Money Talk: Most People’s W-4s Are ‘Wrong’
Question: After being an unmarried couple for 15 years, we were married in February 2014. Though I sent this information to my company’s benefits department, I neglected to change my W-4 status from “single” to “married.” I’m crossing my fingers that when all is said and done, we have paid the correct taxes when we filed for 2014 (we filed jointly as married) regardless of what was withheld pursuant to the W-4. Or do I need to inform...
7 Money Moves Before Year Ends
Washington — The end of the year is a natural time to reflect on goals and set resolutions. But some of the tasks you should get out of the way this month will have little to do with reading more or heading to the gym. December can be a good time to reassess saving strategies, get paperwork in order for your tax return and make other preparations. Here is a list of money moves to make this month: ■ Prepay bills. Do you have a kid in...
Consumer Confidential: You’ve Bought It. Now What About Returning It?
On Black Friday, people’s thoughts turned from a celebration of thankfulness to spending gobs of cash on modestly discounted consumer goods. I’m not here to judge. But I am here to offer some tips on two of the big Rs of the holiday shopping season: rebates and returns. “There’s a lot of variability with how manufacturers and retailers handle this,” said Karl Quist, president of PriceBlink, an online price-comparison tool. “It...
Social Security Q&A: How to Save and Return to Disability Form Online
Question: I’m getting ready to start filling out my disability benefits application online, but I’m concerned I will need to stop before I can finish it. Can I stop before completing the application and come back to finish it later? If so, how do I return to my online application to finish it when I have all the information I need? Answer: Applying for disability is a multi-step process that may take one to two hours to complete,...
