SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips

While everyone in the US pays a federal income tax, not everyone pays a state income tax. There are seven states in the US with no income tax whatsoever, plus two more that don’t tax wages.

While people who live in these states don’t pay income tax, they may pay higher taxes in other ways, like when they go shopping or stop at the gas station. This guide will explore whether or not people in income tax-free states save money overall, along with the pros and cons of moving to one of these states.

First, let’s look at the nine states with few or no taxes on income.

Thomas Stanley and William Danko didn’t expect The Millionaire Next Door, their case study of America’s millionaires, to become a huge bestseller. Both academics at the University of Georgia, they set out to learn about the habits and lifestyles of the nation’s highest earners, not to write a personal finance bible.

Readers were blown away by Stanley and Danko’s findings, though, namely that most millionaires don’t own fancy cars or throw lavish yacht parties. On the contrary, they live by principles of “thrift, low status, discipline, low consumption, risk, and very hard work.” From this book, many readers realized that the dream of amassing over $1 million was not as out of reach as they had thought.

Stanley and Danko’s 1996 bestseller can still teach us a lot about personal finance today, but it also falls short in a few key ways. Read on for a full summary and critique of The Millionaire Next Door.

Between online bill pay and money-transferring apps like Venmo, many of us don’t fill out checks very often. On the occasion that we do need to write one, like to pay rent, take care of a bill, or send a birthday gift to a relative, we might find ourselves feeling uncertain about whether we’re doing it right.

This guide will tell you everything you need to know about how to fill out a check. To start, let’s get up close and personal with this small but mighty piece of paper.

You've invested in a business, started to make profits, and now need to step back and reevaluate: are you getting enough bang for your buck?

This guide will explain what exactly return on investment is, how to calculate ROI, and why it's useful. I'll also discuss some factors that make return on investment a more complicated analysis than it appears at first glance.

Do you have the option of setting up a 401k plan? Does your employer offer a 401k matching benefit? Are you confused about what these words even mean? Don't worry! We'll explain everything you need to know about these accounts, but, first, what is a 401k, exactly?

A 401k is a retirement savings account sponsored by an employer and designed by the government to give you tax benefits on your savings. Your money quietly grows until the time you can withdraw it in your late 50s.

This guide will explain exactly what a 401k does, what you can and can't do with it, how to put money in it, and how it can set you up for a financially secure retirement. For anyone new to the world of 401k plans, let’s start with a quick review of terms.

Fenugreek is truly a multi-purpose herb. People from Western Asia and the Mediterranean have used fenugreek for thousands of years to flavor food, improve health, and soothe skin maladies. In more recent years, fenugreek has gained global popularity as an herbal supplement with a variety of health benefits.

While fenugreek has many promising applications, not all of its uses have yet been backed up by rigorous scientific examination. This guide will tell you which of fenugreek’s health benefits are supported by evidence, and which ones remain more folklore than fact.

Read on to learn what fenugreek is, what it does in the body, and where you can buy fenugreek to try it for yourself.

Lively jazz, extravagant costumes, 19th-century steamboats, spicy Creole food, and cold cocktails are a few key ingredients that go into the unique mix of New Orleans, Louisiana.

This eclectic southern city goes by many names—NOLA, Crescent City, the Big Easy—and its culture has many faces, including French, Creole, Caribbean, African-American, Irish, German, and Vietnamese. No wonder the specialty food of this melting pot is gumbo stew, and the music it invented is an improvisational jumble of mixed musical heritage.

Read on for the 11 top things to do in New Orleans, the vibrant, multicultural city on the banks of the Mississippi.

Soon after I arrived in Munich, I was eating a freshly-baked pretzel and gazing at a life-sized puppet show. Shortly after that, I watched surfers ride waves on a man-made creek. By the afternoon, I was planted in a 5000-person beer garden, already enamored with this dynamic city.

Munich is both old and new, a guardian of the past and leader into the future. As you walk the cobblestoned streets past centuries of architectural styles, you feel like you’ve stepped into a fairytale. At the same time, Munich thrives as a major center of business, medicine, engineering, and education.

