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Laurie Skrivan/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/TNS

St. Louis has lost residents for decades. The tornado could nudge more to leave

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

ST. LOUIS — The sounds of nail guns and roofing hammers echoed through the neighborhood as Lisa Mannery surveyed the impassible pile of branches stacked in her backyard. An HVAC unit hung precariously from the roof of the still-closed Save A Lot on Natural Bridge Avenue behind her house.

Her roof, like many others nearby, was covered by a ...Read more

Real estate Q&A: Should neighbor pay for damage caused by washing machine leak?

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Q: My neighbor, two floors above me, had an original washing machine from almost 40 years ago that leaked into my first-floor unit while they were away. It caused roughly $10,000 in damage, but their insurance won’t cover it, and mine would only cover $4,000. Now the neighbors are refusing to cover the difference. What is my recourse? — Jack...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: Practical Tips to Help With Home Maintenance and Repair

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

Maintenance costs can put a serious dent in your budget and savings -- a dent that's tough to repair. While there are certain things you definitely need an expert to handle, there are plenty of other situations in which you can make minor but meaningful repairs without calling for professional support -- while saving serious cash.

From closet ...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: Surprising Other Uses for Automatic Dishwasher Detergent

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

It's no secret that dishwasher detergent is specifically formulated to be used in automatic dishwashers whether it comes as powder, pods, pacs, liquid or gel. What may come as a big surprise is that these products' grease and dirt-busting abilities can be used outside the dishwasher in many useful ways.

Case in point: my microfiber cloths. I ...Read more

Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/TNS

Chicago Fire plan to build $650M soccer stadium in South Loop

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

CHICAGO — After nearly a decade of big swings and misses, including a recent failed bid to build a new White Sox ballpark, The 78 and developer Related Midwest may have finally found an anchor tenant to kick-start the proposed mixed-use megadevelopment in the South Loop.

The Chicago Fire announced plans Tuesday for a privately financed $650 ...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: How to Make Proper Iced Tea, According to My Mother-In-Law

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

The only thing more comforting than a tall glass of iced tea on a hot day is knowing how to make that perfect iced tea yourself with confidence -- for just pennies per serving.

My mother-in-law, a proud Canadian, taught me the difference between proper iced tea and the "swill" most restaurants pour, which in her opinion was, at best, a very ...Read more

Andreistanescu/Dreamstime/TNS

Bank mergers are booming. Here's why savers should watch their wallets

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Big bank mergers are starting to pick up steam in 2025, and history shows that’s not typically good news for savers. The recent wave of consolidation in the banking industry could spell trouble for your interest rates, account terms and overall financial choices.

As a reporter who has gained some keen insights on banking, covering finance for...Read more

DREAMSTIME/TNS

What's an individual retirement annuity? How they work, contribution limits and payouts

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

As you plan for retirement, building a secure nest egg becomes a top priority. Individual retirement annuities and individual retirement accounts (IRAs) are two similar-sounding options, but they function in very distinct ways.

This article explains how individual retirement annuities work, their advantages and disadvantages and how they ...Read more

Tirachard Kumtanom/Dreamstime/TNS

Can you pay to remove negative items from your credit report?

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Debts in collections typically stay on your credit report for seven years and can harm your score for as long as they appear. Some credit repair tactics can potentially get collection accounts taken off of your credit report sooner, but that’s generally only if the information is inaccurate.

Some people may recommend asking for a pay-for-...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: Frugal Fixes for Aging Skin and Hair

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

Let's face it -- slowing the aging process can be a full-time job (without benefits). Skin loses its bounce, hair forgets how to shine, and suddenly your eyebrows need a motivational speaker. But here's the good news: You don't need a trust fund or a drawer full of fancy potions to look and feel great. You just need a little humor, a few kitchen...Read more

Real estate Q&A: Should HOA pay for off-site parking during structural repairs?

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Q: We live in a 20-story condominium where every unit has one assigned spot in the garage, and we all share a large upper parking deck. Last year, the upper parking deck was deemed unsafe, resulting in the installation of shoring poles in the garage below, which blocked some assigned parking spots. The people whose spots were blocked, along with...Read more

Courtesy City of Mountain View/TNS/TNS

As Google retreats from real estate, will it still build the 15,000 homes it promised?

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

When Google made its $1 billion pledge to address the Bay Area’s housing shortage in 2019, the plan hinged on the company expanding its office presence in Silicon Valley.

The majority of the housing pledge wasn’t cash — though there was some of that — but land. Specifically, $750 million worth of suburban office parks the company ...Read more

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images North America/TNS

US pending home sales drop by most since 2022 on mortgage rates

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Pending sales of previously owned U.S. homes last month fell by the most since September 2022, illustrating a disappointing spring selling season as prospective buyers balk at high asking prices and borrowing costs.

An index of contract signings dropped 6.3% in April to 71.3, according to National Association of Realtors data issued Thursday. ...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: Quick and Easy Outdoor Cleaning and Storage Tips

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

Many outdoor cleaning and storage solutions can be rather expensive, especially when compared with Everyday Cheapskate do-it-yourself or homemade alternatives. Here are some of my favorite cleaning tips and storage solutions for the garage and patio that will give you the results you need without the costs you don't.

BARBECUE COVER

Protect ...Read more

Dreamstime/Dreamstime/TNS

AI is changing shopping. Will consumers buy in?

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Carolyn Bennett remembers flipping through a yellow telephone book in the 1980s to find carpet stores and workers who refinished wood to help renovate her home.

Today, the 67-year-old uses a chatbot to help her shop. Bennett has turned to ChatGPT, which she refers to as "Chat," to find vendors for a kitchen renovation project, compare heat ...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: How to Liquify Crystallized Honey and the Best Way to Store It

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

It's discouraging when you reach for the honey, only to discover it is no longer a smooth liquid, but all grainy -- like sugar. You may have even tossed it into the trash assuming that it had gone bad and was no longer edible. Truth be told, it is still perfectly delicious and nutritious. It's easy to turn crystallized honey back into its liquid...Read more

Dreamstime/TNS/TNS

NYC's Rent Guidelines Board, in unusual move, lowers proposed increases as mayoral election heats up

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

New York City's Rent Guidelines Board lowered the range of potential rent increases for some 2 million New Yorkers in an unusual redo vote on Tuesday — a move that comes as the issue of freezing rents has taken center stage in the contentious mayoral race.

The board reduced the proposed range of increases for rent-stabilized tenants with two-...Read more

Richie Lomba/Dreamstime/TNS

IRS Direct File will be cancelled if Republican tax bill becomes law

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

The $3.8 trillion Republican tax bill that just passed the House includes a provision to kill off the popular IRS Direct File program, which lets people file their federal income tax returns for free online.

The bill still needs to pass the Senate to become law, but if the bill is enacted as currently written, the Direct File program is slated...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: How to Save Money and Get Financially Confident

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

For a good deal of my life, I lived under a dark cloud of fear that I would end up financially destitute -- a bag lady. Studies reveal that I'm not the only one. Most of us have felt that way, not because we're broke but because we lack confidence. That makes us timid, worried and financially insecure.

Look, we don't have to accept financial ...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: How to Break the Plastic Wrap Habit in Your Kitchen (and What to Use Instead)

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

Let's talk about plastic wrap. That clingy, crinkly roll we all keep in the drawer -- the one that never tears straight and sticks to everything except the bowl you're trying to cover. It's convenient until you stop and ask: Is this really the best we can do?

Spoiler: It's not. And honestly, it's time to break the habit.

THE TROUBLE WITH ...Read more

 

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