"Lack of money is the root of all evil." - George Bernard Shaw

SavingAdvice.com Blog

Bridging the gap between saving money and investing


Join Now or Login

Personal Finance

What’s Open on Easter Sunday?

By Leave a Comment

whats open on easter

Easter is here and whether you’re gathering with friends and family at home or heading out into town, knowing what is open on Easter can be helpful. Some stores and restaurants close for the holiday, which falls on April 21, 2019. Don’t waste time heading to a location that is not open on Easter. Here’s a look at which businesses will open this Sunday.

Retail Stores

Many large retail chain stores are open on Easter, including popular options like Walmart. If you are wondering if your favorite store will be open, here is a list of locations that open their doors on Easter:

  • Bed, Bath & Beyond
  • BJs Wholesale Club
  • Dollar Tree
  • DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse
  • Half Price Books
  • Home Depot
  • Kmart
  • Lowe’s
  • Old Navy
  • Petco
  • Sears
  • Walmart

The most notable exceptions are Target, Costco, and Sam’s Club, all of which close for the holiday. However, they aren’t the only ones.

Here is a list of stores that are usually closed for Easter:

  • Best Buy
  • Burlington
  • Costco
  • JCPenney
  • Macy’s
  • Marshalls
  • Michaels
  • Sam’s Club
  • Target
  • TJ Maxx

Some other stores, like Hobby Lobby, never open on Sundays, so they will be closed on Easter as well.

Grocery Stores

Aside from Publix, most major grocery stores are open on Easter. Local independent grocers may or may not open, so it is wise to call ahead and confirm before you head out to shop.

Drug Stores and Pharmacies

Major chain drug stores and pharmacies are usually open on Easter. However, they may use a holiday schedule, reducing the number of hours they will be open. If you need to head to the drug store, check the chain’s website or contact your store to confirm when they are open.

Restaurants

Most restaurants are open on Easter, and some even offer special Easter brunch and dinner menus. If you plan to attend one of the special events, it may be wise to call ahead and make a reservation. Popular restaurants may fill up quick on Easter Sunday, so they might not be able to accommodate walk-ins, or the wait might be long.

Gas Stations and Convenience Stores

Gas stations and convenience stores are usually open on Easter. However, employees may only be available for a limited number of hours. If you just need gas, pay-at-the-pump options are generally available 24/7. If you need to head inside for snacks or to pay for gas in cash, you may want to check with your preferred station ahead of the holiday to confirm they will be open when you intend to arrive.

U.S. Stock Markets

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), NASDAQ, and the bond market (SIFMA) are closed on all Sundays, including Easter.

Banks and Credit Unions

Banks and credit unions are closed on Easter, mainly because the majority of locations do not operate on Sundays.

Public Libraries

Many public libraries are closed every Sunday, so they will also be closed on Easter. However, some locations that typically operate on Sunday may be open and might even host special events.

If you are considering going to the library on Sunday, check with your nearest location before you head out the door to confirm if your library is open or closed.

K-12 Schools, Colleges, and Universities

Public and private K-12 schools, as well as colleges and universities, usually do not hold classes on Sundays, and most offices are not open on weekends. As a result, the majority will be closed on Easter.

However, for schools with dorms, many basic services like cafeterias and student centers may be open to support students living on campus.

Garbage Services

If your garbage is usually picked up on Sunday, your service may or may not be rescheduled for Easter. Check with your service provider ahead of the holiday to see if your pickup has been moved.

Local dumps also may or may not be open. This depends on whether your landfill typically offers Sunday service and if the operating business chooses to close. Before driving over, call your local dump to confirm they are open.

National Parks

The National Park Service (NPS), the agency that operates national parks, is closed on Easter. However, many park locations are open 365 days a year, so you can still visit the parks. Just keep in mind that there won’t be many (if any) rangers or employees on site that day.

April 20, the Saturday before Easter, is even a free entrance day. If you are gathering with family and friends ahead of the holiday, this may be a great and affordable opportunity to head to your nearest national park.

Federal Government

Aside from public safety and security organizations, most federal agencies close on all Sundays, including Easter.

State and Local Government

State and local government agencies, aside from those who focus on public safety and security, rarely operate on Sundays, so they will be closed on Easter.

Mail and Delivery Services

US post offices are closed on Sunday usually, so they will not be open on Easter. UPS and FedEx are also closed on Sunday, aside from a few specialty services.

When in Doubt, Call to Confirm

If you have a specific destination in mind this Easter, calling to confirm that the store or restaurant will be open is a smart move. This is especially true for small businesses, as they can set their own schedule and it may deviate from other retailers or restaurants nearby.

