TessMore Finance Blog

I t’s that time of year when people begin wondering whether they need to file a federal income tax return. When in doubt, I say go ahead and file! (Your 2022 tax returns are due on April 18, 2023, and we recommend TurboTax because it’s 100% free to file for most people). But, when making a decision this important, you probably want some hard numbers, so I’m going to give them to you. Here’s the quick answer: If you are single, under the age of 65, not claimed as a dependent, and made less than $12,950 in 2022 from your W-2 job you may not have to file. This number goes up to $13,850 for 2023 income (for you advanced planners). Unfortunately, however, nothing is that simple when it comes to taxes. The minimum income to file taxes isn’t just a straightforward number that you can compare your income to make an easy decision. In fact, there are so many factors at play that the IRS created a questionnaire to help you determine whether you need to file (more on that later). Also, ...

H ey there, my pure-blooded friend. Wondering how much money you can make from your super sperm? Lucky for you I like researching weird ways to make extra money. Here’s what I’ve discovered on this one. I contacted several sperm banks and joined several Facebook groups for sperm donors (yes, this exists) to research this question. Based on my research, unvaccinated sperm isn’t worth much more than the ~$150 a pop sperm from an individual vaccinated against C_V_D – 19. At this time, the industry isn’t making a distinction between vaxxed and non-vaxxed sperm. One sperm bank in Seattle even went out of its way to write an article on the subject , citing a couple of studies that showed “sperm quality” is not different. They’ve obviously been fielding questions and concerns from buyers. The speculation is rampant. Check out this fake piece on a supposed 21,000% increase in the price of sperm! I did notice, anecdotally, that in the Facebook groups (e.g. Sperm Donors USA ), donors wou...

I remember donating plasma for money and making a decent amount of cash. The nurse was friendly and explained the process, asking about my health and travel history. I felt a little lightheaded during the donation process but was determined to make that cash. The nurse was surprised to see my plasma come out in dollar bills and we both laughed. Just kidding, of course. Seriously, here’s the deal about donating plasma for money. Not only can you make up to $50 per donation , but you’ll also be helping to save lives and make a positive impact on others. Before you decide to donate, there are a few important things you should know. Read below to learn more about the process and how donating plasma can benefit you. What Exactly is Plasma? Plasma , aka liquid gold, is a miraculous yellow fluid that aids with clotting and carries essential nutrients to every nook of your body. It’s used in medical remedies from minor scratches to life-threatening conditions, which are sourced through...

Raising financially literate kids is important for all parents. Even if your kids are not going to have a career in finance, they must be well-versed in the concepts of personal finance and money. There is no better way to teach your kids about money and finance than by recommending them the best books on these topics. Let’s share our collection of top 10 Books to Teach Children About Money and Finance. 1) Finance 101 for Kids: Money Lessons Children Cannot Afford to Miss by Walter Andal Perhaps one of the best finance books to teach kids about the essentials is written by Walter Andal. Walter has a background and experience in the finance industry. The writer’s inspiration for this book came from the illiteracy of his children about basic money and finance concepts. The book aims to develop the most basic money concepts in an easy-to-understand manner. The writer argues that this book cannot transform kids into investors or experts in finance. However, this book is an excellent...

Your 401(k) and IRA retirement plans are most likely your two largest (and most important) investment accounts. And as you inch closer to your target retirement date, you may want help managing your portfolio to ensure you have the ideal asset allocation. Blooom pioneered independent retirement portfolio reviews and automatic rebalancing. They helped subscribers optimize their potential returns based on their investment goals and risk tolerance. Paid members could also ask their investment questions to licensed advisors. Dealing with Blooom meant avoiding the high fees brokers charge to manage your investments. Sadly, Blooom shut down in November 2022, leaving members with the challenge of finding another managed 401k service. If you’re still looking for a Blooom replacement, I’ve compiled the following list of Blooom alternatives. Table of Contents What Happened to Blooom? Best Blooom Alternatives Wealthfront Betterment Personal Capital Vanguard Fidelity Blooom Alte...

T o state the obvious, part-time means you don’t work as many hours as people who have a full-time job. Full-time is usually around 40 hours a week, so part-time is usually less than that. But sometimes part-time can be different for different jobs, so it’s important to ask your boss how many hours you’ll be working. Some companies might consider anything less than 30 hours per week part-time, while others might say it’s less than 35 or 37.5 hours. What Does the U.S. Government Say About Part-Time Hours? The US government doesn’t have a set definition for part-time work or a specific number of hours that makes it part-time. It’s up to each employer to decide how many hours they consider full-time or part-time. But, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) does define full-time work for the purpose of employer-provided health insurance. Under the ACA, a full-time employee is someone who works an average of at least 30 hours per week or 130 hours per month. If you work fewer hours than that...

It’s been over two and a half years since Trump first enacted a relief policy that hit the pause button on federal student loan bills and their accrual of interest. The White House’s latest update revealed that the deferment of student loan repayments has been extended once more, but that they’ll recommence at some point in summer 2023. These developments – and the lack of a precise date – tie in with President Biden’s efforts to deliver on his campaign promise to eradicate thousands of dollars of student debt for millions of Americans around the country. Following stiff opposition from some corners of government and the legal challenges that ensued, those extensive loan forgiveness plans remain tied up in court. So where does this leave us? What are the implications and time horizons of the proposed loan cancellations? And what could you be doing to capitalize on them? If you’re unsure where we are at this point, you’re not alone. We will detail the current state of student loan ...