Image by Thirdman of Pexels When most people think about buying a home, the first big question tends to be: “How much do I need to put down?” You’ve probably heard the old-school rule of thumb—20% down or nothing. That number sounds daunting, especially with today’s home prices. But here’s the good news: the real down payment might be less than you think. Let’s break down what you truly need to know—because buying a home isn’t just about scraping together a pile of cash. It’s about understanding your options, preparing for hidden costs, and creating a plan that doesn’t wreck…

Image by Viktor Hesse of Unsplash Cities rise and fall like empires. Booming economies, ideal locations, or bustling industries once put these urban areas on the map. However, time, conflict, environmental disaster, or economic shifts can transform a vibrant metropolis into a shadow of its former self as soon as it was created. Whether due to war, natural disaster, or economic collapse, we’re touching on nine fascinating cities that were once thriving but are now barely recognizable. 1. Aleppo, Syria Aleppo is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and was once Syria’s cultural and economic capital.…

Image by Arteum.ro from Unsplash You’re on a first date or carpooling with a new coworker, and you open the passenger door only to be met with fast food wrappers, crumpled receipts, and gym clothes from three weeks ago. It’s awkward, maybe even gross. But here’s the big question: does a messy car actually mean something deeper about the person? Or are we all just a little messy sometimes? The answer isn’t black and white, and while a messy car doesn’t always scream “red flag,” it can hint at things worth paying attention to. Let’s unpack what a cluttered car…

The IRS estimates that there is over a billion dollars in unclaimed funds owed to a million taxpayers. Yes. A million people who were eligible for a stimulus check did not get one. All because they didn’t file their 2021 tax return. If you didn’t get a stimulus check in 2021 but were eligible for one, you have until tax day in 2025 to file your 2021 tax return and get it as a Recovery Rebate Credit. As of this writing, that day is a mere eight days away – April 15th, 2025. When the stimulus check was issued, it…

In 2004, the Government of India introduced the National Pension System (NPS) as a long-term savings scheme designed to provide individuals with financial security after they retire. Initially, only government employees were allowed to participate in this scheme, but in 2009, it was opened up to all Indian citizens between the age of 18 and 70.  This means any individual in that age bracket, whether NRI, self-employed, or working in the private sector can invest in NPS. You may have heard people talk about the tax-saving and wealth-building benefits of NPS. But did you know that most of the time,…

Image Source: 123rf.com We all know the financial world can be complicated—but what many people don’t realize is how often shady money practices slip under the radar. Some unethical financial behaviors have become so normalized that people barely question them anymore. From sneaky bank fees to misleading credit card offers, these actions might not be illegal, but they’re definitely not fair. Knowing what to watch for can help you protect your wallet and avoid falling into common traps. That said, here are 10 unethical practices that have become surprisingly common. 1. Hidden Fees That Drain Your Account Banks and financial…

To retire early, you’ll need a nest egg that is large enough to cover your expenses for the rest of your life. The general rule is that you’ll need to save 25 times your annual expenses. To make this happen, you’ll need to plan ahead and the earlier you start, the better. Here are 5 things you can do now to ensure an early retirement. Increase Your Savings Rate Image by Nattanan Kanchanaprat from Pixabay You’ll need to be an aggressive saver if you want to retire early. The more you can save, the sooner you’ll be able to retire.…

To run the country smoothly, the government needs a steady flow of revenue throughout the year. Since income tax is a major source of this revenue, relying on tax payments at the end of the financial year can create gaps and problems for them. To address this, the government introduced the advance tax payment system to ensure that individuals and businesses pay taxes as they earn.  According to this system, those with tax liability above a certain threshold must pay advance tax in installments over the year. This also helps taxpayers distribute a large burden at the end of the…

Image Source: Pexels A venture is considered high-risk when there is a considerable chance of loss, but also the potential for high rewards. There are many factors that could make a venture high risk, such as new technology, an unproven business model, or the early stages of a start-up, among other things. When you invest in a high-risk venture you take on significant risk. Investing heavily in high-risk ventures takes courage and skill to ensure that your decisions pay off. Here are six reasons why you should heavily invest in high-risk ventures. 1. High Return Potential There are no rewards…

Webull Product Name: Webull Product Description: Webull is a trading platform that has $0 commissions on stocks, ETFs and options.  Summary Webull is an investing app that offers commission-free trades on stocks and ETFs. You can trade both on margin and after hours, and it has a suite of research tools and education materials. You can access Webull via the app, downloadable desktop app, or through your browser. Pros No commissions on the trading of stocks, ETFs, or options Margin accounts  Sign-up bonus. Access to pre-IPO offerings Paper trading Crypto Cons No cash account No mutual funds, bonds, or Forex.…