Is loosing weight part of your 2009 plan?

I'm on a mission to shed a few pounds to help improve my hill climbing for this coming cycling season. In cursing around the net today, I came across a great source for weight loss tips. Readers Digest has a great Dieting and Weight loss page.

Check it out by clicking here. If you do want to shed a few pounds in 2009, how much weight do you want to loose? My goal is 12lbs.

Happy New Year

Google Docs. . . . I like it!

I've had some time on my hands last week and the rest of this week as I'm on vacation. I really enjoy time off between Christmas and New Years. I get to spend lots of time with my kids as they are on break from school.

When Chaz & Katie (my kids) are off doing their own thing, I get to putter around the house. Last week, I stared playing around with Google Docs and I've come to really love it. For those who don't know what this is, Google Docs allows you to create Spreadsheets, Documents, Presentations, and Fill in Forms, store them online, share them if you wish and all for Free. You can even upload your existing Microsoft Office files to Google Docs.

I switched over my Zero Based Budget from Excel to Google Docs Spreadsheet and I love it. I can access my budget from any computer with internet access. This comes in very handy. I no longer have to load my file onto a flash drive or email it back and forth. The other spreadsheet application that I use it a check register template.

Give Google Docs a try. It's free. If you are already using it, what applications are you using it for?

Mileage Rates for 2009

Did you know the IRS adjusts these rates each year?

Did you know in addition to business miles you also get Medical and Charitable miles?

Here are the rates.

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2009, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

• 55 cents per mile for business miles driven
• 24 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes
• 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations

Tax credit for Bicyclers. . . . (No Joke $20 a month)

I have no idea how or why this ended up as part of the Federal Bailout but I'm glad it did.

Starting in January, workers who use their bicycles as their primary transportation mode to get to and from work will be eligible for a $20-a-month, tax-free reimbursement from their employers for bicycle-related expenses. In return, employers will be able to deduct the expense from their federal taxes.

$20 a month to ride my bike is more than I get paid now to ride my bike. This will also cover the cost of most of my yearly "replacement part" that I need at the end of each season.

So, if this looks like something you can take advantage of, talk to your employer. I'm sure they are not aware of this upcoming tax benefit.

I like "My Circle"

I've been doing a little bit of cell phone research these past few days. The reason why isn't that important so I'll skip that part. My family has Alltel as our cell provider of choice and I must say, I'm very happy with Alltel.

For me, one of the big advantages Alltel has is "My Circle". This lets my family call any number, land line or cell, outside of the Alltel network without using our shared minutes. Calls to any other Alltel phone are always free. The other cool thing about "My Circle" is when I log onto Alltel.com I can change the numbers listed in "My Circle". This comes in very handy with two teenagers in the house. The only downside of "My Circle" is it doesn't apply to text messages. My teans have unlimited texting and they pay for their own cell phones. That's pretty cool considering they are 13 & 15.

A great Christian based Financial Blog

I love personal finance. I'm always on the lookout for great sources of Christian based financial information.

Here's one of me favorite blogs that I follow. It's Christian Personal Finance.com Bob's always got great information and he also gives away great stuff. For Christmas, he's giving away 2 IPods.

Want a chance to win one of these IPods? Check out his blog. Click Here for the IPod link.

Quickbooks 2009 for FREE (No Joke) Dec 22 Only

I'm a big fan of QuickBooks. It's the most friendly and forgiving accounting software on the market. The forgiving part can also be it's biggest weakness but that's a story for another day.

According to the Practical QuickBooks blog, on Monday Dec 22 ONLY, you can get a copy of Quickbooks 2009 Pro at Staples for FREE.

The regular price at Staples is $199.99, you will get a $40 "instant savings", and then a $159.99 mail in rebate.

We are still on QB version 2006 at NewPointe but with this deal, it's time to upgrade. See you at Staples on Monday.

Unreal, Unbelievable, Outstanding

These are a few words that describe the opening of our Christmas Eve service. My buddy Dave Mast graciously pulled me away from some year end payroll process by asking me if I wanted to see what he's been working on.

Off we went to the auditorium. All I can give away / say is we rented some "sweet" effects equipment for Christmas Eve and you will love it. I sure did.

Hope you are planning on attending one of our three service times. 2:30, 4:30 or 6:30

SIMPLE IRA

Recently, I was asked what type of retirement plan if any I have available to me as an employee of NewPointe. I'm happy to say I have a SIMPLE IRA and I've been participating in it for years.

SIMPLE IRA stands for Savings Incentive Match Plans for Employees (SIMPLE) IRAs are fairly simple to administer, no-hassle IRA plans that offer a great benefit for employees in any "small business".

SIMPLE IRAs allow employees under age 55 to contribute up to $10,500 in 2008 of their annual income to the plan. Employers match this amount as part of the process. Employees are then vested and are eligible to receive this money upon reaching retirement age. Matching contributions by the business are tax deductible.

For the business owner, the only drawback of this type of retirement plan is that the employees doesn’t have to earn his or her vesting, but is vested once the account is opened. That means matching someone dollar for dollar up to 3% from the day they start participating in the plan. That's not that bad but it can hurt if the employee does not stick around very long.

So, now you know. NewPointe uses a SIMPLE IRA

Cool & Simple Year-End Tax Tip

Here's a simple tax tip that will save you money if you have a mortgage on your home.

I'm betting your next mortgage payment is due Jan 1st, 2009. That mortgage payment is made up of interest and principal. I just checked my mortgage statement and interest is approximately $275 of my next payment.

