Have you heard?  American Express is offering a $300 pre-paid American Express card to some cardholders.
You: What’s the catch?
You must pay off your entire balance and then close the account.
You: What?
You must pay off your balance and then close the account.
You: I heard you the first time. I’m just a bit amazed that a credit [...]

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Michael on February 24th, 2009
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I frequently offer an opportunity for my seminar audience members to receive $35 by participating in a 30 minute focus group to occur immediately after the presentation.   I’ve always found it oddly humorous that almost every hand goes up to volunteer when I make the announcement.  When I subsequently reveal that the focus group [...]

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Michael on February 23rd, 2009
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You: This economic stimulus – what’s in it for me?
There’s something for everyone (almost) in the economic stimulus package.  But it probably isn’t much.
You: Well, what is it?
Starting in several weeks, you’ll get about 13 extra bucks in your weekly paycheck (probably.)
You: Just thirteen bucks?  Didn’t the stimulus cost nearly a trillion dollars?
Yes and yes.
You: [...]

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Michael on February 20th, 2009
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It’s Friday, so it’s time for this week’s reader-submitted Q & A. If you’d like to submit a question, click here for more information or simply email a question.
I will probably not be working in the States during 2009, but I have rented out my condo in Boston, so I will have rental income [...]

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Michael on February 18th, 2009
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After weeks of intense negotiation, the new first time home buyer tax credit of $8,000 was signed into law this week.  Here are some first time home buyer tax credit FAQs:
Will I qualify for the credit?
You qualify for the full credit if:

You close on a home between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009 AND
You [...]

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Michael on February 17th, 2009
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Blogging is one of the strangest and potentially loneliest activities.  When I began blogging, I felt like I was writing in the middle of the forest.
You: Because it was dark?
No.
You: Cold?
No!
You: Were there bears nearby?
No.  It felt like a forest because I wondered if anyone was reading what I was writing.
You: How is that like [...]

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Michael on February 16th, 2009
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I hope you had a nice weekend.  Considering we didn’t leave town, I had one of the busiest weekends in recent memory.  Saturday was hobby day as I played basketball, watched my older daughter at ballet, took both daughters to their respective swimming lessons, observed (and perhaps helped a little) as about a dozen princesses [...]

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Michael on February 13th, 2009
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My daughter did not work in 2007, and she had no income.  She did not file a 2007 tax return because she did not work.  Will she be able to get the recovery rebate check this year.  She did work in 2008.

- Lisa S.
Short Answer: If she files a tax return, she will get the [...]

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Michael on February 12th, 2009
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Adam at Your Money Relationship was kind enough to send this video over to me.

Now I’m thinking that perhaps my next book could be a lot shorter than I’ve been planning.

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Michael on February 10th, 2009
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The New York Times recently published You Try to Live on 500K in This Town in an attempt to explain why half a million dollars a year may not be adequate to live on in New York City.
You: Why half a million?
That’s the new proposed salary limit from President Obama for executives working for companies [...]

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