Page 2 •January 4 - January 10, 2010 • Insight News
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BUSINESS In 2010 resolve to restyle and rebuild your life Plan your career
By Julie Desmond julie@insightnews.com If you can look back to January, 2008, and tell me nothing has changed, everything for you is
exactly as it was this week last year, I will eye you with admiration, wondering who you are and how you escaped 2009. For the rest of us, this was a year of change in many colors. Some lost jobs, some lost homes, some lost faith. In response to the chaos of 2009, let’s resolve this year to seek jurisdiction over change, rebuilding physically, professionally, politically, emotionally and spiritually. Restyle Physically. Avoid the age-old resolution to
diet, and make a promise to get yourself what you need physically: exercise, nutrition, meditation, sporting events, music, whatever keeps you in shape. Some people need to help others to feel well physically. Some people need sleep. Others thrive on conversation. Consider what you need from the inside out, and help yourself feel better this year. Restyle Professionally. Working or not, you likely will have opportunities to rethink
your career this year. Many companies are changing the ways they do business, from going greener to going leaner. Be intensely aware of your gifts, interests and talents, and go there professionally this year. Restyle Politically. Get involved. You can easily drive the changes you seek in your workplace, school and community by simply showing up. Your phone calls and emails have a profound impact on those making decisions on your behalf.
Restyle Emotionally. Attitude. It is everything. Approach the world from a place of curiosity, humor, openness, and you may find the world opening up to you as well. Watch it, though. A good attitude can slip away in the face of adversity. Notice when your outlook turns sour and make the effort it takes to rethink and recover. Restyle Spiritually. Consider that you might not be the uppermost being in this universe, and let some of your
troubles rest on other shoulders. Explore your faith and listen to your instincts. You may change direction based on a gut feeling, and that’s fine. Your gut sometimes knows what it’s talking about. Julie Desmond is Director of Career Planning Resources with Help Wanted! Workshop in Minneapolis. Write to julie@insightnews.com.
More will be eligible for Earned Income Tax Credits in 2009 tax season By Rosemary K. Heins, University of Minnesota Extension The upcoming tax filing season brings several tax credit changes due to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) that will increase tax refunds for many. A major change for low- to moderate-income families is the Earned Income Tax
Credit (EITC). ARRA legislation increased eligibility for those with three or more eligible children in the household. So what does this mean? Here are the 2009 earning levels for EITC: • $35,463 if you have one child in your home • $40,295 if you have two children in your home • $43,279 if you have three or more children in your home • If you don’t have children, made less than $13,440, and were
between the ages of 25 and 64 years during 2009, you may be eligible, too. Add $5,000 to the figures if you are married and filing jointly. Remember, getting refunds through EITC normally has no effect on a person’s or family’s ability to get food or cash assistance, Social Security, Medical Assistance or subsidized housing programs. These tax credits are available to eligible workers even if they didn’t have
enough job income to be required to file tax forms. In other words, if you’re eligible and don’t owe any income tax, you may still get money back, but you must file federal tax forms to get the money. In addition, you qualify for the Minnesota Working Family Credit by filing a Minnesota income tax form. There are other ARRA tax credits that will help families in the coming tax season. For more information visit the Internal
Revenue Service website at www.irs.gov. If you need help with the tax paperwork, contact VITA, which stands for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. This free tax help will be available at sites all over Minnesota but sites generally don’t open until the end of January or early February. This is because employers have until January 31 to issue W-2 forms. There is also free electronic filing software online from the IRS
website at www.irs.gov and the Minnesota Department of Revenue website at w w w. t a x e s . s t a t e . m n . u s / . It’s important to have all needed documentation together prior to filing income tax forms. Information on free tax filing programs in Minnesota is available through United Way First Call for Help at 211 or (800) 543-7709.
RushCard announces industry’s most convenient card-to-card funds transfer feature RushCard announced the availability of its new, highlydemanded card-to-card funds transfer feature. The feature offers unparalleled convenience and affordability to those who want to transfer money between Prepaid Visa® RushCards, and it comes just in time for the income tax refund season. With the new card-to-card funds transfer, RushCard members can instantly transfer money at a fraction of the cost they’d pay to move money through leading wire transfer services. A RushCard member
can now transfer funds to another member’s card at a low, flat rate, and they can transfer funds between their own RushCards for free. Transfer fees with other services can be eight to ten times higher to move the same amount of money. All funds transfers can be completed in minutes online at rushcard.com or over the telephone with a customer service agent. Also, card-to-card funds transfers can be easily executed on a mobile phone and regular funds transfers can be
scheduled months in advance. RushCard is the only prepaid debit card that allows its members to schedule transfers in advance. “By giving our members the ability to move funds via a mobile phone and to schedule their money transfers in advance, RushCard has changed the game for funds transfers,” said entrepreneur and philanthropist Russell Simmons. Simmons launched RushCard to help people without a traditional banking relationship gain the access to the financial services and
respect that they deserve. “No one should be forced to pay higher fees to transfer muchneeded money to a loved one or to save. Now, RushCard gives them a very convenient, much more affordable way to make these important transactions.” Direct deposit of tax refunds is a safe and easy way to manage the new windfall of cash. The new card-to-card transfer functionality rewards that sound money management practice, company officials said. “Thanks to their tax refund, many people have extra funds
in the early part of the year to send to others or to save” said Ram Palaniappan, general manager of the RushCard. “With our newest feature, our members can quickly and easily send money to college students or other loved ones in need, or transfer the funds onto their own secondary RushCard as a way to save. Our members really wanted this feature, and we are proud to offer it for a mere fraction of what others charge.” In addition to card-to-card funds transfers, RushCard members also enjoy industry-
leading online budget management tools that allow them keep track of their expenses and avoid costly financial woes. Soon, RushCard will announce even more incentives to encourage direct deposit during the 2010 tax season. Anyone interested in applying for a RushCard can apply online at www.rushcard.com, or call the toll-free member services line at 1 (866) RUSHCARD.