Here’s what grandparents should know before giving college money to their heirs. If you’re a grandparent, you know how hard it is to resist the urge to give your grandchildren everything—the extra cookie, a special toy, even an expensive college education. In fact, you may already be funneling money into a savings account earmarked for...
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Buckle up and turn your next road trip into a veritable treasure hunt If the words “flea market” bring to mind a few dozen people rummaging through boxes full of dusty knickknacks, prepare to be surprised. Thanks to television shows like Antiques Roadshow and American Pickers, flea markets have become attractive destination spots. Each year...
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Do your allergies flare up when you switch on your central air or heat? You’re not alone. Turning on the air conditioning or furnace when the weather changes stirs up all kinds of allergens, and circulates them throughout the house. Take a look at what may be lurking in your vents, and learn what you can do to clean up the air in your home.
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Fire prevention in the home is something we all need a refresher on from time to time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 85 percent of fire deaths happen in the home, and those household fires are responsible for billions of dollars in property damages each year. The good news is that nearly all home fires are preventable by watching out for a few common fire hazards
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This quiz can help your teen get ready to roll. For teenagers who are gearing up to earn a learner’s permit to drive, the process inevitably requires an exam to test knowledge of your state’s traffic laws. While some questions on state sites specifically speak to local laws, the following practice questions address universal, safe-driving...
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Plan ahead to minimize the expenses incurred when using an ATM of credit card on vacation. There are so many things to keep track of when traveling to another country: the language, the culture and the currency. Just thinking about the currency exchange can make a vacation seem exhausting. An easier solution? Use your ATM...
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With a little education, you’ll find a rock you can roll with. When it comes to buying a diamond engagement ring, bargain hunting is futile. A too-good-to-be-true deal could easily turn into a rip-off. Arm yourself with a bit of information, and you can get more value for your money and find a beautiful...
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Appearance, reputation, cost and materials are the giveaways. The only thing nearly as unfortunate as a car accident is a bad experience at a body shop. You’re placing the keys (and your faith) in the hands of a business that could keep your vehicle for far longer than you expect. And the resulting bill may...
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Eliminate small nicks and blemishes on your auto without paying a pro Maybe a grocery cart went awry in a parking lot and hit your car, or your keys scraped the door handle. Either way, you know what that means: a nick or scratch in the finish. Left untouched, a minor cut could lead to...
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Americans aren’t going to let prices at the pump keep them from hitting the road. Whether you’re driving to grandma’s house or a national park, putting some thought into your packing will get your trip off to a great start and ensure the safety and comfort of your passengers. With this in mind, consider these...
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Find out which factors you can control to keep your cost down. Although many factors—like the color of your car—don’t weigh into the cost of your auto insurance, others do. Some of these are beyond your control. Many of them reflect actions or decisions, though, so you can control your costs. Here are four you...
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Be sure to light your home the right way. Electric lights are such a fixture of our everyday lives that we really don’t give them much thought. But every year, more than 28,000 residential electrical fires cause an estimated $1 billion in damage, according to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). So those simple lighting projects...
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Talk to your agent about these ways to save money and protect your car Do you want to lower your auto insurance premiums right now? Of course you do! These hints can help you save. Be a good driver. The best way to keep rates low—and even get them lowered—is to avoid any tickets for...
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Periodically reassess your investment mix to ensure you can meet your goals Did you reassess your 401(k) portfolio this year? Although you might be enrolled in a plan that automatically shifts your investment mix over time, only you know your long-term financial goals and how much money it will take to achieve them. Take a...
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Find out what’s going on with the wiring in your walls Picture this: It’s a quiet night and you’re calmly reading a classic Stephen King novel in bed when, for no reason, the lights suddenly dim. While the possibility of an evil spirit haunting your home is scary, the real possibility of electrical trouble should...
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