Join CA$H Maine as a volunteer and make a difference! This tax season we will need volunteers for the following positions:

• Greeters
• Opportunity Guides
• Tax Preparers

• Provide free tax preparation assistance to qualified tax filers
• Connect tax filers to financial education, savings opportunities, and other services.

Our tax sites are receiving more calls for assistance than we can provide with our current volunteers. Contact your local coalition to find out what opportunities are available. If you already know who your local coalition is sign up here to be a volunteer.

Summer is finally here and it's the perfect time to get on top of your finances!

Here's an easy way to track your spending from a blog by Courtney-Rose Dantus on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau website.

Are you unsure of where your money is really going each month? Do you find yourself struggling to pay your bills and set aside savings? 

Using a spending tracker provides clarity around your spending habits and can help you make decisions to meet your financial goals. Once you have a clear idea of how you spend your money, you’ll be ready to start building a budget.

Budget tool: Spending tracker

Fill out this spending tracker for at least two weeks—or even a month—to get a better picture of your spending habits. Then take a look at your spending and consider:

• What expenses surprised you?
• Are there areas where you spent that you now consider unnecessary? 
• Are you paying for services or subscriptions that you’re not really using?
• Are there service fees on your credit card or other financial services that you could eliminate? 

It’s important to distinguish your needs and obligations from your wants, and to set priorities when it comes to your budget. Obligations typically include things like a mortgage payment or rent, utilities, healthcare, and childcare.

Wants may be a little more difficult to identify. A want may be something like a cable subscription or buying coffee each morning rather than making it at home.

Once you’ve broken down your spending habits by needs and  wants, you can make more informed decisions about where you spend your money. Spending too much on wants? Try cutting back on some of those in the month ahead. Knowing what you spend on a monthly basis can help you prioritize so you can pay your bills on time, get control of your debt, and start saving for the future.

If you’re getting married this year, congratulations! There are a lot of details in planning a wedding, and, along with the cake and gift registry, your first tax return as a married couple should be on your checklist.

The IRS has tips and tools to help you consider how marriage may affect your tax situation. Here are five simple steps that can make filing your first tax return as newlyweds less stressful.

Step 1: Check your withholding when your personal circumstances change — like after you’re married. Using the IRS Withholding Calculator is a good way to check your withholding. If you need to change your withholding, complete and submit a new Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate, to your employer.

Step 2:  If you and/or your spouse legally change your name, even if you hyphenate your last names, it’s important to report that change to the Social Security Administration (SSA). The name on your tax return must match the name on file at SSA. If it doesn’t, it could delay any refund.

Step 3: If your marriage means a change in address, the IRS and U.S. Postal Service need to know. You can file IRS Form 8822, Change of Address, to update your mailing address with the IRS. Notify the postal service to forward your mail by going online at USPS.com or by visiting your local post office.

Step 4: If you receive advance payment of the Premium Tax Credit, it’s important that you report changes in circumstances to your Health Insurance Marketplace as they happen.

Step 5: Choose your filing status. Your marital status on December 31 determines whether you’re considered married for that full year. Generally, the tax law allows married couples to file their federal income tax return either jointly or separately in any given year. Use the Interactive Tax Assistant to determine which status is best for you.

When it comes to weddings, detailed planning is important. By following these simple steps and planning your taxes up front, you can also enjoy a smooth tax season as newlyweds.

CA$H Maine is a statewide collaboration of ten coalitions, comprised of 50 non- and for-profit partners, working together to help empower Maine individuals and families to achieve long-term financial stability. Since 2003, we have offered free tax preparation to qualified filers during tax season and educated hard-working families and individuals about programs in the community that can increase their income, reduce debt, and build savings. CA$H Maine is a year-round resource, providing outreach and education about ways you can make the most of your money.

To find a coalition near you click here.