Learn more details about the tax implications, deductibles, and contribution limits of HSAs. How To Open an HSA First, you have to have a qualifying health insurance plan. A qualifying health insurance plan is one that carries a high deductible. If you think you have a high-deductible health insurance plan (HDHP), then you can contact your employer, health insurance company, or a number of privately insured banks and credit unions locally or online to find out about setting up an HSA....

The most popular energy source in the U.S. is electricity, but it has seen far fewer cost increases since 2020. In November, electricity cost homeowners 6.5% more than the same time last year. Though the cost of electricity rose in 2021, the price spike has remained fairly flat since. The Balance analyzed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and according to the findings, nationwide energy costs steadily increased through the year, before dropping in the spring and summer months....

But even without a lot of work experience or a college degree to bolster your candidacy, you can highlight your skills and qualifications to differentiate yourself from the competition and impress the hiring manager. What to Include in Your Resume Your goal is to recognize and highlight the experience that you do have and tie it to the requirements as listed in the job description. For example, you might not have held a formal position as a manager, but perhaps you’ve trained new workers at your after-school job and helped your supervisor balance schedules and make deposits....

Sales of existing homes increased 2% from June to July, rising to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.99 million—the highest for any month since March, the National Association of Realtors said in a report Monday. That includes single-family homes, townhomes, condos and co-ops. The number of homes for sale rose too, rising 7.3% to 1.32 million in the fifth month of increases. While that’s still not much by historical standards, it’s the most on the market since October....

The data doesn’t necessarily mean people are rushing to buy houses, just that more prospective homebuyers are choosing to lock rates in, likely in anticipation they will only get worse. In fact, the overall volume of applications for purchases in the U.S. has been relatively low the past couple of months, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association. Not everyone who applies for a mortgage locks their rate in as part of the process, and people usually do so after an application is submitted and approved, according to Black Knight....

What’s a QR Code? A Quick Response (QR) code is an image made of square-shaped patterns. QR codes can be scanned, and many smartphones and tablets have QR readers built into their cameras. When the QR code is scanned, it sends data to your device. For example, you could include the URL of your website or LinkedIn profile in a QR code for networking contacts or recruiters to review. QR Codes on Resumes A trend is for job seekers to include a QR code on their resume or business cards....

How a Letter of Indemnity Works When two parties agree to a contract they both have obligations. Usually, one party agrees to pay the other party, who agrees to provide products or services. If one party breaches the contract (doesn’t do what they agreed to do), the other party may suffer a loss, either losing the payment or not receiving the goods or services. The concept of indemnity is about holding someone harmless and not having that person or business suffer a loss....

The term “nonprofit” leads to a vast misunderstanding of what charitable organizations do and the role they play in our society. It’s not about having or not having a profit. What makes an organization a nonprofit has to do with purpose, ownership, and public support. Charitable nonprofits typically have these elements below. A mission that focuses on activities that benefit society and whose goal is not primarily for profit. Called “exempt purposes,” these activities include “charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition, and preventing cruelty to children or animals....

If we have a recession, how bad will it be? No one knows for sure, but the prognosis seems to get worse with every new economic report. Forecasts range from no recession at all to a severe one. Economists at Wells Fargo say a mild recession is likely—comparable to the one we had in the early 1990s and on the less severe end of the spectrum when you look at the 12 recessions since World War II....

Promotional Rates Last for a Certain Amount of Time Federal law requires that promotional rates must last at least six months. Despite the minimum requirement, many of the best credit cards have promotional rates that longer, even as long as 21 months. The timing of the promotional rates varies by credit card issuer. Some credit cards express the promotional rate as a number of billing cycles which may be shorter than the same number of months....

While combining your outstanding balances can simplify repayment, reduce stress, and most importantly, save you money on interest over time, this approach can ding your credit score and history if you’re not careful. Learn how debt consolidation can hurt your credit. Hard Inquiries Ding Your Credit Report When you apply for a new credit account to consolidate debt, the lender will check your credit, leading to a so-called hard inquiry on your credit report....

The Fed sets a target range for the FFR. It has a lower and upper bound. Below are the target ranges announced at Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) this year. Rates Affected by the Fed Funds Rate One of the most significant rates influenced by the FFR is the prime rate. That’s the prevailing interest rate that banks charge their best customers. The prime rate affects many consumer interest rates, including deposits, bank loans, credit cards, and adjustable-rate mortgages....

To help guide you through this transition, here are the answers to some of the most common questions about unemployment insurance. Learn what you can do to file for unemployment insurance when you lose your job. How Do Unemployment Benefits Work? Unemployment benefits are payments for workers who become unemployed through no fault of their own. If you meet the eligibility requirements, unemployment benefits temporarily replace a portion of the wages you lost to help you pay for your expenses while you look for a new job....

On the other hand, you might also be wondering if it’s possible to stay too long at your first job out of college. Will it impact your career prospects if you don’t make a change within a certain time period? Recent graduates often ask counselors, friends, and family members how long they need to – or should – stay in their first job before moving on. Average Employee Tenure It’s no wonder many grads are confused....

A big part of that? Student loan debt. The average millennial graduated with $40,200 in student loan debt. Add to that rising home mortgages, lower salaries, and even greater reliance on ongoing services for things like transportation and entertainment. Here’s what accounts for millennials’ debt—and how they can get out of it. Student Loan Debt Student loan debt is a huge part of the millennial debt load, so much so that 34 percent of millennials making above $75,000 say they doubt they will ever be able to repay their student loans....

Tiny homes, generally considered to be those under 400 square feet, are a recent phenomenon. Their costs and considerations can vary wildly. On average, a typical built-to-suit tiny home costs about 84% less than the median sales price of a traditional new home. Let’s take a closer look at the costs of these unique little homes, how they vary, and other things to consider. How Much Does a Tiny House Cost?...

You can probably count on your estate paying anywhere from 4% to 7%, or even more in some isolated cases. The filing fee to open probate is typically a few hundred dollars. It’s the same for all estates in some states, while others charge on a graduated scale with more valuable estates paying more. Some states simply provide for a “reasonable fee” without citing a specific amount. Others set fees that are equal to a certain percentage of the value of the property being probated, such as 4% of the first $100,000, then 3% of the next $100,000....

There are many factors that impact an employee’s salary increase. Your occupation, the industry you work in, the type of raise you’re entitled to receive, and whether you are getting a promotion or changing jobs all can make a difference. Determining How a Raise Measures Up to the Average What’s the best way to tell if your pay raise is above or below average? Consider general factors that are related to the economy, your occupation, and the industry you work in:...

While you can purchase a home with a down payment under 20%, doing so may increase the overall cost of homeownership. There are a few factors to consider when you’re determining how much to put down on a house. How Much House Can You Afford? Calculating how much to put down depends a great deal on the purchase price of the home. If you’re shopping for a $250,000 home, 20% down would be $50,000....

What Are Dividends? Dividends are payments to shareholders of stocks, bonds, or mutual funds. These payments represent a company’s profit that’s divided among the shareholders. Mutual fund investors can choose whether they want dividends to be reinvested to buy more shares or to be received as cash payments deposited into another account. Mutual Fund Dividend Taxation Mutual fund shareholders can be taxed on a fund’s dividends, even if these distributions are received in cash or reinvested in additional shares....