If you’ve decided to buy a home this year, good luck to you. Your challenge will be not just finding a home you like, but also beating out all the other home buyers who like it and want to make an offer on it, too.The number of homes for sale is low nationwide, particularly in the price ranges … [Read more...] about How to buy a home in a sellers’ market
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5 best free things to do in Colorado Springs
If Colorado Springs is in the picture for your next corporate meeting or family vacation, here are five fabulous free things to do while you’re there. Since the area boasts 300 days of sunshine a year, chances are you’ll get to do most of these on a single visit.Remember, this scenic city at the … [Read more...] about 5 best free things to do in Colorado Springs
How to make money renting out a room
The sharing economy has introduced all kinds of services that make being a landlord easier. Thanks in large part to these services, many Americans have found financial gains in renting out rooms or entire homes to vacationers as well as long-term tenants.If you think this might be steady source … [Read more...] about How to make money renting out a room
When to use credit cards and when to use debit cards
I'll start out by saying that I don't use debit cards but I do understand why some people do. It's linked to your bank account so in theory you can't spend more money than you have in your account. However, after extensive research, I know now why I've always avoided debit cards. The biggest … [Read more...] about When to use credit cards and when to use debit cards
What to know before buying a vacation home, plus how to rent it out
As you schlep your ski gear to your favorite resort for the umpteenth time or search for lodging near your favorite beach on a holiday weekend, you may think how much easier life would be if you had your own vacation home.An estimated 1.13 million vacation homes were sold in the U.S. in 2014, … [Read more...] about What to know before buying a vacation home, plus how to rent it out
The Coupon Insider: Magic of double and triple coupons
Couponers know there's more saving to be found in coupons than just face value. What's the trick? Many grocers offer double coupons every day. So, just like magic, a 50-cents off coupon *poof* turns into $1 off. Most participating retailers limit the doubling of manufacturer's coupons to a maximum … [Read more...] about The Coupon Insider: Magic of double and triple coupons
7 online tools to estimate home value, and why your estimate may be wrong
When it comes time to sell your house, you have one burning question: What is my home worth?In recent years, a proliferation of online resources has emerged to provide you with an answer before you ever consult a human. But while consumers have access to more information than they could have … [Read more...] about 7 online tools to estimate home value, and why your estimate may be wrong
Customizable grocery shopping list for $4-a-day food budget
Earlier this year, I decided to try the $4 a day food budget. Considering my grocery bill averaged close to $12 per day, this was a drastic reduction. Eating on $4 a day is a concept popularized by Leanne Brown in her free online book, Good and Cheap (PDF). The print version of Good and Cheap is … [Read more...] about Customizable grocery shopping list for $4-a-day food budget
New ways to sell your home without an agent
Technology has made drastic changes in how Americans shop for real estate. You can see all the homes for sale in a neighborhood with the click of a mouse, and information about nearby home sale prices is easily available.But little has changed in the way real estate is actually bought and sold. … [Read more...] about New ways to sell your home without an agent
12 home maintenance chores you should do now
When you think of spring cleaning, things like scrubbing floors, sprucing up cabinets and straightening closets come to mind. But spring is also a good time to perform routine home maintenance. Ignore these crucial home upkeep tasks at your peril. Fail to clean the gutters, for example, and you … [Read more...] about 12 home maintenance chores you should do now
12 ways to save at amusement parks
Whether your local amusement park is open year-round or just for the summer, it's usually a grand place to escape with family and friends. Though these parks supply a full day of fun, it comes at a cost... sometimes substantial enough to leave you queasy before setting foot on that super-colossal … [Read more...] about 12 ways to save at amusement parks
12 tech tools to help sell your home
As the housing market has improved, so has another aspect of real estate: the tech tools available to help you sell your home.“Before the recession, agents were still marketing to other agents,” says Brian Balduf, co-founder and CEO of VHT Studios, which provides digital marketing services … [Read more...] about 12 tech tools to help sell your home
What you need to know before you buy rental property
Investing in rental property has long been a popular option for people who want to diversify their investments beyond stocks and mutual funds. But, unlike those more mainstream investments, rental properties can require significant hands-on work, including dealing with tenants and keeping up with … [Read more...] about What you need to know before you buy rental property
Free lead testing kits for home hazards
Lead is a hot topic these days with water crisis in cities across the United States. Even if your water is safe, there can be lead hazards throughout your home, especially homes built before 1960, which may have lead paint. Lead may also be in soil, jewelry, toys, furniture, cosmetics and … [Read more...] about Free lead testing kits for home hazards
Don’t let mutual fund fees eat up your savings
Now that taxes are out of the way, it’s time to think about paying yourself. Whether you are saving for retirement, a college education or just some random future item, you may well be using mutual funds.Mutual funds are investments that pool money from many individuals. A professional portfolio … [Read more...] about Don’t let mutual fund fees eat up your savings
