The total amount of money flowing into American wallets from federal tax refunds is down sharply in 2023, according to the latest figures from the IRS. So far in 2023, federal tax refunds amount to about $183 billion, a 10.4% decrease from the $204 billion refunded at the same point last year. The size of … Read more
Are you enthusiastic about purchasing stocks? If so, there is a good chance that openness is one of your top character traits. Openness — which Harvard University defines as “the tendency to be open to new aesthetic, cultural or intellectual experiences” — drives stock market investing more than any other major character trait, according to … Read more
Mix and Match Studio / Shutterstock.com Your home might be your biggest asset — and yet, you could be inadvertently making it less valuable. Some updates and renovations can backfire when it comes time to sell. “What I have seen a lot of people do is rip out a closet,” says Steven Gottlieb, a licensed … Read more
Although the choice between leasing or buying a car has plenty of financial implications, money isn’t the only factor that goes into this decision. In fact, this choice is often based on a person’s tolerance for risk, and how often they prefer to switch cars. If you want to own a car outright — and … Read more
PERO studio / Shutterstock.com Whether it’s a PB&J tucked into your “Six Million Dollar Man” lunchbox or a juicy Reuben served at a New York deli, sandwiches likely figure into many of your munchable memories. And why not? Sandwiches come in all shapes and sizes, and they’re eminently portable. You can tote them to work, … Read more
SG SHOT / Shutterstock.com Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on FlexJobs.com. If you let your schedule run you instead of the other way around, you’re going to stifle your personal and professional life in profound ways. The stress of always trying to put out fires instead of proactively managing your tasks will carry over … Read more
CroMary / Shutterstock.com Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on Live and Invest Overseas. I’ve dealt with some morons in my time. I’ll tell you about one of them in a moment. It relates to the theme of this essay, I promise … But first, some strategies for minimizing your tax bill when you live … Read more
You’ve got your budget; you’ve got your emergency fund; you’ve got your 401(k) retirement account. So all your financial bases are covered, right? Wrong. You could be overlooking some major holes in your financial plan, and if you are, they could affect not only your future but that of your kids – and maybe even … Read more
Jamie Carroll / Shutterstock.com Americans love their national parks — maybe a little too much. Crowded conditions are overwhelming some of these natural treasures, leading to everything from traffic jams to unsafe conditions for wildlife. The National Park Service has responded to these alarming developments by instituting a system of reservations at some parks. This … Read more
Roger costa morera / Shutterstock.com After 25 years of appraising and reselling antiques, I know how daunting it can be to settle an estate. It usually goes something like this: A family is overwhelmed after inheriting a house stuffed to the rafters with generations’ worth of objects. They choose a few keepsakes for themselves and … Read more