If I make my payment a few days before Jan 1st and the bank posts my payment on or before December 31st. I'll get to take the interest off as part of my 2008 taxes. So paying January's payment a few days early will save me approximately $70 in tax assuming a 25% tax bracket. That's about three weeks of free gas in my tank. I'll take that.

So, if you itemize on your tax return, consider making your January payment in December. It's an easy way to put some money back into your pocket.

It Starts this Sunday . . . .

I know everyone, including myself is thinking almost exclusively about Christmas. I'm very much looking forward to time with family and friends. But take a moment and think with me past Christmas into the new year. Not New Years but into the new year.

Christmas has come and gone, New Year's eve was safe and relatively uneventful and now it just winter. What could you possible do? How about getting your financial house in order. Yep, it's that time. The next round of Financial Peace University classes is about to begin.

As I've stated before, FPU is a life changing class that brings HOPE. Come see me in the main Atrium this Sunday at NewPointe. I'll be there to answer your questions and sign you up for this round of classes.

Those who do can't come to NewPointe for FPU can click HERE and type in your zip code to find a class in your area. If you can't find one close to you, start one in your church. That's what I did and 6 years later, I've got story after story after story of how I've gotten to be part of life change.

ID Theft Survey

The Ohio Treasurer of State's office is trying to get a feel for and if ID theft is effecting people. Richard Cordray, The State Treasurer has put out an 11 question survey to gather ANONYMOUS information regarding ID theft.

The survey took me less the 3 minutes to complete. Please click HERE and participate along with me in the survey.

In my opinion, the number one way to stop your own ID theft is to FREEZE your credit. I've done this already. What's keeping you from doing it? To learn more about freezing your credit report, you can go to annual credit report.com Do not go to free credit report.com. It's not free.

$150 in your pocket for opening up a checking account

Yep, you read the title correctly. National City Bank, soon to be PNC is offering a $150 VISA card if you open up a "free" checking account by 12/31/08.

There are two hoops you have to jump through to get the $150.

1. Withing 60 days of opening up the account, you have to have at least $250 from your paycheck direct deposited into your new National City account.
   
   
2. Within 60 days of opening up the account, you have to use your debit card 10 time.

Ok, these are the hoops, but are there any other benefits to the "free" checking account? Yes there are.

1. Free use of ATMs
2. Free unlimited personal checks
3. Free online banking and bill pay
   
4. No minimum balance

$150 is a lot of money and it's not often you get something for free. This is an offer worth considering.

Is the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit a good thing?

When I first heard about this tax credit, I thought to myself, "who'll qualify for this? No one I know. the window of opportunity is to narrow. You have to purchase your first house between April 9th and July 1st of 2008."

Low and behold, I got an email from my good friend and bicycle mechanic Bill G. today. Bill works on my bike and I do his taxes. (Who's getting the better deal here? I'm getting off track.) Anyway, Bill and his wife Amy did buy their first house between those two dates andthey qualifies for the credit. It's up to $7,500.

On the surface, this looks like a great deal for anyone who qualifies. You'll get this refundable tax credit when you file your 2008 taxes. So do them as soon as you can.

There is a catch. This is really an interest free loan from the government/IRS. You have to start paying back this credit/this loan in 2010 and over a 15 year period. So, assuming you get the maximum credit of $7,500, you'll be paying back $500 a year for 15 years. If you sell your home prior to paying off this loan, the government will get paid off from the proceeds of the sale.

So I ask, is this a good deal or not? An interest free loan is appealing but a loan is a loan no matter what and as the Bible clearly states, the borrower is slave to the lender. (Proverbs 22:7) Personally, I do not want to be in bondage to the government/IRS for 15 years. With that said, if you could / would use this credit to clean up some other debts then this could be a good deal for you. But I have learned that having debt is usually a symptom not the problem in and of itself.

Google Friends Connect

I just added Google Friends Connect to my blog. Friends Connect is an extremely simple way to make any website you have a bit more social.

Visitors to any site using Google Friend Connect will be able to see, invite, and interact with new friends, or, using secure authorization APIs, with existing friends from social sites on the web, including Facebook, Google Talk, hi5, orkut, Plaxo, and more.

Who'll be the next one to join as my Friend? Jon was the first. Thanks Jon!

E-Layaway

Do you remember the days when stores offered Layaway? I do. I always thought this was a great idea for consumers. It guaranteed the item you wanted would be there, allowed you to pay for it interest free over time, and even provided storage for the item until you had it paid in full.

Well, Layaway is making a comeback. Not only in stores but now online. Wa-la, E-Layaway. According to E-Layaway's web site, it lets you buy the products and services that you want by paying for them through manageable monthly payments that you set. You can pick between 3 to 13 months of layaway. E-Layaway will automatically deduct the payments from your bank account and will ship your order once it's paid in full. E-Layaway has over 1,000 merchants participating with them.

One of the best things about this service is no CREDIT CARDS. So, check out the web site and maybe give it a try.

Thinking about your Income Taxes yet?

I am. Here's why. I'll be receiving just 2 more paychecks in 2008. So, I've got 2 opportunities to make some changes to my withholding that could put some serious money in my pocket in December.

What am I talking about and how does this work? Great questions. I'm glad I asked them.

Here's what I did. I took my wife's and my last pay stub amounts and projected out the next two pays to see what our 2008 totals will be. Then I basically plugged this information into TuborTax's free tax calculator to see what my 2008 tax return could possible look like.

In doing this, if you find out you'll be expecting a large refund, you could adjust or even stop your federal income tax withholding for the next 2 pays and put that money in your pocket right now as apposed to waiting until you do your taxes and then get it back in a refund.

In doing this exercise I can put just over $300 in my pocket in December. I'd much rather have this $300 now than wait until March or April.