Moving on…

Dwight had grown up in the city knowing nothing but luxury. His parents were both powerful, mystical sorcerers (investment bankers) and had established themselves as high rulers of the great city (they were rich.) Dwight had gone to the best schools, he’d been chummy with presidents of various clubs and elite groups since he could walk, and he’d never had to take care of himself.

But then on his 30^th birthday, as such stories tend to go, something truly magical happened: His parents told him to pack his things and get out.

“Dwight, dear, we love you,” his mother had said.

“But we want you out of our house. It’s high time you learned to take care of yourself and manage your own money,” his dad added. He handed him a fistful of bills—a measly $10,000 in cash—and told him that was all he was getting. “If you use that wisely you can turn it into a lot more.” And with those wise words, the King and Queen of Manhattan (Mr. and Mrs. Klotz) closed the door on their only son.

What? It was for his own good.

Of course the one thing Dwight had left was his magical wand—his iPhone. And so frantically he started doing the one thing he knew how: Googling madly. He quickly Googled a hotel down the street where he could stay until he figured out something more permanent. It wasn’t the Ritz, but it would have to do. He gave the clerk $500 for two nights and put his things away.

He ordered dinner that night, and since he was feeling pretty low, a few comedies on demand. After breakfast the next day (nothing less than breakfast in bed for Dwight) he decided to do a little shopping to cheer himself up and then he met a friend for a late lunch.

So much for money management. All told, Dwight spent about $2,000 in just two days alone. This would have been a mere drop in the bucket when Dwight was living off of his parents, but now Dwight was independent! He was an adult! He was responsible! Well, not exactly.

That night  Dwight went out with a few friends. They stayed out late celebrating Dwight’s freedom and his birthday. They went to bars, they went to exclusive clubs, and on a whim, Dwight even bought him and a woman named Janet two tickets to Vegas for the next week. He’d never met her before, but she said she liked his alligator boots.

By the time Dwight dragged himself back to the hotel the next morning, it was almost noon and they’d already removed his bags from the room. They were waiting by the curb.

“You’re two hours late for checkout and we have someone checking in at 1:00. Please pay your room service bill,” the man at the desk advised him curtly.

Dwight, head pounding and still seeing double, reached into his pocket to pay the bill, and to his horror, counted out a mere $500— $100 of which went to room service.

Dwight said something very rude, which we’ll leave out, and made his way to the curb to stand next to his bags and the bits of trash blowing around in the wind.

He reached into his pocket for his last resource—his magical iPhone. It was dead.

“You need some help, kid?” someone said with a raspy voice. Dwight spun around and saw a man, probably in his mid-forties, leaning up against the wall of the hotel with a toothpick in his mouth. He was wearing a bright orange shirt with a little symbol on it. Dwight couldn’t be sure—he could hardly focus—but he thought the symbol was a Mango.

“Name’s Mr. Mangus,” the man said, sticking out his hand. Dwight looked around to make sure the man was talking to him, and then shook his hand.

“Looks like you’re in a bad spot, Dwight. It looks like you haven’t managed that $10,000 your parents gave you very well: Fancy hotel, room service, a non-refundable trip for two to Vegas…”

How did this man know so much?

“Are you my fairy god…father?” Dwight asked, blinking.

“No, you dolt. Your parents sent me to get you on you on track. Like I said, I’m Mr. Mangus and I work for Mango. I’m here to help you manage your money.”

“That’s a lot of M’s,” Dwight muttered. But Mangus wasn’t listening; he’d picked up one of Dwight’s bags and was walking down the street.

“Come on!” he called. Dwight wondered why they couldn’t just catch a cab to wherever they were going, but Mr. Mangus answered before he could ask—like magic. “Subway is cheaper than a cab. We’re managing that money you have left, kid, and we’re going to get you a job to make some more. And no, I’m not magic; you’re just really easy to read.” And with that, Mr. Mangus disappeared mysteriously (he went down the steps to the Subway.)

Mr. Mangus took Dwight across town to an old, squat, apartment building that looked like it had seen better days.

“Where are we?” Dwight asked, used to his parents’ luxurious pad in Manhattan. “Are we… in Brooklyn?” He sniffed the air.

“Yeah, this is my apartment. You can sleep on the couch until you’ve learned a bit more about money management.”

When they got inside, Dwight tossed his stuff on the floor and curled up on the couch, ready to finally get some shuteye. But it looked like Mr. Mangus had other plans.

