Money Girl's Quick And Dirty Tips For A Richer Life

Money Girl interviews a 529 college savings plan expert on how to fund higher education for yourself, a child, or grandchild without going broke. Learn how to choose the right 529 plan and use it wisely, how much to save, what the funds can be used for, and the tax benefits that make these special accounts the perfect way to save for college.

Five important traits to look for when choosing a life partner (plus many to avoid) so you're more likely to have a happy and successful financial life together. Read the full podcast here: http://bit.ly/1F40uGs

Do you have concerns or unanswered questions about investing for retirement that have kept you from getting started? It's time to get more clarity so you can move your finances forward with confidence instead of staying stuck and never building wealth. Laura answer 3 questions about how to choose the best accounts, cut investment fees, and manage risk the best ways possible. Get the Money Girl book at http://MoneyGirlBook.com.

Want to become an entrepreneur while avoiding all the potential pitfalls? Laura interviews Patrick McGinnis, author of The 10% Entrepreneur about why you don't have to choose between your current career and starting a profitable side business. Find out how to balance financial stability and volatility with grace and embrace where even a part-time venture can lead you. Get the Money Girl book at http://www.MoneyGirlBook.com. Read the transcript at http://bit.ly/2sOhmWA Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW MONEY GIRL Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoneyGirlQDT Twitter: https://twitter.com/LauraAdams

Woohoo, it's the 500th episode of Money Girl! Let's celebrate by going behind the scenes. Laura shares the Money Girl story, how she got started as a personal finance expert and author, how the podcast began, its major influence on her career, and how the show gets created for you each week. Get the Money Girl book at http://www.MoneyGirlBook.com.

While having bad credit can be a roadblock when applying for a loan from a traditional lender, it doesn't mean that you can't get a loan. Laura covers 6 lending alternatives to get a loan even if your credit is less than perfect. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/1YkHwH7. Read the transcript at Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW MONEY GIRL Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoneyGirlQDT Twitter: https://twitter.com/LauraAdams

Handling debt wisely is one of the most important parts of your financial life. Laura answers 6 questions she recently received about student loans, HELOCs, and credit card debt. You'll learn tips to protect your credit, use existing home equity, manage student loan repayment, and prioritize your personal finances.

Laura interviews Jocelyn Paonita Pearson, a scholarship expert and founder of The Scholarship System. They talk about how to pay for college without loans by using scholarship funds. After years of trial and error, Jocelyn cracked the code on how to get a free ride through college. She got over $126,000 in scholarships and graduated completely debt free. You’ll learn common scholarship myths to avoid, different types to go after, the best age to start applying, and a free resource to learn more. Get the Money Girl book at http://www.MoneyGirlBook.com.

We love our pets, but they can be expensive! Laura discusses what it really costs to own a pet and 5 tips to cut expenses for a current or new furry friend. This post is dedicated to her sweet yellow Lab, Dixie, who's resting in peace after 17 years of loyal companionship. Get the Money Girl book at http://www.MoneyGirlBook.com.

Laura interviews Mike Kinane, a HELOC expert and Senior Vice President for Consumer Lending at TD Bank. They discuss just about everything current or future homeowners need to know about getting a home equity line of credit. You'll learn how you can spend funds, amounts you can borrow, qualification guidelines, potential fees, rules for claiming interest as a tax deduction, and what to do when interest rates are moving up. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2p6tZXx

It's time to get clarity on your investing questions. Laura answer 7 questions from the Money Girl community about a variety of investing and retirement topics. You’ll learn how to get higher investment returns, retire early, prioritize accounts, do rollovers, know when you should invest, and rules for managing multiple retirement accounts. Cut the confusion and you'll have more success! Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2py0GAM

Ever wanted to make sure your kid would end up rich? The secret to having a secure future or paying for college could be setting him or her up with an IRA--an underutilized vehicle that many people miss. Laura explains the benefits of starting an IRA for minors, the rules for eligibility, how to open an account, and when you can spend the money penalty free. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2p1wfUG

Taking advantage of a retirement plan at work and an IRA is a smart way to cut taxes and save more money for the future. But having multiple accounts can change the rules. Laura answers a listener question and explains how to avoid pitfalls so you leverage multiple accounts to reach your retirement goals. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2nJuaaB Get the Money Girl book at http://MoneyGirlBook.com.

There are many ways to legally shelter your income from tax so you save money. Laura explains 8 ways to reduce your taxable income so you pay less tax. You can take advantage of some or all of them, no matter how much or little money you make, to keep more of your hard-earned money. Read the transcript at http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/node/9591

Confused about how to fill out a W-4 at work? Laura explains what it is and how to complete it correctly. Plus, you'll learn 7 reasons when you should adjust your withholding so your employer doesn’t take out too much or too little income tax from your paycheck. Get the Money Girl book at http://MoneyGirlBook.com. Read the full transcript at http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/node/9556

Taxes my not be your favorite financial topic but it's important to understand the basics. Laura explains what you need to know about 1099 tax forms. You'll learn what a form is, who issues and receives them, rules to comply with the law, and 8 key things you should know about taxable income. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2mpBDeZ Get the Money Girl book at http://MoneyGirlBook.com.

No matter if you want to clean up your credit report or have an old zombie account coming back from the dead to haunt you, it’s important to understand your rights. Laura answers a question about old debt, explains the statute of limitations, gives advice for dealing with collectors, and offers 4 ways to handle accounts in collection. Get the Money Girl Book at http://www.MoneyGirlBook.com. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2mqLsMV

Health savings accounts (HSAs) are one of Laura's favorite ways to save money. She explains how they work, answers questions from podcast listeners about these tax-favored accounts, and describes the important role HSAs may play in healthcare reform under the Trump administration. Get the Money Girl book at http://MoneyGirlBook.com. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2mr0nq7

Congratulations on your pay raise or bonus! Now it's time to get serious about how to use it to improve your finances. Laura covers 6 wise strategies to create more financial security, so you don't fritter away an exceptional opportunity to build wealth instead. Read the full transcript here:http://bit.ly/2kABa8Z

Laura interviews Jay Papasan, bestselling co-author of The ONE Thing about how to set priorities and finally stick to them so you get extraordinary results. They cover productivity killers to eliminate, how to easily have more willpower, and a realistic way to achieve work-life balance. You'll learn the ultimate question to ask yourself every day to identify and stay focused on your number one priority that allows you to make huge improvements in your finances and life. Get the Money Girl book at http://MoneyGirlBook.com. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2kItbsS