Form W-2, or the Wage and Tax Statement, is an important document that reports the employee’s income and withheld tax to the IRS. These reports are then sent to the employees every January from employers who pay an individual at least $600 annually. The W-2 is crucial in helping one file their tax returns correctly, as it enlists contributions, insurance, benefits, and many other essential components. Read on to learn more about this form. Reading the W-2 The form has several components that one needs to fill in correctly. Here’s a simple breakdown: Box 1 – Total taxable wages, including tips, prizes, and other compensation. Box 2 – Federal income taxes the employer withholds from one’s pay. Box 3 – Total wages subject to Social Security tax. Box 4 – Total Social Security tax withheld from pay. Box 5 – Wages that are subject to Medicare tax. Box 6 – Total Medicare tax withheld from pay. Box 7 – Tips reported to the employer. Box 8 – Total amount of other tips allocated by the employer. Box 9 – This box is no longer in use. Box 10 – Amount of dependent care benefits paid by the employer. Box 11 – Total amount of money distributed during the year from the employee’s deferred compensation plan. Box 12 – Here, the employer can provide more detailed information about all the pay reported in Box 1. Box 13 – This section indicates whether the earnings are subject to Social Security, Medicare taxes, etc. Box 14 – Any other reports and details that do not fit anywhere else are added here. Box 15 – Employer’s state and tax identification numbers. Box 16 – Amount of taxable wages for state tax purposes. Box 17 – Total amount of state income taxes withheld during the year.

A decent pair of sneakers or oxfords or even Birkenstocks can add so much more than mere functionality to your daily look. Different types of footwear are specially designed to complete your daily fashion ensemble. There are so many styles and varieties to choose from, making it a lot harder to pick. Here are some of the best shoe trends for men and women to explore as per the season, occasion, and purpose. Men’s classics Sneakers are the ultimate classic footwear. In fact, top footwear brands reintroduce these trendy kicks every year in vivid styles. Minimalist sneakers are available in the primary solids, usually featuring an all-white finish. Brands like Converse, Adidas, and Nike focus on the classic double tone silhouette, featuring two popular solid colors with their brand logo. Furthermore, you have the bright-colored maximalist or chunky sole sneakers that go well with casuals and denim. Men’s essentials Keeping up with the best shoe trends is not just limited to women’s fashion. Popular alternatives include lighter brogues and oxfords for casual occasions and darker shades for more formal outings. Suede sneakers continue to remain in style and compliment almost every type of outfit. Chunky leather boots and white trainers are reserved for hipper fashion. Let’s not forget the multipurpose loafer, best suited for wear during the summer months. Women’s trendy footwear for the summer Summer shoes are designed for comfort, and that is why the classic summer Birkenstocks are one of the popular crowd favorites. Other favorites feature lightweight slip-on loafers, old-school tennis sneakers, thick-soled slide-in sandals, and classic platform sandals. Most of these footwears feature a relatively open weave design that allows for cooling while protecting your sole from harsh elements. Women’s best shoe trends for spring The latest spring styles are all set to hit the shelves, inspired by Fashion Week and Runway.

The Mediterranean diet plan is basically based on the diet plan followed by the people of Greece and Italy in the 1960s. The diet primarily consists of food items predominantly eaten by natives from that region such as generous helpings of fruits, vegetables, pasta, and rice and a limited quantity of red meat. There are alleged reports that swear by this diet plan’s ability to help one reduce weight, prevent strokes, type 2 diabetes, premature death, and heart attacks. There is no such exact diet plan because around the Mediterranean Sea, there are many countries and the people of those countries have a diverse palate influenced by indigenous produce and their culture. In this article, you will get dishes and foods that you can include in your Mediterranean diet menu in order to make it healthier. The basics of a Mediterranean diet Here are some of the some of the basic foods that you should include in your Mediterranean diet menu: Foods you must eat regularly: Vegetables, legumes, bread, whole grains, extra virgin olive oil, fruits & nuts, fish and seafood, seeds, herbs, and spices Foods to eat in moderation: Eggs, cheese, poultry, and yogurt. Foods to eat rarely: Red Meat Foods to be avoided: Sugary dishes, added sugars, refined grains, processed meat, and refined oils Food items you need to abstain from while on the diet: These are some of the unhealthy foods that you should not have in your Mediterranean diet menu: Added sugar: Candies, soda, ice cream, and other related sugary foods Refined grains: Pasta prepared with refined wheat and white bread Refined oils: Canola oil, soybean oil, and cottonseed oil Trans fats: Margarine and other processed foods Processed meats: Sausages and hot dogs, among others Food items that should be included in the Mediterranean diet: There is no exact definition of what a Mediterranean diet comprises since the region is made up of different countries that have varying culinary preferences.