“Here,” he said, shoving a thick file into Dwight’s lap. In cursive writing on the front it said “The Magical world of Money Management.”

“It’s from Mango Financial,” he said. “It’s from the Mango Grove.”

Dwight asked if the Mango Grove was some kind of magical money management land, where people saved freely and abundantly.

“The Mango Grove is Mango’s blog… These are just print-offs. What’s your deal, kid?”

Dwight just shrugged and went on reading. He soon forgot he was tired at all, so immersed was he in this magical, mystical Mango Grove Blog thing.

He learned all about managing his money responsibly. He learned about items that he was paying too much for; he learned about saving money on entertainment and grocery shopping; and he even learned about how to manage his money better by not overspending with a Mango Card (a lesson I am sure you well know!)

Dwight ended up reading the entire contents of the file in one day, and in the end, he was so grateful for his Fairy Godfather, Mr. Mangus from Mango.

“Uh, whatever,” Mr. Mangus kindly replied when he told him so.

“The only thing is,” Dwight sniffed as he closed the file. “I’ve already spent almost all of my parents’ money. And now maybe I know about managing my money, but I certainly didn’t do that in the first place. How am I supposed to manage money that I don’t even have?”

Mr. Mangus considered. Finally, after a long and thoughtful pause he said, “First of all, can you take your shoes off of my couch? I think you stepped in mustard or something. Second of all, $300 isn’t nothing, Dwight. It might not be what you’re used to, but with what you know now about money management, well, you’ll manage. We’ll get you a job, you can stay on my couch until you start saving enough for your own place, and then, you can start putting a portion of each check into a savings account.”

“You mean Mango’s magical High Yield Savings account which will earn me 6.00 APY† with direct deposit?” Dwight asked, shaking the file enthusiastically.

“What, did you memorize that thing?” Mr. Mangus sighed. “Yes we’ll get you set up with a Mango savings account to start growing your money faster. Before you know it, you’ll be back on your feet… and off of my couch.”

Dwight smiled and finally curled up to go to sleep, holding the file like a teddy bear. “Mr. Mangus, you were sent straight from heaven,” he said groggily before he closed his eyes.

Mr. Mangus just sighed and shook his head; he decided not to tell him how much Dwight’s parents were paying him to teach their son a thing or two about money management. Next week he’d get him set up with a Mango Savings Account; but first, he’d need to prep him on landing a job.

He had a busy week ahead.

Come back next week to see what happens with Dwight, his job search, and his magical journey in the land of savings.

Do you know any Dwights out there? Anyone who you think could use a money management makeover? Comment below with your tips for them! (And don’t worry, you don’t need to mention names!)

†Interest is calculated on the average daily balance of your Savings Account and paid monthly. Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) and the APY comparison as advertised are accurate as of October 1, 2011. The APY advertised applies only to the portion of your Savings Account balance which is $5,000.00 or less. An APY of 0.10% will be paid on the portion of your Savings Account balance which exceeds $5,000.00. Fees may reduce the earnings on your Savings Account. This is a promotional rate and is subject to change without notice. A minimum of $1.00 is necessary to open your Savings Account. A limit may be placed on the maximum amount of funds you can deposit into your account. This limit may be exceeded by interest accruing on the funds. The limit may be changed from time to time.

So check out our list of 8 everyday things you might be overpaying for and some ideas for cheaper alternatives. So get out there and cut the cable! Quit those snack bars! You know… just make a change!

1)   Cable. In this day and age with so many streaming options, there isn’t much of a reason to be paying for expensive cable, which will cost you up to $1,800 per year if you get the full package! Check out this post on the different options and find out what is right for you.

2)   Music. Just like movies and television, there are a ton of alternative options to listening to music these days that won’t cost you a ton of money. Not only do you no longer need to go out and buy a physical CD anymore, but you don’t even need to pay a bunch of downloads from iTunes or Amazon. Check out this post on the best budget-friendly streaming option for you.

3)   Snacks. If you are one of the many Americans who have jumped on the “healthy” snack bar bandwagon, you might not only be overpaying, but you might also be getting more sugar than you think. The Nature Valley Sweet and Salty Nut Granola Bar, for example, has 11 grams of sugar, 170 calories, and no significant source of vitamins, fiber, or even protein. You might as well be eating a candy bar; and a box of these sugary treats will run you about $4.00! Check out our post for some inexpensive and healthy snack alternatives.

