Brandon Ballenger Writer
I'm a freelance writer based in Pompano Beach, Fla. who's done work for The South Florida Business Journal and BusinessMiami, covering real estate, health care, and franchising. I received a bachelor's degree in English and public communication from Florida Atlantic University in 2008, and am currently pursuing a master's degree in communication there. In my free time, I reads fantasy novels, plays video games, and take advantage of South Florida's perennial summer at the beach.
Posts by Brandon Ballenger
Tax Hacks 2012: 11 Common Mistakes That Can Cost You
Feb 22, 2012 - Taxes are complicated and you're in a hurry: a recipe for error. Mistakes happen – but avoid the obvious ones to maximize the money and minimize the wait.
Tax Hacks 2012 – Profile of the American Tax Cheat
Feb 20, 2012 - According to the IRS, Uncle Sam misses out on $450 billion every year due to honest mistakes and dishonest taxpayers. One recent survey offers a profile of the type of person most likely to cheat on their taxes. If you don’t fit the bill, you probably know someone who does.
The Latest Way to Save on Airfare: Crowdsourcing
Feb 20, 2012 - First there were the airlines' websites, then cheap airfare sites that aggregated those. Those sites became more useful over time, but something new is even more flexible: a competitive, human-powered search called FlightFox.
Tax Hacks 2012: Kiss Refund Loans Goodbye
Feb 17, 2012 - Another awful "tax product" is finally getting flushed down the drain – this is the last year any major tax prep service will offer refund anticipation loans, which come with fees equivalent to 150 percent interest rates.
Tax Hacks 2012: 3 Ways to Supercharge Your Refund
Feb 15, 2012 - Getting a fat check from Uncle Sam is nice, but using it to create a bigger refund check next year is even nicer.
Tax Hacks 2012: 8 Easy-to-Miss Deductions
Feb 13, 2012 - There are three ways to lower your taxes: Make less, cheat, or take all the tax breaks you're eligible for. The first two aren't good ideas, but we can help with the third. Check out this list of commonly overlooked deductions.
7 Jobs Where You Can Find Love – and What They Pay
Feb 10, 2012 - One website points out some jobs naturally lend themselves to dating – jobs that are social and involve a captive audience. But what do they make?
7 Cheap Ways to Relieve Stress
Feb 09, 2012 - There's a lot to get worked up about in our daily lives, and some people wind down in expensive ways, like wining and dining. But cooling off doesn't mean you have to stress out your budget.
Tax Hacks 2012: 6 Scams to Avoid
Feb 08, 2012 - Continuing our series on tax hacks, we turn to some "tricks" you probably want to avoid – the kind offered by scam artists and the kind that you might be tempted to try yourself.
3 Tips for Negotiating a Higher Salary
Feb 08, 2012 - Companies are hiring, and willing to offer more money for the right candidates. But you'll have to convince them you're worth more, and there are right and wrong ways to do it.
Tax Hacks 2012: 4 Places for Free Help
Feb 06, 2012 - Does $100 billion sound like a lot for taxes? It's not what Americans owe every year – it's just what we pay to get our returns filed. But 70 percent of Americans shouldn't be paying anything.
Tax Hacks 2012 – Home Office Deductions
Feb 03, 2012 - Many eligible taxpayers avoid this part of taxes because they've heard it's complicated and likely to trigger an audit. But if you're eligible, take it. There are lots of rules, but here's the plain-English translation.
8 Sexy Tips for Valentine’s Day Savings
Feb 01, 2012 - There's nothing sexier than a mate with money. And you'll have more of it by using these simple tips to get maximum romance with minimum cash.
4 Places for Free Job Training
Jan 30, 2012 - It's easy to get discouraged during a lengthy job hunt. Take a deep breath, then check out some free places to find work and training.
4 New Ideas for Protecting Your Online Privacy
Jan 30, 2012 - Data Privacy Day is a reminder that we seem to rely on the Internet more with each passing hour, and that privacy settings aren't getting any simpler. Are you taking enough steps to deter stalkers and hackers?
