Stacy’s Savvy Financial Advice
Stay Savvy with our founder Stacy Francis’ latest articles on financial planning, budgeting, debt management, investing, divorce, retirement planning, and more.
Stacy Francis founded Savvy Ladies® in 2003 with the mission to educate women about their finances and empower them to make proactive choices. Inspired by her grandmother who stayed in an abusive relationship due to financial reasons, Stacy has been determined to never let another woman become powerless by financial instability.
Get the resources, knowledge, and tools you need to make smart and informed decisions about your money and your life.
In addition to being the Founder and Board Chair of Savvy Ladies®, Stacy is the President, CEO of Francis Financial, Inc., a boutique wealth management and financial planning firm. A nationally recognized financial expert, she holds a CFP® from the New York University Center for Finance, Law, and Taxation, and is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®), a Divorce Financial Strategist™ as well as a Certified Estate & Trust Specialist (CES™).
Stacy has appeared on CNBC, NBC, PBS, CNN, Good Morning America, and many other TV & Financial News outlets. Stacy too is ofter sought out for her advice and can be found quoted in over 100 publications such as Investment News, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today. She shares her wisdom and expert financial advice here for you to learn and get savvy about your finances.
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STACY’S $AVVY ADVICE
Save Money on Taxes
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA
Tax refunds are finally here! While I didn’t receive one myself (people in my business rarely do), many of my clients did, and many chose wisely – they decided to invest at least part of the money. In order to help you score a refund (or if you get a refund, to help you get more next year), here are a few things you may not know you can deduct.
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College tuition expenses. As long as you’ve kept the receipts from your payments and the school is bona fide, you can save quite a lot this way
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Charitable donations. This deduction is not just available for the organizations that pop up toward the end of your filing when using FreeTaxUSA, but it applies to a wide range of causes and organizations. Find one that makes your heart beat a little faster, and save yourself money while saving the whales.
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Car mileage and expenses. The many of you who commute to your place of employment can feel a little better about all that money you burned at the pump.
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Out-of-pocket medical expenses. Had to go to the emergency room, and had a fallout with your insurance company about eligibility? You are not alone, and now you can get some of your money back – hopefully easing the pain a little.
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In certain situations, you can deduct numerous expenses related to job hunting. So if you are sending our resumes and interviewing, don’t toss your receipts!
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Childcare is, thankfully, many times tax deductible.
While this list is far from complete, it should provide you with a nice starting point for paying less taxes.