If you're unable to pay your full tax bill, don't panic. Calling the IRS to work out a payment plan is your best option, says CNBC personal finance expert Carmen Wong Ulrich. You may find that the agency is surprisingly willing to waive some of the penalties and fees and to work with you to arrange payments that you can afford.
Find more information on coping with the economy with our Bail Yourself Out resources.
It's getting chilly here at night now. In fact, the weatherman's forecasted the possibility of snow showers here tonight and, as a result, I'm starting to think about roaring fires and cups of cocoa. Of course, my fireplace it doesn't exactly say "holiday spirit" right now. Fortunately, interior designer Elaine Griffin gave me some tips for making my mantel stand out this holiday season.
"Mantels become the instant focal point in any room that's lucky enough to have one," says Elaine, "so feel free to festoon yours festively for the holiday season." Her secret to setting a stunning surround for your fireplace? Layering. Think foreground, middle ground and background when you're arranging you display. Elaine favors cut branches and holiday ornaments in clear glass vessels or oversized bowls for a simple, modern look. Adorn any kind of branch with tree ornaments, tinsel and garland and you'll have a holiday mantel that looks as good as a Christmas card.
photo: a. gault/getty mages
Even if you don't have children, it's a good idea to have life insurance anytime someone else depends on your income or services for their livelihood, says CNBC personal finance expert Carmen Wong Ulrich. That means that you need enough life insurance to cover the loss of your income as well as the cost of hiring someone to do everything that you currently do from cleaning and cooking to laundry and chauffeuring the kids to practice. Watch the video to find out more about how much life insurance you really need and which products are the best for you.
Find more information on coping with the economy with our Bail Yourself Out resources.
If you've ever thought about renovating your kitchen, you know how easy it is to get overwhelmed with the many choices. But at what point is it time to step back so you can appreciate all your hard work? Some Gardenweb members are having a hard time getting their minds off their kitchens both pre- and post-makeover. They call themselves TKO—totally kitchen obsessed. How do they know that they're kitchen addicts?
"There is a full scale model of your island hood made from cardboard hanging from your ceiling."—bmorepanic
"When you remodeled your kitchen 5 years ago and you still find yourself drawn to [the GardenWeb Kitchen Forum]."—cheryl444
"When you pay more attention to the kitchens in TV shows, movies and commercials than you do to the plot line or the product."— lisa_a
"When you discuss [your kitchen renovation] with your dog."— desertsteph
"When you go to a party and spend as much time mingling and chatting as you do thinking up renovation ideas for their kitchen [and] bathrooms in your head."— cat_mom
"When you've [mostly] finished your kitchen [renovation] so you start collecting pictures and ideas for your next kitchen."— biochem101
photo: GardenWeb user lisa_a
If you've made some mistakes with your credit in the past, it can take a long time before your credit improves. There are things that you can do, though, to reestablish a healthy credit score. For starters, pay on time, every time, says CNBC personal finance expert Carmen Wong Ulrich. And pay down your balances as soon as possible. Watch the video to see more things you can do to repair your credit report
Find more information on coping with the economy with our Bail Yourself Out resources.
I used to have neighbors who put up the most disturbing Halloween decorations. Their house was a drab grayish-green color and they would fill their yard with these creepy scarecrow-type bodies. I confess I always skipped that house while trick-or-treating. When they moved away, I was kind of relieved when the new owners painted the house a cheery yellow color and that was the end of those horrible Halloween decorations.
Now the scariest house on the block has a fake graveyard in the front yard and some green fog that floats around the steps. It's actually more cool than creepy. Speaking of which, last week I asked everyone to check out these 7 Halloween decorations that move, light up or make noise and tell me if they thought they were fun or frightful. To be honest, I thought more people would say that these displays went too far so I was surprised to see the overwhelming majority loved these crazy lawn ornaments.
In honor of the last few days where we can show our 2009 Halloween spirit, check out some of my favorite extreme Halloween decorations:
- 7 Halloween decorations that move, light up or make noise
- 8 creepy indoor decorations that might be cool enough to last all year
photo: grandin road
Classic'60s style is making a comeback, thanks in part to the popularity of the Mad Men television series. If you're falling for Don Draper's sofa or bedroom set, there are some easy ways you can get the same look in your own home, says decorating expert and blogger Susanna Salk.
Start by browsing any of the design blogs, including CasaSugar, PointClickHome and Shine, that describe the decorations on the Mad Men set. Print out pictures of the ones you love, advises Susanna, and take them with you when you're shopping. Even if you don't find the exact piece, sometimes you can find something in a similar shade or shape that will give your room the same feel.
Search local yard sales, flea markets and antiques shops for vintage furniture and accessories. Or, if you prefer new pieces with a '60s feel, here are a few of Susanna's favorites. Clockwise from top left:
- The Classic Century Coffee Pot ($72.95 at CrateandBarrel.com)
- TWA poster ($12.99 at Art.com).
- The draper sofa ($799), parlour chair ($699), acacia mini bar ($399 ) and paperclip side table ($199), all at CB2.com
- 4-piece martini set from Jonathan Adler ($30 at MartiniArt.com)
From what to drink to how to dress, get lots more Mad Men-inspired ideas for living a '60s lifestyle.
photos: clockwise from top left: Crate & Barrel, Art.com, CB2.com, MartiniArt.com
Withdrawing funds from a 401K can be incredibly expensive. Between taxes, fees and other penalties, you could wind up paying almost half of your retirement savings. Although the best financial move is to leave the funds in your 401K alone, advises CNBC personal finance expert Carmen Wong Ulrich, if you need this money to pay your bills as the result of a job loss or illness, there may be a way to avoid some of these charges. Ask your plan administrator if you're eligible for a hardship withdrawal. Watch as Carmen Wong Ulrich explains.
Find more information on coping with the economy with our Bail Yourself Out resources.
Would you buy a house if it was located on 100 Year Party Court? How about Poverty Lane? I live on Summit Avenue—a distinctly ordinary address—so I never gave much thought to street names until user powermuffin posed a question about wacky road names on the GardenWeb home decorating forum. Here are a few of the streets that GardenWeb users wouldn't want to live on:
"I almost bought a house several years ago in a development called Thornbridge. Most streets in the subdivision were Thorn-something-or-another: Thornberry, Thornway, Thornhill, Thorndyke, Thornbrook... The thought of all those thorns made me feel a bit prickly. (I was actually glad that my offer wasn't accepted on that particular house.)" —auntjen
"And another [street] I could never live on simply because I find the name so horribly pretentious: Winners' Circle." —sweeby
"We nearly bought a house on 'Grande Chateau Lane' [that] was neither grand nor a Chateau." —trk65
"I truly believe I could not buy a house on Hunky Dory Lane." —leahcate
And a couple where it would almost be worth it to buy the house just for the address:
"If a Queen Anne [house] I saw on Magic Circle hadn't been far too big and too run-down for our limited capabilities we would have snatched it up just for the address." —johnmari
"In another subdivision I loved the street names because they were horses. Quarter Horse Lane, Arabian Way, Pinto Trail, etc. I desperately wanted to have an address of Arabian Way but alas, none of the houses were appealing."—happyintexas
Check out more unusual street names on GardenWeb and tell me some of the funny names for roads in your area in the comments
photo: n. clayton/getty images
