You love your home. But that leaky faucet, clogged gutter or cracked shower tile is driving you crazy. Who ya gonna call? A handyman. This general practitioner of the home repair industry is the go-to professional for jobs you don’t want to do, haven’t time to do or simply can’t do (and have no … [Read more...] about How to hire a good handyman
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Save money with your own home security system
If you have reviewed your household budget lately, you might have been amazed by how many recurring monthly charges have added up over the years. One that jumped out at me recently was the amount we spend for my home security system's alarm monitoring.ADT service starts at about $30 a month. … [Read more...] about Save money with your own home security system
How to say ‘no’ and teach your kids about money
We’ve all seen it, and if you’re a parent, you’ve certainly experienced a similar scene: Kid melts down, whining in the store that he must have a candy bar, toy or whatever is important in the moment. As the noise escalates, the parent gives in to avoid embarrassment. That’s no way to teach your … [Read more...] about How to say ‘no’ and teach your kids about money
Get tax savings with solar or wind energy systems
With today's available tax credits, this is a good time to install renewable energy upgrades, such as a solar power system, solar water heater, wind energy system (turbine) or geothermal heat pump. Through 2016, homeowners can take advantage of tax credits for residential systems. Additionally, … [Read more...] about Get tax savings with solar or wind energy systems
4 ways to stop old collection calls to your new phone
No one likes to get calls from debt collectors, because it means you’re behind on your bills. But getting calls to your new phone number all day because it used to belong to someone who didn’t pay their bills can be a total nuisance. With more and more phones in use, carriers now recycle old numbers … [Read more...] about 4 ways to stop old collection calls to your new phone
For cheaper beer and wine, bring a growler. A what?
Welcome to Growlers 101. Just as I was several months ago, you may be clueless when it comes to growlers. As in, what the heck is a growler? I first learned about growlers when I received an invitation to a party. In block letters, so I wouldn’t miss the message, it read: BRING YOUR OWN … [Read more...] about For cheaper beer and wine, bring a growler. A what?
How to buy a foreclosure home
Just a few years ago, buying a foreclosed home was seen as a way to get a bargain. With a glut of foreclosures and few buyers perusing the market, lenders were willing to sell homes at a substantial discount just to get rid of them.Those days are gone. Buying a foreclosure can still be a good … [Read more...] about How to buy a foreclosure home
How to handle money when traveling the world
I love to travel, and I’m fortunate that I’ve been able to do a lot of it. Over the years, I’ve learned a lot of things about how to handle money abroad. If your summer plans include travel to another country or two, these tips may help your trip be a little smoother – and a little less … [Read more...] about How to handle money when traveling the world
New book shares easy DIY home decor projects
Kelly McCants, a Virginia-based author, entrepreneur, blogger, seamstress and mother of two teenagers, has a new book out. It’s called At Home with Modern June: 27 Sewing Projects for Your Handmade Lifestyle. Modern June, in case you’re wondering, is McCants herself, who also wrote Sewing with … [Read more...] about New book shares easy DIY home decor projects
Emergency-proof your life with a bug-out bag
I am not sure if it is the ubiquity of news or the actuality of climate change, but it seems you cannot turn around today without hearing of a disaster striking. Hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, even the upcoming zombie apocalypse are all calling for a single thing.Be prepared.I hate to go … [Read more...] about Emergency-proof your life with a bug-out bag
How to get Bill Gates’ billion-dollar art collection for free
In the 1990s, Microsoft founder Bill Gates created a 22-foot-long “video wall" in his Seattle lakefront home. Gates spent many millions of dollars of his own money to create the world's largest digital art library. The library contained thousands of digitized images of fine art and classic … [Read more...] about How to get Bill Gates’ billion-dollar art collection for free
What happens when she makes more? An interview with Farnoosh Torabi
For a lot of historic and cultural reasons, men on average make more money than women. But averages are just that, and in many families, the wife earns more money than the husband. This shakes up traditional relationships, and not always for the better. How should people deal with that?Farnoosh … [Read more...] about What happens when she makes more? An interview with Farnoosh Torabi
Who needs long-term care insurance?
Long-term care insurance is a complicated topic. If your assets are low, you may not need it because you will qualify for Medicaid with little fuss and you probably need the money you would spend on premiums to live. If you are wealthy, you're probably better off spending your own money on long-term … [Read more...] about Who needs long-term care insurance?
Graduation gift ideas for less than $50
When I graduated from high school, I received a matching set of luggage to take me off to college. I used it for years. When I graduated from college, the best gifts I got were cash, because I had student loans to repay.Surprisingly enough, those two gifts still stand the test of time.But … [Read more...] about Graduation gift ideas for less than $50
How to save on a vacation to Orlando
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A trip to Orlando, Florida, sounds magical, but money can magically disappear if you don’t plan in advance. The big three (SeaWorld, Disney World, Universal Orlando) theme parks there have big price tags. Fortunately, there are secrets to saving on an Orlando vacation, and we are willing to spill … [Read more...] about How to save on a vacation to Orlando
