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Retail Arbitrage Explained in Less Than a Minute While similar, retail arbitrage is not the same as trading arbitrage—the practice of buying and selling two related stocks or other types of assets in varying markets at two different prices to profit on the differing costs. How Does Retail Arbitrage Work? Retail arbitrage requires you to search through many different markets and compare the cost of a certain product. If you find a huge markdown in an unknown place, like a local wholesaler, you can buy a product in bulk, then resell each item for a higher price online....

Learn more about Roth IRAs versus index funds as we break down the investment jargon and show you why they’re both good vehicles for growing your nest egg. What’s the Difference Between a Roth IRA and an Index Fund? You may be wondering which is better: a Roth IRA or an index fund. But that’s a bit like asking which is better: a bank account or a wad of cash....

Generally, do not share your salary history in a cover letter unless it’s requested, with exceptions based on location. In most cases, if an employer asks for this information, you should follow the employer’s directions and provide it if you are in a location where it is legal for a company to ask. However, some cities and states prohibit employers from asking. In that case, you don’t need to list it....

It’s also a good idea to write personal letters or email messages showing your appreciation and thanks for those who have helped you in your personal life. Here are tips on how to write a letter of appreciation, examples to review, and a template to download to get your own letter or email started. Why Send a Letter of Appreciation Throughout your career and job searches, you’ll likely get a lot of help....

As a parent, having a student financial aid checklist can make the task of helping your child easier. Student Financial Aid Checklist for Parents There’s a lot of ground to cover when it comes to discussing financial aid with your soon-to-be college freshman. These are the most important steps to tackle during your student’s final year of high school. Get Organized Beginning October 1, your senior will be eligible to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid....

For Roth IRA distributions to be made on a tax-free basis, they must be made after a five-taxable-year period of participation and must occur when or after you reach age 59 1/2. In the case of a conversion, five years must have passed since the conversion. A Roth IRA conversion can make a lot of sense for some. On the other hand, there are certain cases when it makes no sense at all....

For these reasons, it’s important that you’re satisfied with your mortgage lender’s services and fees. If you’re not—even if you’ve locked your interest rate, put an offer on a home, or started submitting your documents—you may want to consider switching mortgage lenders before closing on your loan. Why You Might Switch There are several reasons you may be dissatisfied with your mortgage lender. One of the most common is delays in closing....

Small Expenses in Your Budget Small expenses can come from many different things each day. Perhaps you love that steaming cup of custom coffee or pastry on the way to work. Maybe you spend a couple of dollars each day to rent a DVD from Redbox or another such location. It could be the afternoon pick-me-up soda or a new book every few days for your e-reader. Some people may make several in-app purchases for a game for themselves or a child and others feel they must eat lunch out each day....

Effect of Delayed Retirement Not only does your benefit amount go up, but the survivor benefit paid out to a surviving spouse also goes up if you wait to begin collecting your Social Security benefits until you reach full retirement age or later, up until the maximum allowed, which is currently 70 as of 2021. Survivor benefit amounts include any delayed retirement credits that accrue until the passing of the earner....

SDI Productions / Getty Images Learn more about sole proprietorships and if it’s appropriate for you. What Is a Sole Proprietorship? A sole proprietor is an unincorporated business owned exclusively by one person. Millions of sole proprietorships are operating in the United States, making it one of the most popular forms of business ownership. Someone is also considered a sole proprietorship for tax purposes if they are the single member of a domestic LLC....

Knowing how to calculate interest rates can help you better understand your loan contract and put you in a better position to negotiate your rate with your bank. Stated Interest Rate The stated interest rate is the annual cost of the loan that a bank charges, expressed as a percentage. This interest rate does not take into account other costs associated with borrowing the money. Annual Percentage Rate The annual percentage rate (APR) is the actual amount you pay to borrow the money because it includes loan fees, closing costs, or other charges....

What can you do? You can stop mail—even a whole avalanche of mail—that’s addressed to a deceased person by taking one or more of a few easy steps. If the Estate Has Been Closed Send a copy of the order closing the estate to the deceased person’s local post office if probate has been completed and the estate is officially closed. Request that all mail service be stopped immediately. Unfortunately, you must have been the appointed executor of the estate to take this step....

But because the job itself is limited to the season, there are some key differences to this interview. For instance, you might need to emphasize your flexibility and availability, for example, to demonstrate to the interviewer that you can work with their schedule. How to Ace a Summer Job Interview To make the best possible impression on the hiring manager, review common summer interview questions —and bring some questions of your own to ask at the end of the interview....

Of the 1,000 Americans who responded to the survey, 52% said they spent the most money on groceries during the pandemic (excluding rent and mortgage payments). Each respondent manages their own personal finances and has at least one financial account—such as checking, credit, or savings—in their name. Specifically, half (50%) of the survey respondents spent more money on groceries over the last 12 months than they had in past years, while more than a third (37%) spent more on cleaning supplies, and 15% spent more on medicine....

The IRS officially began accepting tax returns on Monday, January 23. For most of the country, the deadline is Tuesday, April 18, but residents of certain disaster areas have until May 15 to file their taxes. These include places in California struck by flooding and mudslides, as well as in Alabama and Georgia that were hit by severe storms and tornadoes in January. The exact counties affected are shown on the map below....

“If you are a U.S. citizen or resident alien, the rules for filing income, estate, and gift tax returns and paying estimated tax are generally the same whether you are in the United States or abroad,” the IRS states on its U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad website. “Your worldwide income is subject to U.S. income tax, regardless of where you reside.” But there are ways of lowering the taxes you owe and avoiding double taxation by paying a tax on the same income to both your country of residence and to the U....

Here you will find the best portable scanner to aid you in your professional pursuits. The Imageformular R10 is fast, too; it’s able to process 12 pages per second fed through its automatic feeder, which is capable of holding up to 20 pages at a time. Add to this a sleek, modern design that yields a confident a professional image and you have the ideal portable scanner. This all-in-one device is capable of printing up to 8 x 10 documents and is fully wireless with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capability....

Figuring Your Card’s Balance The methods differ in the way a credit card issuer calculates the balance before they apply interest. Knowing your card’s finance charge calculation method can help you figure out how to minimize your finance charges. You can do this by paying earlier in the billing cycle in some cases. Your credit card issuer sets the finance charge calculation method as a company standard. You can find out which method your credit card issuer uses by reading your credit card agreement, reading the back of your monthly credit card billing statement, or by calling your credit card issuer....

Dwyer Frame, Senior Editorial Director of Commerce Dwyer joined the commerce team in September 2017 and has worked in the print and digital publishing industry for over 15 years. Throughout her career, Dwyer has always focused on gift guides and product roundups concentrating in the lifestyle and health space. She has worked at InStyle, Time Inc., and Health, and her work has appeared in Real Simple, People, Rachael Ray Every Day, What to Expect, Brit + Co, Woman’s Day, and Redbook....

Today’s jobless claims numbers were higher than expected, and a big jump from the previous week’s numbers, which had been the lowest since the spring. And that may be a clue about what the Federal Reserve does next. If unemployment rises and the jobs report shows growing weakness in the labor market, there is a chance that the Fed could ease up on how aggressively it raises interest rates to fight inflation....