Ohio CollegeAdvantage $25 Systematic Savings Incentive

Along with the $25 “Refer a Friend” bonus for new members (possibly more if you have more than one child), the Ohio CollegeAdvantage 529 plan is giving out an additional $25 “Systematic Savings Incentive” if you start a new automatic transfer from your bank account or payroll deduction. Here is the fine print, but the major points are below.

To earn the $25 bonus, the electronic funds transfer (EFT) or payroll deduction must be started between September 1, 2009 and January 31, 2010. The bonus will be applied to your CollegeAdvantage account 90 days after you start the EFT or payroll deduction and meet the following requirements:

• A minimum of $25 must be deducted per month.
• The EFT and payroll deduction must still be active at the 90-day mark.
• For EFT only, a minimum of three EFT pulls must have occurred within the 90 days.
• For payroll deduction only, at least one payroll check must be applied within the 90 days.

Got two 529 contributors? You can get $50:

More than one Systematic Savings Incentive bonus may be awarded per account in the case where the Account Owner and other Contributors sign up for a recurring EFT or payroll deduction for the same account. For example, the Account Owner could start a recurring EFT and the spouse could also start a recurring EFT or payroll deduction as a Contributor for the same account. In that case, the account would receive a total of $50 if all other criteria for the bonus are met.

If you are like me and already have an automatic transfer in place:

CollegeAdvantage direct accounts with a current recurring EFT or payroll deduction are eligible for the bonus offer if a "new" recurring EFT or payroll deduction is started for the Account by either the Account Owner or Contributor, provided they are not the party currently responsible for the current recurring EFT or payroll deduction. For example, if the current recurring EFT was established by the Account Owner, a Contributor could also start a recurring EFT or payroll deduction and potentially qualify for the bonus as a "new" recurring EFT or payroll deduction. In this case a $25 bonus would be applied for the new recurring EFT or payroll deduction. The Systematic Savings Incentive bonus is intended to reward new systematic savers. The account will not qualify for the bonus if a current recurring EFT or payroll deduction is stopped and a new one started between September 1, 2009 and January 31, 2010.

By this, I read that my wife could start contributing an automatic amount as well, and we could get one $25 bonus. However, stopping and re-starting an existing automatic transfer won’t work.

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Podcast 21: Student Saving Tips and How to Survive on a Teacher’s Salar0y0

In today’s Consumerism Commentary Podcast, I offer a number of suggestions for students heading back to school, particularly for new college freshmen. Tom Dziubek and I discuss tips that will help students take small steps now to ensure they will start the rest of their lives on a sound footing.

After the discussion for students, we offer tips for teachers with our guest, Danny Kofke. He is the author of How to Survive (and Perhaps Thrive) on a Teacher’s Salary.

To listen, use the player above (Adobe Flash required), download the podcast here, subscribe to the podcast RSS feed, or use the iTunes link. Note: open links in a new window (Ctrl-click or Command-click) to avoid interrupting the podcast.

[00:00] Introduction from Flexo
[00:43] Interview with Flexo about money saving tips for new college students
– [01:45] What new students should be thinking of
– [02:21] Budget planning
– [04:05] Savings and checking accounts
– [06:34] Using a Roth IRA
– [08:36] Acquiring college textbooks
– [16:44] Online budget resources
[18:39] Interview with Danny Kofke, author of “How to Survive (and perhaps thrive) on a Teacher’s Salary”
– [18:53] Danny’s teaching experience
– [19:16] Starting salaries
– [22:09] Ways for teachers to reduce expenses
– [23:32] Danny’s tips from his book
– [25:58] How teachers can increase income
– [26:41] Danny’s experiences teaching special education students
– [28:12] Career recommendations for new teachers
[34:53] End

We always welcome feedback from listeners. If you have any comments for this episode or for any other, or if you have suggestions for future episodes, please leave us comments here or email us at podcast at this domain name.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Podcast 21: Student Saving Tips and How to Survive on a Teacher’s Salar0y0

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A No Fax Cash Advance for the Keys that Got Away

Well, they didn’t QUITE get away, but…

They were so close, I could almost touch them – if my hand could blast through that brand new brick wall I'd built! (Photo: flickr.com)

They were definitely toast by the time I’d chipped the dried cement off of them.

