What gifts are really worth returning?

Here are three of the week's top pieces of financial advice, gathered from around the web:

Robinhood's 3 percent fiasco

Investing app Robinhood last month announced plans to offer checking accounts with 3 percent interest, said Jacob Passy at Market​Watch, but hit a "regulatory stop sign" with a "clumsy rollout." Robinhood's new program was designed to function much like a traditional checking plan, complete with a MasterCard debit card that would allow ATM withdrawals. However, the company had to stop the rollout to its 5 million customers when regulators said the money wouldn't be insured by the government. The 3 percent interest rate was a big draw. "Comparatively, the highest interest rate for savings accounts currently on offer from banks is 2.36 percent." Even though the Robinhood plan is on hold, many online investment firms are starting to introduce savings account–like products. Betterment's "Smart Saver" portfolio offers a 2.09 percent annual yield. You can expect more options to come — though maybe not with Robinhood's headline-grabbing 3 percent claim.

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What's really worth returning?

"Our post-holiday gifting hangover tends to be a peak time for returns," said Sarah Halzack at Bloomberg. That's a problem for sellers, because "people often order a ton of stuff with the intention of keeping just one or two items, and retailers frequently foot the bill for the return shipping." One thing they've found, though, is that shoppers often won't bother to return lower-priced items — and they use that knowledge to set prices. "If a blouse costs $40 or $45, and it's not a perfect fit or exactly to your taste, you're going to want your money back." But "maybe at $32, returning it isn't worth the hassle."

Vermont's $10,000 challenge

Vermont is offering remote workers up to $10,000 in relocation costs if they move to the state, said Adele Peters at Fast Company​. Applications opened Jan. 1 for the program, which can pay up to $5,000 a year, for two years. You can bill for everything from moving expenses and internet bills to renting a desk in a co-working space. "For the state, the program is one way to try to address its shrinking population." With more employees working remotely, and prices in cities soaring, Vermont wants to become an attractive alternative for the work-from-wherever set. One warning: The relocation program is first come, first served — and it only has a $125,000 budget for 2019. It's still a small state, after all.