drama is far from complete. But, what we know of the story so far is of vital interest to anyone with a […]
Is the slump in home prices good or bad news?
Credit Sesame discusses the slump in home prices and whether this is good for buyers. All markets have buyers and sellers. Trends that favor one side usually hurt the other. However, the housing market is a little more complicated than that. A recent slump in home prices might seem like good news for buyers and […]
Personal finance weekly news roundup March 18, 2023
Credit Sesame’s personal finance weekly news roundup March 18, 2023. Stories, news, politics and events impacting the personal finance sector during the last week. High-profile bank failures rattle investors and depositors Emergency measures taken to prop up troubled banks Investment fraud leads list of online crimes Inflation slows but is still too high Wholesale inflation […]
Tax season 2023 checklist
Credit Sesame’s handy tax season 2023 checklist including some of the important dates and changes when filing your taxes for 2023. Requirements on April 18, 2023 Inflation adjustments Other tax season 2023 deadlines Inflation adjustments Larger standard deductions Higher 401(k) and HSA contribution limits Lower tax credits Smaller child tax credit Lower credit for childless […]
Everything You Think is Wrong Day and your personal finances
Credit Sesame uses Everything You Think is Wrong Day to bust some personal finance myths. Annually, March 15 is Everything You Think is Wrong Day. Who knew? This day is not intended to suggest that we are wrong about everything we think we know. But it invites us to revisit some of our assumptions because […]
International Ask a Question Day March 14, 2023
Credit Sesame with questions and answers for International Ask a Question Day, March 14, 2024. Everyone’s done it at school. Most of us still do it. We fail to ask a question because we fear appearing dumb. But, of course, it’s the smart people who ask questions. International Ask a Question Day is a prompt […]
Equal Pay Day and your personal finances
Credit Sesame discusses Equal Pay Day and why there is still a gender pay gap. What is Equal Pay Day? Equal Pay Day is on March 14th this year, 2023. The date symbolizes how far into the year women must work to catch up to men’s income from the previous year. This day supporting equal […]
Personal finance weekly news roundup March 11, 2023
Credit Sesame’s personal finance weekly news roundup March 11, 2023. Stories, news, politics and events impacting the personal finance sector during the last week. 1. Job growth posts another strong month The U.S. added a net total of 311,000 new jobs in February. While this is below January’s increase of 504,000, it still represents a […]
