GeekSugar

Mix It Up This Mother's Day With Recordable Cards

GeekSugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:00:22 PDT

With Mother's Day right around the corner (May 11), it's time for us to start thinking of some creative ways to really impress our moms this year. Regular, bland paper cards are so old school, and why be ordinary when you can be extraordinary, right?! Here's a simple yet fun way to put a smile on your mom's face. . . . Hallmark Recordable Cards! Just select what card you want, press and hold the button to record a 10-second message, and then when she opens her card she'll hear your personal message introducing a song! Cards cost around $6, which is a bargain deal for a personalized card like this.

Don't Forget Uncle Sam When You're Counting Your Tips

Emily Co — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:15:22 PST

If you're in the service industry, a big chunk of your income may come from tips. But don't think you can get away with not filing taxes for them. Here are a couple of tips from the IRS:

Tips are taxed. Your tips will face federal income, Social Security, and Medicare taxes. You will also be taxed on nonmonetary tips like tickets, and gifts will be counted as income.
Include them on your tax return. Include your cash tips, tips added to credit card bills, and tips you split with co-workers when reporting gross income on your tax return. "Report your tips with your wages on Form 1040, line 7; Form 1040A, line 7; Form 1040EZ, line 1; Form 1040NR, line 8; or Form 1040NR-EZ, line 3."
Report to your employer. If you earn more than $20 in tips, you need to report this income to your boss. Your employer is required to withhold federal income, Social Security, and Medicare taxes. You don't have to report nonmonetary tips to your boss. If you don't report these tips to your employer, you will face a penalty.
Record your tips. Be organized and record your tip income. You can use Form 4070A, Employee's Daily Record of Tips, to record your tip income. To get the form, ask your employer or the IRS for Publication 1244, Employee's Daily Record of Tips and Report to Employer. Publication 1244 includes a year's supply of Form 4070A. Record nonmonetary tips separately and include that on your tax return. You can even keep a tip diary electronically by requesting access to an electronic system provided by your employer.
Watch the deadline. Turn in your monthly tip records with your employer by the 10th of the next month.
Don't include mandatory service charges: don't note down mandatory service charges in your tip diary as these are considered part of your wages, not tips.

Nikon Introduces Retro-Chic Coolpix P310

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:59:20 PST

We know that looks aren't everything, but man - the new Nikon Coolpix P310 is quite a looker. Coming with a retro-styled bod and a 16MP sensor, it's the pocket cam for professionals, and a great investment for mobile photographers who want a little more power behind their pics.

The camera itself comes with a 3-inch LCD screen on the back, improved image stabilization, 19 scene modes, full 1080p video recording, Eye-Fi SD card support, and is pocketable and light at just 6.9 ounces. It shoots fabulously well in low light thanks to high ISO and a wide angle f/1.8 lens, which means all those concert and party pics you like to take will look even better. Plus, a smart backlight HDR mode will piece together multiple shots to get you better clarity and vibrancy. The P310's manual mode - that lets you adjust shutter speed, aperture, and other settings - will help you step out of your "auto" comfort zone.

You'll be able to get your hands on the P310 sometime in March for $330, but in the meantime, check out Nikon's sample images in the gallery to see what this camera can do.

Security Tips For Data Privacy Day!

Anna Monette Roberts — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 08:30:34 PST

It's Data Privacy Day, so we're here to give you 10 tips to keeping your computer safe, secure, and totally private. Nothing is worse than having your computer hacked into, your personal information stolen, or becoming a victim of fraud. We've rounded up all of our best tech advice to help keep your computer protected and free from hacker malice. If you haven't implemented these 10 tidbits yet, today is the perfect day to begin to take charge of your computer's safety.