4)   Coffee. If you’re buying your beloved latte everyday at around $3, you’re spending about $1,100 on coffee per year! Unfortunately, while you’re certainly saving money by brewing at home, it might not be as much as you’d like. Over the past year, coffee prices have gone up by about $1.00/pound! To maximize your at-home cup of joe, check out this article.

5)   Bottled Water. We’re not advocating cutting back on the water—as a matter of fact, most people can probably do to drink even more (This just in: According to Mayo Clinic, for men the recommended amount is about 13 glasses a day; for women it is about 9.) So rather than paying $2 per bottle—about $13 per day—just buy an inexpensive water filter and refill your cup or bottle throughout the day. Filters start as low as $9 at Walmart.

6)   Fruits and Veggies. If you buy prewashed, precut, and prepackaged veggies or fruits for the convenience, well, you’re paying for it. Broccoli florets and sliced peppers cost around $6 per pound, compared to just half that price for the whole veggies. You can even save up to 75% buy simply buying whole strawberries rather than pre-cut ones, and honestly, how hard is it to cut a strawberry?! Check out this post with more tips on maximizing your money at the grocery store.

7)   Household cleaning supplies. You can easily spend $3-5 on a simple bottle of Windex, or you can make your own. By making your own cleaning supplies, you’re not only saving money, but you’re also being more environmentally conscious, without all those harsh chemicals. Check out how here.

8)   Extended Warranties. Granted, there are some extended warranties that make good sense, but come on, buying a warranty for a cheap microwave? It doesn’t add up. As the editor of Consumer Reports, Tod Marks put it, “You’re betting the product is going to break at exactly the same period between when the manufacturer’s warranty expires… You’re also betting that the cost of the repair is going to be more than the cost of the warranty… You’re also betting that you’ll want to get it fixed… It doesn’t make sense to get a warranty on something that could easily be replaced out of pocket.” Check out this post on when it’s worth it to get that warranty, and when it’s just a waste of money.

Can you think of anything to add to this list? Comment below!

Photos Courtesy of: angelrravelor,  fluffisch, Incase,  visualpanic, Diego3336, DeeJayTee23, Lenny Montana, jmv

Sources: TimeWarnerCable.com, Kiplinger.com, Mint.com/blog, MayoClinic.com, Prevention.com, Walmart.com, Google.com, DailyFinance.com

Now I know this may come as a shock to some of those people who haven’t looked up from their Angry Birds in over a year, but there are still some productive hobbies out there. That’s right: there are still hobbies out there that are well worth your time, are inexpensive, can facilitate learning, creativity, save you money, and in some cases, even make you money. Now that’s what I call productive.

So check out these ten hobbies, and go forth, have some fun, and be productive!

1) Start a Garden: Like most hobbies, this one will take some money to get off the ground. You’ll have to buy seeds, gardening equipment if you don’t already have any, soil, pots, etc. However, the initial cost is worth the reward (and it’s healthier!) According to the seed company W. Atlee Burpee & Co., a home veggie garden will result in a 1 to 25 cost-savings ratio—that’s $50 spent on seeds and fertilizer rather than $1,250 worth of groceries purchased at the store.

You might even be able to turn your fresh veggies into a profit by selling them at local markets or restaurants! And don’t’ worry if you’re lacking space: Check out this video on container gardening.

2) Start a Blog: Blogging allows you to be creative, it allows you to express yourself, it allows you to discuss matters that are important to you and reach people on a huge scale! (See?) It’s not only a great way to keep your mind and creativity sharp, but it’s good for your wallet—it’s free! Check out WordPress or Weebly to get set up, and here is a great video with tips for blogging from a pro.

3) Learn to Cook: Speaking of growing your own food, how about preparing it? Cooking your own meals not only allows you to have some fun and expand your creativity, but it can also save you money—about 20% to 30% versus eating out, according to the Saving Money Ideas website. And these days you don’t even need a formal cooking class to get started—as a matter of fact, you don’t even need to leave the house! Try Delia Online or Epicurious for free online lessons, and as always, Cheap, Healthy, Good is a great site for budget-friendly recipes.

4) Learn to Bake: Along the same lines as cooking, baking is a hobby that will save you money in the long run, and might even make you some if you’ve got a talent! Save by baking your friends and family gifts for the holidays; save by baking your own goodies and birthday treats rather than going to the store. If you really have a knack for it, try selling your goods to local bakeries or restaurants. After all, who doesn’t love homemade cookies?