What are your plans for Easter Sunday? Tell us about them in the comments below.

Read More:

Is the Post Office Open on Easter 2019?

By 2 Comments

is the post office open on easter

Sunday deliveries have become increasingly common in the US. Amazon’s partnership with certain package services, including the United States Postal Service (USPS), in specific areas, opened the door for Sunday deliveries in cities where that wasn’t previously an option. As a result, many people have become a little spoiled by the service, and increasingly wonder if the post office is open on Easter, or any Sunday.

Is the Post Office Open on Easter?

No, the post office is not open on Easter. Generally, post offices close on all Sundays. Even if your location typically offers Sunday deliveries, there usually is not any help available at the customer service counter, and Easter will be no different. However, there also won’t be any Sunday deliveries, even if they are common in your area.

If your post office has certain self-service features in unsecured portions of the building, those should still be available on Easter. For example, post office boxes that are accessible 24/7 will still be reachable. Similarly, any automated postage machines, stamp vending machines, and similar services that do not require an employee may remain available on Easter.

Post offices will be open on the days surrounding Easter, depending on their typical operating schedule. Here is a look at the span from Good Friday to Easter Monday:

  • Good Friday, April 19 – The post office is open on Good Friday according to the locations regular schedule
  • Saturday, April 20 – If your post office usually offers Saturday hours, it will be open on the Saturday before Easter
  • Easter Sunday, April 21 – The post office is closed
  • Easter Monday, April 22 – The post office is open according to its usual opening and closing hours

Are UPS or FedEx Open on Easter?

No, UPS and FedEx close on Easter. UPS is typically not open on Sundays, so Easter will be no different. The only delivery exceptions are the UPS Express Critical service, which is available 365 days a year, including on Easter. Certain UPS Store locations may open on Easter, though only a highly limited number.

FedEx is mainly closed on Easter as well. They do make exceptions for FedEx Custom Critical deliveries and FedEx Trade Networks shipments. Additionally, FedEx Office locations may be open, though on a modified holiday schedule.

Post Office Holiday Schedule

USPS is a federal government agency. As a result, they follow the federal holiday schedule each year. Here is a look at the post office holiday schedule for 2019:

  • Tuesday, January 1 – New Year’s Day – the post office is closed
  • Monday, January 21 – Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday – the post office is closed
  • Monday, February 18 – Washington’s Birthday / President’s Day – the post office is closed
  • Monday, May 27 – Memorial Day – the post office is closed
  • Thursday, July 4 – Independence Day – the post office is closed
  • Monday, September 2 – Labor Day – the post office is closed
  • Monday, October 14 – Columbus Day – the post office is closed
  • Monday, November 11 – Veterans Day – the post office is closed
  • Thursday, November 28 – Thanksgiving Day – the post office is closed
  • Wednesday, December 25 – Christmas Day – the post office is closed

While Easter isn’t listed as an official federal government employee holiday, it does always fall on a Sunday. Most government offices close on weekends, except for organizations that oversee public safety and national security. Since the post office isn’t typically open on Sundays, the fact that it isn’t listed as a federal holiday doesn’t have an impact on their schedule.

Post Office Normal Business Hours

Not every post office maintains the same operating schedule. Most locations open between 8:00 am and 8:30 am and close between 5:00 pm or 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday. However, some locations stay open earlier and close much later on weekdays. For example, a few Miami locations open at 7:30 am and don’t close until 9:00 pm.

In most cases, Saturday hours are more limited, and not every location opens at all on Saturdays. If you need to head to the post office on a Saturday, or any time outside of the typical operating hours, it is best to confirm that your location will be open before you head out. You can either contact your local post office directly or go to the USPS website for additional details.

Have you ever needed to go to the Post Office on Easter Sunday? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Read More:

If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started.

What Are Chase Bank Hours of Operation?

By Leave a Comment

chase bank hours
Banking hours have gotten a little confusing within the past few years. Chase Bank currently operates in more than 100 countries and serves millions of consumers, small businesses and some of the largest corporate, institutional and government clients. Because so many people bank with Chase, a few find themselves wondering about Chase Bank hours of operation.

Chase Bank Hours of Operation

Because Chase Bank has some many customers around the world many people wonder what the bank’s hours are. Some banks are open on the weekends while others are not. So, what are the Chase Bank hours of operation?

Chase banking hours for Monday through Friday are as follows:

Monday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tuesday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Thursday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Friday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.*

Sunday: Closed

*Not all Chase Bank locations are open on Saturday. Only select locations will be open on Saturday. If you bank with Chase and think you may needing banking services over the weekend give them a call to confirm Saturday hours.

