At the end of our visit, the agent printed everything out and we realized that there was a lot of missing information and typos. On top of all of that, they still wanted us to pay them $200 for that crappy job!
Today’s post is sponsored by H&R Block Online because they saved our tax experience that year and I’ve been a fan ever since!
Enter: H&R Block Online
When we left the tax preparer’s office, the first thought we both had is that we could probably do our own taxes way better than that person could. We started searching for options and we came across H&R Block Online.
Now, I was a little bit nervous at first. The last thing I wanted was for the IRS to come knocking on the door saying we messed something up. Y’all know that I have to research everything. So I read about 1,000 reviews and figured out H&R Block was probably going to be the best choice.
The Options Grow With You
Everyone knows that I hate anything that is one-size-fits-all so I appreciate the fact that H&R Block has multiple options to fit your specific tax situation. We were actually able to use the free version of their software that first year because our taxes were extremely simple.
However, as our tax situation changed over time, so did our needs. It’s weird but I felt comfortable coming back, time after time, to do my own taxes because of how easy the whole process is.
Here’s a list of the different options you can choose from:
- H&R Block Free Online
- This option is designed for people with less complex filing situations, including people who have w-2 income, kids and rent, as well as students and first-time filers.
- H&R Block Deluxe Online
- This option is designed for homeowners, people who’ve made charitable donations and those with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).
- H&R Block Premium Online
- Designed for freelancers, contractors, investors and rental property owners; includes all Deluxe features as well as the ability to import expenses from expense-tracking apps.
- H&R Block Self Employed Online
- Perfect for self-employed individuals and small business owners with a home office and/or employees; includes all Premium features as well as an improved guided Schedule C interview to ensure a better experience for complex clients.
We used the Self Employed version of their software last year because I did a lot of freelance work for Doordash, various acting jobs and we made a little bit of money from Pennies to Wealth.
During the process, H&R Block’s software literally walks you step by step through the process of doing your taxes on your own. They tell you which blocks to copy numbers from and which forms you should have to find your necessary information.
There’s no way that we could have figured any of this out without them holding our hands through the experience.
No Surprises
H&R Block’s “No Surprise Guarantee*” really satisfies my need for transparency. While you’re filling out your taxes, you get constant updates as you go.
If you add information to an area that will cause an increase in your package price, you get an alert. You also have a tab on the side the constantly updates your tax refund as you enter your information.
I always plan on a very small refund or paying just a little in taxes (the government won’t get a free loan from me) so I love watching this number update to see whether or not I calculated correctly.
Help When You Need It
This year, I’m most excited about using H&R Block’s Online Assist while I do my taxes. This tool allows you to live-chat with highly trained H&R Block tax experts, IRS agents or CPAs.
I want to consult the experts this time around so that they can make sure I get EVERY tax break I can from all of the changes that happened in 2019!
Do It Yourself This Year
I believe doing your taxes with H&R Block is extremely easy. As a gift for the PTW Family, H&R Block has given me a special link to share with you. This link will let you take 25% off all of their software options! Go save your coins fam!
Let me know in the comments if you’ve ever done your own taxes or if you plan to for the first time this year!
$tay Wealthy Fam,
— Dannie
* Receive 20% off next year’s tax preparation if we fail to provide any of the 4 benefits included in our “No Surprise Guarantee” (Upfront Transparent Pricing, Transparent Process, Free Audit Assistance, and Free Midyear Tax Check-In). Limitations apply. Description of benefits and details at hrblock.com/guarantees.
]]>Why, you ask?
Well, that’s because it has always had the highest interest rate, ease of money transfer and is a known brand (aka not creepy).
Since your emergency fund just sits in your account waiting for you to not use it, why not make the most amount of money from it while also keeping it safe from the fluctuating stock market?
Let’s look at some details about the Marcus by Goldman Sachs Savings Account to see why it could be the best option for you as well:
Details
Interest Rate (APY)
As of 04 Jan 2019, the Marcus online savings account interest rate is:
2.25%
If you still have your savings in a traditional bank’s savings account, don’t tell me because I will shake you! They are literally paying you nothing while THEY make money off of YOUR money.