Avoid fraud: Be wary of emails, calls, and log-in screens that ask you to verify all of your information. Always air on the side of precaution when sharing more sensitive information like banking passwords. If a company reaches out to you (rather than you personally reaching out to them), don't give your personal information out. Redial the number or email the company using the information posted on their website.
Set up a hack-proof password: When logging in to websites, come up with difficult and different passwords for each site, using a variety of letters, numbers, and symbols. Change it every couple of months for additional safety.
Double-check your firewall: Most computers have a built-in firewall that protects your computer by stopping hackers and malicious software from accessing your computer via the Internet. Make sure to keep your firewall setting on, and you could even customize what websites, domains, and IP addresses you want to access from your computer.
Forget about free public WiFi: Hackers often create fake networks, titling them "Free Public WiFi" in hopes of stealing your personal data. Even if the WiFi is legit, it's still dangerous to access private information in an unsecured network. Always opt to pay the small fee for a service that requires you to log-in to an official network.
Safely search for celebrities: Googling your favorite celebrities can be a dangerous business if you don't recognize the sites you are clicking on. Many Google results of famous celebrity names lead to infecting your PC with malware and viruses.

See more tips to better privacy.

LG Spectrum Is Perfect For Video Lovers

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:25:57 PST

LG introduced its newest Android smartphone at CES this morning, the Spectrum. This slim phone features a 4.5-inch True HD IPS display, which brings TV technology to your mobile. Stocked with a 1.5GHz dual core processor and 1GB of RAM, the Spectrum was made with video streaming in mind - its HD screen boasts 329 pixels per inch and a 16:9 aspect ratio, while other goodies like ESPN streaming in HD and 1080p video recording and playback make it an entertainment powerhouse. It comes stocked with 4GB of on-board memory and a pre-installed 16GB microSD card, but you can expand that storage space up to 32GB if you want to tote more videos, photos, or music.

The Spectrum will launch with Android 2.3 Gingerbread (upgradable to Ice Cream Sandwich) on Jan. 19 for $200 with a two-year contract.

Fresh Start Resolution: Reassess Your Savings Account

Emily Co — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 03:05:00 PST

It's a new year and a new you! Fresh Start is a short series detailing 12 helpful tips to start off the year right, whether it be to advance your career or increase your financial cushion. We've already given you advice on kicking your daily deal habit, quitting caffeine, and making a call to lower your bills. Here's another way to start afresh in 2012.

An important to-do on your financial list is to have a savings account. In a SavvySugar survey, the majority of readers said their biggest money worry of 2011 was not having any savings. One of the first things you need to do is to establish a savings account where you can start putting your money in. If you don't have one, it's time to get one. If you already have one, you might want to reassess the one you currently have. Here are a few tips to help you make the right decision:

Do some research: First, do some research to see which one will be the right savings vehicle for you. There are plenty of low-risk accounts to put your money in. Some institutions include online banks, community banks, and credit unions. You can also go to savingsaccount.com to find an account with the best interest rate. For other alternatives, check out these 10 low-risk ways to earn more on your savings.
Consider a checking account: Interest rates on savings accounts are pretty low right now and the rates seem to keep dipping. Some checking accounts offer better deals, although there are more stipulations such as the number of times you have to use your debit card. Bankrate did a study of the best high yield checking accounts a few months ago and there was one credit union that even offered a 6.7 percent interest rate. However, keep in mind that checking accounts are more liquid and it may be easier to spend the money in those types of accounts.
Before you pick: Make sure you read the fine print and know the restrictions of your account. For example in the case of savings accounts, there is usually a limit on how much money you can leave in the account and limits on how often you can withdraw or transfer money. Ask yourself these are restrictions you can deal with.
Leaving your bank: If you decide to leave your bank instead of moving your money around, there are several steps to take. You need to do some prep before you close your account such as opening a new account, making a list of your direct deposits and automatic withdrawals, printing out important records, checking to see if your bank will match your outstanding loans or give you a better deal, canceling your account, and asking the bank for what's left in your bank in the form of a check or cash. Get some form of confirmation (preferably a letter) that you have closed your account.
Wait it out: The process will take a while and it may even take up to about a few months for everything to clear, so be patient!

From Medical Records to Credit Card Accounts: Store Your Personal Info in One Place

LearnVest — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:15:24 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

In today’s day and age, many of us have traded in our little black books for little black Blackberries-but, regardless, these troves of information should contain more than the phone numbers of old high school crushes and college flings. The last time you needed your passport number or vaccination history, did you have it on hand? Are your bank passwords taped to your computer, in full view of hackers-to-be? We at LearnVest have re-envisioned the little black book, and we invite you to take the plunge: You should have a command center that contains every piece of necessary information you might need. We’ll help you set it up.