No wonder people call Munich the “city of laptops and lederhosen.” There are tons of things to do, see, learn, eat, and drink among the gorgeous red roofs of this Bavarian metropolis. Read on for the top ten Munich attractions.

Are you planning to take the PSAT in the fall of 2016? This guide will fill you in on the exact test dates, along with some essential tips for achieving a great PSAT score.

If you’re a rising junior or taking the PSAT as a younger student, read on to learn how the PSAT will be administered to students nationwide.

The picturesque Ring of Kerry is a looping road on the west coast of Ireland. It meanders along the coast of County Kerry, a pristine area famous for its awe-inspiring natural beauty.

Locals and travelers alike flock to the Ring of Kerry for sweeping views of mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and the North Atlantic. Along the way, you’ll see castles, abbey ruins, and stones circles dating as far back as 2,200 BC! That’s a whole lot of human history.

I can confidently say that the Ring of Kerry was the most breathtaking road I’ve ever driven on in my life. To help you have the same memorable experience, I’ve compiled all the stops of interest along the Ring, along with maps to help you navigate.

Read on for your complete guide to Ireland’s unforgettable Ring of Kerry!

I remember worrying about the perfect time to ask for recommendation letters. Too early, I thought, could seem like over-planning; maybe my teachers would even forget by the time deadlines rolled around! Too late, though, would suggest a lack of preparation or could even offend my recommenders. It seemed like the stars had to align just right.

If you’ve had any of these same concerns, you don’t have to wonder anymore. This guide will discuss the best times to ask for recommendations, plus why it’s important to have good timing in the first place. To start, what should you consider as you figure out when to ask?

Chiang Mai, the ancient city in northern Thailand, is lovingly referred to as the Rose of the North. Founded in 1296, Chiang Mai has over 300 Buddhist temples shining within and around its city walls. The modern city grew up beside these golden shrines and crumbling monasteries, creating the beautiful, laid-back city that’s a favorite among travelers and expats today.

I was fortunate enough to spend a month in Chiang Mai, and I’ve never felt such a sense of cultural fascination, well-being, or quality of life for the cost of living. When friends ask me for recommendations about Thailand, I have one that trumps all the rest.

Go to Chiang Mai, I tell them. You’ll love it.

Puerto Rico tops my list of favorite Caribbean destinations. Not only does it have beautiful beaches and sunshine, but it’s also full of fascinating history, art, and architecture. Combine all this with great food and the chance to practice Spanish, and you’ve got a place that appeals to any traveler.

Did I mention that U.S. travelers don’t need to bring a passport or exchange money? You can forego the usual hassles of leaving the mainland while still getting an incredible international experience. If you’re planning your trip or just curious about the “Island of Enchantment,” read on for 10 unforgettable things to do in Puerto Rico!

People have used coconut oil for thousands of years to moisturize their hair and scalp. In recent years, science has confirmed what many people already knew—coconut oil is a highly effective hair treatment.

Want to promote hair growth? Get smoother, sleeker hair? Get rid of annoying dandruff?

This guide will go over the top five benefits of coconut oil for hair, along with the evidence that proves why it works so well. Most importantly, we'll talk about how YOU can use coconut oil on your hair, step by step!

I didn’t have a specific reason to study abroad in Prague. I wasn’t studying Czech literature or language, and I didn’t have any ancestral connection to the city. One thing made me pack my bags and move to the Czech Republic: pictures of Prague, which revealed the most beautiful place I’d ever seen.

Prague is inarguably one of the most picturesque and best-preserved cities in Europe. Founded in the late 9th century, it still has medieval lanes and architecture, along with a mix of art and architecture that span the centuries.

As I suspected, Prague turned out to be a place of pure aesthetic bliss. During my four months there, my understanding deepened as I encountered darker parts of Prague's history, from the old Jewish ghetto to scars of the Holocaust and the Communist occupation from 1948 to 1989.

Prague is a complex place, and there’s a ton to see, do, and learn within its maze of cobblestoned streets. This guide will tell you the top 15 things to do and see when you visit Prague to get a full sense of the Czech capital in its past and present.