Paying taxes once a year is hard enough, but paying it four times a year? Well, in some cases it is necessary for the greater good. Paying quarterly estimated taxes can save you from underpayment penalties and a being hit with a whopping debt when you file your federal return. If you are not sure if you should file quarterly estimated taxes or not, here are five signs to help you figure it out.

Self-Employment

If you, or your spouse, are self-employed, then filing quarterly estimated taxes is a very good idea. This applies to freelancers like writers and graphic designers as well. Typically, clients do not take taxes out of what they pay you, so at the end of the year when you file you could end up owing the IRS a lot of money. If you pay estimated taxes throughout the course of the year, you won’t be hit out of nowhere with a huge tax bill.

The Nanny Tax

If you pay someone more than $1,800 per year (as of tax year 2012), to take care of your children in your home then you have to pay taxes on that. The Nanny Tax is the equivalent of FICA taxes that employers pay. If the caregiver is a parent, spouse and or someone whose primary occupation is not household employment, then you are exempt. If you want to avoid potentially owing interest, it is a good idea to pay quarterly.

Extra Income

Say you cash in on a hot stock or you won big on Jeopardy. Whatever the case, if you have a large amount of extra income that is not listed on your W4 you should consider paying estimated taxes. There are separate rules for inheritances and gifts, so you should consult with a tax professional to determine if you need to pay ahead on your taxes based on the source of the extra income.

You Always Owe Taxes

If you seem to end up owing taxes every year, making quarterly tax payments throughout the year will at least take some of the sting out of it. However, the IRS has certain guidelines about the amounts you can pay and the requirement threshold, whether you end up paying right away or have to file an IRS tax extension each year. If you are not sure if you qualify, you can check the IRS’s website at www.irs.gov to find out. If you cannot find the right information on the website, ask whoever prepares your taxes if it is a possibility.

Other Forms of “Income”

Most people do not realize it, but there are things the IRS considers income that most people do not think of. For example, if you have a car that was repossessed and the company writes off your debt after the sale that is considered income. If you cash in a 401k early, you may own taxes in addition to the penalties. Student scholarships count as income too. If you are in any situation where you have additional income – earned or unearned – filing quarterly taxes may be a good idea.

No one wants to deal with the IRS, but it is part of life. The quarterly estimated tax system may not seem like a headache, but it is actually a relief system for taxpayers. If you can make quarterly payments instead of owing a lump sum all at once that you can’t pay, you will save yourself a lot of trouble negotiating with the IRS to pay your tax debt.

About the Author: Quinton Joice is a personal finance consultant who recommends everyone pay close attention to their income and expenses throughout the year; not just at the end of the year.

If you are a pet owner, then you know that pets can be like family members. That means that if you plan on going on an extended vacation, leaving your little friend behind is not always an option. Going on a trip and flying on a plane? It is most likely that you can take your pet with you. You just need to take certain steps to ensure your pet’s well-being during the trip. Here are some suggestions for how to safely travel by air with your pet:

Get a health check-up. Traveling can be very stressful for pets. Also, you need to remember that high elevations come with thin air, which means that your pet needs to be in good health to fly, or else risk breathing problems. (The exception is pug-nosed dogs, which should never be transported by air due to their build; they simply cannot take the lack of oxygen.) Be sure to take your pet to the vet for a thorough health examination before you plan on traveling.

The proper carrier. There are pet carriers that are specially built for airline travel. Invest in one that is just large enough to allow your pet to move around some – standing up and turning are priority; anything larger may be difficult to transport.

Safety check. Before you load your pet carrier aboard the plane, double-check all of the locks, bolts, and fasteners on it to be sure that they are tight and secure. Remove your pet’s collar, which it can get hung up on during flight. Contact information. Put all of your pertinent contact information – name, address, and telephone numbers – on your pet carrier, as well as on a tag on your pet. Since collars are unsafe, it is a good idea to attach a tag to a rubber band and place it around your pet’s neck or leg.

Choose your flight wisely. It goes without saying that direct flights are ideal (after all, the less time your pet has to spend in a virtual shipping crate, the better). Avoid travelling during peak seasons, when there is likely to be a flight delay due to congestion, and try to travel during mild weather. If you must travel during the hottest part of summer, then choose a night flight, and if you must travel in the middle of winter, check the weather for possible snow delays.

