10 Smart Ways To Spend Your Tax Refund

10 Smart Ways To Spend Your Tax Refund

10 smart ways to spend your tax refund
It’s tempting to use tax refund cash tosplurge on some fantasy indulgence. Instead, consider this your opportunity to get your life and house, literally, in order. The average tax refund in 2009 was $2,683. Follow these next 10 tips, and you’ll see a return on your investment for the long haul.

Upgrade your career skills
Invest in you. In today’s market,ou need to continue adding to your skill sets or risk becoming a career Neanderthal. Advance your career by learning new computer skills, or discovering how to use social media for promotional purposes, or expanding your entire network (and get a tax write-off) by attending conferences.

Continuing education courses are a first-rate way to upgrade as they’re comparatively inexpensive. Community colleges also offer independent course work and many computer-training companies teach short classes that can swiftly add to your job worth.

Pay down credit card debt
Boring as this sounds, it’s the single best investment you can make, considering the high interest rates and fees that come with many credit cards. You’ll also be investing in your peace of mind as nothing creates stress like unwieldy debt.

Visit the doctor or dentist
Again, not a thrilling option but a good one if you’d like to be around awhile. An annual checkup for both your body and teeth can save vast sums in the long run. It’s also another way to create peace of mind.

Run an energy audit
Whether you own or rent, an energy audit can help you save big bucks on utility costs, a gift that keeps on giving. A minimal audit – from $25 to $200 -- can reveal where you should seal leaks, improve power usage, add insulation and more. Then, once you’ve identified problem areas, you can take advantage of the government’s energy tax credit.

Improve your property
Replace your water heater or furnace before you’re facing a mini-flood or freezing house. Tackle maintenance projects you always said you’d get to one day. Replace outdated appliances and aging roofs or simply landscape your yard.

Create or add to an a emergency fund
Experts recommend setting aside three to six months’ worth of expenses in case of an emergency. The sum should be based on your fixed expenses, including mortgage or rent, utilities, food, loan payments, medical costs, etc. The base amount should be roughly $1,000 then you can work your way up to the total necessary amount. Keep your emergency fund in a separate savings account so you’re not tempted to dip into it for other expenses or treats.

Buy life insurance
Since no one likes to think about the inevitable, many of us put off investing in life insurance. If you wait until you’re older, the premiums increase and the return on investment isn’t as good. Term life insurance is probably your best bet. Life insurance is particularly important if you have family who depend upon your income.

Bulk up your retirement savings
Begin by maxing out any accounts that include an employer match; this is like free money where you’ll get the best bang for your buck. If such an option isn’t available, consider starting an IRA, which offers more control over your investment options than a 401(k).

Start investing
It doesn’t take much to begin investing, whether through managed funds, shares of stocks, or other methods. A Managed Investment Scheme (MIS) is a good place to start as a tax-effective option. It can help you manage taxes while building a healthy portfolio. Talk to a financial adviser for more information.

Service your car
An ounce of prevention is worth avoiding that dreaded “Check Engine” light on your dashboard. “Click and Clack,” the hilarious hosts of NPR’s popular “Car Talk” radio show are a great resource. Their website is full of suggestions about what you can handle yourself and what you should leave to a professional mechanic.

Source:Specials

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Why does this Mercedes cost $500,000?

2011 Maybach 62 S

 The Maybach isn't the most expensive car in the world, but it is the highest-price line of autos made by Mercedes-Benz. The 62S model of the Maybach — the automaker's answer to the Rolls-Royce and Bentley — costs 8 million Hong Kong dollars (about US$1 million). And that's without extras.But the biggest reason for its high price is the Hong Kong luxury tax, about 50% in this Chinese territory. In the U.S., the car costs about $459,000. Even so, we found that as luxury cars go, the Maybach doesn't offer much beyond what other cars in this category offer, save for a couple of features.