How Interest is Calculated
You will start to earn interest on the day that they receive your $1 minimum deposit. Interest is compounded daily and credited to your account monthly.
FDIC Insured?
Yes, the funds deposited in Marcus savings accounts are insured up to the maximum allowed by law.
Withdrawal/Transfer Limits
There is a limit of 6 withdrawals/transfers in a monthly statement period. There is an outgoing transfer limit of $125,000 per transfer when initiated online.
If you need to withdraw more, call them.
Minimum Balance Requirements
No minimum deposit to open an account. There is only a $1 minimum to earn stated APY. If you don’t fund your account within 60 days of opening it, they may close it.
Transaction Fees?
None.
How to Deposit Money
- Transfer funds between your Marcus online savings account and a linked external bank account.
- Make direct deposit payments (online savings accounts only). You can deposit all or part of your payroll or Social Security directly into your Marcus Online Savings Account.
- Send a domestic wire transfer from another bank.
- Send a check by US mail
How to Withdraw Money
- Transfer funds between your Marcus savings accounts and a linked external bank account. Funds are available immediately or in 1-3 days (depends on your bank).
- Wire Transfer
How to Access Account
- Online
- 24/7 Automated Phone System
- Live Person
Final Thoughts
There is no mobile app or in-person location for this bank. It lacks the “conveince factor” that some people prefer. In our opinion, that’s actually great because it keeps you from constantly checking your bank account balance all of the time.
The Marcus online high-yield savings account is a great place to store your emergency fund. Check it out if you’ve been looking for a new place to put your savings. Read: How much should I have in my emergency fund?
Want to sign up?
Head over to Marcus.com to give your money a new home!
For additional questions, check out their Frequently Asked Question’s.
Stay wealthy friends!
]]>We love following the cash envelope budget system, but we’re not fans of the actual cash requirement. This drove us to find a way to digitally follow our plan without carrying our entire budget around. Here’s a quick comparison of our two favorite envelope budget system apps: GoodBudget & EveryDollar.
GoodBudget
Goodbudget, which started out as Easy Envelope Budget Aid (EEBA), is a digital envelope budget system app that was started by Dayspring Technologies back in 2009. This was the first app that we used to track our budget throughout the month (we’re still using it now), and we even wrote a review about it. Goodbudget has a web portal and apps for Android & Apple devices.
Free Features
We’ve only used the free version of this app but here’s what you get for free:
- 1 Account
- Accessible on 2 devices
- 10 regular envelopes
- 10 “more” envelopes
- 1 year of history
- Community support
Paid Features
The premium version of Goodbudget is $6 per month ($50 per year). By buying the premium version you’ll get:
- Unlimited accounts
- Accessible on 5 devices
- Unlimited regular envelopes
- Unlimited “more” envelopes
- 5 years of history
- E-mail support
Pros
- Goodbudget’s interface is really easy to set-up and use. You can visually see how you’re doing with each envelope and you can share your account with someone else (Great for using within a household)
- Your account can be updated without internet service (like when you’re in the back corners of Costco)
- You can create budget categories that refill monthly, semi-monthly, weekly, and every 2 weeks
- The mobile app prefills company/store names while entering transaction information (this is helpful when you make purchases at the same place pretty often)
- The app gives you encouragement when your spending is on track. It’ll tell you that you’re doing a good job or that you need to stop spending for a few days.
- There is a reports function within the app that will let you see exactly how you spend your money. You can categorize your spending by the payee, envelope, month, etc.
Cons
- The free version limits the number of envelopes you can use. This can be a no-go if you want to use more than 20 envelopes
- There is a slight learning curve to the software when you first start using it. You’ll have to learn how to create envelopes and fill them each month
EveryDollar
EveryDollar is a budgeting app developed by Dave Ramsey and his team. He mentions this app a lot on his radio show because his team has put a great deal of effort into making it one of the best envelope budgeting system apps on the market right now. EveryDollar has a web portal and apps for Android & Apple devices.