Here’s the deal. I work for a landscaping business in City of Industry. One day, I’m doing some brickwork for a customer, minding my own business, when his dog comes tearing out of the house in hot pursuit of a squirrel. The parade rips past where I’m working, and knocks over a small trowel. Nothing big; I picked it up and kept working. However, I didn’t realize until it was too late that my keys had been sitting on top of the trowel, and when the dog and squirrel knocked it over, the keys fell into the mortar mix. I didn’t notice, and now they were a part of the wall. I took a hammer and chisel to start chipping away. I managed to find them and repair the damage to the wall, but my automatic starter no longer functioned.

Those things aren’t cheap

I needed to buy another from the dealer, and are they expensive! I had no idea something so small could cost so much; I also had no idea that my bank account had so little money in it at the time. Luckily, I was familiar with Personal Money Store from having used them before, so I filled out an application and managed to get a no fax cash advance by the next day. Thankfully, my customer didn’t mind my leaving my big truck in their yard for a day. … click here to read the rest of the article titled “A No Fax Cash Advance for the Keys that Got Away“

'9' Movie Reviews Are Mixed: Great Visuals, Not Much Else

‘9′ gets a 6.2 from critics

I think the whole plan for “9″ the movie started with the date. I would bet a big payday cash advance they came up with the release date before they came up with the idea for the movie. On 09-09-09, Tim Burton, director Shane Acker and Focus Features released “9″ the movie, and for all the hype and planning, the “9″ movie reviews were decidedly … mediocre.
The bevy of critics at both Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic gave “9″ an average score of 62 percent. While that is not great news for a $33 million film, 62 percent also means more than half the critics who wrote “9″ movie reviews liked it. To use Metacritic’s terminology, it got “generally favorable reviews.

Despite the reviews, I am certain the “9″ movie will make its $33 million back, and I predict it’ll make another $50 million or $60 million on top of that. If it weren’t for the fact that critics have made it clear this PG-13 film is too intense for young kids, I think it’d crack $100 million.

Good review

The New York Post compares the movie “9″ to another recent sci-fi release “District 9.” The major difference between these flicks is that “District 9″ is live-action, while “9″ the move is all CGI, with characters that resemble crocheted dolls.

“Where the two films differ are Acker’s intoxicatingly rich visuals for the devastated world of “9,” which draw extensively on the steampunk style. “9″ may not be an instant classic like “Wall-E,” but it signals the arrival of Shane Acker as an audacious new talent to watch.”

Bad review

New York Magazine says this about “9″: “The movie is dreary and monotonous, the vision junky in more ways than one.”

“It’s hard to get worked up about yet another post apocalyptic fantasy in which it’s the machines that have exterminated mankind.” But even New York Magazine’s bored critc admits the visuals are stunning.

National Affairs magazine a mind-blowing business decision

Will National Affairs magazine survive the economy?

Times are tough for established newspapers and magazines just trying to stay afloat. Nonetheless, editor Yuval Levin and some gutsy colleagues have started National Affairs magazine, and the first issue printed Monday.

National Affairs is a quarterly magazine meant to continue the work of The Public Interest, a magazine that shut down in 2005.

The public interest

Apparently online loans were no help for The Public Interest, which lasted 40 years, from 1965 to 2005. The Public Interest Closed when the last of the original editors retired. The New York Times says the goal of The Public Interest was to overcome the ideological clashes between socialism and capitalism and focus on an age of consensus with a policy journal that would objectively weigh costs and benefits.

Operating at the crossroads

The New York Times says the first essay in National Affairs magazine focuses on how we can tackle the recession by creating a sustainable middle-class social contract. It weighs the benefits and downsides of both direct democracy and concentrated power.

9 Reminders to Help Avoid IRS Audits

Many people are scared of the IRS even if they did nothing wrong. If you want to avoid IRS audits, remember that taxes should always be on the back of your mind, not just during April. Furthermore, here are nine precautions you can take to avoid those dreadful meetings with Uncle Sam.