2011 Maybach 62 S

The Maybach received a facelift last year, and small changes were made to the exterior, including a larger chrome-radiator grille in front, more aerodynamic mirrors, new wheels — with 12-spoke 20-inch alloy hubcaps painted in a sterling silver color for the Maybach 52S and 62S — and daytime LED driving headlights (daytime driving lights are mandatory on cars sold in the European Union; but experts disagree on whether they cut down on the rate of traffic fatalities). Of all the Maybach models available in Hong Kong, the 62S has the most powerful engine. Oh, and the “S” stands for “special.”

The 62S was a popular Christmas gift among Hong Kongers, according to the dealership, and all 60 of its available models sold out in eight months. Now, there is an eight-month waiting list for the car.

At the Maybach dealership in Hong Kong — a decked-out space with a terrace overlooking Repulse Bay and an open bar — senior manager Karin Hoo explains why the car costs seven figures.

More colors: Buyers can choose from 18 different exterior colors, including the newest Maybach “New Bahamas Blue” (a dark sky blue). That’s four more than the standard number offered in Mercedes Benz models. Of course, as with all luxury cars, the Maybach can be painted any color under the rainbow for an extra fee.

2011 Maybach 62 S

Sheepskin interiors: High-grade nappa-leather interiors are standard and each seat is upholstered with a single piece of uncut hide. Buyers choose between two colors: black or white.

Back-seat recliner: Most Maybach owners rarely sit in the front seat of their car; they have chauffeurs. Fashioned after first-class airplane seating, the Maybach back seat reclines to a nearly flat position and comes with a leg rest and tray table on the side “That’s why they call the Maybach a ‘jet on wheels,’” Ms. Hoo says. The back seat has 84.5 centimeters of legroom.

Perfume atomizer: Forget about those paper air fresheners that hang on the rearview mirror. Each Maybach 62S is fitted with a perfume atomizer — built into the air-conditioning vent. That’s guaranteed not to stain the fine leather interior or your (no doubt) bespoke or haute couture clothing, of course. Swiss flavor and scent manufacturer Givaudan custom-blended two scents just for the Maybach: a citrus-y green tea and more-masculine agarwood.

An extra meter: Most Mercedes S-series models are roughly five meters long; the Maybach 62S — as its name denotes — is 6.2 meters. “We name the car in the same way boats are named after their length,” Ms. Hoo says.

A glass roof: With the press of a button, the glass roof changes from opaque to clear to let in more light (it’s made from a liquid-crystal membrane of conductive polymer plastic, and an electric current in the crystals changes the view). Another button triggers a cover to close over the glass roof completely.

Lighting: Turn on the side LED lights, along the edge of the window, for softer interior lighting. “The idea is to have just the right ambience the owner prefers,” Ms. Hoo says.

Engine: With a 12-cylinder, 630-horsepower engine, the Maybach 62S can hit 100 kilometers an hour in just five seconds (that’s a second faster than most luxury sports cars). It can hit a maximum speed of 250 kilometers an hour. The Maybach name, in fact, comes from engineer Wilhelm Maybach, who designed the engines of the first Mercedes.
Entertainment system: Two 9.5-inch flat-screen monitors are installed in the back of the front seats. The monitors can play DVDs or connect to the Internet through the car’s built-in WLAN wireless connection. Sound is surround: 21 speakers, designed by Bose, are strategically placed throughout the car for what Ms. Hoo calls “concert-hall quality.” And everything is controlled via a center console with a remote control in the back and front seats.

Customizable add-ons: “Each Maybach is meant to be bespoke, and personalized to the customer’s own preferences,” Ms. Hoo says. Ask and you shall receive, the dealership says, from adding your family crest to the seats to installing a minibar in the back. But there isn’t a list of “extras” from which to choose — it’s up to the customer to ask. Previous add-ons have included the family crests etched onto the glass, fax machines and cigar humidors.
Read More: Yahoo

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Lawmakers says she learned a lot at Hooters

Rep. Julia Hurley, newly elected to the Tennessee House, credits her work at Hooters with helping her win her seat in what’s regarded as a conservative district.

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Obama girls receive thousands in foreign gifts

President Obama's daughters Sasha And Malia Obama reportedly have received thousands of dollars’ worth of gifts from foreign diplomats. The girls don’t get to keep the gifts.

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