Budget & Saving

Also known as real estate investment trusts.

Peep the before and after photos.

Consider architectural salvage your salvation.

Never underestimate the power of a tufted throw pillow.

Real estate pros reveal their secrets to making any space look more elevated.

Don't sleep on your local Goodwill.

Because you won't be buying a whole house full of furniture in one fell swoop — and really, where's the fun in that anyway?

My dad was frequently unemployed while I was growing up. When he had a job as a software salesman, things were pretty bountiful in our household: We’d go on vacation, build a playhouse, have another sibling join the family, etc. But it always seemed that right after we’d get used to living in “boom times,” he’d get laid off. And since my mom chose to stay home and homeschool us, there wasn’t money coming in when my dad wasn’t working.

Whether you have an economical heat pump or a decades-old oil burner, you’re probably looking for a way to cut your heating costs this winter (holiday gifts are so expensive!) The good news? It’s totally easy to keep warm (and on budget) with these expert tips: The first step to managing your energy spending is inspecting it, says Josh Prigge, founder of Sustridge, a sustainability consulting firm in Las Vegas, Nevada. For most people, that means checking your electric bill.

Feeling like it’s time to size up your space? By all means, do it. But know that it’s going to likely require a bigger investment month-to-month, and probably drain your change right now as you scramble to pay for moving costs and the other expenses that inevitably creep up when you decide to pick up your roots and settle down in a new spot.

Anyone who’s buying their first home has probably gotten used to stalking their bank accounts leading up to their closing making sure they’re beefing up their savings for a down payment and closing costs. According to Zillow, the median price of a home sold in America is $230,800. Putting 20 percent down on that home will cost you $46,160.

Millennials can’t do anything without there being some sort of stigma attached—they’ve been accused of killing everything from chain restaurants to doorbells, and they’re constantly being labeled lazy and wasteful, despite countless studies proving that that’s not necessarily the case.