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,...
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When you experience car trouble, it’s nice to know that help is most often just a phone call away. But a little education about some basic car maintenance and repair will go a long way if you’re ever caught in a tricky situation. Flat tires are a common roadside problem. Unfortunately, since you can’t do...
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What do baby powder, olive oil, and dryer sheets have in common? They’re common household items—that when repurposed—can help solve many everyday problems. When it comes to cleaning and fixing things around the house, there are plenty of different uses for everyday items. Here are 15 household product uses. 1. Alka-Seltzer Clean build-up in your...
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Buying new tires can be a confusing chore. What do all those numbers mean? Should I go with winter tires or all-season? And, of course, how do I know when I need new ones? Taking care of your tires and maintaining good driving habits can help extend the life of your tires, but eventually you’ll...
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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,...
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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,”...
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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...
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Strolling around the local farmers market on a Saturday morning is a popular pastime, and if you grow, bake, craft, or create things as a hobby, you may have wondered if you might sell your goods and produce there. Farmers markets are growing in popularity, so it’s no surprise that gardeners, bakers, artists, and other...
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There’s nothing like the great outdoors, and camping is a great way to enjoy the fresh air. If you don’t want to pay campsite fees and travel costs, you can set up camp in your own backyard. Check out these tips on how to go camping in your own backyard. 1. Set up camp Just...
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When you and your teen are shopping for a new car, safety should be top priority. The increase in smart technologies in vehicles means there are more ways today to help keep young drivers safe. The 10 small and midsize cars listed below are top safety picks by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, which...
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When your car doesn’t fare well in the snow and ice, winter can be a challenging time to get around. If you live in an area that gets hit hard, it may be time to consider a vehicle better suited for snowy weather. Here’s a look at 10 models from US News and Auto Guide...
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When it comes to getting car help, there’s no shortage of things that owners want to know. And there’s no shortage of important vehicle-related information to learn. Start with the essentials. Take a look at five of the most common car questions drivers ask car mechanics — and their answers. 1. Why does my “check...
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Working headlights are essential for driving any car safely, but they occasionally go out. Knowing how to change a headlight and what to look for when the front of your car goes dark can help you quickly remedy the problem. Check if the headlight bulb is out Determining the cause of a headlight issue begins...
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Sometimes, there’s nothing better than splashing in your backyard pool, sipping lemonade and enjoying the sunshine. And by landscaping around the pool, you have the potential to enhance or completely transform the atmosphere into something that’s even more welcoming and beautiful. Whether you add a protective fence or plant decorative shrubs, there are many pool...
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When it comes to winter, we tend to obsess about snow, ice and cold. But what about all the road salt and sand that come with these often nasty elements? Yes, we appreciate that they serve in the interest of public safety—the rock salt helps melt ice even if it’s freezing, and the sand keeps...
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