Manual or automatic? The debate has raged for many years, ever since automatic transmission technology became good enough to popularize these easy-driving vehicles. Once upon a time, almost every car on the road used a manual transmission, and learning to expertly release the clutch and shift gears was an immutable fact of growing up. Now,...
Read more about Manual vs. Automatic Transmission: Which Is Better?
No one ever takes their boat out thinking they’ll get into an accident. Even still, there were 4,168 boating accidents recorded in 2019. Alcohol, hazardous water, lack of operator experience, and general inattentiveness were statistically the top four causes; but when you consider that 70 percent of these accidents happened to boaters who had received...
Read more about Why You Should Consider Taking a Boater Safety Course
College is a series of firsts for students. It’s the first time they’ll live on their own, be responsible for every meal, handle their laundry and even complete homework without you there to help. Still, parents struggle with whether or not that independence should come with financial help. Should your college student get an allowance,...
Read more about Should You Give Your College Student an Allowance?
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (known as HUD)[1], the difference between manufactured, modular, and mobile homes all comes down to differences in construction and safety. Manufactured and mobile homes must be built according to HUD’s building codes while modular homes must follow local, state, and/or regional building codes. Mobile, manufactured,...
Read more about Mobile vs. Manufactured vs. Modular Homes: What’s the Difference?
If you haven’t bought a new car in a few years, you may be in for a surprise the next time you need to change your tire. For about the past four years, most car manufacturers have been leaving an old standard off of new cars: the spare tire. “It’s been a slow, progressive change,”...
Read more about How to Fix a Flat Tire Without a Spare
Spending money is a fact of life. You need to spend money to pay for the essentials, like food, clothing, and a roof over your head. So it’s good to know that a budget can help you manage those expenses and keep your spending in check. To avoid impulse purchases and other temptations, try to...
Read more about How to Save Money and Spend Less
Learning how to live on your own can be an exciting time in your life, but it’s also a big and costly transition. One of the first and most important decisions you’ll need to make involves finding a place to live that fits your budget. Because this is typically your largest expense, it raises the...
Read more about How Much Should You Spend on Rent?
Your home needs the right roof to keep everything inside protected and keep your house structurally sound. There are many different types of roofs, from wood and asphalt to slate and tile. One type of roof that’s been gaining more popularity is metal.[1] Metal roofs are appealing to homeowners of all types of houses and...
Read more about Metal Roofing Pros and Cons for Your Home
The best bargain shoppers know that timing is everything. Different products follow different cycles of pricing, depending on everything from holidays to weather to annual trade shows. Check out our month-by-month suggestions for the best deals and steals.
Read more about Best Times to Buy Big Ticket Items
You’re ready to hit the high seas for your cruise, but is your suitcase? Packing for a cruise, unlike a land-based getaway, means a different set of rules. If you’re wondering what to bring on a cruise, here are the essentials you need to enjoy your vacation: Appropriate Attire and Accessories 1. Sneakers Just because...
Read more about What to Pack for a Cruise: 21 Cruise Packing Essentials
These hints will help you reduce energy use along with the temperature. As summer arrives, many people think, “Thank goodness for air conditioning.” That is, until the bill for cranking the A/C arrives. Fortunately, there are many energy-efficient ways to keep your house cool. Beat the heat this summer with these home cooling tips. 1....
Read more about Seven Ways to Keep Your House Cool This Summer
If you’re looking to buy a house, one of the first questions a real estate agent will ask is what kind of house you’re seeking. Everyone usually has a preference, and knowing what yours is can help your agent understand what options to show you. Because buying a home is a long-term commitment, it’s important...
Read more about Your Guide to the 6 Most Common Styles of Homes
If you’re looking for ways to save money, learning how to reuse household items is a good place to start. These eight common items can work double-duty, stretching their usefulness and your dollar. 1. Cereal bags When you finish your favorite breakfast cereal, keep the plastic bag and reuse it like wax paper to separate...
Read more about 8 Ways to Reuse Things in Your Home
Owning the right basic tools makes life easier, whether it’s having the right screwdriver to assemble new furniture, a wrench to tighten faucets and training wheels or a hammer that will last a lifetime. Here’s a look at what you should have in your basic tool set to help you tackle virtually any home improvement...
Read more about Indispensable Tools for Your Basic Tool Kit [Slideshow]
For Millennials, figuring out how and where to save money and invest it is a little trickier than for previous generations. In many ways this group has the same financial concerns of previous generations. They might be paying off student debt, saving for a house, putting money into retirement accounts, building an emergency fund and...
Read more about Millennials and Generation Z: How to Prioritize Finances to Get Ahead