Quick and easy ways to sell your timeshare
finance

Quick and easy ways to sell your timeshare

Timeshares are a lucrative way of investing in property that you can own for a specific period. Investing in a timeshare opens up avenues for travel and affordable stay at exotic locations. But reselling the space is where it gets tricky, as the demand for these properties varies on factors like location and price.  Here are some good ways to make a sale quickly: Go through an agent Real estate agents who specialize in buying and selling timeshare properties will help you unload your ownership quickly. You must do thorough research and choose an agent with plenty of experience in the area. Verified agents can broker a deal quickly because of their contacts in the market, and they will keep track of current listings and await an opportunity to broker deals for a quick commission. Find a website A lot of websites nowadays broker timeshare deals online. They connect sellers to buyers who are looking to rent or buy some vacation space. In exchange for a small transaction fee or even a membership, you can list your timeshare deal on popular web portals. Your ad will be made visible to millions of buyers. Websites also offer professional help to close the deal without much hassle. This is the quickest way to offload timeshare properties. Sell through your resort If you own a timeshare space at exotic beach resorts, it is always quicker to broker a deal with the resort owner. This way, you can avoid paying an agent or brokering a fee to third parties. The only catch is that you will have to verify the buyer, as resort owners will initiate the process to authorize the sale. But don’t make the mistake of exchanging your current ownership with a timeshare upgrade. Simply contact the owner and sell it off.
3 money-making apps in 2021
finance

3 money-making apps in 2021

In the age of smartphones, people have been able to make an app for practically everything. These apps have made it extremely convenient for us to lead our lives and carry out our day-to-day activities. You might not know this, but you can earn cash using apps in your spare time! Could you imagine how great it would be to get paid to be on our phone all the time? Here are some popular cash-making apps in 2021. Shopkick This app is perfect for those who enjoy indulging in a little bit of online shopping every now and then. This app only works on mobile, and you can redeem your points as gift cards whenever you decide to do so. Moreover, this app allows you to earn points whenever you walk into their partnered stores. You can also earn additional points by watching ads and videos as well as by scanning certain barcodes. The only downside to this app is that you aren’t paid in actual cash when using this app. ibotta This app is great if you are looking for an app that offers automatic payment options. This app can be used on your mobile phone as well as on your desktop browser. There are three easy ways in which you can get cashback from this app. You can either make purchases at eligible stores, upload a receipt from these eligible stores, or link a store loyalty card before you shop. Although the cash-out threshold is slightly lower than other apps, this is definitely one of the most popular apps being used right now. Foap Foap is perfect for all aspiring and professional photographers out there who are just beginning to hone their craft. This app allows you to sell your photos to people who need to use them in an easy and hassle-free manner.
Five websites to help make money online
finance

Five websites to help make money online

Making money online is not as hard as you think it is. If you have a bunch of skills to showcase and a drive to get things done, you can easily make hundreds of dollars every month. Nonetheless, sometimes, phony websites and Ponzi schemes seem to make it difficult to find the right sources of money. Therefore, we have taken the liberty to note down five reliable websites to make money online easily. YouTube Got something to share? Is it interesting and non-explicit? Then YouTube is the place to be. All you need to do is create engaging videos, and you can make thousands of dollars depending on how many views you get. Keep up the good work, and YouTube will keep paying you depending on the number of views on every new video you upload. Fiverr Fiverr is a great place to make money if you’re looking for freelancing jobs. From content writing to marketing and web development, Fiverr has a job for everybody. The basic pay starts at approximately $5 an hour. The process, too, is fairly simple. Once you get an order, you complete it, get paid, and Fiverr takes a small cut (around $1). Shopify With Shopify, there is no definite pay scale. This is because running a store on Shopify means starting a dropshipping business. The process is simple. Set up a store on Shopify and design your website using free templates. When a customer buys a product, the request goes to the supplier. They ship the product directly to your customer, and you make money. Zirtual This virtual assistant platform enables you to work for simply anybody remotely. Your boss can give many small tasks such as planning an event, making purchases, and booking appointments. A beginner gets paid anywhere between $11-$15 per hour.
Break free from these 8 bad credit card habits
finance

