How to Properly Prepare for Filing Your Taxes

While April 15th may seem far away, now is the time to start thinking about your taxes to ensure that your tax filing goes smoothly. The main causes of tax filing errors are rushing and not having all necessary tax documents on hand. Even if you plan to use a tax professional, it is important to start working with them early since it is likely they will be rushed towards the end of tax season. Below are some steps to follow to ensure your taxes get done properly and nothing is missed.

1. Organize Documents ASAP: The sooner your organize your tax documents the sooner you can spot errors or figure out what is missing. You should typically receive all your documents needed to file your taxes by the first week in February since companies are required to post mark most tax related documents by January 31st. These documents can include W-2s, 1099s, Interest & Dividends reports, 1099Bs, and 1098s. If you notice you are missing any of these documents by the end of the first week in February it is a good idea to follow up with the company you are missing these documents from to ensure they are on their way.
2. Research: The tax code changes every year and there are more tax credits and deductions that become available. It is a good idea to look up the most common tax credits and deductions that you can legally take. If any of these apply to you then it is important to get the proper documentation to backup your claims for how much you are going to deduct on your tax return. If you want to learn everything you can about filing your 2009 tax return, you can read IRS publication 17, a 305 page document created by the IRS detailing information about your federal income taxes.
3. Consider Hiring Professional Help: The tax code is complex, and it is unlikely you will read a 300+ page document that details your individual income tax filing for 2009. For this reason, hiring a tax professional is recommended. They file many returns and will likely know fairly quickly what tax credits and deductions will apply to you after a brief interview about your finances and other applicable situations. If you think about it, if a tax professional can find one small deduction that you would have missed, this will likely more than justify the expense of using the tax professional. Also consider going to the tax professional early on in February in order to get started. They can do a brief review of the documents you already have and can advise you on other documentation that you should receive or need in order to get your taxes properly filed. There are also many tax programs or computer software applications that simplify the tax filing process for individuals and businesses.  However, it is still advised to use a tax professional as deductions and credits can still easily be missed when using tax preparation programs.
4. Are you going to owe taxes? Consider how to pay: Typically individuals do not realize they will have tax debt at the end of the year and fail set aside enough money to pay what they owe in full. If you are one of these individuals it is important to plan how you will pay. The IRS may encourage the use of a credit card but this may cost you more in interest and fees than other methods that are available. The most common way to pay taxes if you cannot pay in full is through the use of an installment agreement. An installment agreement will allow you to make monthly payments towards the taxes owed. The interest and fees involved with this type of payment arrangement is typically less than using a credit card but will require a bit more paper work to get setup. It is important to file this right away with your taxes in order to reduce the failure to pay penalty.
5. Plan how you will file: If you mail in your tax return via standard mail and the IRS does not receive it, it is the same thing as you not filing. For this reason, it is a good idea to consider using certified mail. Using certified mail will provide proof that the tax return was mailed prior to the due date and you will know the return was actually received. Another great option is to file your return electronically because you will receive an acknowledgment that your return was received within 48 hours. If you foresee difficulties in getting your tax return filed by April 15th, consider filing for an extension. An extension will give you until October 15th to file your taxes, but if you owe taxes you must pay 90% by April 15th.

Preparing for your tax filing does not need to be overly time consuming, it just needs to be organized and planned out early. Early planning and organization can greatly decrease your chances of making mistakes and can lead to higher deductions and possibly a larger refund each year. While a tax professional is not required, it is highly recommended since it is likely that the fee for their service will be more than offset by savings you will likely receive.

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Anyone in the UK who’s interested in saving some money for a rainy day should definitely consider a cash ISA account – they make great financial sense, and are nowhere near as complex as their predecessor the PEP. This guide will go some way to explaining cash ISAs to you, and hopefully make you a more discerning spender…

How does an ISA differ from a standard savings account? The answer is actually very simple and is only one word: tax. A normal savings account will be charged 20% tax on any interest you earn, rising to 40% if you’re a higher rate tax payer; while an ISA allows you to earn interest on a predetermined amount of money cash free. The catch is that you can only deposit that amount in one year, and any money you withdraw, you will lose tax benefit on.

Currently, the predetermined amount you can deposit sits at £3,600 for under fifties, and £5,100 for those over 50 , although this will change at the start of the 2010/11 tax year to allow everyone to save £5,100. As mentioned previously, you should remember that you cannot replace any money in those accounts over the predetermined amounts – for example, if you placed £5,100 in an ISA and withdrew £100 of that money, you would not be able to replace it as you have already deposited your allowance for the year.