5) Learn an Instrument: This hobby might take a bit of money to get started—you’ll have to buy the instrument—but if you have a passion for music, it’s well worth the initial cost. Playing an instrument can be relaxing, exciting, and fun; it’s your time to just get away. Plus, according to a new study at Northwestern University, playing an instrument can have a positive impact on your brain and overall nervous system. And just like with cooking, it seems as though you can rely on the Internet to get started. With some simple browsing and clicking you’ll uncover free or inexpensive lessons online, information, and eBooks. Want to learn how to play the guitar? Well, here’s a great site to get you started.

6) Repair your car: Okay, we can probably all see how this would save you money: you won’t have to take your car in and pay an arm and a leg to get it fixed. But how is it fun? Ever heard of the book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? Plus, if you do this for friends on the side, you could earn some cash. Check out AutoEducation.com to get started.

7) Get Fit: Okay, this might seem a little out of place, especially after “baking.” But staying active, healthy, and in shape will, in fact, save you money. You’ll save on clothes, you could spend less on transportation by walking, biking, or jogging to places, you won’t be wasting money on those unhealthy vices, and you’ll spend less on medication and doctor’s trips. According to the Centers for Disease Control, obese people spend an average of $1,429 more than non-obese people on medical care and may pay up to 30% more for health insurance premiums. To sum up: get in shape, be happier, save money.

8 ) Make some art: Whether your medium is paint, pastel, clay, iron, wire, or sculpture, creating artwork is not only fun and freeing, but it can pay off. For example, if you create your own artwork to decorate your home, you’re not only creating something completely customized, but you are saving money from buying a professional piece. And if you’re really talented, you can sell your work at local markets, coffee shops, or even at Etsy.com.

9) Make some gizmos: I hadn’t really thought about this until a coworker came to work, excited about his new fun project and at how much he’s learned in just a few days about computer science. It’s called Arduino, and it is an open-source electronics platform that includes both software and hardware. At the most basic level, you use the software to program the hardware to do what you want it to. Click here for some awesome examples.

10) Make some clothes: This little hobby could, not only save you money on designer duds, but it could also earn you some cash if you have a talent for it. The important thing to remember here is that making your own clothes will only save you money if you’re mimicking something high-end from a store. If you’re not concerned with the quality of the piece, you will spend less by simply shopping at an inexpensive retail store than by making your own. So when will making your own save you money? Imagine you see a beautiful, designer dress priced at around $300-$400. That’s a lot of money. If you can sew, though, you can probably mimic something similar for only about $50 total—that’s a savings of over $250 for just excluding a label. Simply search online for a discount fabric store in your area to get the most bang for your buck. To get started, check out this great video for beginners, or Instructables.com for more information.

What are some of your productive hobbies? Can you think of a way to make your current hobbies more useful?

Sources: Youtube.com, VegetableGardener.com, USAToday.com, Arduino.cc, HacknMod.com, AutoEducation.com, GuitarTricks.com, Gardening.About.com, ChicagoTribune.com, EDiets.com, SavingMoneyIdeas.org, GetRichSlowly.org,

Check out this list of eight things out there that you should buy used.

1)   Cars: Most of us have heard that a car depreciates in value the second you take it home, and unfortunately, this is kind of true. According to Edmunds.com, a new car loses about 12% the second you drive it off the lot. So take a look at a gently used car—if it is relatively new it will probably still have a 3-5 year warranty—and it could save you thousands of dollars.

2)   Jewelry: Many fine jewelry stores mark up their merchandise by almost 100%. Instead of paying almost double what a ring, necklace, bracelet, etc. are actually worth, take a look at your local pawn or antique shop. Just make sure to do a little bit of research on the store’s reputation before you buy!

3)   Books: Sadly, most books don’t get read more than once and in this day and age, some not even at all. They just sit collecting dust while videogames get all of the action (which you’ll see down the list as well!) So why spend $15-$20 on a brand new book when there are so many other options? Check out your local Half Price Books or simply join your local library. There, you can pick up books, audio books, and even movies for free.

4)   DVDs and Blu-Ray: Just like books, you don’t need to spend $20 on a new DVD when today there are so many other options. Not only can you get gently used DVDs for a fraction of the price (again, Half Price Books or sites like Half.com and Amazon.com) but these days you can simply streams or download them. Click here for more on options that will help you do just that.