Break free from these 8 bad credit card habits

You can pay later for goods and services using a credit card, which is one of the main reasons everybody wants one. Moreover, converting high-volume payments into short-term loans that accrue monthly interest is possible. But it would help if you were mindful of its use, as questionable card practices can push you further into debt. Here are the eight bad habits you should break while using a credit card. Not paying the total amount Delaying the full payment only adds to more spending on the accrued interest. It also affects your credit score and can potentially damage your credit history for any future loans. Making late payments Another bad credit card habit is paying past the due date, as the bank will levy penalties and extra fees. The rate of interest on future payments also increases. Overspending through installments Banks charge a nominal interest for every installment, so the bill does not seem like much when you first look at it. But multiple loans can add up due to overspending on installments and severely pressure your planned finances. Not using your card regularly Not using your credit card is a habit as bad as using it too often. Unused credit cards score low in the credit rating system, so banks or credit unions may cancel such cards due to inactivity. Using credit cards over debit cards Credit cards should be reserved for major purchases only. Debit cards are a better choice for daily groceries since you can access the funds directly. Using credit for every expenditure means extra payments in interest on these purchases; using a debit card can avoid such charges. Applying for multiple cards Having many credit cards can be very tempting to use frequently. The low-interest offers on these cards can force you to rack up massive debt.
5 common tax filing mistakes to avoid
finance

5 common tax filing mistakes to avoid

Filing tax returns is one of the most important financial tasks of the year, and if you are distracted during the filing process, you could make mistakes. Any lapse in the filing process can make you miss out on larger refund claims and make you pay additional tax. Further, errors in the paperwork can result in added interest, penalties, and audits from the Internal Revenue Service. So here are tax filing mistakes to avoid: Missing deadlines The most common tax filing mistake to avoid is missing the return filing deadline. This can mean a 5% penalty on the amount due for each month or each partial month the return is delayed. The maximum penalty is capped at 25% of the total due amount. If you are about to miss the deadline, you can request an extension by filing Form 4868 before the tax-filing deadline, and you will receive more time to complete the paperwork. Incorrect Social Security Number Social Security Numbers are used by the IRS to cross-reference information collected from an employee against that received from the employer, bank, and other establishments. So accidentally typing an incorrect SSN can disrupt the process and result in a rejection of returns. Ensure that every digit is exactly as printed on the Social Security card. Not signing your return An unsigned return is considered invalid by the IRS so ensure that you send them a signed copy. If it is a joint filing, then your spouse will also need to sign the document. Further, if you have hired an agent to prepare the tax return, they must sign and provide their IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number. Spelling your name wrong Misspelling one’s name is a common mistake many individuals make as people do not generally use their full legal name regularly. So fill in your name just as it appears on the Social Security cards.
3 common tax refund mistakes to avoid
finance

3 common tax refund mistakes to avoid

Taxpayers can claim refunds if they have paid more tax during the year than they actually owe the government. One can take several steps to claim returns every year, however, the returns filed should not contain errors. Such mistakes can delay the process and result in taxpayers getting a smaller refund than the one they sought. So, here are a few common tax refund mistakes one should avoid to make the return process smoother: Overlooking tax deductions Deductions make up a large part of tax returns. One can use IRS’s calculator to compute the amount of state and local sales tax they can deduct. For instance, any out-of-pocket contributions or donations, such as donating food to a school, can add to an individual’s tax deductibles annually. Similarly, reinvesting dividends received from mutual funds can also increase one’s tax deductibles for the year. Paying high-interest debts also boosts the refund one can claim. Overlooking these deductions when filing tax returns is one of the most common tax refund mistakes. Making calculation mistakes This is also one of the most common tax refund mistakes people make. Mathematical or calculation errors sneak into the returns when entering numbers on the filing forms. While verifying tax payability, the IRS double-checks that all the amounts specified on the first two pages of the form tally with the actual numbers. So, if there are mistakes, the tax refund amount can change drastically or delay the process of receiving the refund. Instead of filling out tax forms manually, one can use specialized software to get accurate figures. Automating the process can eliminate simple mathematical errors. Not signing tax forms Forgetting to sign the tax forms after filling them is a common mistake when filing tax returns. Every year, the IRS receives many tax forms without the signature of the taxpayer and cannot process the returns until the documents are signed.
Top 10 tax deductions to claim in 2023
finance

