Bank finance articles and tips

Nowadays, Social Security is taxable; something that came about only recently. Most people have yet to know this and only do so when they start getting their tax bills. Taxes on Social Security occur when an individual spends more than what is legally allowed. It always comes as a disappointment to many people given that they always tend to think that it is a tax- free fund. To be on the safe side, one should pay close attention to why these funds are taxable. Prior knowledge equips beneficiaries of Social Security funds with knowledge on how to avoid tax, and how to claim tax relief related to the funds....

These days, most Americans use credit cards in one form or another and carry a balance each month. Everyone has been affected by the economic meltdown. People living off social security benefits are no exception. If you are in over your head and in a lot of debt, and receive social security benefits (SSB), you may be wondering if receiving SSB will affect your ability to file a bankruptcy case. The answer depends on your specific financial situation.

If you currently do not own any real estate and the only income you receive is social security income, you are technically judgment proof because your SSB are exempt from collection activities, such as garnishments and levies. If this is your situation, you may not need to file for bankruptcy. Even if your creditors file a lawsuit against you and obtain a judgment, they cannot levy against your SSB. The most important thing is to make sure you can prove that everything in your bank account is derived from SSB and not commingled with other sources of income. It should not be too difficult to prove all the money you have is from SSB if that is your only source of income.

Although we're in the age of blogging and social media, being featured in the traditional media (TV, print and radio) is still tremendously important. In many ways it's even more important than it was a decade ago. PR specialists who are shifting their focus solely online are loosing sight of the value that traditional media offers. Whereas any effective public relations campaign needs to include an online approach that embodies social media, it's important to make sure that the core traditional elements are also in place....

Long before recession caught the world in its grips, so many already lived in debt. The belief is that debt helps to fuel the economy. It is debt that enables society to pursue their quest for material satisfaction--to enjoy or have a taste of the good life. Debt does not respect social, age, economic or financial status of the debtor.

In economics, consumer debt is outstanding debt of consumers, as opposed to businesses or governments. In macroeconomic terms, it is debt which is used to fund consumption rather than investment. It includes debts incurred on purchase of goods that are consumable and/or do not appreciate. (reference)