Get consumer advice on product purchases, financial planning, recalls, scams, fraud and more. Take a look at our articles, blog posts, Q&As, videos and radio shows for consumer advice on a wide variety of topics.
Neighbor’s House Fire Damaged My House
Neighbor's House Fire Damaged My House. Is our Neighbor Liable for the Damage? Q: We live in a townhouse. The unit attached to ours had a major fire. The fire also caused considerable damage to our home. We have been in temporary housing for the last 17 months waiting for our home to be restored. [...]
Do You Have a Bird Nest in Your Dryer Vent?
Is there a bird nest in your dryer vent? How can you prevent a bird from nesting in your dryer vent? Q: I live in an adult condominium community. There are sparrows that have built a bird nest in the dryer vents. The vents have four louvers. It is very easy for the birds to [...]
Pool Costs 2022: Diving into the deep end
What do pools cost in 2022? When thinking about buying a home with a swimming pool, savvy buyers research pool costs before diving into the deep end. Here are some steps to take when researching pool costs in 2022. Pool Costs 2022: Annual expense? Q: I am considering purchasing a home with an in-ground swimming [...]
Electric Car Charging Stations Update
Electric Car Charging Stations: an Update As we enter 2022, there has been a surge of interest in electric cars. In 2018, there were a million electric cars on the roads in the U.S. Last year, Tesla sold more than one million cars. General Motors announced a big move into the electric car space. PolicyAdvice [...]
Should Parents Split an Inheritance Equally? Not Always
Should parents split an inheritance equally? Not always. There are many reasons why you might not want to treat all children equally. Read more: Sign up for my Love, Money + Real Estate newsletter. Should parents split an inheritance equally? One of our readers sent in this question: Q: My mom is in her 90s, [...]
3 Financial Resolutions for 2021
3 financial resolutions for 2021. Three tips to help improve your personal finances and prepare for economic uncertainty in the new year. Here’s a guess: there aren’t many of us who’d care to redo 2020. COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, changed everything, killing more than 365,000 Americans (as of this writing in early January) and taking [...]
The Hottest Houseware Trends of 2021
The hottest houseware trends of 2021. Sales of these popular housewares are predicted to hold strong in the new year. After a historic year for houseware sales in 2020, when Americans spent more time at home than ever before, the industry is poised for another year of impressive sales growth. In 2021, it’s going to [...]
10 of the Best Luxury Housewares of 2020
10 of the best luxury housewares of 2020. The most highly sought after luxury housewares are multifunctional, high-tech and make people’s lives easier. Are you still trying to find the perfect gifts for the loved ones on your holiday shopping list? Well, you’re in luck because this week we’ve rounded up 10 of the best [...]
Top 5 DIY Home Improvement Projects During COVID-19
Top 5 DIY home improvement projects during COVID-19. In 2020, these are the five most popular DIY home improvement projects homeowners took on during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ninety percent of homeowners have tried their hand at DIY home improvement projects since the onset of COVID-19 in the U.S. in 2020, and 64 percent of them [...]