Author: Brandon Ballenger
I'm a freelance journalist living in South Florida. If I'm not writing, I'm playing video games or at the beach. My favorite spice is oregano, and I thought you should know. I got my bachelor's degree in English and public communication from Florida Atlantic University in 2008.
Tax Hacks 2012: 7 Smart Uses for Your Tax Refund
Brandon Ballenger on February 27, 2012
Tax refunds are the only windfall many people ever see, and year after year there’s a big temptation to blow it all on something fun. Nothing wrong with that if your finances are in order, but if not, there are better ideas.
11 Luxuries People THINK the Richest 1 Percent Have
Brandon Ballenger on February 27, 2012
How rich is “rich”? Most Americans believe the top 1 percent earn $1 million and up. But it’s a whole lot less.
Tax Hacks 2012: 10 Tips to Avoid an Audit
Brandon Ballenger on February 24, 2012
There’s no surefire way to avoid the nightmare millions of taxpayers fear: an IRS audit. But there are a lot of ways to reduce the risk.
Job Interviewing: 8 Things to Do and 8 Things to Avoid
Brandon Ballenger on February 24, 2012
If you’re out of work, job prospects may look grim. But hey, at least you aren’t the guy getting arrested during an interview. Here’s some advice, including what to avoid.
5 Tips for Writing a Terrific Cover Letter
Brandon Ballenger on February 23, 2012
A resume should say, “I did this stuff.” A cover letter should say, “I can do everything you need, and here’s why.”
Tax Hacks 2012: 11 Common Mistakes That Can Cost You
Brandon Ballenger on February 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
Brandon Ballenger on February 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
Brandon Ballenger on February 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
Brandon Ballenger on February 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
Brandon Ballenger on February 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
Brandon Ballenger on February 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
Brandon Ballenger on February 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
Brandon Ballenger on February 9, 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
Brandon Ballenger on February 8, 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
Brandon Ballenger on February 8, 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
Brandon Ballenger on February 6, 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
Brandon Ballenger on February 3, 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
Brandon Ballenger on February 1, 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
Brandon Ballenger on January 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
Brandon Ballenger on January 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?
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