Latest news with #W2s
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tuesday marks final day for taxes, penalties possible for late filing
Tuesday was the last day to file your taxes and if you waited until the last minute there can be expected consequences. Jason Williams of Liberty Tax said there could be penalties if you file later than Tuesday. He also said refund turnaround times vary depending on how you filed. Deconstructing to reconstruct, work continues at former EMI site The final day to file your taxes has arrived and staff of tax offices has encouraged those filing to have all the needed documents to get those taxes sent off successfully. 'Should have all your W2s, if you had unemployment you have a statement from that, if you have any interest income from the banks, dividends or possible stocks,' said Jason Williams, the office manager at Liberty Tax. Williams said for those looking for an extension, an additional six months to file will be allowed but if a tax is still owed it is still expected to be paid by the deadline. And if you're late filing there will be consequences. 'If you're late filing you will be charged a penalty and then if you owe there's going to be interest tacked on to it and if you file late with owing there's a penalty on the filing,' he explained. Protestors take to Perry Square over Trump tax policies One person filing on the last day said he had a delayed schedule this year but he always tries to get ahead of the fees. 'Just busy at work, busy with the kids. Completed the taxes over the weekend had to print them out had a little weird thing with Pennsylvania that was the only one that I had to mail in. So yeah, just glad to get it postmarked today,' said Dan Cullen who was filing taxes. 'Wouldn't want to postmark it after the 15th never had to do that before so yeah, don't want to see what happens if that does happen,' he continued. Depending on how you file, Williams said there are varying return times for a refund. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'If you mail your taxes in you're looking at least probably eight to 12 weeks anything you send to the IRS by paper is going to take weeks to get taken care of if you file electronically generally you get your refund back in two to three weeks time,' he went on to say. For those that have yet to file, Williams said Liberty Tax on East 26th Street will be open until 8 p.m. Tuesday night or later for those that need assistance. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
We're millionares. Please tax us more.
While most of the country spends Tax Day occupied with the stress of W2s, 1099s and tax-filing software, millionaires like us pay our tax attorneys top dollar to make sense of all the red tape for us. That doesn't mean Tax Day isn't still a nightmare for us, too, albeit for a different reason. For us, as Patriotic Millionaires, April 15 serves as a scary reminder of the rigged nature of America's tax code. The U.S. tax system has enabled a concentration of wealth so extreme that it threatens our economy, our democracy and the planet. And this year's Tax Day is even scarier, as Republicans are negotiating a tax bill that would further rig the system in favor of wealthy people like us and deepen America's inequality crisis. According to Forbes' 2025 Billionaires List, the U.S. has 902 billionaires whose combined net worth is a record $6.8 trillion. These 902 individuals hold more wealth than the entire bottom half of the country; their riches exceed the GDP of every country in the world aside from the U.S. and China. Of the many factors that drive America's growing inequality, our tax code is among the most significant. For much of the 20th century, the U.S. had a fairly progressive tax structure that limited large, dynastic fortunes. That is no longer the case. Those who are already rich can make money in ways that are subject to income taxes at lower rates or don't count as 'income' at all (for example, by borrowing against unrealized capital gains). Billionaires now pay lower effective tax rates than all other income groups. For the ultrawealthy like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, paying $0 in federal income taxes isn't outside the realm of possibility. Our organization, Patriotic Millionaires, has frequently sounded the alarm over the threat that wealth inequality poses to society. Our economy doesn't stand a chance when this much money is concentrated in the hands of wealthy people like us. It leaves millions of working people without the incomes they need to buy products and services necessary for survival while also maintaining strong consumer demand. Our democracy doesn't stand a chance when a mere 100 billionaire families are responsible for 1 out of every 6 dollars spent in federal elections, giving them an outsized voice and access to our elected officials and candidates for office. And our planet doesn't stand a chance when the ultrawealthy can continue to accelerate climate change into overdrive with their private jets, superyachts and spaceships. The problem of extreme wealth has festered for years, if not decades, but it has taken on a new level of urgency with President Donald Trump and Elon Musk at the helm of the federal government. Billionaires subsidized Trump's ticket back to the White House, accounting for no less than a third of the funds he raised. Musk alone contributed $235 million to Trump's presidential bid. Now Musk and his fellow billionaires are getting major returns on their political investment, including the massive tax savings from the 'big, beautiful' bill that the GOP is crafting. Last week, Republicans in the House and the Senate moved one step closer to passing their respective budget blueprints: Both of their plans would cut taxes by no less than $5 trillion, and most of those cuts would be used to extend many of the expiring provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — a bill