The swimming pool: sometimes the homeowner’s crown jewel, other times a liability that presents little more than an attractive nuisance. A pool’s upkeep can be taxing if not executed properly, and the consequences of poor pool maintenance are ruinous to your bank account and personal health alike. But if you know how to take care...
Read more about 7 Pool Maintenance Tips
Get a Life Insurance Quote The prospect of a new home is exciting. Packing up and moving your stuff – not so much. We asked Sarah Roussos-Karakaian, whose New York company We OrgaNYze specializes in packing and unpacking for residential moves, to help us design the perfect stress-free move. “The biggest mistake people make when...
Read more about How to Pack for a Move
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
You don’t have to live near a canyon or forest for your property to be threatened by wildfire. Nearly 1/3 of U.S. homes are in wildfire-prone areas, according to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS). The impact of a wildfire can be tragic and expensive. For instance, the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Department of the Interior spend a staggering $3.5 billion a year combating the fires. Key to lessening the damage to homes and businesses is knowledge and preparation.
Read more about Wildfire Safety Guide for Homes & Businesses
Looking for adventure in Big Country, USA? Then you very well could end up behind the wheel of a recreational vehicle (RV). In fact, RVs are more popular than ever, as there are 11.2 million U.S. households that own one, according to the RV Industry Association. It’s common for potential RV buyers to rent a...
Read more about 7 RV Rental Tips for First Time RVers
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
What is an emergency fund? Sometimes called a rainy day fund , an emergency fund is money that you set aside to serve as your financial safety net for when you need it. What qualifies as an emergency? To a certain extent, an emergency varies by the individual, but one way to think of it...
Read more about How to Start an Emergency Fund
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?
Now more than ever it’s difficult to navigate life without a solid credit history. From applying for a loan to renting an apartment, good credit is a must. If you’re just starting out and lack any form of credit history – or the information on your credit report is mostly negative – the following are...
Read more about How to Build Your Credit
A revocable living trust, or simply a living trust, is legal entity created to hold ownership of assets generally used to determine how their assets will be handled after they die. The person who creates this living trust is called the grantor or the trustmaker and typically also serves as the trustee, meaning they handle...
Read more about What Is a Revocable Living Trust?
While many people think tornadoes impact only the Midwest, every state in the country is vulnerable to tornadoes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Approximately 1,200 tornadoes hit the U.S. each year, causing an average of $24,000 in home damage and $4,000 in auto damage Strong winds from tornadoes can seriously damage the structural...
Read more about How to Prepare for a Tornado
Whether you’ve owned one before or you’re new to riding a personal watercraft (also known as a PWC), selecting a PWC that best suits your lifestyle and budget requires research and time. To help make the selection process easier for you, we put together these buying tips for personal watercraft. Knowing What to Look For...
Read more about Jet Ski Buying Guide: What to Know Before You Purchase
No one could ever love your children quite like you do. But in the unlikely event that both you and your partner pass away, it’s important to have a guardian named in your will (the only place where this directive can be given) who can care for your children in your absence. Deciding who this...
Read more about How to Choose a Guardian for Your Child
Any sudden, unplanned decision to purchase a product or service is considered to be impulse buying. These spur-of-the-moment purchases can be big or small, but they are never planned. If you’re standing in line at the supermarket checkout and suddenly decide to purchase a candy bar, that’s an impulse purchase. But the same can be...
Read more about How to Stop Impulse Buying
There are seemingly endless ways to arrange your apartment, but having an arsenal of good ideas can cut through the clutter. Did you just move out of an apartment? Ready to start with a fresh design for your new one? From figuring out the best way to decorate your kitchen to knowing what plants can...
Read more about 7 Apartment Decorating Ideas When Buying Furniture Online