Finances

Now that the holidays are upon us, many people dream of taking a tropical vacation or spending time near a popular attraction. If you’re shopping for a getaway, you may have considered a timeshare, an arrangement that generally gives you the right to stay at a certain property for a specified amount of time each year. There are more than 1,500 timeshare resorts in the United States, according to the American Resort Development Association, and the average sales price for a unit is more than $20,000. If you’re thinking of spending your free time at one of them, the Minnesota Society of CPAs offers this advice.

Could your business bounce back if a disaster occurred? A minimum of 25 percent of small to midsize businesses that close temporarily due to a natural or other disaster ultimately never open their doors again, according to the Institute for Business and Home Safety. It is possible to weather any type of business interruption, however, only if you’re properly prepared. The Minnesota Society of CPAs (MNCPA) offers these tips to ensure you’re ready for anything.

About 40 percent of U.S. households — nearly 50 million — own individual retirement accounts, which provide tax-advantaged options for saving for your retirement years. The Minnesota Society of CPAs offers the following tips on how to avoid some common mistakes people make when managing IRAs.

As you get ready to go away to college for the first time, it is a good time to expand your knowledge of day-to-day money management, including smart budgeting and debt management steps. The Minnesota Society of CPAs offers these tips to students who want to get through college with the right financial footing.

You’re ready to sign up for a new credit card that seems to promise a host of appealing rewards. But, are you really sure of what the card has to offer or how it compares with other options? Many people are not, according to a J.D. Power survey, which found that only 59 percent of credit card customers feel they “completely” understand how they earn rewards. Another one-third knew nothing about the benefits related to their credit card.

Are you planning to take a family vacation this summer? If so, it could become a pricey proposition. For those Americans with summer vacation plans, 41 percent expect to pay an average of $3,000 for transportation, lodging, meals, activities, entertainment and pet care, according to a new telephone survey conducted for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The Minnesota Society of CPAs offers some tips on how you can set a budget for and hold down the cost of a family trip while still having an enjoyable break.