Winter is definitely here, and for many that means high utility bills to heat their homes. While you can’t do anything about the chilly weather, you can take steps to make your home more energy efficient and pay less for heating. To start, the U.S. Department of Energy has a do-it-yourself … [Read more...] about 14 home improvements that save on your heating bill
Home Improvement
Plan for needed home repairs
A major home repair can tax any budget. But you don’t have to be surprised when something in your home goes kaput. It’s possible to know, more or less, how long most home components are likely to last and plan for their replacement. Plus, knowing the life span of appliances and home fixtures can … [Read more...] about Plan for needed home repairs
How to pay for major home improvements
Do you want to improve your home? We all do. Your list may include renovating the kitchen, addding a deck, changing outdated light fixtures, building an addition, update the heating and cooling systems or other projects. All those things sound great but they cost home. Home improvements can be … [Read more...] about How to pay for major home improvements
How to build and grow your own salad table
Do you love vegetables and salad, but can't plant a regular garden? A salad table is a portable, waist-high table just deep enough to grow salad greens, herbs and other shallow-rooted plants and vegetables. The shallow wooden box frame has a large surface area and a mesh bottom that … [Read more...] about How to build and grow your own salad table
D-I-Y home office organization
My home office often looks more like a kindergarten classroom with paper, pens, markers and more strewn around. I have visions of a perfectly organized space with a spot for everything and everything in its spot. But to get from the kindergarten-like chaos to the Martha Stewart-like organization, … [Read more...] about D-I-Y home office organization
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
How to renovate your home to age in place
On his 59th birthday, Robert Criner's house burned down. While planning the rebuild, he thought about what elements would make life easier for him and his wife as they get older. Like many baby boomers who remodel, he wants an attractive house that doesn't scream "old people live here," while … [Read more...] about How to renovate your home to age in place
12 fixes that will get you a higher price for your house
If you’re looking to sell your home quickly and for top dollar, there are some lesser-known words that match the importance of the famous real estate phrase "location, location, location." Those all-important words? Curb appeal. As the saying goes, "You don’t get a second chance to make a … [Read more...] about 12 fixes that will get you a higher price for your house
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 choose a water heater: conventional or tankless?
When Grayson Bell moved into a new home in Raleigh, North Carolina, he planned to replace his 27-year-old water heater. The founder of personal finance blog DebtRoundup.com, Bell thought he could save money by installing a tankless water heater. But after consulting more than a dozen plumbers, he … [Read more...] about How to choose a water heater: conventional or tankless?
10 cheap, easy ways to stage your home for sale
You’ve decided to sell your home, and you want to get top dollar for it. And you’ve seen TV shows where homeowners spend thousands of dollars staging their homes for sale, but there’s an important detail to consider: You don’t have thousands and thousands to spend. The good news is there are many … [Read more...] about 10 cheap, easy ways to stage your home for sale
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