Due to their tax-free nature, ISA interest rates do not have to be as high as usual saver accounts in order to generate the same net amount. For example, a 3% Interest rate on a cash ISA would earn the same amount as a 3.5% standard saver, or a 5% saver if you pay the higher rate.

Do yourself a favour, however: Once you’ve got your ISA set up and transferred money into it, don’t be tempted to rest on your laurels. Providers are always releasing new deals and offers, and as most ISAs do not tie you in for a set period, it can often be worth keeping an eye on what’s being offered. Moneysupermarket says “As with standard savings deals, there are catches that you need to watch out for. Some accounts include introductory bonuses, so the interest rate drops after a while – there is no need to avoid such accounts, but you need to make a note to move your money elsewhere once the bonus period ends otherwise you could be left earning an uncompetitive rate of interest.” There is one important rule when it comes to transferring ISAs however, and it is this: Don’t just withdraw the money from one ISA and place it in another, as you will lose your tax benefit for the entire year. Instead, your new provider should allow you to fill in a form in order to transfer the funds from one ISA to the other while keeping the tax benefits.

As previously mentioned, a wise saver can get themselves a great deal if they look around. Cash ISAs can make a huge difference to your rainy day fund, so there’s no reason not to make sure you’re getting the best from them. Compare cash ISAs at Moneysupermarket.com.

This post was provided by the Cash ISAs team at moneysupermarket.com

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6 Tips to Save on Filing Your Taxes  Preventing Penalties

It is very common for taxpayers to end up paying more in fees and penalties on their annual taxes than they should. Below are 6 tips that can help you avoid unnecessary expenses and penalties that many taxpayers incur each year.

1. File Your Own Taxes:

   If you do not have a complex tax return you can save quite a bit of money by filing your tax return on your own. There are many computer programs and online solutions that can make filing taxes extremely easy, even if you know very little about taxes. If you made less than $56,000 (amount could change slightly, updated on IRS site January 15th) in 2009 then you can file for free using the IRS’s FreeFile. The Free File program allows free federal income tax preparation and electronic filings through a partnership between the IRS and the Free File Alliance LLC. If you made over $56,000 you can use various other programs that are similar to FreeFile but will charge a fee (which is typically much less than if you went to a tax professional). Some of the most common programs are TurboTax, H&R Block, and TaxACT.

2. Find a Good Tax Professional:

   If you do have a complex return (you own stocks, bonds, mutual funds, rental properties, a home) then it is a good idea to hire a good tax professional to help you prepare your return. Even though these tax professionals can sometimes be a bit pricey, you will likely save money overall because of the additional deductions they will likely find that you may not have thought of. When finding a tax professional it is a good idea to be weary of the storefront tax professionals. Sometimes the storefront tax professionals are just seasonal tax preparers and they are doing tax returns for extra money (sometimes they can be good, just generally not as good as year round tax professionals).

3. Do Not Efile Unless It Is Free:

   Many programs like FreeFile
   from the IRS as well as others will allow you to efile your taxes for
   free. However, where many software programs like TurboTax and others
   make additional revenue by efiling your state tax filing. Unless you
   need your refund ASAP, you can save $35 to $50 dollars easily by just
   printing out your state tax return and mailing it in instead of efiling
   it.

4. Prepare Taxes Early & Take Your Time:

   If you gather your documents and plan on doing your taxes well before the April 15th filing deadline then it is much more likely for errors to be avoided. Waiting until the last week does cause pressure to rush and it is much more likely to miss deductions or make simple mistakes that can mean hundreds or thousands of dollars. Even if you plan on going to a tax professional it is a good idea to get started early because they too see a rush of clients in April and are more likely to make mistakes.

5. File Your Taxes On Time:

   Not filing your taxes on time is the most important thing you can do to prevent unnecessary penalties. Most people that do not file their taxes usually do not file because they know they cannot pay what is owed. Not filing because you cannot pay is the worst thing you can do. In fact, the penalty for not paying is much less when compared to the failure to file penalty. The failure to file penalty is 5% a month of the total amount of taxes owed. This penalty will be charged until it becomes 25% of the tax amount owed. Even if you forecast that you will not owe taxes, not filing will prevent you from receiving any type of refund. Moreover, if you fail to file after 3 years, your refund can be relinquished and the IRS in many cases may file a “substitute of return” for you which will not include all deductions and possible credits (often times leading to a tax liability).