Chase Bank Holiday Hours

Just like banks close on the weekend many banks also close for major holidays. In fact, banks have their very own holiday schedule. For the most part, banks close on federal holidays. However, some banks and credit unions remain open or have altered hours. Chase Bank closes its doors for each of the following holidays each year:

  • New Year’s Day
  • Martin Luther King Day
  • Presidents’ Day
  • Easter
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Columbus Day
  • Veterans Day
  • Thanksgiving
  • Christmas Day

Chase Bank customers should also note that if they need to go to the bank the day before or the day after a holiday there may be delays. Some banks close early the day before and will be busy the day after a holiday.

If you need banking services and Chase Bank is not open, don’t worry. Most Chase Bank locations have 24-hour access ATM machines for basic transactions like deposits, withdrawals, and transfers. You can also access your account information through the Chase Bank app. It is important to remember, however, that funds may take longer to release and post to your account over a holiday or weekend.

About Chase Bank

Chase Bank is part of the larger parent company JPMorgan Chase & Co. They are a leading financial firm across the globe. Chase offers a variety of financial products including checking accounts, prepaid cards, debit cards, credit cards,  investment banking options, and many others. The company boasts assets worth $2.53 trillion.

Have some information to add? Let us know!

Read More:

Photo Credit: Mike Mozart

Beyond Lyft: IPOs to Watch for in 2019

By Leave a Comment

Beyond Lyft IPOs to Watch for in 2019

Watching the Lyft IPO and its effect on the market has been fascinating. It was the first ride-hailing app to go public, which it did in late March. Initially, everything looked great. The company had ambitiously priced its IPO at $72 per share. Right after the launch, shares soared to $87.24. This meant that the company’s valuation was nearly $30 billion, a surprisingly huge amount.

However, in just the short weeks since that launch, Lyft’s value has dropped considerably. In fact, the drop happened fast. Shares fell below IPO price by the second day of trading. By April 15th, they were down to just $56.57 per share. That’s a 27% decline from the close of the first day of trading. Moreover, it’s 35% below that opening price of $87.24. Watching this saga has everyone curious about what’s going to happen with all of the other big IPOs set to happen in 2019. In particular, market analysts can’t stop making predictions about Uber.

What Will Happen When Uber Goes Public?

Lyft beat competitor Uber to the public offering. However, Uber is poised for its launch. People everywhere are speculating on what will happen with Uber’s IPO. Moreover, there are diverse opinions about how Uber’s launch will affect Lyft’s value. Uber is a bigger company with about five times the revenue of Lyft. It’s expected to open to the public at about that same ratio, with a valuation of around $100 billion or about $95 per share.

Most market analysts seem to expect Uber to follow a similar trajectory, starting off really strong but then fading quickly in terms of value share. However, some analysts are already coming out to say that Uber isn’t worth nearly as much as that projected launch number. CNBC reports that valuation expert Aswath Damodaran values the company at somewhere between $58 and $62 billion or between $51 and $54 per share. Moreover, initial investors may be more cautious after seeing the early days of Lyft’s IPO.

Uber has a lot working against the company. They continue to face a variety of legal battles. Recently several women have come forward with frightening tales of sexual harassment/ assault from their drivers. Moreover, they’ve reported that the only help the rideshare has given them is a $5 credit for the “trouble.” Uber tried hard to turn its image around with its new CEO, but it’s just not working quite as expected. Moreover, in addition to the legal troubles, Uber still isn’t a profitable company.

What Will Happen to Lyft with Uber IPO?

Lyft is a smaller company. It tends to have a better reputation than Uber, although it’s had its problems over time. The company recently had to pull many of its electric bikes out of service after reports of potential brake problems. That said, it’ll be interesting to see the effect that Uber’s IPO has on Lyft shares. Some people say that Lyft’s stocks may improve once Uber launches.

It really depends on what Lyft does shortly and how the public perceives its changes. They’re expected to launch their version of Uber Eats, which could increase their value considerably. Likewise, they’re making headway with driverless cars, which may or may not lead to improved profitability in the future. It’s hard to say which company will dominate the industry in the years to come, even though Uber is the bigger company at this time. Therefore, if you have shares in Lyft, you just might want to hang on to them.

More IPOs to Watch for in 2019

Lyft and Uber drew a lot of attention for their public offerings this year. After all, they were in a race to go public first. They’re natural competitors in a market where no other similar competitors really exist, let alone have gone public. Therefore, all eyes have been on them. However, there are a lot of other big IPOs to watch for this year. Although, with Lyft’s IPO struggles, along with other changes in the marketplace, there has been a delay of many of the IPOs anticipated for the year.

Will Airbnb Go Public?

