How much would state budget plan raise your taxes?
[Update, 3 p.m., Feb. 19: The tax calculator described in this post was updated to reflect the budget that the Legislature passed this morning. As a result, the figures in this post are outdated. See...
View ArticleHow much will new state budget raise your taxes?
The budget that the Legislature passed early today would raise taxes by $912 a year for a married couple with two children, a $100,000 income and a $25,000 car. That’s the tax burden estimated by an...
View ArticleHow do you tell your children you lost your job?
As news about the economy seems to worsen daily, Handling Hard Times has launched a column to answer what’s on readers’ minds. Each week, we will ask a professional to respond to a question that...
View ArticleWhat are your tips for coping?
How does your family cope in this economy? Have you changed your investment strategies? Are you saving more and spending less? Is your budget tighter? What tips do you have for making ends meet?...
View ArticleFamily treasures turn into $2 million in cash
See ‘Selling family treasures’ slide show Photo: Above, Roger McKinley, buyer of jewelry, gold and silver for Tyre, Bailey, examines jewelry that a local woman offered for sale. Below, $10,000 worth...
View ArticleHenry’s 9-step program for coping with today’s economy
From time to time, Handling Hard Times passes along readers’ tips for coping with the recession. Here are some of the suggestions recently submitted as a comment from Henry Nowakowski. They range from...
View ArticleFree clothes in Irvine: Give one, get one free
The Village Church of Irvine will host a community clothes swap from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. For every gently used item that is donated, the donor will get a ticket that can be exchanged for another...
View ArticleHomeless, jobless, but not hopeless
Mitzi Griffin moved to Orange County just as the worst recession of her lifetime was getting started. First it left her homeless, then jobless. But not hopeless. So she’s helping a $750,000...
View ArticleClothing swap aims to help in hard times
About 5,000 items of clothing changed hands during Sunday’s clothing swap at the Village Church in Irvine, O.C. Register staff writer Lou Ponsi reports. About 200 people attended. Ponsi writes: Church...
View ArticleFree marriage help for couples in foreclosure
Since financial hardships often lead to emotional strains, the organizers of a May 1-3 marriage-bolstering conference are offering free admission to married couples facing foreclosure. The same offer...
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