Each month, when you sit down to pay your bills, you have to decide the best amount to send your credit card issuer—whether it’s the minimum payment, the full balance, or something in between. It’s important to put some serious thought into how much you’re paying rather than coming up with an arbitrary number. Paying the Full Balance Is Best Ideally, you should pay your balance in full every month, and there are a few benefits to doing it this way....

Cover Letter Closing Examples The following is a list of letter closing examples that are appropriate for cover letters and other employment-related correspondence, such as thank-you notes and/or emails to schedule interviews or pass along references. SincerelySincerely yoursRegardsBestBest regardsWith best regardsKind regardsYours trulyMost sincerelyRespectfullyRespectfully yoursThank youThank you for your consideration Closings Not to Use A cover letter is a formal correspondence, so it’s important not to be too casual or friendly when writing it....

kate_sept2004 / Getty Images And they will Google—according to a CareerBuilder survey, more than two-thirds of employers use search engines to screen candidates during the hiring process. The last thing you want when you are job searching is recruiters and hiring managers seeing an outdated version of your resume while they’re forming an impression of your skills. There are other reasons to remove your resume from the internet, too. Maybe you’re looking for a new job while you’re still employed, and don’t want your boss to find out....

This guide to the various kinds of houses on the market can help you find the right home for your lifestyle and budget. Home Styles Residential properties come in a variety of styles. The right one really depends on how much space you need, your budget, and your preferences for upkeep and maintenance. Single-Family Home These are homes situated on a singular, dedicated lot. They have no shared walls, and they often have private front and back yards, and a garage....

Requirements for a Business Credit Card Every lender will have different requirements for business income, credit score, and other factors. However, you can usually expect a credit card issuer to review both your personal and business credit reports before making a lending decision—especially if your business doesn’t have its own credit history yet. Most business credit card companies will also require a personal guarantee, which means you’re personally liable for any balance or outstanding debt owed if the business can’t pay....

Dip Into Your Personal Finances It may be scary at first to think about taking a large chunk of your savings and putting it toward a business, but it’s a great first place to start—as long as you can swing it (you’ll still want an emergency fund in place in case things go south). Don’t have a nest egg? You could take out a home equity loan, downsize to a smaller house, or sell property or possessions....

Social security provides income that increases with inflation. Even a small increase in your initial benefit will result in a larger payment each year after you retire. Taking certain actions now and later will allow you to increase the amount of Social Security benefits you will receive, which can help boost your financial security in retirement. Expand Your Earnings The Social Security Administration (SSA) relies on a system of credits to figure out whether you qualify for payments....

If you’re an investor seeking quick diversification and predictable returns, you can begin investing in the S&P 500 in a few easy steps. First, you need to understand what you’re buying, open an account, pick a fund, and then make your first purchase. Lastly, it’s essential to regularly monitor your portfolio for vital signs that may affect your future investment decisions. How To Invest in the S&P 500 in Six Steps Understand what the S&P 500 is and what investments it is comprised ofConsider the pros and cons of purchasing an S&P 500 index fund and determine whether it fits your investment objectivesOpen an investment account with a reputable investment company or brokerageChoose which fund you wish to purchaseMake your first investment transactionRegularly monitor and manage your portfolio after being invested...

A good sales budget is crucial to small business success. Learn more about how to create one. Components of a Sales Budget All types of corporate planning require a multitude of spreadsheets. Just like large corporations, Small businesses will have many different spreadsheets used and created collaboratively. Ultimately, planning spreadsheets will all tie into the three basic financial statements a company uses to analyze and plan its business operations: A sales forecast is often primarily used to build out the projected income statement for a business....

Choosing a Firm When opening an account, the first thing to do is to decide on a commodity brokerage firm. The brokerage company will hold your account and execute your trades. There are many full-service brokers and discount online brokers to choose from. You have to determine the best fit based on your needs. A full-service broker will help by recommending trades, while you are on your own with an online futures broker....

There are several simple methods to pay down your loans. Before you choose one, make sure you understand how to pay off debt early with any particular lender you’re using. There may be pre-payment fees or specific steps required for that lender to credit things properly. Does It Make Sense to Pay Off Loans Early? Sometimes, it’s a great idea to pay off debt, and sometimes there are better options....

Learn more about the top cellphone protection plans and warranties, their costs and coverage, and when these plans make sense. What to Consider When Choosing a Plan There are a few things to consider when choosing a cellphone protection plan: Will the cost of the plan fit into your budget? If it puts you over your monthly budget for cellphone, internet, and cable, then skipping it may be wise. What does the plan cover?...

Here’s what to consider when choosing the best rewards credit card for the holidays, and how to make the most of it. Aim for the Bonus Many rewards credit cards offer a welcome bonus for new cardholders who spend a certain amount within the first few months of card opening. Holiday spending can make it easier to earn a credit card sign-up bonus because you’re more likely to spend a large amount in a short period of time....

Ideally, you’ll have a break in between jobs to focus on these tasks. If you don’t have much time to prepare, however, try to have most of these done before your first day or at least within the first week. Make Household Arrangements Depending on the age of your children and your new work hours, you may need to arrange for childcare. Whether you’re looking at daycare, after-school programs, or a sitter, it will be much easier to line this up before you’re already working....

What you can find out about who has viewed your profile depends on whether you have a free LinkedIn account or a paid, premium membership that comes with extra features. With a free LinkedIn membership, you can see less information and only a limited number of your profile views. How to Adjust Your Privacy Settings If you have a free account, you need to set your privacy settings to make your profile visible so that viewers can see your name and headline....

How Facebook Messenger Payments Work You can use Facebook Messenger on your desktop or make in-app payments from a mobile device. Making payments is a free process whether you send or receive money. While payments feel easy and informal, there are several requirements to use Messenger for making transactions: You need to have an active Facebook account. You need to fund payments with a U.S. bank-issued Visa or MasterCard debit card, or with a PayPal account....

In 2010, Congress removed the $100,000 income limit placed on IRA conversions, allowing people who earn too much to contribute to a Roth IRA directly to instead contribute to a traditional IRA (which has no income limits) and then convert their traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. The backdoor part of the name refers to this workaround. If a backdoor Roth IRA sounds like it might fit your situation, learn more about where and how to set one up....

Am I an Independent Contractor? You are an independent contractor if you are working for someone not as an employee. It also means you can work for anyone you want, and work for several different people or businesses at the same time. The people hiring you and paying you only can control the results of your work, not how it will be done or what will be done. The Benefit of Setting up a Business Entity If you set up a business entity such as a sole proprietorship, you can deduct legitimate business expenses to minimize your tax bill....

Interviewing at your current employer may feel strange, but it can be an opportunity to show the hiring manager why you’re the most qualified candidate for the job. Especially if you’ve been working in your present role for a long time, you may need to help them envision you in a new position. Here’s everything you need to know about preparing for a job promotion interview. What Is a Job Promotion Interview?...

Resist this, and hit cancel on your print job: Your resume is never truly complete. It’s a living document. Not only will your resume change with each position you hold, but it should also evolve in response to the jobs you apply for. A targeted resume leads to a more successful job application. How to Tailor Your Resume a Job Here’s the good news: You don’t need to update your entire resume with each position you apply for....