In the frenzy of news about big companies going public in 2019, Airbnb was on everyone’s radar. However, as we have gotten a little bit further into the year, it’s become increasingly unclear whether or not they’ll have a 2019 IPO after all. Recode points out that the company hasn’t gotten any investment money in more than two years, which is a long time for a Silicon Valley startup. Therefore, interested investors have to carefully eye everything they can find out about the company’s financials.

Airbnb recently sold common stock at a price that would value the company at about $35 billion. However, the share value is unclear if they go public. Forbes reports that Wealthfront CEO Andy Rachleff accepts a current market valuation of $31 billion for Airbnb. Nasdaq reports that Airbnb has made some key acquisitions in the buildup to their IPO. Nevertheless, the company says that while they may go public before year’s end, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they will do so. Therefore, this remains one to keep an eye on.

Slack Will Go Public with a Direct Listing of Shares

If you work in the Bay Area, you’ve almost certainly used Slack to communicate with coworkers. Of course, people use it elsewhere as well, but it’s become particularly popular in the Bay Area. Email is out. Slack is in. So it’s no surprise that the company plans to go public.

Slack isn’t planning the usual IPO though. Instead, they plan to directly list their shares on the New York Stock Exchange. It’s not a common approach for startups going public. However, Spotify successfully used this approach when they went public. Most likely, Slack will go public this summer.

Bloomberg reports that in advance of that, investors are betting big on Slack’s value. During the company’s last fundraising round in August, the company had a value of approximately $7 billion. Investors are currently paying between $24 and $27 per share, which places valuation closer to $16 billion. Notably, high prices like that don’t always translate to a high value when the company goes public. Again, this will be an interesting one to watch.

Pinterest Manages IPO Expectations

Pinterest is a popular company. In certain niches, if you don’t have a Pinterest account, then you can’t effectively market your business. However, The New York Times reports that the company is working to manage expectations in advance of going public. Pinterest conservatively priced shares at $15 – $17. This gives the company a valuation of around $11 billion.

High Hopes for Palantir IPO

Peter Thiel is no stranger to making money from startups. His data mining company Palantir is no exception. Although it’s not as flashy as Airbnb or Uber in the public’s mind, it just might be the best IPO to invest in this year. For one thing, the company just won one of its biggest contracts ever, beating out Raytheon for an $800 million military contract. The company works with at least 12 differentl government agencies, which bodes well for its continuing value.

Palantir is frequently listed with a valuation of $20 billion. However, that amount is from a 2015 funding round. It’s no small valuation, but Bloomberg reports that it could be less than half of the company’s actual valuation. That $41 billion valuation came even before the news about that huge military contract.

Other IPOs to Keep an Eye on in 2019

Uber, Airbnb, Slack, Pinterest, and Palantir are the companies you’ll definitely want to keep an eye on as they go public. However, you might also want to follow IPO news about:

  • PagerDuty and Zoom are both going public before Easter.
  • Stock-trading app Robinhood is looking good for a 2019 IPO.
  • Postmates has increased marketing efforts in advance of a likely IPO.
  • Beyond Meat is likely to be the first plant-based “meat” maker to go public.
  • Dating app Bumble hopes to get an edge up on competitor Tinder by going public but has not set an IPO date.
  • Cloudfire was expected to go public this year, but a new round of funding may push that back.
  • WeWork was a highly anticipated 2019 IPO, but a big drop in value may delay them from going public.

Read More:

Are Banks Open on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Monday?

By 2 Comments

are banks open on good friday
When holidays roll around, people often wonder if their local bank or credit union branch will be open during the holiday and the days around it. It’s frustrating going to your financial institution to find that it’s unexpectedly closed due to a holiday. So, are banks open on Good Friday, the Easter weekend, and Easter Monday?

Are Banks Open On Good Friday?

Good Friday, the Friday before Easter is a Christian holiday, but it isn’t a Federal holiday. Most businesses, including banks, credit unions, and post offices, are open Friday. While this is the general rule, there may be some exceptions, so it pays to contact your local bank, credit union, and the post office to make sure it’s open regular business hours.

Easter Saturday

The day before Easter is not a federal holiday, so if your bank, credit union, or post office is normally open on Saturdays, it will likely open this Saturday as well. This is the general rule, with a few exceptions, so contact the specific institution directly to confirm that they will be open.

Easter Sunday

Most banks and credit unions don’t even list Easter Sunday as a holiday on their holiday schedule calendar because almost all financial institutions are closed on Sundays. (The one exception is TD Bank which is open most Sundays.) As you might expect, all banks and credit unions are closed on Easter Sunday for the holiday, including TD Bank. Since this is the norm for banks, credit unions, and post offices, it isn’t usually an inconvenience for most people.