that overwhelmingly benefited the wealthy. If, as seems likely, the ultrawealthy receive another tax windfall from Republicans, it will only increase the threat that they pose to democracy. This would be bad news at any time and under any administration, but this is especially so under President Trump. Democracy is already hanging by a thread as the president targets perceived enemies, including universities, law firms and the media; purges the Justice Department of officials involved in criminal prosecutions against him; expresses interest in pursuing an unconstitutional third term in office; and declares himself a king on social media. To be clear, we don't have a problem with wealth in and of itself. We make no apologies for our own financial success. People need financial incentives to innovate and work hard, and in the end, their ingenuity benefits all of us. What we do, however, have a problem with is a small handful of people having so much wealth that it inevitably becomes power. We have a problem with billionaires like Trump and Musk using the government to improve their own financial situations and business ventures. More than that, though, we have a problem with the fact that the tax code has done virtually nothing whatsoever to prevent the oligarchic crisis in which America finds itself. If our federal tax system continues to privilege income from wealth over income from work, and if Republicans get their way in passing even more tax cuts for the rich in the coming months, we'll have baked a totally oligarchic concentration of wealth into America's economic cake. There are several actions lawmakers must take to safeguard society from the ravages of extreme wealth concentration, but it is imperative they begin with reforming the tax code to ensure all millionaires and billionaires like us pay our rightful share in taxes. Paying taxes for the betterment of society is our civic duty that we are glad to do, because those who don't have the wealth we have should be able to not only survive but thrive in our society. And with so much on the line, it is important that wealthy people carry out this sacred duty now more than ever. There's no sugarcoating it: Tax Day is a nightmare. And thanks to what Trump, Musk and other ultrawealthy oligarchs are doing to our country, that nightmare has become recurring. To wake our country up and pull our economy, democracy and planet back from the brink of total collapse, lawmakers need to tax wealthy people like us before it's too article was originally published on
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Thinking you might not file your tax return? Reconsider, if you want to save money
There is just under a week left before the official April 15 tax filing deadline. More than half of all expected federal tax returns have been filed – nearly 90 million as of March 28, according to the latest filing statistics from the Internal Revenue Service. If yours isn't among them – and you haven't been granted a special extension to file because you live in a federally declared disaster area – you may be tempted to think the IRS won't miss it or won't go after you if you don't file – given the upheaval at the agency since the new 'Department of Government Efficiency' installed operatives there. Or maybe you don't want to file because you owe money and can't afford to pay your balance due. Whatever the case, here is why it's in your financial interests – on top of your legal requirement and civic duty – to file anyway. If you owe money to the IRS, you could be subject to two different penalties plus interest if you don't file and don't pay what you owe by April 15. The biggest upfront penalty will come if you don't file a return on time. You will be charged 5% of your unpaid taxes for every month you don't file. The total penalty assessed may not exceed 25% of your outstanding debt. If you don't think that's a big deal because you figure what you owe is small and you can handle that monthly penalty, consider this: If the 5% you're assessed is below $510 and your return is more than 60 days late, starting after day 60, you will be assessed a minimum of $510 per month going forward or 100% of what you owe, whichever is less. 'If you have a balance due, don't file late because you will compound your problems,' said North Carolina-based CPA Jim Buttonow. The good news: It is easy to avoid a late-filing penalty. If you really can't get your return in by April 15, just submit Form 4868 by next Tuesday to get an automatic six-month extension. Your new filing deadline will then be pushed to October 15. If you don't even do that, technically, the IRS can choose to file a 'substitute' return for you based on the third-party reporting it has on your income (e.g., copies of income forms it received from your employers and banks and brokerages, such as W2s and 1099s). 'That return will not have (all) the deductions or credits a taxpayer is entitled to. This typically results in higher taxes owed than if the taxpayer filed their own return,' said Misty Erickson, tax content manager at the National Association of Tax Professionals. Even if you file for an extension, you still have to pay what you owe by April 15. If you don't, you will be subject to a failure-to-pay penalty that amounts to 0.5% of your unpaid balance every month until you file or until the overall total you pay hits 25% of what you owe. In the case of both the failure-to-file and the failure-to-pay penalties, interest will accrue not only on your unpaid taxes but on the penalty, too. The agency has an automated process in place through which it sends out balance-due notices (known as the CP14 notice) to individuals within 60 days after the April 15 deadline, Erickson said. So, your records will show that you owe money. If you can't pay what you owe in full, try to pay whatever you can by April 15. Then, either call the agency at the number on the CP14 notice or review the