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Just like picking paint and furniture, it’s important to spend time choosing the best plants for your interior space. Not only should you be considering the care your new plant friends will need, but also how they will impact your space as they grow to their full forms. Below are several tips for picking the best houseplants.Understand sun exposure. The quickest way to shrivel a houseplant is by giving it the improper amount of sunshine. Take the time to get to know the sunniest and shadies ar...

While you might be considering adding heated flooring to your new home, there are a lot of questions to ask before you put your money into this luxury feature. If youre looking for another level of comfort in your home, its a great option"but it does come with a hefty price tag. Heres what you need to know:ProsDurable and reliable. This method of heating lasts longer than a regular home furnace"with proper care it can last up to 35 years.Comfortable. Theres no better feeling than a war...

Cleaning your window screens is a chore few homeowners look forward to. No matter how shiny you can get your window panes, if your screens are scuzzy, your windows will look less than well washed. Below are several tips for properly cleaning your pesky window screens.Start by removing your screens. To really deep clean your screens, you’re going to have to remove them. While it may seem like a pain, the extra effort is worth it in terms of dirt removal. However, if you’ve done a deep window ...

Your purse or wallet can be more than just a place to pull your money out of so you can spend it. It can also store a few things to remind you to use less money, or at least use it well.Here are five things to keep in your wallet that can help you use your money well:CashIf you follow the rule of only spending the amount of cash you have on you, then youll never have to pay credit card late fees or interest rates on charges, or pay to withdraw your money from an ATM not connected to your bank.St...

Music is an integral part of life from an early age. Parents sing and play soothing music for babies to help them fall asleep. Music can help with intellectual development. When children begin preschool, teachers sing songs to help them learn about letters, colors, animals and a host of other topics. Music can help children express their emotions in a positive way. Dancing to a song can help kids develop motor skills. An early love of music leads many children to later take music lessons and joi...

To avoid late fees and a possible increase in your credit card interest rate, make at least the minimum payment on your credit card bill each month. The minimum due will change from month to month, so it can be hard knowing ahead of time how much money you’ll have to come up with to pay that minimum amount.Paying only the minimum, however, means it will take a while to pay off the credit card bill in full, resulting in interest payments on the balance. Paying the balance in full each month is ...

Found money is a gift. And with the internet, it’s easier than ever to find it.Unclaimed assets may be sitting somewhere in your name, waiting for you to find and claim them. With some simple online searches, you can look for unclaimed money in seconds and possibly find a windfall.Unclaimed money can come from a family member who has died. They may have a life insurance policy, retirement benefit and other policies you may not know about that are legally yours as an heir. Here are some resourc...

Wood floors are a top choice for modern homeowners. Proponents believe they offer warmth as well as elegance, but they do require care to maintain their luster and are costly. Fortunately, say flooring exerts, technology makes it easy to achieve the look and feel of wood flooring without the need for special care"and at a far lower cost.Check out the look and feel of these alternatives at local flooring or big box stores. (If you don’t plan to do it yourself, factor in $30 to $45 an hour ...

Significant works of art require being exhibited in a way that does them justice.Heres what you need to know about displaying your art at home… Assess the SpaceIs the space best for a few large paintings or several smaller works? Group pieces that are connected in some way, like style, color or motif.LightingWarm, dimmable light bulbs are best to illuminate the artworks natural hues. Avoid direct sunlight, as it can cause fading.Consult a ProfessionalBring in a professional to help curate your...

If you’re a fan of that rustic look, or just love to feature beautiful wood in your space, then your home may already be covered with hardwood floors below, exposed beams above and wood furniture throughout. But if you’re looking to add even more wood to your interior scheme, consider a few of the following.Countertops. While real wood countertops may be more difficult to maintain, their gorgeous look in your space may make them worth it. Shop around with your local counter conveyor, or hire...

Puttering in the garden is an age-old hobby pursued for several reasons; it can keep you fit, provide food and flowers, and help you live in a more beautiful world. Experienced gardeners say mastering a few simple skills can get you off to a productive start to the home garden of your dreams:Know your soil. Before you plant, it’s important to know the kind of plants your soil will best support. If you’re new to the neighborhood, ask a neighbor or local garden shop if the soil is alkaline, ac...

Having more meaningful relationships with friends both new and old is a great goal, and it can start with your conversations. Below are five tips for those of us frustrated with small talk.Skip the weather. As tempting as it may be to springboard off the weather, this can lead you down the empty-conversation rabbit hole and into a twenty-minute dialogue about rain. Asking about almost anything else should yield more interesting results.Think of base questions. So, what should you talk about, if ...

A debit card can be your worst enemy when it comes to identity fraud.Credit and debit card fraud totaled $4.5 billion in 2016, according to a report by iovation, a provider of digital intelligence for fraud prevention.A debit card can be a smart way to shop if you dont want to carry cash or use a credit card and pay interest on unpaid balances. But they come with a few drawbacks.First, a debit card is linked directly to your bank account, so anyone with your card information can instantly withdr...

Owning a home is infinitely rewarding but issues do pop up, and theres no need to call a handyman every time something goes haywire. The home repair experts at HGTV suggest four things every homeowner should know how to do:Change smoke detector batteries. Do this twice a year or anytime you hear a loud chirping. Get up on a ladder and twist the body of the unit off the bracket. If it isnt hardwired, it will completely remove. Change the battery and twist it back in place.Find the main water shut...