6. Pay Your Taxes On Time:

   The penalty for not paying your taxes on time is a half of a percent for each month that the tax remains unpaid. If you cannot pay your taxes on time or in full it is important to work with the IRS in order to prevent penalties from adding up. If your balance remains unpaid the IRS can place a lien on your assets and they will eventually levy (seize) assets as well. The IRS does have many options available to those taxpayers that cannot pay their taxes. The most common way for individuals to pay their taxes if they cannot pay in full is by setting up an IRS Installment Agreement. An Installment Agreement will allow you to pay back taxes in monthly payments until the entire balance is paid off. With an installment agreement you will still have to pay interest on the outstanding taxes owed but the failure to pay penalty is lower (50% less) than what you would pay if you did not setup an agreement like this.

Being aware of the common pitfalls that many Americans fall into each year with filing their taxes can better help you avoid them. The best thing you can do in order to prevent unnecessary charges and penalties is to start your taxes early and if any problems arise be proactive about finding a solution for them. The IRS is much more accommodating to problems than most people realize and it is likely they will work with you to find the best solution.

image source: alancleaver_2000

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Kids are famous for complaining to their parents that they are bored or that there’s nothing to do. A lot of adults who have recently switched over to a frugal lifestyle are starting to sound just like those kids. They simply don’t know what to do to entertain themselves if it doesn’t involve spending any money. Well, just like your parents told you when you were a bored kid, there’s plenty to do if you get creative.

Here are some of the best free events for kids that you can enjoy in almost any place that you might live:

• Outdoor adventures. Hiking, camping, picnicking and reading in the grass are all activities that don’t cost you anything. They can be done just about anywhere especially during the summer. If you live near a lake, river or national park then you have even more options.

• Other outdoor events. Nearly every small town offers planned outdoor events for the community. Outdoor movie screenings, plays in the park, Farmers’ Markets, craft fairs, youth sports events and concerts are all examples of things that you might find offered for free in your area.

• Arts and cultural events. There are a lot of free events that are great if you’re interested in arts, literature or learning in general. Lectures at the local library, open mic nights in your town’s coffee shop and opening receptions at art galleries are all examples of free events you might have fun at. If your town is too small to offer these things, check in the town closest to you and plan an inexpensive day trip.

• Window shopping and people watching. Sometimes it’s fun just to get out and be around other people. Browse through antique stores or malls without buying anything. Sit in a public space and make up stories in your mind about the people that you see there. Daydreaming doesn’t cost a dime.

• Get-togethers with loved ones. Host a potluck dinner. Have a home movie viewing at your house. Put together an impromptu game of touch football in your backyard. You can have a great time with the people you love and you don’t have to spend any money.

Stop complaining that you’re bored because you don’t have money to spend! You don’t have to spend money to have a good time. Look for free events in your area. Just get off the couch and get creative. You’ll be surprised by how much fun you might have.

Guest article by Kathryn Vercillo. Kathryn is a writer for Promotionalcodes.org.uk which gives away free voucher code deals (like this Debenhams promotional code) and also publishes money saving tips.

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Reverse mortgages are suddenly coming under fire. But these unique loans remain an effective and at times essential financial option for seniors across the country – and they’re proving more popular than ever.

One of the federal government’s banking regulators this week warned that reverse mortgages may soon need greater oversight and scrutiny. John C. Dugan, Comptroller of the Currency, compared reverse mortgages in part to subprime mortgages, claiming some of their similar risks should “set off alarm bells.”

In short, a reverse mortgage allows homeowners to convert parts of the equity in their home into cash payments that can be taken as a lump sum, in monthly installments or through a line of credit. These mortgages are for senior citizens who either own their home or have a low mortgage balance. The Federal Housing Administration insures about 90 percent of all reverse mortgages in the United States.

That penetration rate that worries regulators like Dugan, who fear taxpayers may wind up on the hook because of the risks associated with reverse mortgages. Dugan’s office issued a press release that spelled out some of his concerns, which included “the ability of consumers to access their home equity through immediate and large lump sum payments.”

He also expressed concern that seniors can be “particularly vulnerable to coercive sales of annuity and long-term care insurance products that are expensive and may not be appropriate to their needs.”

While these concerns are certainly valid, reverse mortgages are on the rise. Federally insured reverse mortgages increased almost 20 percent in March and April, the Wall Street Journal reported this week. The U.S. government backed 11,660 reverse mortgages in April, its highest monthly total ever.

