This blog post provides an overview of some concepts discussed at length in my new book, "Set for Life." The book walks full-time employees from little to no net worth to hundreds of thousands of dollars in after-tax wealth not including home equity and retirement accounts and towards early … [Read more...] about House-Hacking: Eliminate your housing expense using other people’s money
Home & Garden
Save water and money by fixing leaks around the house
Earth may be known as the "water planet" but even though about 70 percent of its surface is covered by water, less than one percent is available for human use according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Water supplies are finite, and we can all help protect this critical and precious … [Read more...] about Save water and money by fixing leaks around the house
3 cheap, eco-friendly cleaning products for everything
You don’t need to buy a cupboard full of expensive cleaning products. Just three ingredients clean almost everything in your house. Using vinegar, baking soda and Borax, you can make your own all-purpose spray cleaner, cleanser, drain cleaner and disinfectant.Here’s our handy list … [Read more...] about 3 cheap, eco-friendly cleaning products for everything
The Coupon Insider: How to spot fake coupons
We’ve heard it before. If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. This is definitely true when it comes to coupons – especially those offering free goods. While it is possible to obtain coupons for free products, they’re not widely available. I’ve only received them through contacting a … [Read more...] about The Coupon Insider: How to spot fake coupons
How I got rid of ants and saved $790
Several years ago, a tree on our property became infested with ants. When the insects found their way into the house, we called an exterminator who offered to eradicate the ants for $800. Then we called our Cooperative Extension agent, who recommended a sugar and baking soda solution that cost less … [Read more...] about How I got rid of ants and saved $790
How to buy a home in a sellers’ market
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
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
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
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
How to get the best deal on a mortgage
Most people will need a mortgage to buy a home. That means that not only do you need to shop for a home, you need to shop for a home loan. But a survey of 2013 borrowers by the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found that almost half of borrowers didn’t shop around before settling on a … [Read more...] about How to get the best deal on a mortgage
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 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
How to buy a home in a sellers’ market
If you’ve decided to buy a home, 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 desired by … [Read more...] about How to buy a home in a sellers’ market