IRS payment plan options to see if one makes sense for you. (If you're confused or want to contest what you owe, it may help to work with an enrolled agent, CPA or tax attorney, who can represent you before the IRS.) If you don't owe the IRS any more money, you won't be assessed a failure-to-file penalty if you don't file. But you may be penalized in other ways. For instance, you might be due a refund. If you don't file, you won't be paid. Ditto if you are owed refunds from prior tax years for which you didn't file returns. Last month, the IRS announced that there is still more than $1 billion in unclaimed refunds for 2021. Since the law allows taxpayers three years to file and claim their refunds, this April 15 will be your last opportunity to file your 2021 return to claim any refund you're owed for that year. If you're self-employed, any year you don't file a tax return means the income you earned that year won't be reported to the Social Security Administration. So, 'you will not receive credits toward Social Security retirement or disability benefits,' the IRS notes on its site. And if you're trying to secure a loan, lenders will want to see your most recent return. If you don't have one, that could affect your chances or timeline for loan approval. Sign in to access your portfolio
CNN
09-04-2025
- Business
- CNN
Haven't filed you tax return yet? Here are two big reasons why you should
There is just under a week left before the official April 15 tax filing deadline. More than half of all expected federal tax returns have been filed – nearly 90 million as of March 28, according to the latest filing statistics from the Internal Revenue Service. If yours isn't among them – and you haven't been granted a special extension to file because you live in a federally declared disaster area – you may be tempted to think the IRS won't miss it or won't go after you if you don't file – given the upheaval at the agency since the new 'Department of Government Efficiency' installed operatives there. Or maybe you don't want to file because you owe money and can't afford to pay your balance due. Whatever the case, here is why it's in your financial interests – on top of your legal requirement and civic duty – to file anyway. If you owe money to the IRS, you could be subject to two different penalties plus interest if you don't file and don't pay what you owe by April 15. The biggest upfront penalty will come if you don't file a return on time. You will be charged 5% of your unpaid taxes for every month you don't file. The total penalty assessed may not exceed 25% of your outstanding debt. If you don't think that's a big deal because you figure what you owe is small and you can handle that monthly penalty, consider this: If the 5% you're assessed is below $510 and your return is more than 60 days late, starting after day 60, you will be assessed a minimum of $510 per month going forward or 100% of what you owe, whichever is less. 'If you have a balance due, don't file late because you will compound your problems,' said North Carolina-based CPA Jim Buttonow. The good news: It is easy to avoid a late-filing penalty. If you really can't get your return in by April 15, just submit Form 4868 by next Tuesday to get an automatic six-month extension. Your new filing deadline will then be pushed to October 15. If you don't even do that, technically, the IRS can choose to file a 'substitute' return for you based on the third-party reporting it has on your income (e.g., copies of income forms it received from your employers and banks and brokerages, such as W2s and 1099s). 'That return will not have (all) the deductions or credits a taxpayer is entitled to. This typically results in higher taxes owed than if the taxpayer filed their own return,' said Misty Erickson, tax content manager at the National Association of Tax Professionals. Even if you file for an extension, you still have to pay what you owe by April 15. If you don't, you will be subject to a failure-to-pay penalty that amounts to 0.5% of your unpaid balance every month until you file or until the overall total you pay hits 25% of what you owe. In the case of both the failure-to-file and the failure-to-pay penalties, interest will accrue not only on your unpaid taxes but on the penalty, too. The agency has an automated process in place through which it sends out balance-due notices (known as the CP14 notice) to individuals within 60 days after the April 15 deadline, Erickson said. So, your records will show that you owe money. If you can't pay what you owe in full, try to pay whatever you can by April 15. Then, either call the agency at the number on the CP14 notice or review the IRS payment plan options to see if one makes sense for you. (If you're confused or want to contest what you owe, it may help to work with an enrolled agent, CPA or tax attorney, who can represent you before the IRS.) If you don't owe the IRS any more money, you won't be assessed a failure-to-file penalty if you don't file. But you may be penalized in other ways. For instance, you might be due a refund. If you don't file, you won't be paid. Ditto if you are owed refunds from prior tax years for which you didn't file returns. Last month, the IRS announced that there is still more than $1 billion in unclaimed refunds for 2021. Since the law allows taxpayers three years to file and claim their refunds, this April 15 will be your last opportunity to file your 2021 return to claim any refund you're owed for that year. If you're self-employed, any year you don't file a tax return means the income you earned that year won't be reported to the Social Security Administration. So, 'you will not receive credits toward Social Security retirement or disability benefits,' the IRS notes on its site. And if you're trying to secure a loan, lenders will want to see your most recent return. If you don't have one, that could affect your chances or timeline for loan approval.