5)   Videogames: Just like a car, once a videogame has been used (played) it drastically drops in price. But simply playing a game doesn’t damage it! Check out Gamestop.com or find your local Gamestop store to shop their huge selection of gently used games, great for any console. You can even sell your own games here when you’re done for some extra cash.

6)   Office Furniture: Office furniture is usually built pretty sturdily. You can set your heavy computer on top of it, you can use it to store all of your files, and you can even give it a swift kick when work is driving you crazy (though we don’t recommend these, nor do your toes.) So there is no need to spend a fortune on brand new office furniture when something gently used will hold up just as well. Check out the consignment stores in your area or Craigslist.com.

7)   Sports Equipment: If you’re taking a skiing trip or looking to take on tennis or something, you’ll quickly realize that sports equipment isn’t cheap. You could easily spend $200-$300 on new gear, or you could check on Craigslist or PlayItAgainSports.com to buy, sell, or even trade sports equipment. Perfect for kiddos who are just trying out a new sport and aren’t ready to commit!

8)   Little Kids’ Toys: As many parents know, toys can be hit or miss; so don’t bother paying full price for something that may end up lying on the ground for a month while your child has more fun with the box it came in. Instead, peruse your neighborhood consignment stores, garage sales, or even set up a neighborhood toy swap to save some money.

Can you think of anything else that is better bought used? Share your ideas below!

Photos Courtesy of: MSVG, Jeff Belmonte,  Jenna Carver,  Andres Rueda, PhilipRood.com,  Incase,  fedewild, GViciano

Sources: Edmunds.com, HPB.com, Half.com, Amazon.com, Gamestop.com, PlayItAgainSports.com, Shine.Yahoo.com, Money.MSN.com

Aside from having some extra earnings to help you out with bills and the day-to-days of life, it is also important to have some money set aside for an emergency. In this economy, many people can’t afford to have an emergency fund at all, while experts recommend that you have one of at least $1,000—if not $3,000-$6,000.

Perhaps you’re working a full-time job right now and still struggling to just make ends meet, let alone start saving for emergencies. How can you earn a little extra income? Pick up a “side hustle.”

Click down below to use this graphic as your guide to 10 relatively simple side hustle ideas. Of course, feel free to use your imagination.

So even if you’re strapped for time, you don’t have to be strapped for cash!

What’s your “side hustle?”

Sources: LoanAbles.com, FrugalDad.com, LearnVest.com, Fiverr.com, Etsy.com, EscapeFromCubicleNation.com, MysterShop.org, BudgetsAreSexy.com

You’ve probably received your W-2 forms by now, so why not consider preparing your own federal tax return this year? You can work at your own pace and will not have to go through the arduous task of schooling an accountant in your personal financial situation – after all, no one knows your overall financial picture better than you.

If you choose to file your taxes unaided, there is a great deal of help available to you through the various tax preparation software programs. I first prepared my own taxes several years ago and have never looked back. However, there are some basic terms you should know before you get started.

What You Should Know

Adjusted Gross Income
Your gross income includes wages and salaries, bonuses, interest, dividends, and income tax refunds. Once these figures are totaled, you will subtract your deductions, which then yields your adjusted gross income, or AGI. If you prepare your return utilizing online software, it will ask you all the questions needed in order to accurately determine your AGI.

Tax Deductions
A tax deduction is something that reduces the amount of your income that is subject to tax. These include (but are not limited to) medical expenses, property taxes, mortgage loan interest paid, and charitable donations.

It’s easy to inadvertently neglect an eligible personal tax deduction, and the best way to avoid this is to create and maintain an accurate filing system throughout the year. Note the payments you are certain are deductions, as well as anything you think might be a deduction. You can always research questionable items at tax-time to see if they are indeed deductible. Once you become more adept at preparing your taxes, you’ll have a clearer idea of which receipts and statements to save.

Tax Credits
Tax credits are items that directly reduce the amount of tax that you owe. There are a number of tax credits that you may be eligible for, including education expenses and child and dependent care expenses, as well as some portions of the Energy Star credit for energy-efficient appliances. Also, in some instances, low-income workers who start saving for retirement with a 401K or an IRA can earn a credit of up to $1,000 for single filers and up to $2,000 for couples.

