LLC Your Magazine of Personal Finance July–August 2014 Get Your Summer Grill On– Vacation Create the perfect Savings barbecue feast Warm-weather getaway tips Best Staycation PLUS Ever! Identity Theft: A An economical and Quiz for Consumers enriching experience Financial Boot Camp Best Kept Secrets: Keeping Connected European destinations that on the Go aren’t famous—yet It’s summer, and vacation season is here. July–August 2014 Enjoy it—without breaking your budget. We’ve dedicated this issue of In the Loop to helping you maximize your enjoyment of the season while not sacrificing your budget in the process. 4 f you’re planning to take some great ideas to help you have the such as identity theft. Avoid Itime off in the next few months best ‘staycation’ ever. Because having your personal information to enjoy a vacation, you’ll want to there’s no better way to top off a compromised by taking the Features check out our tips for stretching day of summer fun than a delicious identity theft quiz starting on page 4 • Summer Vacation Savings | These money-saving tips can help your getaway budget and our barbecue, we’ve also rounded 14, and see if there are any changes you control the costs of your warm-weather getaway. feature on some of Europe’s lesser up some of the best grilling tips, you can make to better safeguard 6 • Best Staycation Ever! | More Americans are finding that staying known—and amazing—vacation techniques, and tools to help you, yourself against identity theft— home for a vacation can be an economical and enriching experience. 6 destinations. Or, if you are looking “Get your grill on!” whether at home or on the road. 8 • Get Your Grill On! | Learn some great grilling techniques, tips, and forward to enjoying a more low- While a summer vacation is For those of you who may have tools to help you create the perfect barbecue feast. key vacation schedule by sticking ideally a carefree adventure, going veered a little off track in regard to 10 • Financial Boot Camp | If you let your New Year’s financial close to home, we’ve also got some to unknown places and being away meeting the financial goals you set resolutions slide, here’s some motivation to get you back on track. from home can also make you for yourself at the beginning of the 11 • Keeping Connected on the Go | These tools can help you stay vulnerable to crimes year, check out the Financial Boot organized and in touch with your “peeps” when you are on the road for Camp article to get back in tip-top business and pleasure. financial shape. If you need a more 8 in-depth financial tune-up, please give our office a call—we would be happy to help. Departments We hope you enjoy this issue 2 • From the Firm | It’s summer, and vacation season is here! Enjoy it—without breaking your budget. of In the Loop, and we wish you a happy and safe summer. 12 • Life & Living | Best Kept Secrets: Consider traveling to these European destinations that aren’t famous—yet. Sincerely, 14 • Mind Flex | Identity Theft: A quiz for consumers 12 Your Trusted Accounting Advisors In The Loop is published by rwc360 LLC, 1516 S. Walnut St., Bloomington, IN 47401 (www.rwc360.com) and distributed as a courtesy by professional services firms nationwide. This publication is intended to provide general information only and is not to be construed as providing financial, legal, or other professional advice or services. The information and points of view presented may not be appropriate for your specific financial position or circumstances. Contact a financial or legal professional before making any decisions or plans regarding your financial management. 2 | In The Loop July–August 2014 | 3 Summer Don’t Miss These Tax Vacation 4. Check your 5. Bundle deals to social networks. save your budget. Deadlines Savings Many airlines, hotels, and Travel experts advise that bundling Keep these dates handy to restaurants now use their Twitter your purchases for airline tickets avoid paying penalties: These money-saving feeds, Facebook pages, and other and accommodations is usually social networks to promote deals far cheaper than buying them a la tips can help you that are otherwise unadvertised. By carte. Also, consider all-inclusive Business Tax Deadlines connecting through social media hotel packages, which offer the control the costs of your with various travel providers, you total cost upfront and give you • March 17, 2014 get access to valuable deals that can control over expenses. Filing Deadline warm-weather getaway help your vacation dollars go further. • Sept. 15, 2014 Extension Deadline t’s officially the summer season, which for many of out, and all of the little “extras” that vacations often While taking a vacation is supposed to be the ultimate Estimated Quarterly Tax Ius means it’s time for a vacation. As the pace of work entail can add up quickly—leaving you cash-strapped stress reliever, when it comes to budgeting, it can Payment Deadlines slows a little and the kids get out of school for a few if you’re not careful. To help you make the most of 1st Quarter: months, it’s the perfect time to plan a getaway to see your vacation budget, we’ve compiled the following sometimes be stress-inducing. Try out these tips to reduce some sights or simply relax. However, travel, dining money-saving tips. costs, but not the fun of your summertime getaway. April 15, 2014 2nd Quarter: June 16, 2014 3rd Quarter: September 15, 2014 4th Quarter: January 15, 2015 1. Embrace spontaneity. 2. Learn about traveling 3. Consider more than just 6. Make friends with 7. Stock up on groceries. Individual Tax Deadlines Being flexible with both your during “shoulder seasons.” flight or ground travel costs. your hotel concierge. Dining out while on vacation can destination and vacation dates is While summer is a popular time For many of us, the cost of a flight, Hotel staff are usually one of the be one of the most enjoyable parts April 15, 2014 a great way to get some of the best to get away, there are often deals to gas, or rental car may be a significant best resources when it comes to of being away from home, but it can Filing Deadline travel deals available. Sign up for be had on hotels and flights closer expense and the key decision point finding out about local deals and also be expensive, especially if you Oct. 15, 2014 deal alerts on travel planning or to the middle and end of August. in our vacation plans. However, it discounts. Plus, they may be able have children in your travel party. Extension Deadline airline websites and consider taking This is a period that travel experts is important to look beyond just to upgrade your accommodations One way to cut your food bill is by advantage of those that fit your call “shoulder season” because it the travel costs when considering and offer you coupons or free passes visiting a grocery store or two during budget and the type of trip you wish falls between peak season and off- where you want and can afford to to local attractions. So, don’t be your travels. Snacks, beverages, and IRA Contribution Deadline: to take. You’ll save a considerable easy breakfast options are three season. For example, April through go. For example, while it might shy when you arrive at your hotel. April 15, 2014 amount of money by doing so. May and mid-August through be less expensive to fly to London Strike up a friendly conversation areas where you can save a lot of October are ideal times to travel than it is to Santorini, looking at with the staff and you’re likely to money—and save yourself from If filing an extension, you to Europe when the weather’s still daily expenses for lodging, food, enjoy some savings. the inconvenience of researching have until Oct. 15, 2014. nice but there aren’t too many and entertainment actually makes restaurants or stopping frequently tourists. Educating yourself about Santorini the better bargain. The for snacks and drinks. Plan ahead the tourism ebbs and flows for point is, keeping in mind what you when you book your hotel—ask if Please visit www.irs.gov different vacation destinations can are paying for beyond travel expenses a free breakfast is offered and if in- for additional information. help you choose the least expensive and the impact of exchange rates room refrigerators or kitchenettes times to travel. on your purchasing power is key to are available. Taking advantage of determining true vacation costs. these options offer you even more savings by allowing you to prepare meals in your room. 4 | In The Loop July–August 2014 | 5 Best Staycation Catch up with your neighbors Ever! at a casual backyard get-together. More Americans are of household chores. Otherwise, delivery service that you can eat so try pitching a tent in your finding that staying you’ll default to your standard lounging in your backyard—or own yard, or make a reservation routine and feel like you didn’t get even your bed! at a local campground. You may at home for a vacation a break. See what the neighbors are up wish to restrict cell phones and can be both an To get you started, the following to. It could very well be that your other mobile devices during your are some fun ideas that you can neighbors are craving a relaxed camp adventure to stimulate economical and an use to make your staycation a get-together.