Buzz Feed
03-03-2025
- Buzz Feed
Keep Your Identity Safe With These 11 No-Brainer Purchases
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. Shopping · If you're curious about a portable shredder or our pick for the best webcam cover, read on. These days, it feels like personal information is swimming around everywhere. My mail and other physical documents pile high with sensitive details, from my social security number to my emergency contact's home address. Meanwhile, issues of cybersecurity abound. I'm frequently mailed notices that my online accounts have been involved in web leaks and tales of cyberattacks on schools and scammers defrauding targets of thousands of dollars circulate on newsfeeds and in media. (That's not even to mention the avalanche of spam texts and calls I regularly receive.) Within my own bubble, I'd try to cut or rip up my private documents, but they continued to pour in faster than I could keep up with, and I got overwhelmed. That was a few years ago. I took matters into my own hands and turned to a tried-and-true solution: a home paper shredder. At just over $30, my Amazon Basics shredder has been one of the best practical purchases I've probably ever made. My overwhelm and horror at my volumes of sensitive physical documents — and my urge to shred them — is valid, according to Greta Geiselman, senior director of global workplace and security at BuzzFeed Inc. Shredding private materials helps 'secur[e] personal data to ensure it doesn't end up in the wrong hands,' Geiselman explained, noting that our papers can expose credit card numbers, tax information, social security numbers, phone numbers, addresses and more. 'In my personal life, I shred most all of my documents that contain personal information — or try to,' Geiselman said. 'I shred tax returns and W2s.' The only major downside of using a shredder, she noted, is mistakenly destroying a necessary document you can't easily replace or repair — like a social security card, birth certificate, or other legal documents. In other words, there are few disadvantages: Just take care to store your harder to replace documents a safe distance from your need-to-shred pile. It's important to safeguard your personal information online, too, Geiselman noted. 'Our information is out there more than just what we see on paper.' A good way to jumpstart that process? Check your privacy settings on sites like Facebook and Instagram, she recommended. Check out some of the best at-home shredders and other personal security items, including the shredder I own from Amazon Basics, below. 1. Amazon Based on Geiselman's advice on using shredders to safeguard personal data, we think this Amazon Basics home shredder is a great starter pick. I've owned it for several years and it's worked wonderfully for my purposes. The device can tackle six sheets of paper at a time (more than enough given that I usually load papers individually as I look through them). It can also cut up thick credit cards and the like. (The shredder also comes in five other versions that can handle up to 200 sheets at once.) I'm able to use it for a long time without having to empty its shredded contents, thanks to its 3.8-gallon capacity, and I've personally never had a problem with it overheating. It is a bit loud while operating, which I attribute to the budget-friendly price. This model delivers a cross-cut shred; if you prefer a micro-shred, this Amazon Basics micro-cut shredder is a popular option with over 17,000 5-star ratings. Get the cross-cut version from Amazon for $34.97+ (available in seven sizes) or the micro-cut version for $44.06+ (available in four sizes). 2. An identity protection rolling ink stamp with 24,000 5-stars Amazon This bestselling security roller stamp offers a quick solution to obscuring addresses on mail and the like. Just roll it over shipping labels or even pill bottles; it'll cover information with indecipherable ink. Based on my own research, this is the one to get. It conceals writing more effectively than other rollers, based on reviews, plus is refillable so when it runs out of ink you won't have to toss it just to throw money at another. Plus, your papers will still be recyclable after using it. (And it's quiet.) This version casts a 1.5-inch-wide ink print, includes three ink refills and comes in eight colors. Promising review: "So awesome!! 100% recommend! I used to use sharpies, pens, cut up the stickers on boxes to cover up my name and address. Such a hassle. This is so simple to use! Simply glide on items you want to keep confidential and you're good to go! Will definitely be reordering." — Amazon Customer 3. Amazon This Bonsai shredder is similarly budget-friendly, yet offers some impressive additional features: a transparent window, the ability to cut through staples (!) and a top handle for easier transport. It's also designed with the ability to manually reverse in case of a jam — which will surely come in handy. Additionally, it auto-shreds when it detects paper. This version holds a massive 3.4 gallons of paper and can cross-cut six pages simultaneously. If you'd prefer even more security, you can grab a six-page micro-cut shredder from Bonsai. Promising reviews: "So I have a lot of paper and docs to shred and I needed shredder