Thrifting has gone from a quaint hobby to a mainstream activity, and from clothing to home décor and beyond. Home thrifting shoppers enjoy the thrill of finding one-of-a-kind pieces that tell a story versus a big box store dupe, says Ann Couser Kittredge, creator of Dabbling & Decorating, a New England-based home décor blog. “It’s
As home prices have surged in recent years, homeowners have emerged as the real winners in real estate. You may be shocked at just how much wealth you and other homeowners have built. “The market’s health is supported by a cumulative 49% home price appreciation for a typical American homeowner from pre-COVID July 2019 to
That shocking number on your latest electric bill isn’t a mistake. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics confirmed what millions of Americans are experiencing: Electricity costs have skyrocketed at more than double the overall inflation rate over the past year ending in June 2025. We knew energy prices were climbing, but we weren’t prepared for
The heat is on. Forecasts predict hotter-than-average temperatures across the U.S. this summer, with extreme heat likely in the Northeast and West, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. At the same time, electricity costs will hit a record 12-year high, says the National Energy Assistance Directors Association. The double whammy of soaring heat
One of the most widely used statistics online is 78 degrees Fahrenheit, which has been the target thermostat setting in summer. That standard came in 2019 from ENERGY STAR, a federal program of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency. The goal was for consumers to get needed cooling while saving energy. Five years
If you’re like most homeowners, you’re squeezing more out of your outdoor space but overlooking a key area: the front yard. We’ve packed our backyards with outdoor kitchens, play and lounging areas, firepits, and gardens. In the process, we’ve unintentionally missed out on front yard landscaping improvements. Both the numbers and the experts support the
Whether adding a cutout between rooms, doing minor wall touch-ups, or bringing your wall’s outdated textures into this decade, you’ll need to get familiar with drywall. Drywall installation has a reputation as a labor-intensive project, and rightfully so. But if you’re an experienced, capable DIYer, you might be thinking about trying to install drywall on
You may be prepping to put your house on the market or simply want to enjoy your home more. Whatever your goal, home improvement pros and DIYers tout a fresh coat of paint as a favorite oow-cost home upgrade that can make a huge impact. But what else can you do to accessorize and decorate?
Your house gives you so much: security, pride, shelter. With all that on the line, it’s easy to assume the costs of keeping it up just are what they are. But wait. There are plenty of expenses that are simply a waste. 35 Easy Ways to Save Money Around the House Small changes can start
