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8 Awesome Thrift Store Items People Often Miss 03/31/2015 08:00pm • Here's a little-known fact about the Goodwill store in your town or neighborhood: It does not exist to sell low-cost goods to poor people. Goodwill's mission is to put disabled or disadvantaged people to work, and the money generated from the store supports that mission. Along the way, the stores te 10 Common Investing Rules That Don't Apply Anymore 03/25/2015 08:00pm • When does traditional wisdom crumble into irrelevance? Financial advisors say that moment comes when clichés become counterproductive. Times change. Investing rules of thumb that don't evolve are rules you don't have to follow. Absolution is at hand for these 10 out-of-date rules. Old school: The How to Save Your Tax Refund for Retirement 03/19/2015 08:00pm • If you're getting a tax refund this year, consider saving part of it for retirement. IRS form 8888 allows you to directly deposit your refund into several different accounts, perhaps including a savings account or individual retirement account. You can also use your tax refund to purchase savings bo The Hidden Lessons From the Real 'Cinderella' 03/17/2015 08:00pm • You're probably familiar with the general story behind "Cinderella," the new live-action Disney movie currently in theaters starring British actress Lily James. But did you know that the real Cinderella -- a character based on centuries-old fairy tales -- is actually an ambitious princess who can t GWU student convicted of murdering high school friend 03/16/2015 05:16pm • ROCKVILLE, Md. -- A jury convicted 25-year-old Rahul Gupta of murdering his high school best friend in a case the judge called "serious and tragic." A 13-person jury decided on a verdict in the love triangle homicide, as it came to be known, in just four and a half hours, finding Gupta guilty of How Kids Can Learn Economics With a Legend 03/11/2015 08:00pm • Economist Arthur Laffer might be best known for the Laffer Curve, a representation of the relationship between tax rates and tax revenue, but what he really wants you to know about today is how to explain economics to your kids. Not complicated theories like his curve, but basic concepts about trad 9 Websites to Earn Extra Money Online 03/09/2015 08:00pm • It doesn't take much time to run across someone pitching a "get-rich-quick" scheme online. We've all seen them -- people who promise to show you how to make thousands at home in your spare time.Guess what? Like any get-rich-quick scheme, it's only going to make money for the person running the schem Avoid These Top 10 Tax Mistakes 03/08/2015 08:00pm • In the beginning of March, our thoughts turn to the (unpleasant) tax-filing season. This necessary evil goes with the territory of being a wage-earning citizen, and it has its pros and cons. Our taxes contribute to the great lives we inhabit here in the U.S., providing us with clean water, good roa 10 Smart Ways to Spend Your Tax Refund 03/04/2015 07:00pm • P is for practical.Hotly anticipating your tax refund? Us too. But before you splurge on that Jacuzzi you've always wanted or pile items into your virtual shopping cart, do yourself a favor: Hit pause, experts suggest, and consider finding a practical use for your money. What's practical, of course, How Sudden Windfalls Can Impact Your Taxes 03/02/2015 07:00pm • For many Americans, every penny counts, and the idea of a sudden influx of cash -- an inheritance, gambling win or game show prize -- conjures images of new cars and sunny beaches. But, experts warn, don't take that luxury vacation before understanding the tax implications of your windfall. It's N 6 Steps to Get the Best Mortgage Rates This Spring 03/02/2015 07:00pm • If you've got the itch to ditch your landlord and take the leap to homeownership, mortgage rates are still low by historical standards. But beware because they are expected to begin creeping higher throughout the year. "The cost of renting is really high right now. Rents have been rising and risin When to Convert Your Traditional IRA to a Roth 02/26/2015 07:00pm • Roth individual retirement accounts are one way to reduce taxes in retirement. Debuting in 1997, these IRAs allow workers to pay taxes on their contributions now and then let money in the account grow tax-free. Here's an example: A 30-year-old man investing $5,000 in an IRA now would have $73,927 i The Evolution of E-gifting 02/22/2015 07:00pm • Back in the day, sending a gift to a faraway friend was a lot of work -- selecting, purchasing, packaging, mailing. And hoping, as the gift left your hands and went on its way, that you chose wisely.But online shopping has revolutionized the way people buy for one another. With the advent of digital Excited About That Big Tax Refund? Think Again. 02/21/2015 07:00pm • If you're an average American taxpayer, you probably dread tax time. After all, filling out all that paperwork can be a drag. But for many taxpayers, tax time is also great -- it's the one time of year when the government sends you a big check. At the end of last tax season, the average tax refund Which Online Tax Preparer Is Right for You? 02/16/2015 07:00pm • Joeleann Bensinger of Lake Dallas, Texas, had always used TurboTax to file her return. But last year she decided to shop around. "With a simple return, it's pretty easy to comparison shop the online tax preparers," she says. "I prepared my return with both TurboTax and TaxSlayer and found that Turb