Category: HOME

5 Extreme Lawn, Patio and Garden Cost-Cutters

For some of us, there are few spring joys that are as soul-satisfying as a healthy, lush green lawn. Or a pristine patio with clean furniture and accessories. You may have noticed in the past that a beautifully maintained healthy lawn does not come without considerable cost, effort and care. And outdoor living areas don’t…


When First Jumping Into Rental Real Estate—Be Very Careful

Dear Monty: I want to buy my first rental property with my husband. We plan on purchasing with cash and buying cash flow of $1,500 a month. We found a property with three units and a monthly rent of $1,500. The only red flag is that it is reasonably priced and has been on the…


5 Essential Tips to Know Before Painting a Piece of Furniture

Refreshing furniture can be a quick, DIY-friendly process that gives new life to an old piece. With just a few hours of work, you can easily transform secondhand scores or hand-me-down furniture to fit your style and needs. The process typically involves adding a fresh coat of paint or stain for new color, texture or…


These Are the Most Common Spring Cleaning Mistakes

By Hunter Boyce From The Atlanta Journal-Constitution The tree leaves are sprouting and the flowers are blooming. Spring is nearly here, and that means it’s time to do another round of deep cleaning around the house. Before shuttering yourself away for a weekend with an arsenal of cleaning supplies, consider these quick tips on what not to…


Build in a Wall Niche

In many old homes you’ll often see a wall niche built into a wall as a focal point in a room as a showcase for a favorite piece of art or plant. The traditional design has a curved top with a recessed back, often a shell design, and a base shelf. The niche is custom-made…


Reader Discovers It’s Difficult to Pay the Balance to the Penny

Dear Cheapskate: This is petty perhaps, but how does one ever completely pay off a credit card account? We paid off a credit card recently (Hallelujah!) by sending a check for the exact amount of the balance due taken from the monthly statement. The following month we received a bill for $1.91—all of it a…


Are You Loading Your Dishwasher Wrong?

By Hunter Boyce From The Atlanta Journal-Constitution There are few things quite as frustrating about household chores as opening a dishwasher to discover still-dirty dishes. Trying to ascertain what went wrong with the wash can be perplexing, but it doesn’t have to be. Here is how to load a dishwasher the right way to ensure…


4 Astronauts Fly SpaceX Back Home, End 5-month Mission

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.—Four space station astronauts returned to Earth late Saturday after a quick SpaceX flight home. Their capsule splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico just off the Florida coast near Tampa. The U.S.–Russian–Japanese crew spent five months at the International Space Station, arriving last October. Besides dodging space junk, the astronauts had to…


Should I Get an AC Inspection?

By Paul F. P. Pogue From Ask Angi It might seem early to start thinking about your air conditioning unit, but late winter and early spring are the ideal times to be contacting your HVAC pro for an inspection and tuneup. A twice-yearly HVAC inspection—once in fall before heating starts, once in spring before you…


Do’s and Don’ts for Big, Bold Colors

By Cathy Hobbs From Tribune News Service With so much design focus on minimalism and neutral interiors dominated by taupe and black, bold colors remain a stable choice for those who prefer vibrancy in their environments. While bright and bold colors work perfectly in fun spaces like children’s bedrooms and playrooms, they can also work…