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
Hot Deals
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
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
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
Cheap and easy cleaning methods
I'm always on the lookout for tricks that make cleaning my house easier, but of course those tricks need to be cheap, too. If you feel the same, you're going to love this post. Who wouldn't want to clean their house in less time and with less expense? Many of these tips I've tried and use regularly, … [Read more...] about Cheap and easy cleaning methods
How to cut the cost of prom and still be cool
Time was, going to the prom meant you got a new dress (or a sister’s hand-me-down). Your date, who wore a suit and brought a corsage, picked you up in his own (or his parents’) car. You went to the dance and then he took you home. Any teenager today would laugh at such an idea.When my own kids … [Read more...] about How to cut the cost of prom and still be cool
What you need to know about energy-saving light bulbs
Recently, I discovered that I was down to one old-fashioned incandescent 60-watt light bulb. The day of reckoning had arrived. I was finally going to have to figure out the new energy-saving light bulbs.The standard Thomas Edison incandescent light bulb is extremely inefficient, wasting about … [Read more...] about What you need to know about energy-saving light bulbs
Taste top restaurants for less during restaurant weeks
For the cheapskate-gourmet, it’s better than Christmas: Restaurant Week, when some of the best — and priciest — tables offer a three-course prix fixe lunch.As a New Yorker, I look forward to this event each year, during which I can enjoy an all-star chef-prepared $25 lunch and/or a three-course … [Read more...] about Taste top restaurants for less during restaurant weeks
Which is cheaper? Cloth diapers vs. disposables
When people find out that we use cloth diapers, I get a few different reactions:“Gross! I would never want to wash dirty diapers” “Why? Disposables work so well. Don’t your utilities bills increase from the extra laundry?” “Cool. I wish I could use cloth diapers, but I don’t … [Read more...] about Which is cheaper? Cloth diapers vs. disposables
How to build a cheap cloth diaper stash
If you’re interested in using cloth diapers, the choices and up-front cost can be daunting. Prices vary greatly among styles and brands, but plenty of affordable ways can be found to purchase cloth diapers, especially if you plan ahead.When building your stash, aim for 20 to 24 … [Read more...] about How to build a cheap cloth diaper stash
5 tips to find the best local prices on clothing in 10 minutes or Less
While new technologies in virtual retail are allowing you to browse a store’s merchandise and see fashion catwalks in action, we all still have times when we just have to run to a local store and get something in person. Whether we are down to the wire with finding an outfit for an office party or … [Read more...] about 5 tips to find the best local prices on clothing in 10 minutes or Less
5 free things to do in Miami
When you see Miami on TV, you see glitz and glamour and celebrities and think everything there must be incredibly expensive. But the Miami of the locals, while still filled with waterfront views and sunlight, is much more affordable.Here are five free or cheap things to do in Miami:Go to the … [Read more...] about 5 free things to do in Miami