Your Financial Life . . . In One Place

All of your financial info should be stored somewhere safe, secure, and easy for you-and only you-to get to. We’re fans of Wallet (for Mac and iPhone), which is basically a password-protected database that has fields where you can enter your account name, password, and any relevant info. Alternately, check out the similar Clipperz or Passpack. If you’re attached to that old school black Moleskine notebook, just make sure to include all of your pertinent info and hide the book in a safe, secure place where you’ll be able to find it again. Know where to find the following:

Bank account numbers.
Login names, passwords, and bookmarked web addresses for all financial accounts.
Account numbers for your 401(k) or IRA.
Contact information for your company’s human resources department or retirement account administrator.
Your Social Security number.
Birth certificate.
Home and auto insurance policy numbers and contact info.
Credit card numbers (stored separately from your cards).
A copy of your driver’s license and passport.
Frequent flyer numbers.

Read after the jump for more tips to organize your personal information.

Trending on Très -Advice From Golden Globe Nominated Characters

TresSugar — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 04:00:08 PST

The best quotes from Golden Globe nominated characters
Britney's engaged! Her best and worst love lyrics
A year in sex scandals
Funny holiday cards to give your significant other
A year in chic international first ladies
The perks of being the first daughters: meeting Justin Bieber
Not that bad: Charlize Theron talks single life
Elizabeth Taylor's jewels sell for record $115 million
Our five favorite royal surprises of 2011
Androgynous male model Andrej Pejic models a push-up bra

Kiddie Tablets: Let's Compare the Leapfrog LeapPad Explorer and the VTech InnoTab

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 08:32:18 PST

The iPad may be top on Mama's holiday wish list this year, but there's a good chance it's on her tot's too! Kids can't keep their hands off the tablets, leading two of the largest educational games manufacturers to create tot-friendly versions this year.

I told you about the LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer ($100) when it first hit the market this Fall, and now I just finished playing around with the VTech InnoTab ($79) and can't help but compare the two units. Similarly priced, they are both designed for kids 4 to 9 years old, both run on four AA batteries (or, better yet, burn through them), and both are designed to educate as lil ones interact with their favorite characters. Though neither device runs as fast as an iPad (and neither offers a WiFi option), gadget-oriented kids can't put them down. See how the two hot holiday gift items compare!

Screen size
Both learning tablets have five-inch color touch-screen LCD display screens, though the InnoTab's appears to be more responsive to the finger touch than the LeapPad, which worked better with the included stylus.

Gadget size

LeapPad: The gadget's screen is surrounded by one inch of casing to protect it from drops and spills.
InnoTab: The product's screen comes packaged in a case that provides a two-to-four-inch border around the gadget, giving tots more room to hold it than its competitor. It is almost the same size as the iPad.

Activities and Games

LeapPad: The tablet comes with four free apps - Art Studio, Story Studio, Pet Pad, and one of your choice - to entertain tots. Additional cartridge games are $25 with downloadable apps ranging from $5-$25.
InnoTab: The tablet's PDA-like capabilities - a calendar that allows tots to plan their days and add in stickers, a clock to help learn to tell time, a stopwatch for timing kids, a world globe, etc. - are both fun and educational. They also give kids a sense of independence, turning to their devices for information much like mom and dad. The system also comes with an Art Studio. Additional cartridge games are $25 with downloadable apps costing between $5 and $8.

Keep reading to see how the products compare in other categories.

11 Tips to Give Your Credit Score the Lift It Needs

Business Insider — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:15:00 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Business Insider story here on Savvy!

Trying to improve your credit can seem impossible when lenders are fearful and you're strapped for excess cash.

But don't give up hope.

"Focus on where you are right now and do what you can with what you have," said Justine Rivero, a credit advisor with Creditkarma.com.

You can make progress-even on old, negative debt - and start to rebuild your credit and therefore, your future.

Here's how to do it step-by-step:

Consider debt counseling.

You'll have to close all your accounts, which will negatively impact your score in the short run, but by the time you've reached this point, you should just be focused on paying off your debts, said Gerri Detweiler, an expert with Credit.com.

Closing your accounts won't lower your score as badly as you might think.

The National Foundation for Credit Counseling maintains a list of member organizations, many of which are nonprofit and provide free or low-cost assistance.

Read on for more tips.