Your pets are as bothered by the summer heat as you are, yet most of them lack the ability to turn on the air conditioner. They rely on you to keep them safe. Continue Reading…
Monthly Archives: June 2015
Keeping Young Minds Fit Over the Summer Months
A summer away from books and reading can cause children to lose some of their reading skills. A new program from retailer Macy’s and Reading Is Fundamental aims to make sure this doesn’t happen. Continue Reading…
Working While on Vacation
Do you work when you’re supposed to be on vacation? You’re certainly not alone in this strange American past-time, and we have some new data that proves this. Continue Reading…
Guest Blog: Save Instead of Spend This Summer –And Have Fun Doing it!
This week we have a very special guest blog from our friends at BALANCE Financial Fitness!
Summer is a time when certain things are plentiful: the sun, your kids’ availability, and a myriad of ways to spend money. One thing that might not be so available is the cash to do all the things you want. Here are some ways to maximize your dollars over the summer and not break the bank doing it.
- Consider taking a “staycation” instead of packing everyone up for a trip or spending money on pricey air travel and hotels. Get to know your city by going to museums, parks, and attractions nearby. If you do want to hit the road, consider a house-swap with a friend in another city, or road-trip it with camping, not hotels.
- Summer camp is a great adventure for kids but it can also be expensive. You may be eligible use Flexible Spending Account (FSA) dollars through your employer to fund camps with pre-tax dollars (note that day camps are typically eligible for dependent care credit but sleep-away camps are not). Talk to your tax advisor to find out more.
- Though it’s not considered “summer fun” necessarily, doing your own home energy audit could save you big all year round (a professional home energy audit can cost between $200-500). Create a checklist and look for air leaks around windows, doors, and other areas, check insulation, and take a close look at your heating and cooling equipment. If your children are age-appropriate, enlist their help with the audit. It will help reinforce the importance of saving money and DIY. Get more energy tips.
- Another fun and frugal way to enjoy summer months is to plant vegetables and fruit plants at home. It will also give children the opportunity to plant, grow, and pick their own fruit and vegetables. Consider easy-to-grow items like lettuce, tomatoes, and berries. Bonus: you’ll also save on your grocery bills.
Have a garage sale. Summer is the perfect time to get rid of those old books, clothes, furniture, and anything else just taking up room. Not only will you free up more space, it’s an activity the whole family can participate in. The best part? You’ll get extra cash for some summer fun!
Where to Retire?
New York City may be a place of culture and excitement but it’s a lousy place to retire to, according to a new report. Continue Reading…
KBB Picks the Coolest Cars Under $18,000
It’s getting harder and harder to find a new vehicle priced at less than $20k that is truly desirable, or “cool.” Fortunately, we have the experts at vehicle valuation site KBB.com to make the task easier.
Popular LED Lamps Recalled Due to Burn Hazard
More than 700,000 LED lamps are being recalled due to fears that they may overheat and melt, causing burn injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The lamps were sold at Home Depot stores as replacements for traditional two pin T8 fluorescent tubes. Continue Reading…
Is Pedaling Backward Good for the Heart?
If you’ve been pedaling your exercise bike forward all these years, you may have been missing out on some awesome fitness benefits. Continue Reading…
Workplace Etiquette: What the Boss Doesn’t Know
There’s a big difference between what employees are up to, and what bosses think they’re up to. This is especially true when it comes workplace etiquette, it seems.
Don’t Make this Mistake if You’re Looking for a Job
If you don’t have a professional online presence you might miss out on the dream job you’re seeking. Many employers discriminate against job-seekers that they can’t find online, and many of them are using social media for recruiting. These are some of the latest findings from CareerBuilder. Continue Reading…