Zdenka Mahan's Blog

New Tricks for Old Throwaway Items For many of us, mom’s ‘use-it-up, make-it-last, wear-it-out’ mantra was our introduction to thriftiness—a traditional value that has largely been kicked to the curb due to a more materialistic lifestyle. But the truth is, most of our common throwaway items have ...

How to Sneak in More Veggies Trying to munch more veggies on the reg, but sick of salads and steamed sides? Below are a handful of simple ways you can up your veggie count with ease. Blend them. If you’re a smoothie fan, you’ll be thrilled to know that adding a handful or two of baby spinach to y...

How to Choose the Best Houseplants Just like picking paint and furniture, it’s important to spend time choosing the best plants for your interior space. Not only should you be considering the care your new plant friends will need, but also how they will impact your space as they grow to their ful...

What Is a Negotiated Debt Settlement? If you’re buried by credit card debt, a negotiated debt settlement with your creditor may be worth checking into. Negotiated debt settlement is a general term for discharging debt in a way that appeals to the credit card holder and the card’s issuer. It’s bes...

Many homeowners who plan to sell in 2022 may think the wise thing to do is to wait for the spring buying market since historically about 40 percent of home sales occur between April and July. However, this year’s expected to be much different than the norm. Here are five reasons to list your hous...

Are you one of the many renters thinking about where you’ll live the next time your lease is up? Before you decide whether to look for a new house or another apartment, it’s important to understand the true costs of renting in 2022.As a renter, you should know rents have been rising since 1988 (s...

As you set out on your homebuying journey, you likely have a plan in place, and you’re working on saving for your purchase. But do you know how much you actually need for your down payment?If you think you have to put 20% down, you may have set your goal based on a common misconception. Freddie M...

5 Ways to Trick Yourself Into Saving Money The savings rate in America is pretty abysmal. Fifty-seven percent of Americans have less than $1,000 in their savings accounts, according to a 2017 GOBanking Rates survey. Without savings, people can be forced to take on debt when they lose their job, g...

Apps to Make Saving Easier Saving for a home, retirement, a vacation or anything else can be difficult. The median retirement savings of all working-age families in the United States is $5,000, according to the Economic Policy Institute. Given that many financial advisers recommend having about $...

Homeowners: Know How to Complete These Basic Tasks Owning a home is infinitely rewarding but issues do pop up, and there’s no need to call a handyman every time something goes haywire. The home repair experts at HGTV suggest four things every homeowner should know how to do: Change smoke detector...