Free Features
- You can create unlimited budget envelopes and categories
- Your account is accessible on multiple devices
- Debts can be added to the app
- Built-in Baby Step guide
Paid Features
The premium version of EveryDollar will costs $8.25 per month ($99 per year) and it allows you to connect your bank account to your EveryDollar account. With that you’ll be able to:
- Stream transactions from your bank
- Monitor your bank account balances
- Get priority support
Pros
- EveryDollar’s interface is very clean and modern
- You get unlimited budget categories regardless of which version you use
- You can highlight your ‘favorite’ categories to easily access your top used envelopes
- The sidebar shows percentages to let you know how you’re doing
- The account can be shared and transaction can be split between multiple categories
Cons
- Budget can only be set up for a ‘monthly’ basis
- No reports function to track average spending
- Budget amounts are simply carried over from the previous month
- Mobile app cannot be accessed without internet signal
Which app is best for the envelope budget system?
If you’re a fan of the cash envelope budget system and want to start using a digital app, either of these apps would be a great choice. EveryDollar is great if you have a lot of budget items to keep track of and you like following Dave Ramsey’s plan. Goodbudget is an ideal option if you’re only concerned about tracking your main spending categories and don’t need a slew of extra options.
For us, the Goodbudget app takes the cake since it suits our needs the best!
Which envelope budget app are you currently using or considering at this time?
Let us know in the comments below!
$tay Wealthy Friends,
— Dj
]]>The idea of having a stay at home job sounds like a dream for many people. Most of the time, the biggest problem is figuring out where to look in order to find the best work from home job opportunities.
I have enjoyed working from home for the past two years so I am more than happy to share what I’ve learned with you all!
There are many scams out there though, so please make sure you do your own research before sending personal information to any opportunities you find on the internet.
Also, keep in mind the fact that remote work is not for everyone. You have to develop great time management skills and be okay with not having real life interaction.
FlexJobs
This is my personal favorite and the site I actually used to land my most recent job! It is ad-free and scam free. Each and every job listing is screened by their team of professionals so only the legit work from home jobs are posted to their website.
FlexJobs is a great job site for finding telecommute, freelance, and other flexible jobs in 50+ career categories. The positions range from entry-level to executive, part-time to full-time. I love that you can set up customized job alerts and you can even take skill tests to help you find work from home jobs that match your abilities.
There is a cost associated with their site but I think it’s totally worth the price since the goal is to make money anyway. Think of it as a large pizza with all the toppings that has the potential to give you multiple pizzas in the future!
If you are unsure of whether it is worth the cost, you can check out their current job listings and job categories for free.
Head over to their website and use promo code “FLEXLIFE” for up to 30% off!
If you’re unsatisfied with the site for any reason you can cancel and receive a refund at any time. <3
Rat Race Rebellion
Looking for a totally free version? Check out Rat Race Rebellion! You can review their ‘Newest Jobs & Gigs’ page every day and sign up for email updates when new jobs are released.
Although RRR doesn’t boast an impressive list of 30,000 jobs like Flex Jobs, it does have a healthy list of legit work from home jobs and gigs you can apply to in order to earn extra cash.
The downside is that there isn’t a search function so you’ll have to sift through all of the jobs to find ones in your field of interest.
We Work Remotely
We Work Remotely touts themselves as the largest community on the web for remote work. They currently have 68,000+ remote jobs posted and 130,000+ monthly users.
Their listings include jobs in Business/Exec & Management, Customer Support, DevOps & Sys Admin, Programming, Design, Marketing and Copywriting!
I like this site a lot because it is simple and straightforward. Search through all of the jobs on their homepage to possibly find your perfect match!
A Few Other Websites For Legit Work From Home Jobs
Have some extra time on your hands? Check out these additional sites for more remote job opportunities:
Good luck on your search and let me know when you get your new work from home job!
$tay wealthy friends!
— Dannie