Much of the increase is linked to the down market, as senior citizens continue to search for ways to keep their retirement savings intact.

This was a guest post by Brandon Laughridge.  Brandon is a mortgage blogger with Mortgage Loan Place. MLP specializes in educating consumers about Home Loans and FHA Loans.  If you would be interested in writing a guest post for Gather Little by Little, feel free to contact me.

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I’m a Weight Watchers master. In 2003, I was 5′8″ and 160 pounds — not exactly ideal for a 25-year-old single girl living in Manhattan. I spent three (!) years on Weight Watchers, and for two years, failed repeatedly. I obsessed over every drop of salad dressing and kernel of popcorn only to learn at my weekly meeting weigh-in that I’d gained half a pound. I quit multiple times, but would return months later with new resolve. Finally, in my third year, something clicked. I dropped thirty pounds in just six months.

To this day – and two babies later – I can still lose weight when I want to by altering certain habits. Here’s what I do, and how I’m now using the same rules to shave pounds off of my spending:

I’ve learned that, for me, diets of any form work better when I can track progress in my head. That’s why I like simple rules I can repeat daily. If a system is too complicated to track, it’s not a good system.

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This is a guest post from the blogger behind Studenomics a personal finance blog that offers common sense advice for college students and recent graduates. Studenomics is the ultimate resource for young people looking for advice on how to survive this current recession, grow their careers, manage their finances, and still be able to enjoy the weekends.

How many times in the last 8 months have you used the excuse, “I would attend church today if I didn’t have so much homework.” Well guess what? You can longer use this excuse for not attending church since college is out for the summer. I’m realistic and I know many college students won’t read the Bible daily or attend church services regularly, but there are many ways you could help your local church.

• Volunteer at your church. If you find that you can’t sit through a one hour service then you could try providing your services to the church for free. There is so much going on at every church that any help is greatly appreciated. I have helped out in the past by serving food and offering my time to do some yard maintenance work (what can I say I enjoy cutting grass). The point here is that an hour may be nothing to you but it would be really beneficial to your church.
• Work as a church camp counselor. Not only is this an excellent opportunity to meet some great people but you also have the privilege of giving back to your community. We were all little kids at one point and I’m sure we were sent to some of the free camps offered by our local churches. This is your chance to return the favor and do some good for your community.  Even if you help out once a week it will make at least a small difference in someone’s life.
• Pilgrimage. Yes they actually exist in real life. In fact my cousin goes on a pilgrimage every summer. I have always personally wanted to try this but it is impossible for me to get the time off from work that time of year. It’s approximately 2 weeks in duration and they walk about 6 hours a day for those 2 weeks until they arrive at their destination.

We all want to have a productive summer but we just don’t know where to start.  Here’s a little secret: you can start by reading The Summer of George- The Most Productive Summer a College Student Will Ever Have:

• Summer of George Introduction @ Studenomics.com
• Work Abroad This Summer @ CashMoneyLife.com
• Enjoy Cheap Summer Activities @ MoneySmartLife.com
• Learn a New Language @ TotalCandor.com
• Take Up a Sport and Become Good At It @ FreeFromBroke.com
• Help Your Local Church @ GatherLittleByLittle.com
• Take Some College Courses This Summer @ PoorerThanYou.com
• Summer Jobs With Little Startup Funding Required- Part 1 @ MoneyNing.com
• Summer Jobs With Little Startup Funding Required- Part 2 @ PTMoney.com
• Take Control Of Your Financial Situation @ Bargaineering.com

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In today’s busy and hurried society, we want everything now.  Think about some of the “instant” things we have in life.

On-demand TV programming.  30-minute 30-second meals.  Instant messengers. Drive-thru options for just about any store (because who wants to get out of their car for anything?!).  The list goes on and on.

We want what we want, and we want it now.

Welcome to America.

But if we were to go through each of our closets, dig under our beds, or browse around our attics, we would find plenty of items that would fall into the category: “I just had to have it.”

Except that you didn’t.  You used it or wore it once or twice, and it has collected dust ever since then.

Delaying gratification isn’t just a money principle, but it’s a life principle.  Think about it.  Which tastes better?  Something cooked in the microwave or the crock-pot?  Hopefully you said the crock-pot as you pull your frozen pizza from the microwave!

But how do you get a teenager to understand this?