Cyber Monday concludes one of the best shopping weekend sale events that happens once a year. Since it’s the last day of a major shopping season, brands and retail outlets hustle to move as much inventory as possible. So, some offers and deals overlooked earlier can make a discounted comeback. So, here are a few smart shopping hacks and tips shoppers can make use of to save time and money. Keep adding products to the checkout page Products practically fly off the shelves as soon as the sale event goes live. When shopping online, one of the best ways to never miss out on a deal is to load up the shopping cart first. Since the payment will only get debited at the checkout, it doesn’t hurt to put the items in the cart and secure the deal before stock runs out. Compare prices with previous year’s offers Cyber Monday sales from the year before will definitely influence the prices and availability of products this year. So, looking at past year’s sales is essential to figuring out deals that will generate the same buzz this year. For example, all popular smart gadgets and consumer electronics sold by major brands and retailers will be in demand for the upcoming sale. So, keep an eye out for digital flyers and mailers introducing early bird offers on these products. Bookmark the popular sites Once the sale goes live, there will be limited time to browse and shop for favorites before stock runs out quickly. So, keeping the most visited retail websites for Cyber Monday deals bookmarked in advance is better. This way, much time and effort will be saved by simply using the bookmarks to get in the queue as the offers go live. Keep up to date Major brands and retail websites will post updates about upcoming Cyber Monday deals on their social media pages.

As the country approaches the most-awaited shopping season, the zest to purchase one’s favorite products and services has started rising. This excitement promises to reach a full crescendo by the time Black Friday arrives. Shopping may seem like the easiest of things to do, but people commonly make inevitable shopping mistakes that make their Black Friday less fun than it could be. As everyone builds up to the festive season, here are some Black Friday mistakes to avoid. Buying outdated tech products Retailers typically offer discounts on older models of smartphones, television sets, and other gadgets and appliances. Shoppers need to identify this and refrain from purchasing products with below-par performance and poor data security due to their datedness. Additionally, buyers need to check if any electronic that is available at super-cheap prices is worth the purchase. If, say, a smartphone is getting any upgrades within 2 or 3 months, it makes sense to wait for the newer model to emerge in the market before putting down one’s hard-earned money on it. Forgetting to check the return policies Certain retailers have more stringent Black Friday return policies in place than others. Such stores tend to mark down products that are out of date or undesirable. If shoppers end up buying such products, they may be unable to return them if they are unhappy with them. Therefore, before going on a shopping spree, it is advisable for shoppers to do their research and find which retailers offer the most flexibility in terms of product returns. Additionally, one should be mindful of whether retailers change their standard return policies during Black Friday. Spending more than one’s budget Everyone must determine how much they can spend during the holiday shopping season. After determining that, one can figure out the products they really wish to purchase.