There are two types of tax credits: refundable and non-refundable. A non-refundable tax credit can reduce your overall tax liability to zero (but not below), whereas a refundable tax credit can reduce your liability to below zero – which means you get a refund.

Commonly Used Forms

• W-2. First off, you’ll need all of your W-2 forms. If you changed jobs in the previous year, be sure to follow up with your former employer. Forms are required by law to be mailed out by the end of January, but if you’ve relocated in the past year, they may not find you.

• 1099-MISC. The 1099-MISC form will typically include any sort of miscellaneous income you had for the previous year, including, but not limited to, fees, commissions, rents or royalties paid, payments for prizes and awards, and any income earned by independent contractors.
• 1099-INT. This form includes any interest you earned throughout the year through checking and savings accounts, among others.

• 1098. The 1098 form shows you how much interest and mortgage-related expenses you paid on your mortgage.

As there are more than 1,000 forms provided by the IRS, this is just a basic list. Depending on the complexity of your finances, there may be other forms needed.

What You’ll Need

Besides all the forms listed above, you’ll need all receipts regarding job-related expenses and job search expenses, which make up your miscellaneous deductions. However, your total miscellaneous deductions must exceed 2% of your AGI in order to claim them.

You’ll also want detailed documentation of any charitable contributions you made, as well as all records regarding non-reimbursed medical expenses, which can be deducted if they total more than 7.5% of your AGI.

Which Form to File

You have three choices here, depending on your income and whether you choose to itemize your deductions.

• 1040EZ. The 1040EZ is the simplest form to use. You can generally file with this form if you have no dependents, are younger than 65, earned less than $100,000 in the previous year, and don’t plan on itemizing.
• 1040A. This is an expanded version of the EZ. You can still make adjustments to your income through standard deductions and credits, but you can’t itemize. You must earn less than $100,000 to use this form, and you cannot use this form if you had any self-employment income.
• 1040. The 1040 is what you would use if neither the 1040EZ nor the 1040A can be used. If you made more than $100,000, plan to itemize, or had self-employment income, this is the form to use.

Final Thoughts

A key way to minimize the time you spend preparing your taxes is to understand the difference between itemizing and simply submitting a 1040EZ, where you just take the standard deduction. The amount of the standard deduction for each year depends upon your filing status. If you think your deductions will be less than the standard, file the EZ.

I suggest quickly going through the process with a free online software tool like TurboTax to identify which option is most beneficial to your particular situation. Though it may seem daunting at first, filing your taxes on your own can be a simple, organized, and streamlined process once you get your feet wet, and can save you money.

What are your thoughts on preparing taxes on your own?

In the words of Gandhi himself, “Man is the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes.” But here’s the trick: The human brain is constantly thinking! What will I wear to the dinner? What will I order for dinner? What if I trip in front of my boss? And on, and on, and on. Before you know it, one negative thought has spiraled into twenty and your mood has suddenly gone from positive to negative!

So it becomes very important to control your thoughts and ultimately your attitude. How do you do this? Well in today’s post we’ll show you one great technique: An inspiration board.

So read on to find out how to take control of your thoughts and your attitude. It’ll only cost you the price of a poster board, and it could change your life!

1)   Buy your board. A piece of poster board, any color, will suffice here. You can keep it its original size or cut it down to be smaller and more discreet. The size doesn’t matter so much, but do pick a color that you’re drawn to.

2)   Get specific with your goals. It might inspire you to put a picture of a big house on your board if buying a larger home is one of your goals; but what will really inspire you is putting a picture of your exact dream home on that board. Take the photo yourself from your favorite neighborhood in town or find one online. Whether your goal is to buy a house, a new car, move to a new city, etc., be sure to be as specific as possible when you select these photos.

3)   Cast aside your doubts. If you’re looking at the photos of your dream car or home and thinking, “I can’t afford that…” well, perhaps you’re right. You may not be able to afford these things now, but if you keep up that negative attitude, you’ll never be able to afford them! So rather than think about the price tag attached to these items, think of them as though they are already yours.

4)   Choose items that mean a lot to you. It isn’t enough to put a picture of a lot of money or a dream home on a board and just look at it everyday. You have to feel good when you do. So try mixing it up—do include specific photos of your goals, but also be sure to include the things that make you smile! Even if this is a funny comic, an inspirational quote, or even a photo of yourself when you were most successful. Whatever will make you happy and smile while looking at this board. For a few inspirational quotes to get you going check out this site.