Easter Monday

The Monday after Easter is not a federal holiday (although it is a bank holiday in some countries outside the U.S.). Like Good Friday, most businesses adhere to normal business hours. You can contact your local institutions to make sure, but the norm is to treat Easter Monday as a regular business day.

While the banks won’t physically open on Sunday, you can still take care of many of your banking needs through the bank’s ATM systems which usually remain open 24/7. Another option is to use your financial institution’s online services, which should also allow you to carry out many standard banking functions. Thankfully, Easter is one of the few holidays in the U.S. where there isn’t much disruption to the normal business hours of most banks, credit unions. and post offices.

Read More:

(Photo Credit: Jim Pennucci)

Filing Taxes Late? Here Are Some Excuses That Actually Work With the IRS

By Leave a Comment

filing taxes late

While filing your federal taxes on time is ideal, sometimes being late is unavoidable. Usually, this means dealing with fees like failure-to-file or failure-to-pay penalties. However, while you might imagine the Internal Revenue Service to be unforgiving, that isn’t always true. There are certain situations that even the IRS will accept for filing taxes late.

Prolonged Health Issue

If you have a long-term health issue, particularly chronic or mental illnesses, the IRS may waive any penalties. You can increase your odds of avoiding additional fees if your condition causes issues with either short-term memory or the ability to concentrate.

Late tax filers who want to use this excuse, should know that the IRS might ask for proof of your medical situation. Typically, this could include hospital records or a letter from a qualified physician who can attest to your health state.

An IRS Phobia

Everyone gets overwhelmed at times. If genuine feelings of anxiety make it impossible to file your taxes because of extreme fear. The IRS might be surprisingly understanding.

Like prolonged health issues, you can’t use this excuse without some real proof. Since it is mental health related, a letter from a medical professional is likely a must.

Stolen Records

If, for example, there was a burglary and the thieves stole your computer with all of your documents, the IRS may waive any late filing-related fees. You will need something formal to present that shows you were the victim or such a crime. You should obtain a police report. Otherwise, the IRS may not accept this excuse.

Damaged Records

Similar to stolen records, if you’ve lost tax documents in a fire or natural disaster, you might be able to get a waiver of the fees for filing late. Additionally, if a large-scale natural disaster made it impossible for you to file on time, regardless of whether you had your records available, you might also be able to file late without a penalty.

Grieving

Those who have recently lost a loved one may be able to file their taxes late without a penalty. Typically, you can only cite this as a reason for not filing on time if the person who passed was a very close family member. Additionally, you might have to submit proof that the person died, like a death certificate.

Other Reasonable Causes

The IRS may waive any penalties for other reasons as well, as long as the IRS deems the cause reasonable. Note that the IRS will examine each situation on a case-by-case basis, and will carefully consider any justification for being late.

However, even if you feel the cause is reasonable, it does not mean the IRS will agree. It is ultimately the IRS’s decision.

Excuses That Will Not Work on the IRS

People have used some interesting approaches in an attempt to get out of filing their taxes or filing late. While the IRS does understand that some things in life are outside of a tax filer’s control and will try to be lenient, some excuses are practically guaranteed to fail.

For example, trying to claim that filing taxes is against your religion is not going to work. All individuals who earn an income have to file and pay any taxes owed, regardless of their religious preference.

Similarly, claiming ignorance will not do the trick either. Whether you understand the tax law is irrelevant as far as the IRS is concerned, so saying that you didn’t know what you were supposed to do is not going to get you out of any penalty fees.

You also can’t blame your tax preparer if your taxes are late. Ultimately, making sure you’ve filed your taxes on time is your responsibility, so you can’t just pass the buck because you use a person to make sure your taxes are correct.

First-Time Penalty Abatement

On a positive note, if you have never been late filing your taxes before, you may be able to get the fees waived as part of the First-Time Penalty Abatement policy. Essentially, it serves as a possible “get out of jail free” card that you can use once during your lifetime, showing that even the IRS can forgive a person for making a mistake.

However, there are some requirements. For example, you need to have no penalties for the three tax years prior, have paid or arranged to pay any taxes that were due, and otherwise be up-to-date with your filings.

Ultimately, there are some reasons that the IRS will accept as a reasonable excuse for not filing on time. But, ideally, it is better to avoid filing late in the first place. If you know you’ll be late, consider requesting an extension. If approved, you could get an additional six months to file, allowing you to avoid the failure-to-file penalty at a minimum.

Have you ever had to file your taxes late? Share your experience in the comments below.

Read More:

If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started.