Air travel can be a very safe bet for your pet, as long as you are conscientious of how you do it. Keep in mind that each airline may have different standards for transporting pets, and you should therefore plan ahead and check with your chosen airline way in advance before your departure date, just to make sure you are in compliance.

About the Author: Blondell Bruschke loves to travel with dog in tow and spends a lot of time booking flights with animal-friendly airlines. When she’s not traveling she loves to put her spare room up for rent on AirBNB so that she can meet fellow travelers and animal lovers.

Aries

Lady Gaga fits the template of a typical Aries perfectly. Arians are competitive, dynamic and impulsive, which explains Lady Gaga’s wacky outfits and bonkers stage outfits (remember the meat dress and lobster hat?) People born under this star sign are quick tempered, so Lady Gagas doesn’t suffer fools lightly. Aries are practical and business minded, which makes Lady Gaga a keen businesswoman and enables her to make the right decisions regarding her career.

Other famous Aries: Kiera Knightly, Marcia Cross, Alan Sugar, Reese Witherspoon, Mariah Carey.

Taurus

Taureans are ruled by Venus, which explains famous Taurean Jessica Alba’s beauty and sex appeal. Security is very important for Taureans, so Jessica will find it hard being away from home during filming. Taureans enjoy emotional and physical security, and are happiest when in a relationship. Taureans can also be very materialistic, so Jessica needs to be careful what she spends her money on.

Other famous Taureans: Cate Blanchett, Kirsten Dunst, Audrey Hepburn, Bono, Enrique Iglesias.

Gemini

Gemini’s love adventure, which clearly comes out in Gemini Angelina Jolie’s personality. She picks movie roles where she can play exciting and dangerous women, such as an assassin in Mr and Mrs Smith, Lara Croft in Tomb Raider, and disturbed mental patient in Girl, Interrupted. Gemini’s are great at multi-tasking, but Angelina will need to keep herself busy as Gemini’s can get easily bored, which can lead to restlessness and depression. Gemini’s get on well with fire signs, which is part of the attraction to Sagittarius fiancé Brad Pitt.

Other famous Geminis: Clint Eastwood, Marilyn Monroe, Johnny Depp, Nicole Kidman, Kylie Minogue.

Cancer

Cancerians are very loyal and romantic, which makes Cancerian Tom Cruise a great husband to wife Katie Holmes, and as Cancerians love family and are happiest when at home, he is a great father to Suri. Cancerians love large families, so Suri probably won’t be an only child! Cancerians can be very sensitive, so Tom’s friends and family need to be careful not to accidentally offend him. Cancerians can be manipulative however, and are prone to mood swings.

Other famous Cancerians: Tom Cruise, Cheryl Cole, 50 cents, Liv Tyler, Lindsey Lohan.

Leo

Like a typical Leo, Madonna is dramatic and ambitious. Leos enjoy attention, which Madonna clearly craves. Leos are hard working and more often than not, perfectionists, attributes which have helped Madonna rise to superstardom. Leos are typically very spiritual, which Madonna demonstrates through her dedication to the spiritual organisation Kaballah. With the Sun as their ruler, Leo’s can be overbearing however, and have fiery tempers when provoked.

Other famous Leos: Ben Affleck, Halle Berry, Mick Jagger, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Charlize Theron.

Virgo

Virgo’s are shy and modest by nature, which explains why there are less Virgo celebs than others star signs. Virgo’s can be modest, and often feel self-doubt when in relationships, which might explain unlucky in love Cameron Diaz. Being critical of herself is what has made Cameron Diaz achieve such success, as she constantly tries to better herself. Virgo’s enjoy looking out for other people, and often do humanitarian work.

Other famous Virgos: Keanu reeves, Hugh grant, Claudia Schiffer, Adam Sandler.

Libra

Libras love the company of others and hate being alone, which makes Libran Catherine Jones very sociable. Librans are great listeners of other people’s problems, and hate conflict. Faced with conflict, they usually back away. Spouse Michael Douglas is also a Libra, so arguments are few in this household but disagreements may not get always get resolved.