• Lead By Example – Teenagers watch to see if you’re living out what you’re telling them to do. If you always have to have the latest and greatest and never delay gratification, don’t expect your child to do it either. Here’s a good question…are you smoking what you’re selling? (Can he say that!?)

• Just Say No – When your teen comes to you asking for $50 for that new outfit, an advance on their allowance for the new iPod, or wondering if they can sell their younger sister on Craigslist for some extra cash, just say NO! I’m sure they’ll kick and scream and foam at the mouth, but they will also begin to realize having that new item isn’t that important.

• Implement A Waiting Period – You may have heard this before, but anytime you’re making a significant purchase, give yourself a few days to think it through and prevent yourself from buying on impulse. When you leave the store and wait a few days, it will cause you to think clearer and use better judgment. Teach your teen to wait for it.

12 Things Every Teenager Needs To Know About Money (And How To Teach Them) is a community blog experience.  This post is only one of the 12 points in the series so to view the other 11, please visit the list of links below.  Here are the rest of the articles in the “12 Things Every Teenager Needs To Know About Money (And How To Teach Them)” series:

• Money Doesn’t Grow On Trees @ Bargaineering.com
• Two Words: Compound Interest @ PoorerThanYou.com
• Delay Gratification To Succeed @ GatherLittleByLittle.com
• Living On A Budget Isn’t An Option @ TotalCandor.com
• Credit Cards Will Steal Your Lunch Money @ PTMoney.com
• Should You Earn A College Degree? @ TheDigeratiLife.com
• Spend Money Based On Needs Not Wants @ MoneyNing.com
• There Is More Free Money Than You Realize For College @ FreeFromBroke.com
• Living On Your Own Isn’t Cheap @ Studenomics.com
• Taxes Are A Necessary Evil In Life @ MoneySmartLife.com
• Do What You Love, Love What You Do @ GenXFinance.com
• Don’t Be A Tightwad: Give Generously @ CashMoneyLife.com

This is a guest post from Grant Baldwin, the author of Reality Check, a book about helping students transition into the real world.  His new website, BrokePiggy.com, answers questions from teenagers about personal finance, savings, and all things money.

Photo credit: TheTruthAbout…

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With increasing budget restraints, I have been struggling with health insurance premiums just like many others in the current economic situation. However, being in the business, I am considering some options to lower my rates while making sure I still have the best coverage when I need it.

Although it is more difficult, it is still possible to find affordable health insurance, you just have to know what to look for! As you probably know, your rates for individual health insurance will depend upon many factors. We need to examine these to determine what we can control.

Health Insurance Rates Are Set By:

• Your Zip Code. Yes, where you live will affect your premiums. Insurers look at the cost of medical services in your city, town, or rural area, and then set base rates accordingly.
• Your Age. Many insurers will group people by age, or by age band. For instance, the base rates for a 30-34 year old will be lower than those for a 50-54 yea old. In the US, we middle aged people, between 50 and 64 (Medicare Age), can really struggle with health insurance premiums.
• Your Health Habits. Overweight people, generally have higher premiums than others, the same goes for smokers compared to non-smokers. These factors greatly increase the chances of an expensive doctor’s bill down the road and thus raises the insurance company’s risk of insuring you.
• Health Conditions. Even controlled health problems, like high blood pressure, may cause insurers to increase rates over  people who have never been diagnosed with those health conditions.
• Type of Plan. If you buy a PPO, where the insurer can encourage you to use their cost-saving network, your rates may be lower than if you buy a policy where you can get their best coverage with any medical provider.
• Deductible and Copays. You know that, given the same plan, a $500 yearly deductible major medical plan will cost a lot more than a $2,500 yearly deductible policy! Likewise, a plan with a $10 doctor’s office visit copay will cost more than a plan with a $40 copay, or of course, a plan that does not offer a copay.
• Yearly Maximums. Be careful of this, but some policies set a yearly maximum on some, or all, medical services that is fairly low. For instance, outpatient services may be set at $10,000 a year. I would caution against using this tactic to lower premiums though. It may be fine if you only need to use your insurance to cover a minor ER visit, but awful if a family member needs outpatient chemotherapy for cancer! And that’s why you really buy health insurance, for large expenses, isn’t it?

What Can You Do To Lower Health Insurance Premiums?

Consider an H.S.A Major Medical Plan.

Health Savings Account plans have many benefits, and they work out well for some people. You buy a higher deductible major medical plan, which should be cheaper. The plan works with a tax advantaged savings account that can be used to pay for many medical services that are not covered, or that cost less than the higher deductible amount.

