Posts by Amanda Dixon:
Is a wine-soaked vacation on your bucket list? Ours too. If you’re on a budget or short on vacation days, the good news is you don’t have to head all the way to France or Italy to visit wine country. There are premier wine destinations right here in America. For the wine lovers who want to enjoy a refreshing glass of chardonnay or syrah stateside, we ranked the country’s best wine destinations. Cheers! Read more
Many of us don’t get enough sleep. One in three adults are sleep-deprived, according to a Centers of Disease Control and Prevention study. Some hard-working people are too busy to get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep. Others go to bed at a decent time, only to toss and turn for most of the night. If you fall into the latter category, your mattress could be part of the problem. Read more
If you’re on a mission to earn as many credit card rewards as possible, you’ll need to be strategic. You’ll need to understand how your rewards program works. And you’ll need to know how to maximize your rewards. One tactic that may help you rack up miles and points involves double-dipping. Here are five ways to earn extra rewards from two different sources at the same time. Read more
If you’re like most adults, you probably receive mail from credit card companies regularly. In some cases, you might receive a notice about your latest credit card statement. Or you may get a letter… Read more
Employment growth among jobs in the STEM field varies widely. According to the Department for Professional Employees, the number of job opportunities for aerospace engineers increased by 53% between… Read more
Many of us have a lot on our plates. Besides our demanding jobs, there may be dishes to wash, children to feed and errands to run. If we have to do something outside of our normal routine, we often… Read more
As a potential homebuyer, you may have heard that you have to have a good loan-to-value ratio (LTV) to qualify for a mortgage. Wondering what that means? A loan-to-value ratio is the number you get… Read more
What happens if your laptop breaks down? Your first instinct may be to immediately buy a new one, especially if you need a laptop to run a business or finish schoolwork. But if you’re running low on… Read more
We’ve all grown accustomed to instant gratification. We can get instant coffee and instant access to our favorite movies and TV shows. So when we actually have to wait for something, being patient… Read more
Television ratings reveal that hockey is far from being America’s favorite pastime. In fact, the numbers seem to suggest that the sport’s popularity is declining, especially in terms of viewership.… Read more
Whether you just bought a house or you’re trying to renovate an old one, furniture shopping can be intense. And depending on what you’re looking for, it can also be expensive. If you’re on a budget,… Read more
How long does it take to sell a house? It depends on where you live and what’s happening in your local housing market. If it’s a seller’s market, home sellers will have an advantage. There will be… Read more
The official unemployment rate is quite misleading. While it’s considered to be a good indicator of where the economy stands, there’s a lot that it won’t tell you. Looking at the unemployment rate… Read more
The marriage rate has declined over the past several decades and the median age of first marriages for women and men has climbed steadily in the past 50 years. While many people are postponing… Read more
Owning a home can be expensive. Paying for property taxes, repairs and homeowners insurance can significantly reduce what you can spend on luxury items and discretionary goods and services.… Read more
Going to college seems to get more expensive every year. Tuition, fees, room and board for an in-state student attending a four-year public institution cost $20,092 for the 2016-2017 school year (on… Read more
Wedding costs are climbing. Between 2014 and 2015, the average cost of a wedding rose by 4.6%, according to The Knot Real Weddings Study. Nuptials now cost $32,641, on average, and one in eight… Read more
Making sense of the U.S. tax code can be a daunting feat. That’s why many taxpayers turn to professionals when they need to file their tax returns. Regardless of whether you’re working with a tax… Read more
Claiming a tax credit is one way to lower your tax bill. And if the tax credit that you’re eligible for is refundable, you’ll be able to use it to boost your tax refund even if it reduces your tax… Read more
Looking for a new job can seem like a job in itself. And after a while, the expenses associated with finding a new gig start to add up. Even if you put effort into writing a resume and going on… Read more
Few tax breaks have been more controversial than the mortgage interest deduction. Proponents of the tax benefit contend that it encourages Americans to buy homes. Opponents, on the other hand, argue… Read more
Twenty six is a magical age under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Until they turn 26, young adults are allowed to remain covered by their parents’ health insurance plans. If your 26th birthday is… Read more
If you’re planning on using a tax break to minimize your tax bite, keep in mind that deductions come in different shapes and sizes. There’s the standard deduction that any taxpayer can claim every… Read more
Vacation home prices have skyrocketed in recent years, causing home sales to fall. According to a report from the National Association of Realtors, vacation home sales declined by 18.5% between 2014… Read more
Paying taxes is a fact of life for most Americans. Whether you work for a business from 9 to 5 or you’re self-employed, you’re expected to turn over a portion of your pay to Uncle Sam. There are many… Read more