Other famous Librans: Matt Damon, Zac Effron, Gwen Steffani, Hugh Jackman.

Scorpio

Scorpio’s are full of energy and zest, which makes Scorpio Katy Perry a pleasure to work with. Scorpio’s are famed for their sexual attractiveness, which Katy Perry takes full advantage of by dressing skimpily when performing! Scorpio’s can be jealous, and can easily erupt when provoked. Scorpio’s like their private life to be private, so the intrusion of the press into her life is hard for Katy, and the very public divorce from Russell Brand would have been a very difficult time for her.

Other famous Scorpios: Julia Roberts, Winona Ryder, Goldie Hawn, Danny devito, Matt Damon.

Sagittarius

Typical of Sagittarians, Brad Pitt is confident, down to earth and loves his freedom. Sagittarians are hard working and ambitious, and this clearly comes across in Brad, who doesn’t shy away from challenging roles but seems to seek them out. Sagittarians are fun loving and like to be with adventurous partners, which is why fiancé Angelina Jolie is perfect for him. Sagittarians can be very blunt and argumentative though, so the soon to be Mrs Pitt has her work cut out! Due to their ambitious nature, hard working Sagittarians are twice as likely to become famous as other star signs!

Other famous Sagittarians: Scarlett Johansson, Tyra Banks, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Jake Gyllenhaal.

Capricorn

Famous Capricorn Orlando Bloom is cautious and focused, which shows in his choice of roles. He picks conventional, serious roles, rather than risky or more challenging roles. Typical of Capricorns, Orlando has lots of common sense, which he uses to enhance his career. Capricorns are often passive and restrained, but achieve success through being methodical and patient. Capricorns are very loyal and faithful when in love, so Orlando’s future girlfriend is a lucky girl!

Other famous Capricorns: Jude Law, Pixie Lott, Sienna Miller, Kate Middleton, Kate Moss.

Aquarius

Famous Aquarian Alicia Keys is friendly and easygoing. Aquarians are bright, sensitive and unique, and this comes through in her music, with its sensitive and moving lyrics. Aquarians are great communicators about subjects that interest them, which is why Alicia is such a great songwriter and performer. Like most Aquarians, Alicia is very independent, wanting to do things her own way. Aquarians can also be dispassionate about topics that don’t interest them.

Other famous Aquarians: Jennifer Anniston, Ashton Kutcher, Ellen Degeneres, Christina Ricci.

Pisces

Being a Pisces, Eva Longoria is sensitive and compassionate, which contrasts with her on-screen character Gabrielle in Desperate Housewives! Pisceans are imaginative and adaptable, which makes them very well suited to acting roles. Pisceans are very emotional and often lack confidence in their own abilities, so friends and family will need to reassure Eva. Pisceans are also very secretive, which explains why we know so little about Eva’s private life.

Other famous Pisces: Drew Barrymore, Jon Bon Jovi, Justin Bieber, Rachel Weisz, Bruce Willis.

Guest Author: Alice is interested in celebrities and how their horoscopes affect their personality and how they appear to the general public.

Getting a job interview after you have just graduated from college is an incredible experience. One day you’re a broke student who can barely afford to gas up your car or eat things that aren’t in a giant bag, and the next day you’re a young professional earning a living that you could barely imagine before. While this is exciting, you have to ace the interview and get the job offer before you can hit the bar and celebrate. The following are a few excellent tips for making the most of this crucial interview.

Make Friends

The first step you need to take is to make friends and contacts within the company. This needs to start out as early as possible, and even precede getting your interview. The more people in the organization you know, the warmer your welcome is going to be. Also, your contacts and you can have lunch or coffee and discuss the company’s problems, which will make you a more understanding job candidate.

Get Lots of Interviews

Interview at a lot of places before you go on a serious interview. Practice everything you want to say, practice the way you think it will work best, and practice asking the questions you believe will give you valuable information. By the time you go into an interview you really care about, you’ll be able to confidently ask and answer a host of questions in such a way that you look great.

