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When I first looked into the eyes of a wild chimpanzee, I knew that an intelligent being was looking back at me. I got to know the community members as individuals with different personalities; beings who could use and make tools, form long-term family bonds, and show true altruism. I was reprimanded initially by many scientists who tried to convince me that these attributes were unique to humans—that we were quite different from the rest of the animal kingdom....

But after closing my eyes as instructed, I couldn’t follow along with Father Justin’s words. No matter how hard I tried, my mind kept wandering to all of the things I was worried about: my upcoming report card, my grandmother’s health, whether my friends secretly hated me, my family’s financial situation, and whether my legs were folded tightly enough to hide my day-of-the-week underwear. It seemed like another form of Catholic penance—like it was supposed to be difficult and, in exchange, a few souls would be released from Purgatory....

Luckily, the Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Treater fits the bill. Although it has a pleasant-sounding name, it is anything but on stains. The spray has a powerful formula that shoppers call “magical,” working on rugs, upholstered chairs, and couches alike. But it’s made with a non-toxic formula that’s free from chlorine, bleach, peroxide, and sulfates, and is safe to use in your home. Shoppers also report that it can eliminate grease, pet stains, spaghetti sauce, and much more without discoloring fabric: “There is not a stain that this [cleaner] cannot tackle,” one wrote....

But should you get caught up in the rush? On this week’s Money Confidential podcast, host Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez explores why buying a home may not be ideal for everyone. Our listener, Nina, a 32-year-old living near Pittsburgh, has come to regret her very quick decision to invest in a condo—where her move-in was delayed by the pandemic. “I think it really forced my partner and I to talk about money more openly and I can’t say all of those conversations were pleasant,” she says....

Whatever you do, file—on time. The most important thing the IRS and tax professionals agree on? It’s that you shouldn’t ignore the filing deadline, regardless of your ability to pay in full. That will only drive up your total debt thanks to fees and interest. Both the IRS and the tax professionals I spoke with urge taxpayers to file their taxes as early as possible; waiting until the evening of April 14 could mean a rude awakening if you weren’t expecting to owe money—or if the amount you owe is greater than your current savings....

Banking system discrimination against communities of color and low-income communities is a reality that dates back more than a century and has materialized in a variety of ways, including fewer banks in non-white neighborhoods (majority-white counties are home to an average of 41 financial institutions for every 100,000 people compared to 27 in non-white majority neighborhoods), fewer mortgage approvals, and higher fees when members of these demographics do use financial service providers....

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase via these links, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. New Year’s Eve Time Capsule Activity While I absolutely love to play New Year’s Eve games at New Year’s Eve parties, it’s always fun to do other things as well. I mean you have all night! This activity is meant to be used as both a reflection of the past year and also a fun thing to use for next year’s New Year’s Eve celebration....

I’m a sucker for anything rocky road. It’s my go-to ice cream choice, my go-to brownie choice, and pretty much if there’s anything that’s rocky road flavored, I’m in. There’s just something about the combination of chocolate, marshmallow, and nuts that gets me every time. It’s kind of like s’mores. If there’s something s’mores (like these s’mores cookies), I’m also in. So that’s what you need to know about me – s’more and rocky road treats are the way to my heart....

To buy: $20 (was $30); amazon.com. “These things hold way more than I had hoped, but are still easy to move and store,” wrote one of the 2,700 five-star reviewers, who added they were able to fit three comforters inside a single bag. Another happy shopper called the storage bags a “great find,” saying the set “makes organizing easy and look professional.” The closet storage bags are made from non-woven fabric with reinforced seams and have a clear PVC window so you can see what’s stored inside....