Top 10 tax deductions to claim in 2023

The IRS offers ways to save money on taxes each year in the form of tax deductions and credits. Tax deduction works by lowering the taxable income and reducing the tax liability. This deduction is subtracted from the income, lowering the taxable income and reducing the final tax bill. It can be claimed in two ways – standard or itemized deductions. While there are many deductions to choose from, here are the ten most popular options. Charitable donations deduction Individuals who donated in cash or kind to 501(c)3 organizations during the tax year may claim a deduction on their federal tax returns.  Gambling loss deduction This deduction requires itemized reporting of all winning as taxable income. The losses and expenses covered here are deductible only to the extent of gambling winnings. Student loan interest deduction Those who paid interest for a qualified student loan in 2022 (for themselves or dependents), or are legally required to pay interest, may claim up to $2500 in tax deductions for the financial year. Medical expenses deduction Qualified, unreimbursed medical expenses worth more than 7.5% of the adjusted gross income for the taxable year can be deducted. These must be reported as itemized deductions on IRS Schedule A.  Deduction for state and local taxes For a combination of property taxes and either state or local income and sales taxes, up to $10,000 may be deducted from the taxable income.  Mortgage interest deduction For qualifying homeowners, home mortgage interest on the first $750,000 may be claimed as a deduction. This aims to make homeownership more affordable. Health savings account contributions deduction A tax deduction can be claimed for any contributions made to HSA, up to $7500 for self-only coverage. When claimed for qualified medical expenditures, these withdrawals are tax-free too. Educator expenses deduction School teachers and other eligible educators spending on books, technology, computer software, and other classroom supplies can claim up to $300 in tax deductions.  IRA contributions deduction Contributions made to a traditional IRA may be deducted.
10 commonly overlooked tax deductions
finance

10 commonly overlooked tax deductions

Millions of people in the country struggle to maximize their tax deductions yearly simply because they are unaware of excellent tax-saving opportunities. Tax season can be overwhelming and confusing for many. Every taxpayer wants to do what they can to minimize their liability and save as much money as possible. Still, sometimes it’s difficult to identify all the available potential deductions. Here is a list of potentially helpful tax deductions that are often overlooked. Commonly overlooked tax deductions State sales taxes If you reside in a state that does not impose income taxes, you may deduct the sales tax you paid throughout the year. Reinvested dividends You may have received dividends reinvested in additional shares if you own stocks or mutual funds. These reinvested dividends can increase your tax basis and lower your taxable gains when you sell the shares. Charitable contributions The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allows taxpayers to deduct charitable contributions made for qualified organizations, including those supporting underprivileged children. To claim a tax deduction for your charitable contribution, you must provide documentation verifying your contribution. Student loan interest paid by parents If parents repay a student loan their child is legally obligated to repay, the IRS considers the money as if it was given to the child who paid the debt. In addition, it means that the child may be able to deduct up to $2,500 of the student loan interest paid by their parents. Out-of-pocket charitable contributions Most people remember to deduct their cash donations to charity. However, they often overlook the small expenses incurred while doing charitable work, such as the cost of ingredients for a dish donated to a nonprofit bake sale. Retirement account contributions If you contribute to an individual retirement account (IRA) or 401(k) plan, you may deduct some or all of your contributions from your taxable income.