These plans tend to work well for people who are disciplined savers, and who appreciate the ability to deduct their contributions to the savings plan. However, people who cannot make a consistent contribution to to the savings plan, probably won’t be satisfied with them.

Advantages of an H.S.A

• Higher deductibles usually mean easier underwriting and lower premium.
• Tax advantaged savings accounts can cover deductibles and pay for non major medical services like dental and vision.
• Savings balances roll over if they are not used every year.
• Some savings accounts pay competitive interest rates on the balance.
• The savings account balance can be withdrawn at retirement (Medicare Age).
• Even if the covered person has to pay more towards the deductible, they should still get the benefit of some policy’s negotiated prices. This is an advantage over not having coverage at all.

Disadvantages of an H.S.A

If no money gets contributed to the savings account, a covered person would have a higher deductible to pay before the insurance company will cover medical services! In these cases, a traditional PPO or HMO may be a better option.

What if a Health Savings Account Medical Plan Won’t Work Out?

If you don’t think this type of plan will be a good option for your family, you may consider a couple of options for lowering your traditional health insurance premiums.

• Can you do without a doctor’s office copay? This may sound like heresy, but those copays can add 25% to your premiums and may not save you that much money. If the negotiated fee for a network doctor is only $100, and you do not see a doctor that often, you might consider dropping this benefit.
• Can you raise your yearly deductible? The premium difference between a $500 deductible and a $2,000 deductible should save you hundreds of dollars every year. Of course, it would be a good idea to set aside some of your savings in case you do need to pay a deductible.

Shop Around For Affordable Health Insurance

Insurance companies strive to remain competitive in the marketplace, and they introduce new plans all of the time. You may be able to find a more affordable major medical policy from another insurer.  This can be done by talking with local agencies, or more simply online, and then comparing coverage with cost to make an educated decision.

If you are shopping around for a new policy’, do not cancel your old policy, though, until you are sure that your new plan has accepted you, and you have a policy in your hand!

This guest post was written by one of the founders of 247QuoteUs.com , Barbara Waltz. 247QuoteUs is a resource blog and insurance quote comparison guide.

Photo by: Lisa Brewster

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Be Smart: Look for Free or Discounted Shipping Deals

There are a number of aggregating shipping deals across multiple retailers. My personal favorite is FreeShipping.org. I like it for a few reasons: it is free and clean. The site provides exhaustive information for you to decide if the offer suits your needs. You can navigate it using the list of categories (to the right), via the merchant brand names (with help of the drop-down menus) and using the search option (it will search by the retailer’s name).

If you are a frequent shopper, you can also subscribe to their mailing list and receive weekly deals to your email box.

Each page dedicated to a separate retailer contains comprehensive information on the deal: the coupon code, expiration date and the conditions to qualify. Note: the site lists free shipping offers without conditions (that is, your purchase will be shipped to you for free no matter what you buy) as well free shipping deals with minimum purchase (your purchase will be delivered for free if your order total is over the set minimum) and free shipping deals on the selected items. Besides the deal details, you will also be able to see the merchant’s official shipping and return policies. Here is the exampe of the retailer’s page – Macy’s coupons:

Be Picky: Let Shipping Providers Bid for Your Package and Choose the One That Fits

UShip is an online auction that “lets customers choose the Transportation Service Provider who will give them the best service at the best price”. You will be able to register there for free and choose the lowest possible price for your package to be delivered. The sign-up process is fast and smooth. Immediately after the sign-up you will be offered to specify the details of your package. You will be able to provide the exhaustive information of it to save time on further discussion with the service provider – you can even upload a photo and add comments.

The auction is eBay-style meaning you can view the service provider’s ratings and reviews and thus avoid any sort of scam.

You can also link your eBay account to your UShip account to get your purchased shipped with ease.

Be Prepared: Estimate Your Shipping Charges Beforehand

Two online calculators will allow you to estimate the shipping cost and also compare it throughout major service providers. One is ShippingSideKick. It compares shipping rates for USPS, UPS, FedEx and DHL.

ShipGooder is another one. Transportation services listed include the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx, DHL, Purolator, Canada Post and various local couriers. You can choose the table view: to compare either by days or couriers. You are also able to save the report in Excel, print it or email it to a friend:

The guest post by Ann Smarty – check out her SEO Consulting blog or follow her on Twitter.

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