From statement pieces to subtle, everyday accessories, jewelry can elevate an outfit. Jewelry is also a great way of expressing affection to loved ones or sprucing up basic outfits. Due to the use of expensive precious metals and intricate designs, jewelry can be expensive. To save money, one should wait for the Black Friday 2023 sale likely to bring discounts on jewelry. Here are the top 10 brands and retailers worth considering: Anklets Anklets date back to prehistoric times. With evolving styles, people wear several different kinds of anklets today. Some may prefer a simple gold or silver chain, while others may want to opt for intricate designs and patterns. These jewelry pieces also hold cultural significance in many cultures. Last year, the following stores offered a significant discount on anklets around Black Friday. 1. Sellers on Etsy offered discounts as steep as 65% on personalized pieces. 2. Budget-friendly anklets could also be found on Amazon, with offers ranging from 10 to 50% off on various pieces last Black Friday. Bracelets Bracelets, too, are popular accessories, available in various forms such as bangles, chains, tennis bracelets, cuffs, charm bracelets, beaded, or pearl bracelets. Each type is known for its unique look. For those who prefer more rugged styles, bracelets may also be made of leather, metal, or rope. Most major retailers across the world create a range of bracelets to suit every need. 3. Last year, customers could avail of significant discounts (around 50%) on designer pieces offered by Kendra Scott during Black Friday. 4. Kate Spade also offered up to 50% off last year; for instance, its hinged bangle sold for $22 instead of the usual $58. Earrings Earrings are perhaps one of the most widely worn pieces of jewelry around the world. They may be of various types, such as cartilage earrings (that are worn above the earlobe), chain, helix, stud, hoop, ball, dangling, drop, magnetic, or clip-on earrings.

Studies have shown that body odor can significantly influence one’s judgment of another person. Thus, smelling good is an integral aspect of dressing up for an occasion. Perfumes and deos help strike the right first impression on various occasions, from romantic dates to important networking events. Several fashion brands offer luxury perfumes curated using ingredients like scented oils, fruits, plants, etc. This Black Friday, one can expect lucrative perfume deals by top brands in the following categories: Eau de Parfum Eau de parfums have higher concentrations of perfume oil than most other types of perfumes. Hence, these perfumes last on one’s skin for the longest periods, i.e., approximately six to eight hours. For this reason, eau de parfums are great choices for elaborate parties, events, and occasions. One can expect Black Friday 2023 deals on eau de parfums by these brands: 1. Chanel offers a wide range of eau de parfum fragrances for women and men, from the classic N°5 Eau de Parfum to the more subtle yet mesmerizing Coco Mademoiselle. The Chanel eau de parfum is currently available at a 5% discount on Amazon. However, considering most popular perfumes go on sale during Black Friday, shoppers may get great deals on Chanel products. 2. Armani’s vast collection of eau de parfums caters to women and men and emanates riveting fragrances with a touch of subtleness amid strong, rich flavors. Armani’s Acqua Di Gio and Giorgio Armani are just some of the popular eau de parfums offered by this brand. Shoppers are advised to keep an eye out for these products during the sale as they sell out quickly. 3. Creed’s perfumes are known for their invigorating blends of fruity and woody fragrances and lend themselves to casual as well as formal occasions. Creed Aventus is a classic example of the brand’s eau de parfum.

Black Friday 2023 is around the corner, and it’s time for the shopping extravaganza to begin. Massive deals are expected on furnishings like mattresses, bedding, and mattress protectors. This is a great time to shop for those looking to redo their home or spruce up their beds. Whether one is looking for all-foam, cooling, or eco-friendly mattresses, here are the top Black Friday deals to expect on mattresses. These are based on last year’s sale. Innerspring mattresses These mattresses are made using steel coils. This makes them firmer. Spring mattresses suit back and stomach sleepers, as the firm mattress helps keep their spine aligned. When shopping for spring mattresses, it is important to consider their coil gauge and count. These are important indicators for judging the quality of the mattresses, as the gauge tells how thick the steel is, and the count tells users about the number of coils in the mattress. Some of the most popular Black Friday sales on innerspring mattresses last year included the following: 1. Brooklyn Bedding Brooklyn Bedding offered 25% across sitewide holiday season sales in 2022. These offers also extended to sleep accessories such as bedding, pillows, sheets, and blankets. 2. Saatva Customers got up to 15% off on orders of about $1000 at Saatva. The Saatva Classic, a luxurious queen-sized handmade innerspring hybrid mattress with customizable firmness levels, was a crowd-favorite, retailing for approximately $1700. Memory foam mattresses Memory foam mattresses are popular for offering unmatchable pressure relief for one’s joints by taking the stress off of one’s shoulders and hips, encouraging better sleep. They are ideal for side-sleepers and people with back pain, as they promote proper spine alignment. They may also help with motion isolation, which may be suitable for those who share a bed with a partner. These mattresses are made with multiple layers of foam, like soft foam on top for comfort and firm foam on the bottom for durability.

