Your home needs remodeling, but which projects will add the most value when it comes time to sell it? Kitchens and bathrooms lead that list, with mostly cosmetic things like new floors and fixtures yielding good results. The biggest return, however, might be under your feet, with a basement refit into living space paying back almost its full cost. More good choices are new siding and insulation and a roof replacement (if you actually need one). Be sure your projects keep you in harmony with your neighborhood, and be sure you hire reliable contractors to do the work ..read more

Go over your income and expenses, then compare them and see where the pain points are. Separate your expense categories and put a dollar amount on them. You can even use the envelope method, where you separate the money for each category. As the months go on, see which envelopes go empty and fine-tune your process ..read more

There are great ways to have a romantic time without spending a ton. Set a budget and stick to it, and use a sales app to find the best prices on what you’ll buy. Buy flowers at a warehouse or discount store rather than online. Cook in if you can, creating a romantic dinner space anywhere you’d like in your home. If you must go out, be aware that restaurant menus are designed to trick you into spending more than you planned, so be careful! If your beloved will go for it, move your celebration back a couple days, everything will be on sale ..read more

When times are tough, the idea of saving for the future may seem out of reach, but it’s something you should be doing all the time. Savings help insulate you from crises, so start small and practice reaching goals like saving for a night out or another luxury. To help you save, look into a side hustle, trimming your expenses to the bone or even exploring what government assistance might be available. A financial counselor is a great idea to help you get perspective on what you’ve got and where you can go with it ..read more

We like to think of the internet as a happy little place we go to talk to friends and do our shopping, but scams are lurking around every corner. Is the website you’re visiting secure? Does it have the https: and the padlock icon on the URL? Is it riddled with misspellings and missing any contact info for the company? Are there pop-ups and embedded links trying to lure you into the malware swamp? Worst of all, did your browser do its duty and try to warn you the site wasn’t secure? All these things are signs that you’re entering a scammer’s territory and are about to be introduced to the world ..read more

Your son’s on the phone, and he’s got an emergency! He’s been kidnapped, arrested or put in some other jeopardy and needs money right away. Before you leap to his aid, look for red flags that show you you’re being scammed. Does he want the money sent by some untraceable means? Does he want personal information over the phone? Is he pushing the urgency of the situation and demanding you act quickly? All of these are sure signs of an emergency scam. Ask personal questions only he could answer, hang up and call him on his number. Remember: You’re most likely not helping anyone … just feeding a sc ..read more

Are you a smart shopper, always looking for a bargain? Well, beware, because not every “bargain” out there is what it seems to be. It might be a “discount” on an inflated price, or it might be a BOGO when you only need one. It might be something you don’t actually need, but the price drop draws you in, or it might be drastically discounted because it’s a returned or damaged item. Finally, have you done your homework to make sure there’s not a cheaper alternative? Be smart with your money ..read more