5)   Give thanks. This may be the most powerful part of the inspiration board. If you can think of the items on your board as already yours, and really and truly feel thankful for them, well, that is when the magic will start to happen!

6)   Repeat, repeat, repeat… It’s important to keep this board someplace where you can see it and look at it often. If you’re going to keep the board at your office, you might put it on the wall next to your desk. Don’t have a wall? Keep it in a drawer and look at it, really feel the emotions of it, several times a day. At a minimum, you should start and end your day with a little inspiration.

7)    Lose yourself. No matter where you decide to put your board, make sure that when you do look at it, you aren’t just looking at it. Give yourself time to get lost in your goals; to feel the emotions of actually having these things; and to get excited. So if sitting at your desk at work won’t allow you to do this, keep your board at home—someplace relaxing and positive.

No matter what it is in life that you’re hoping to afford, a financial inspiration board will help you on the path to getting there. Remember, have fun with this and stay positive!

What will you put on your financial inspiration board?

Sources: LawOfAttraction-Quotes.blogspot.com, financial-inspiration.com, InspirationalQuotes.me

And today, class, we’ll start with Money Management. Prepaid cards like Mango can help you better manage your money than any credit card can. Now if you’re a current Mango card customer, you’ve probably seen this in action already; but just in case, here are five ways prepaid debit cards can actually help you better manage your money.

1)   You can’t spend more than you have. Prepaid debit cards are, well, prepaid. You control how much money goes onto the card, and in this way you control how much you are able to spend. A lot of times the problem with credit cards is the amount of money that you can spend is too high. In most cases your credit limit is based on your credit history, but just because the credit company settles on a number, doesn’t always mean that you can realistically afford to spend that much. With a prepaid debit card, you can’t spend more than you can afford!

2)   You don’t pay interest with prepaid cards. This means it will be a lot easier to keep track of what you owe. When your credit card bill comes, you never really know what you’re going to owe, because you can’t really calculate how much interest is going to add up to be. But when you use a prepaid card like Mango, it is a nonissue since there is no interest in the first place

3)   Prepaid cards are safer than cash. If your cash is lost or stolen there’s very little you can do to get back your hard earned money. But if your prepaid debit card is lost or stolen, many times your card company will help you get it back.

* If you ever lose your Mango card, be sure to call our customer service. They’ll cancel the card and send you a new one at once!

4)   Prepaid debit cards help you keep track of your spending. With a prepaid card, it is easy to keep track of your balance online, or even in some cases, with your phone. Unlike relying on a credit card, which will allow you to exceed your limit and charge you for going over, prepaid cards provide the ease of mind of cash, without even having to worry about carrying it around!  * With Mango you can check your balance with your mobile phone at any time. In fact if you enroll in Mango’s wireless alerts (no additional cost*) you get a text message every time you swipe your card that lets you know how much money you have left. Mango also lets you send and receive money on your phone—just like sending a text message.

5)   You don’t have to jump through hoops to get one. Anyone over the age of 18 can apply and be accepted for a prepaid debit card, without taking credit quality and history into account. So if your credit rating is less than perfect or even if you have a lack of credit history, a prepaid debit card might just be ideal for you.

What are your thoughts on the nation’s move away from banks and credit cards to prepaid cards like Mango?

Sources: CreditCards.com, Satronix.com, MangoMoney.com, UAEExchangeBlog.com

That even includes the Pittsburg Mayor who lost a bet last week when his city’s team played the Broncos.

As you probably already know, Tebow has gained his fame, not only for his plays on the field, but also for his well-known religious beliefs. Now even though the Broncos didn’t quite qualify for the Super Bowl (sorry Denver fans…), Tebow has made quite an impact on their season, and in the NFL overall, in more ways than one.

Take a look at this video to get the facts…

Creative Commons Flickr Images: Mark Wallace, Jeffrey Beall, Gage Skidmore

Sources: USA.com, BizOfFootball.com, CNBC.com, SportsMemorabilia.com, AOLSportingNews.com, USAToday.com, Zillow.com, RadarOnline.com, ESPN.com, ConnectAmarillo.com, TicketNews.com, Mashable.com, DenverPost.com, CelebrityNetworth.com

If not, congratulations, you’re an upstanding citizen. But for a handful of other dubious Americans this fleeting thought actually gets carried out, creating some of the most famous tax fraud cases in the world. Now before you start thinking, Say, maybe that’s not such a bad idea… you’ll want to keep reading.