1. Tax returns with mistakes and miscalculations are much more likely to trigger an audit than returns with complete and accurate information. Double checking your tax return before sending it to the IRS!
2. Never complete a 1040X to amend your original tax return unless absolutely necessary. Why? Because 1040X forms are viewed with much more scrutiny than original tax returns. If the original tax return and the 1040X differ substantially, your return will be referred to the audit department for further review.
3. Avoid newer "green" deductions such as the energy tax credit unless you have documentation to substantiate these deductions. Newer deductions are often selected for audits at a higher rate than older deductions so if you're claiming a newer credit or deduction, be prepared to show proof when you receive a letter in the mail from the IRS.
4. Try not to add a new dependent to your return unless you experience a justifiable life event, i.e. adoption of a child, birth of a child, care of an elderly or disabled parent. If you are adding a child as your dependent, remember that he or she must have lived with you at least six months plus one day during the tax year for which you're filing.
5. Think $1,500. Many IRS deductions have a threshold of $1,500 before a return can be selected for an IRS audit. Therefore, any deduction above $1,500 should be documented with receipts and invoices.
6. Remember, the only person who has your best interest at heart is YOU. Your tax preparer is often bombarded during tax season and prone to making mistakes, any one of which could trigger audits. You should always sit with your preparer and review your return together before signing it.
7. Be on the lookout for scams. In the 2008 filing season, many people fell for a scam and filed a form 8888 to request an additional $8,000 stimulus payment which they believed the IRS was refunding. The only problem was that there was no IRS form 8888 or any additional $8,000 stimulus payment. Many of the taxpayers requesting the fake payment were selected for audit.
8. NEVER mail more than one tax return for each filing season. If you are unsure whether the IRS received your return, allow 4-6 weeks, then call to verify receipt of the return. Receipt of duplicate returns can trigger your return being flagged for an audit.
9. If you've ever been audited before, it's much more likely that you'll be audited again. So be extra careful to keep receipts for all deductions if you've ever been audited.

Lastly, if you were selected for an IRS audit, don’t fret because Uncle Sam is actually reasonable and pleasant. Remember to read the letters from him carefully and submit anything he ask for. If you filed a legitimate tax return, there’s nothing to worry about.

This post is written by Yvette Carnell, who wrote this article for TaxMattersSolutions.com, which helps people with IRS problems.

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• Avoid Credit Card Traps
• I’m Losing 50 Bucks to Be Happy, and I’m not Crazy

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UPDATE On Steven Tyler Fall | Condition and Future Concerts

Details on Steven Tyler fall

The last I heard about the Steven Tyler fall was that he took a tumble off the stage, was airlifted to the hospital and had minor injuries. Now, details are in from MTV on his current condition.

Of course, the concert Aerosmith was scheduled to play in Winnipeg tonight is postponed. Steven Tyler’s next performance with Aerosmith was set for Sunday in Regina, and that show has been postponed as well.

Have an Aerosmith ticket? Hang on to it

Aerosmith is scheduled to play three other shows in Canada before returning to the U.S. on Aug. 17 to play a show in Seattle. However, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry told the Associated Press that Steven Tyler’s fall might keep him from performing for up to two months.

If you’re worried because you spent a cash loan on an Aerosmith ticket, don’t despair. All shows will be postponed — none canceled. Hold on to your ticket, because the band will reschedule the show and honor tickets at the later dates.

Injuries from Steven Tyler fall

The reason Steven Tyler might be out of commission for a couple of months is his broken shoulder. he also got stitches in the back of his head and in his back, according to Billie Perry’s Twitter account. Billie Perry is Joe Perry’s wife, and she gave several updates during the few hours after the Steven Tyler fall.

He is now out of the hospital and back home in Boston. Anyone who has had a broken bone knows that although that sort of injury is classified as “minor,” it doesn’t feel minor. Billie Perry wrote that he is “very sore,” and I imagine that a broken shoulder would make singing painful — especially the way Steven Tyler does it.

Is Steven Tyler falling apart?

This isn’t the first time this year’s Aerosmith tour has been interrupted by a Steven Tyler injury. The Associated Press reports: … click here to read the rest of the article titled “UPDATE On Steven Tyler Fall | Condition and Future Concerts“