because of my private info to be safe. I was stunned by how small this was but once I plugged in and started using it my goodness!! This was one of the best purchase of my life!!! This is so so worth every dollar and the best there is for this price. You will pay for lesser quality junk at Walmart, Target, etcs. Buy this!" — david "We purchased this to replace two other name brand shredders that we managed to kill in less than a year each. This things works really well. We use a lubricating sheet each month or whenever we empty the bin and that makes a huge difference. Would buy again!" — keliana If you're not covering the webcam camera on your computer, you really should. Obscuring the camera on your laptop or phone when you're not using it helps protect you against potential spying by hackers and prying eyes. These Cloud Valley camera covers are by far the bestselling option on Amazon, with just over 40,000 5-star ratings. That's in part because of their elegant, simple design: You can just slide them back and forth when you need to. However, their real star power is their careful construction in comparison to that of competitors, according to my research. While most other webcam covers are bulky and made of plastic, these ones are smaller and thinner than a dime. That lets them do their job — solely covering your camera — without impeding the functionality of your devices when it comes to closing your laptop, using phone cases, and preserving your phone's location-sensing features, all problems attributed to peer models. Plus, made of metal, they'll actually be durable. They come in a pack of two and in various nice but not-cutesy colors. You can use them on most laptops, computers, tablets, and smartphones. Promising review: "I'm not saying that hackers or the government or Facebook employees are spying on you through your laptop webcam ... but these work really well to cover up the camera (just in case). It's super-thin, so no issues closing a MacBook Pro with it attached. Think of the careers that these could have saved on the accidentally revealing Zoom/Skype call..." — Hank Sanderson 5. A portable shredder arm, no basket needed Get the benefits of shredding without paying for the heavy base basket with this Bonsaii extendable shredder arm. It comes with just the functioning top part of a shredder, sans bottom, so you can just place it over a box or whatever trash bin you already own and get to work. The Bonsaii model cuts through six sheets at a time, plus credit cards, and expands from 11 to 15 inches. And if you're looking for an especially high-performing shredder arm — minus the basket — this eight-sheet Aurora version is a real standout for just slightly more. It's able to cut through CDs, a feat for any shredder, and auto-starts when it detects paper. Both these benefits are typically associated with pricier shredders, so gaining them for under $40 is a steal. The Aurora extends from 12 to 15 inches. Promising review: "I can't complain, I'm not a big shredder, but my little shred pile was building up. I didn't want to spend 50 bucks on something I'm only occasionally going to use so I got this little guy for 25 and it fits the bill perfectly. Sits beautifully on my trashcan and does its job, then I put it away when I don't need it. Def would recommend if you just need something shredded sometimes." — Adriana 6. A pair of multi-blade scissors Amazon Originally designed for cutting herbs, these five-blade scissors are a convenient gem for makeshift shredding, reviewers say. They're best for cutting up a small segment of paper, like your address from mail. Reviewers do say that for folks with arthritis, the cutting action may require too much force. The shears come in three colors, with a comb for easy cleaning and with a safety cover. Promising reviews: "I use these for cutting my address off of mail. I don't like using them for herbs because they're difficult to clean and I think they cut the herbs too small. But they are great for cutting info out of paper." — MaddMaven "Bought these not to cut herbs but to shred papers after scanning them, as this was under $8 and a shredder was $40. They work great for that; make partial cuts one way, then turn paper 90 degrees and cut them into tiny squares. They come sharp and well-aligned, and can cut through a piece of paper folded in half with minor difficulty. The beauty of using this for shredding paper is that you can just shred the part that contains sensitive information instead of the entire piece of paper, which saves work. Comes with two accessories, a comb with thin teeth to clean the blades, and a guard that has a smaller comb on top of it with thicker teeth to also clean the blades. Unfortunately, there's no way to store the separate comb, so I just taped it to the guard. I don't imagine that this would work well if you had low hand mobility/arthritis; the force to cut through paper is probably higher than with herbs." — B 7. Amazon This Aurora shredder is splurgier, but according to reviews, it's well worth it, especially for folks with limited mobility or restricted upper body strength. Instead of shredding into a waste bin that you must uncover and lift, this model has a pull-out basket that's much easier to maneuver, according to reviewers. (Its