Because these people get caught! (How else would they be the most famous cases?)

So if you ever do have that Maybe I’ll keep it moment, just read the ten stories below. Remember Al Capone? They put him away for tax evasion! Remember Wesley Snipes? Well if not, there’s a good reason—when he was caught for tax fraud, his career, his riches, and his fame all but disappeared.

And don’t forget to file your taxes by April 17^th so you won’t end up on this list next year! When you do, be sure to enter into Mango’s latest sweepstakes for a chance to DOUBLE your tax refund!

Happy Tax Season everyone! (And let’s keep it legal, shall we? )

1)   Willie Nelson: Good ol’ Willie may well be the poser boy for tax evasion. In 1990, the IRS sent him a bill for $16.7 million in back taxes. In order to pay back this rather large debt, Willie released an album called “The IRS Tapes: Who’ll Buy My Memories?” The album sold well, but to speed along the process, the IRS sold nearly all of Willie’s possessions. Lucky for Willie, his friends bought most of the items (either for free or for a small fee) and returned them to the singer. Willie paid the IRS back in just three years.

2)   Al Capone: This Brooklyn-born, Chicago-based gangster ran one of the biggest crime rings in history during the 1920s and 30s, all under cover of being a “furniture salesman.” He was wanted by the FBI for a list of crimes—including the 1929 “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre,” but this famous gangster wasn’t taken down by some murder charge—he was found guilty of tax fraud. The mobster was forced to pay $80,000 and sentenced to 11 years in jail.

3)   Pete Rose: This former baseball star and manger plead guilty to filing two false income returns. However, he “forgot” to tell the IRS of any income he received from selling memorabilia, autographs, or from horseracing. He spent July 1990—January 1991 in jail and paid $366,000 in back taxes.

4)   Leona Helmsley: Perhaps better known as the “Queen of Mean,” Leona Helmsley was convicted of tax evasion on April 15, 1992. Ultimately, this notoriously tyrannical businesswoman and real estate entrepreneur was convicted of tax fraud and spent four years in prison, garnering little public sympathy. During this debacle, Helmsley famously said, “We don’t pay taxes. Only the little people pay taxes.” No wonder she wasn’t well liked.

5)   Darryl Strawberry: This famous baseball player was indicted on tax evasion charges for failing to report hundreds of thousands of dollars he received for selling his autograph at events. In the end, he made a deal, pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion, and was ordered to pay back $350,000 in back taxes.

6)   Judy Garland: Yes, sweet, innocent, Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. In real life, however, Garland was a different character—she struggled in personally, monetarily, and from 1951 to 1952 she, eh, “forgot” to pay her taxes. She was audited by the IRS and had to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in back taxes, during a time in which she was already struggling financially.

7)   Abbott and Costello: This famous comic duo was all over the place in the 1940s and 50’s—radio, TV, movies… As a matter of fact, by the end of the 1950s, the public flat out got tired of them, and their act suffered greatly. Both men were ordered by the IRS to pay such a huge amount of back taxes, that they had to sell their homes and declare bankruptcy.

8)   Wesley Snipes: Snipes was most famous for movies like Blade and U.S. Marshalls, but after 2006 when he was slapped with a serious fraud charge, he might be better known as a criminal.  He was charged with conspiring to defraud the United States, along with six counts of willingly failing to file federal income tax returns, going back ten years! In 2008 he was sentenced to three years in prison, but he is still appealing the sentence.  He’s currently out on bail.

9)   Nicolas Cage: We’ve actually mentioned Nic Cage in a previous post on celebrity’s home foreclosures, so seeing as though we’re mentioning him here… you can see he’s not doing so well. He was the subject of an IRS investigation involving the sale of a home in Louisiana and failed federal income taxes for over $6.5 million. His solution? He sued his business manger for bad advice, of course! (Case was dismissed.)

10)   Sophia Loren: This beautiful Italian movie star was imprisoned in 1982 for tax evasion, spending a whopping 18 days in jail. Whether you like it or not, her stint in prison didn’t seem to hurt her reputation, and she continues to be one of the most celebrated women in Hollywood.

So what do you think: Did the punishment fit the crime in these cases?

Sources: Marketplace.org, Mangomoney.com, Mysterynet.com, Money.ccn.com, Articles.CNN.com, CareerOverview.com