1. Why is gathering information the first step in managing personal finances? Why is it important to have accurate information about your personal finances? How might this impact processes like applying for a loan?
2. Imagine that you are going off to college and need to open a bank account. What kind would you use and why? Then imagine yourself several decades later, after you have worked for years and saved some money. What kind of accounts will you need then and why? What are the disadvantages of some of the choices?
3. You have just received your bank statement, which shows that you have a balance of $562.73. However, you wrote your cousin a check for $150, and she has not cashed it yet. Your paycheck, which was direct deposited in your account after the statement, was $893.86. You also wrote a check for your rent that was $400 and spent $73.26 on groceries this morning. What do you need to do to reconcile your account and what total will you get when you do?
4. How does earned income, like wages, differ from unearned income, like interest or rental income? How would you pay taxes on these different types of income?
5. Why is it important for individuals to correctly calculate their tax liability? Explain what a tax liability is and how it is calculated in your answer.
7 answers
2. When going off to college, a student might choose to open a basic checking account as it provides easy access to funds and usually has low or no fees. Several decades later, after working and saving money, individuals might need to open additional accounts such as a savings account, retirement account, or investment account to meet long-term financial goals. Some disadvantages of certain accounts may include high fees or limitations on the number of transactions.
3. To reconcile the account, you need to subtract the $150 check to your cousin and add the $893.86 paycheck. You also need to subtract the $400 rent check and the $73.26 spent on groceries. The total balance after reconciling the account will be $832.33 ($562.73 - $150 + $893.86 - $400 - $73.26).
4. Earned income, like wages, is the income received from working for someone else or running a business. Unearned income, like interest or rental income, is income received from investments or property ownership. Taxes on earned income are typically withheld from paychecks by employers, while unearned income may be subject to different tax rates and reporting requirements.
5. Tax liability is the amount of tax that an individual owes to the government based on their income and tax deductions. It is important for individuals to correctly calculate their tax liability to avoid underpaying or overpaying taxes. To calculate tax liability, individuals must determine their taxable income, apply the appropriate tax rates, and subtract any tax deductions or credits. Failure to accurately calculate tax liability can result in penalties or interest charges from the IRS.
2. When starting college, a basic checking account may be suitable for easy access to funds with low fees. As individuals progress in their careers and savings, additional accounts like savings, retirement, or investment accounts may be needed to meet long-term financial goals. Some accounts may have drawbacks like high fees or transaction restrictions.
3. To reconcile the account, deduct the $150 check to your cousin and add the $893.86 paycheck. Subtract the $400 rent check and $73.26 grocery spending. After reconciling, the total balance will be $832.33 ($562.73 - $150 + $893.86 - $400 - $73.26).
4. Earned income, like wages, is money from working, while unearned income, like interest or rent, comes from investments. Taxes on earned income are usually withheld by employers, while unearned income may have different tax rates and reporting rules.
5. Tax liability is the amount an individual owes in taxes based on income and deductions. Correctly calculating tax liability avoids under or overpayment. To calculate, find taxable income, apply tax rates, and deduct credits. Errors may lead to fines or interest from the IRS.
4. Earned income is money you make from working, like wages from a job. Unearned income comes without working, such as interest from savings or renting out a property. When you earn money, taxes are usually taken out of your paycheck by your employer. With unearned income, you may need to pay taxes on your own, but it could have different tax rates and rules.
5. Tax liability is the amount of money you owe in taxes based on your income and deductions. It's important to calculate this correctly so you don't owe too much or too little. To figure it out, you need to know your taxable income, apply tax rates, and take out any deductions or credits you're eligible for. Making mistakes could lead to penalties or interest charges from the government.
4. Earned income is money earned from working, like wages, while unearned income comes from sources like interest or rent. Taxes are typically deducted from earned income by your employer, while you may have to pay taxes separately on unearned income with different rules. It's crucial to accurately calculate tax liability based on income and deductions to avoid errors that could lead to penalties.