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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....

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....

To buy: $110 with coupon (was $140); amazon.com. Weighing just 3.3 pounds, the lightweight vacuum is super easy to navigate through my apartment, and it converts from a stick vacuum into a handheld option with just the push of a button. Plus, it comes with different-sized attachments that allow me to clean hard-to-reach places, like corners and ceilings, with ease. I also love its built-in HEPA filtration system that removes up to 99 percent of microscopic dust and particles while it cleans, according to the brand....

As I searched for an overnight treatment for my lips, I kept running into the shopper-loved Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. With nothing but rough, dry lips to lose, I decided to see if the iconic lip mask lived up to the hype—and I was not disappointed. The Lip Sleeping Mask is a leave-on treatment packed with nourishing and hydrating ingredients like antioxidants, shea butter, Murumuru seed butter, coconut oil, and vitamin C, and it’s developed without parabens or phthalates....