10 buy now, pay later mistakes to avoid
Finance

10 buy now, pay later mistakes to avoid

With the digitization of payments, buyers no longer have to pay immediately from their bank accounts. Several online payment options allow one to buy and pay for a product flexibly. The “buy now, pay later” option is one such feature. Here, consumers can pay for a purchase later without any interest charged. Loan approval for BNPL is also quicker. But there are some mistakes one should avoid while availing of this option: 1. Buying expensive products With “buy now, pay later,” it is easy to get carried away and buy expensive products that one cannot normally afford. For example, high-end laptops or electronic items may cost over $1,000. One can easily buy these products with the buy now, pay later option, but when it is time for payment, one might face a major financial crunch. Also, there are additional charges for late payments, which can eventually increase one’s spending. So, a better idea is to plan expenditures well in advance and save money before buying something costly. 2. Taking too many loans within a short time Many people use “buy now, pay later” to buy multiple products. But as the number of transactions increases, one’s debts also increase, which can be overburdening when they have to be repaid.
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6 common payroll errors and how to avoid them
Finance

6 common payroll errors and how to avoid them

The payroll process is often considered high risk for any business, especially if the right tools and resources are not used. Besides, businesses must comply with tax regulations and laws, which can further complicate the payroll process. Thus, errors may sometimes creep in. However, this can be distressing for employees and expensive for the business. To steer clear of these problems, it helps to learn about the common payroll errors and how to avoid them. Wrong classification of employees This payroll blunder has been committed by small as well as large businesses. Sometimes, they end up misclassifying an employee, leading to major errors in their payroll. For example, a person is classified as an independent contractor instead of permanent employee, or they may not be classified to receive overtime, when in fact they are. Such misclassification can easily lead to serious payroll errors. The solution to avoid this is to use an automated payroll service or software instead of manually completing the process. Miscalculation of payroll Another common error that has been observed is miscalculating the payroll. This mainly occurs due to the misclassification of employees. Aside from this, there are other reasons why miscalculation may happen. Overpaying or underpaying employees.
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Identifying the best index funds to invest in
Finance

Identifying the best index funds to invest in

The importance of a varied investment portfolio is well-known. Not only does it help maximize profits, but it also keeps one’s assets safer. In addition to equities, hedge funds, and stocks, many people today also invest in index funds. These are a group of stocks that mimic the appearance of an existing market index and offer simple returns. Read on to learn more about index funds, how they work, and how to identify the best ones. What are Index funds? Index funds are made up of the same investments as the index tracked. Since their performance is similar to that of the index, they generally require no hands-on management. One distinct factor about these funds is that they do not try to exceed the market. Instead, they replicate the market by buying stocks of all the listed companies. This way, the returns match the performance of the index as a whole. They are considered a passive investment strategy to balance one’s portfolio, making them great for people who do not want to spend too much time or energy monitoring the market daily. Identifying the best index fund to invest in Picking an index fund can be a challenge. Here are some things to keep in mind while investing:
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7 most overlooked tax deductions that could help save money
Finance

7 most overlooked tax deductions that could help save money

Most individuals file taxes depending on how much money they make during the fiscal year. However, since the process is long and complex, it sometimes results in costly errors. A common mistake is overlooking tax deductions or, more simply, the expenses people can subtract from their taxable income. Understanding which expenses one can claim as deductions helps save significant money. Here are the seven most overlooked tax deductions individuals should know. Charitable contributions One of the most overlooked tax deductions is the charitable contributions made throughout the year. It could include property, cash, or any other monetary donation to charity. Interestingly, even out-of-pocket expenses incurred for volunteer work qualify. If someone had to drive for volunteer work, they could deduct the expenses one of two ways: deducting the actual cost of gasoline or deducting $0.14 per mile. That’s why one should remember to check the receipts from charitable organizations and the mileage costs when doing taxes. That said, not all donations are considered tax-deductible. The charity must be an approved tax-exempt organization to deduct a contribution on tax returns. Student loans interest While one may not enjoy paying interest on a student loan, doing so may have some money-saving benefits.
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