Our laptops, cell phones, and smartwatches help us with numerous everyday tasks like booking tickets, paying bills, setting reminders, and tracking our health. However, these gadgets are sometimes expensive, especially the models from premium brands with advanced features and capabilities. Luckily, Black Friday allows consumers to bag them at highly discounted prices and save money. Here are a few popular tech devices worth checking out once Black Friday 2023 begins. Smartphones Samsung Samsung’s latest Galaxy smartphones, including the Ultra, Z, Flip, and Fold models, were offered at discounts ranging from $400 to $1,000 last shopping season. These devices have several desirable features, such as long battery life, fast charging, elegant displays, expandable storage, and excellent camera quality. Apple Apple is known to have lucrative offers on its cell phones during Black Friday. Last year, specific iPhone 12, 13, and 14 variants sold for a discount of up to 75%. OnePlus OnePlus has emerged as a household name for superior-quality smartphones with features like fast charging, long battery lives, premium-quality cameras, and affordability. Some esteemed models, such as the OnePlus Nord, OnePlus 8T, and OnePlus Pro, were available at discounts ranging from $50 to a whopping $500 last sale season. Google Google’s Pixel series smartphones stand out for using Machine Learning technology to enable features like smart replies and live captions. They’re also known for their stunning camera quality and battery-saving features. Last year, some of the latest Pixel smartphones were available for up to $200 off at various e-commerce websites like Amazon, eBay, and Best Buy. Smartwatches Apple Apple’s smartwatches have valuable health-monitoring technologies, including irregular heartbeat sensors, oxygen-level monitors, ECG monitors, crash detection, temperature sensing, and a feature to ensure mindfulness. Users bagged some of Apple’s popular smartwatches for reasonable prices last Black Friday. For example, the new Apple Watch SE was offered at $299 off its original price.

This year’s biggest Black Friday specials will likely offer some of the most substantial cuts ever across a wide range of popular businesses and brands. Stores are working hard to offer seasonal items and avoid supply chain problems. While major shops are expected to offer great bargains, it is essential to buy with local businesses, especially in the post-pandemic era. Based on the discounts offered last year, here’s a look at what you can expect this year. Nordstrom Nordstrom could offer up to 50% off hundreds of selected goods from leading brands, as was the case last year. Longchamp items, such as the Le Pliage Cuir Leather Shoulder Bag, were discounted by 20-30%. Kiehl’s skincare sets The Daily Hydrating Skincare Gift Set was discounted at $48 (original value $66), which includes full-sized versions of two Kiehl’s classics: Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane and the renowned Avocado Eye Cream, suitable for everyone. Home Depot Refrigerators Home Depot previously offered up to $900 off refrigerators. Refrigerator discounts of up to $900 are available at Home Depot on some of the greatest brands in large appliances. Shop for Black Friday deals on Samsung, LG, and Whirlpool appliances. Amazon Amazon has some of the best discounts, and the Black Friday sales are chock-full of must-haves! Coach Outlet You could get up to 70% off Coach Outlet bags, wallets, shoes, and more, plus an extra 25% off sitewide. You could also enjoy free shipping on orders of $50 or more. Home Depot Dishwashers Whether you’re searching for a low-cost dishwasher or an upgrade to one with all the latest features, Home Depot is expected to offer up to 30% off a wide selection. Kohl’s With its online Black Friday deals, Kohl’s brings its A-game. In the past, we’ve seen a much lower free shipping requirement, thousands of deep discounts, and $15 Kohl’s Cash for every $50 bought.