clear bin also lets you see when it's full at a glance, without having to lift it up to check.) Plus, the drawer fits 1.8 gallons of shredded paper, so you won't have to empty it as often in general. All that aside, it's seemingly excellent at its job. The shredder delivers an extra-security micro-cut shred that can cut through CDs, staples, paper clips and 12 pieces of paper at a time, plus sticky, plastic-coated junk mail. It includes anti-jam and auto-reverse features, too. Another huge plus that comes along with its increased price is its reduced noise level; it's designed to be actually-quiet as it operates. "It's so quiet, and it works so well, I could sit here and shred for hours. And with all the paper I have to shred now, it literally will be hours of shredding," a reviewer named Helen jokes, adding, "It's so quick. So easy. So quiet. And kind of fun." Promising review: "The side pull-out shred container is a huge plus. No wrestling a heavy shredder top off while it spews shreds everywhere. The container is totally clear, so you can easily see when it needs to be emptied. This shredder is solid and squarish and stays put even when you or the dog trip over it, unlike the tall scrawny shredders that gleefully fling themselves to the floor when bumped, dumping a huge pile of shreds for a cleanup job you didn't need. And it's so quiet that at first I wasn't sure it was working properly. It was. It even cheerfully grinds up pieces of corrugated cardboard with no complaints. It considers jamming beneath it and hasn't jammed yet. I cannot find a single fault with it." — Reviewer1000 8. An anti-spy screen for iPhones with 39,000 5-stars Amazon For an additional privacy safeguard, you'd be wise to add a privacy screen to your phone. It's designed to darken the view of your screen from the side, so people can't snoop over your shoulder to check out your bank statement or your texts. An expert previously recommended this YMHML privacy screen to us because of its use of tempered glass, which will also help protect your phone if it drops. It comes in a two-pack and fits all different iPhone models, including the new 16. Promising review: "I am notorious for dropping my phone. I got a new iPhone about a year and a half ago. I got an Otterbox case and one these privacy screens. Over about a year and a half, the screen protector had a few cracks in it. Nothing wild though. My actual screen had none! And the privacy aspect works so well. People are always asking me, 'Are you just staring at a blank screen?' And I'm like, you're the reason I need this..." — Michelle majors Amazon For folks with Samsung Galaxy phones, this two-pack of screen protectors for Androids will do the trick. Like the previous option, it's designed with tempered glass for added functionality and durability. The protectors fit A12, A13, A13 LTE, A32, A03S and A02S phones, plus comes in versions that fit the A14 and A15 models. Promising review: "This glass protection and privacy screen are perfect. I work in health care and privacy is very important. The screen works really well standing strong after I drop it. I have tremors in my hands so I drop my phone regularly. It also is a great price since I have two other screens I can use and not wait for another to arrive. Really great screen." — kelsey esler Get them from Amazon for $9.99. 10. A "hidden in plain sight" book that's really a safe Amazon This clever diversion book opens to a locked metal box, which requires either a combination or a key to open (your choice). You use it to safeguard precious smaller items like money, jewelry or identification. You can also choose between several 'book covers' to further personalize your 'reading" (plus between two sizes and colors). Amazon VPNs, or virtual private networks, offer a useful layer of defense for your online privacy and security. They hide your IP address, so your geographical location can't be found, plus encrypt your data to prevent tracking of your online activity. Mullvad's VPN is impressively highly rated by reviewers, with 4.8 out of 5 stars, and provides VPNs for up to five devices for time periods of six months or 12 months. Folks especially appreciate Mullvad's easy setup, making it accessible for those new to VPNs; its low price compared to competitors; and that the company doesn't gather information from its users. While VPNs can often be used for streaming TV and movies otherwise restricted to other locations, reviewers do note that this option is probably not best for streaming (though it's ' the best VPN out there for anonymity ' and ' great for privacy '). Promising review: "This is my second year using Mullvad VPN. I used another service before, but when you look at the security benefits of Mullvad (absolutely NO logging, no personally identifiable information, and located in a jurisdiction whose government will not compel Mullvad for any information) there is really no comparison. Regarding speed, you will always have decreased speed when using a VPN, that's the price for privacy. That being said, Mullvad has comparable speeds to its competitors and depending on your personal setup, sometimes faster. Unless something catastrophic happens with the company, I don't see myself ever using another VPN provider." — AMZNreviewer