Practice Beforehand

Hold mock interviews with your friends. Invite them to pick apart everything about your presentation, including your body language, voice tone, the questions you ask and the answers you provide. This is all about refining your interview skills until they’re sharp as a razor and just as solid.

Understand the Company’s Problems

Every company has problems. This is not about blaming the company for not being perfect, but about being able to solve the company’s problems if you are hired. If you go into the interview as far too many candidates do, you will only have the most general idea of how you can be of service to the company. Remember that they have created a job not for you, but for them.

Have Your Solutions Ready

If you are hired, how will you help the company? You aren’t being hired to fill a space or because people need jobs. You’re being hired to help the company accomplish some goal it has. How will you accomplish this goal?

With a lot of preparation and a bit of planning, you can ace almost any job interview. Don’t act like a lot of people, who only think about the current interview in the present moment. Make some contacts, understand the company and have a few additional interviews that you can learn from.

About the Author: Brian Grosbier is a career counselor who works with several local colleges. He loves helping people find the resources they need to get through school so that they can land that first successful job interview. Check out grantsforsinglemother.org for more information about how to find grants for school, whether you’re a single mother or not.

When we consider the Christian saints who have gone before, we find so many stories that inspire us. Beyond holy living, the mark of a saint is often radical, deep commitment to following the path of Jesus, which results in an outpouring of love and service. Here are some quick snapshots of five amazing Christian saints who did great things.

“Eighty and Six Years Have I Served Him…”

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Polycarp was a Christian bishop in Smyrna in the second century. According to tradition, he was a disciple of John the apostle. Living in the time when the original apostolic witnesses were dying, his generation was important in the continued, faithful transmission of the gospel. This was also a time of intermittent but sometimes severe persecution of the church within the Roman Empire. Polycarp was already an old man when arrested. He refused to burn incense to the emperor, which was perceived as a mark of worship, and was burned at the stake. “Eighty and six years have I served him,” he said, speaking of his devotion to Christ, “how can I then blaspheme my King and Savior?”

“Our hearts are restless…”

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Augustine of Hippo is remembered as one of the most influential Christian thinkers and teachers who ever lived. But in his youth, he restlessly sought truth in all sorts of religions and philosophies before finally coming to rest in the truth of the gospel. His mother Monica faithfully prayed for him for years. Augustine’s spiritual autobiography The Confessions is one of the first books of its kind. In it he wrote the famous words: “Our hearts are restless until they rest in thee.” His City of God helped the church through the years the Roman Empire was crumbling. His teachings profoundly shaped Christian thinking in the medieval era.

“I Arise Today Through the Strength of Heaven…”

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When a sixteen year old boy named Patrick was kidnapped by Irish raiders in the 300s, no one could have guessed how profoundly that experience would shape the western world. Patrick’s experience of exile led to a deepening of his Christian faith. After escaping and returning to his homeland in Romanized Britain, he received training and returned to Ireland as a missionary bishop. It was thanks to Patrick that Ireland turned to Christianity. And it was thanks to Irish monks living in communities inspired by Patrick’s witness that that the Bible and many other ancient writings were preserved during a dark and difficult period in western history.

“All Who Knew Her Called Her Mother…”

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In the 600s, Hilda of Whitby became the abbess, or leader, of a double monastery, a community for both men and women. Hilda’s wise leadership was considered a blessing to all who came within her care, from her own monks and nuns to visiting kings who consulted her. She hosted the important Synod of Whitby, which brought England into the mainstream of the continental church. She is also known for encouraging the gifts of Caedmon, an Anglo-Saxon herdsman, now remembered as a fine religious poet and one of the first poets to write in English.

“Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace…”

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Francis of Assisi was the son of a wealthy Italian merchant. Living in the late 1100s/early 1200s, he founded the religious order known as the Franciscans. That he was able to start an order dedicated to living a life of poverty was an amazing feat. It was also a profound witness as Francis lived in a time when the church, under Pope Innocent III, was at the height of its temporal wealth and power. Francis was known for his love for all creatures, great and small, especially animals and birds. He is credited with forming the first outdoor nativity scene or crèche.

Tim Roberts is a theologist and contributor for Christian Degree Programs, a site that provides information, reviews and guides on Christian leadership careers and the various programs available to students.