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Business and civic leaders remember Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus
Bernie Marcus made his billions co-founding Home Depot with his partner Arthur Blank, creating one of the largest companies in Georgia. But civic and business leaders in the state remembered him for much more than his homegrown retail empire.
Known as an eternal optimist, a tough-as-nails negotiator and a natural salesperson, Marcus, a pillar ...Read more
How to approach a season of excess with financial responsibility
Americans are expected to spend a record amount (between $979.5 billion and $989 billion) on holiday gifts and décor this November and December, according to the National Retail Federation. Inflation and high interest rates are important parts of the story, but there’s not much evidence that people are planning to cut back, either.
Only 1 in...Read more
Everyday Cheapskate: Home Prep Guide: What You Need to Last 2 Weeks in an Emergency
Let's face it: Life loves to throw curveballs when you least expect it. One day you're breezing through your to-do list, and the next, you're staring at your flashlight like it's the Holy Grail because the power's out and you have no idea where the batteries are.
We've all been there, unprepared. It's time to change that. Let's chat about what ...Read more
November Fed meeting preview: The Fed eyes another rate cut as elections, hurricane uncertainties loom
Imagine driving a car with a windshield so muddy that your only choice is to look through the rearview mirror. It’s challenging to discern where you’re going solely based on where you’ve been. When judging what to do with interest rates, however, the Federal Reserve has no other choice.
The U.S. economy is looking a little bit brighter ...Read more
Las Vegas' housing crisis taking center stage this presidential election
The Las Vegas Valley’s affordability and housing crisis is taking center stage this presidential election, a UNLV political scientist, said.
One demographic, in particular, should be paid close attention to as the election nears: Latinos, said John Tuman, executive associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and professor of political ...Read more
Everyday Cheapskate: My Newly Discovered, Super Helpful Household Tips
Having lived and breathed time- and money-saving tips for over three decades now, I thought I knew it all. I cannot fathom how many thousands of tips and tricks my readers have shared together with all I've discovered on my own (borne out of desperation or just plain frugality). So far, I've learned enough to fill three hefty published books ("...Read more
Microsoft buys North Carolina megasite near the Research Triangle, but won't say why
One of the world’s most valuable companies took a North Carolina megasite off the market this week as Microsoft notified local officials on Thursday it had completed a $27 million purchase of the Person County Mega Park.
The 1,350-acre site sits below the Virginia border, about an hour’s drive north of Durham. Person officials said they ...Read more
Real estate Q&A: How do I convince HOA to enforce 'quiet time' rules?
Q: My downstairs neighbor often hangs out on his porch, which is directly under ours, and due to his drinking and smoking pot, we hear loud, explicit conversations into the early morning hours at least twice a month. Our bylaws state that “quiet time” is between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., but the HOA says they can only send him a reminder letter. I...Read more
San Diego's life science office buildings are sitting vacant. 'We just oversubscribed on space'
A couple of years ago, life science companies were fighting for office leases and developers couldn’t meet the demand fast enough. But now, that hunger for square footage has diminished, and the region’s available office and lab buildings have swelled to an all-time high.
The county’s total vacancy rate climbed to 20.4%, according to a ...Read more
Everyday Cheapskate: Tasty Ways to Stretch Your Budget with Thrifty Meals
These days, grocery prices can make you feel like you need a financial adviser just to navigate the supermarket aisles. But instead of cringing every time you see the price of your favorite items, there's a better solution -- thrifty meals that don't sacrifice taste or nutrition. I'm talking about meals that fill us up, make us smile, and don't ...Read more
The obscure earthquake flaw in California homes, and how to know if you have it
LOS ANGELES -- There could be hidden earthquake flaws in your single-family home in California — enough to be ruinous and possibly deadly in the next big earthquake.
One of the dangers may come as a surprise to homeowners, as even relatively newer homes may have this defect.
The soft-story seismic defect in houses
Built before 2000, they're...Read more
Everyday Cheapskate: Realistically Simple Ways to Make Your Car (Virtually) Unstealable
I know what you're thinking. "Unstealable"? That's a pretty bold claim. But hear me out. You might not be able to make your car completely theftproof, but you can make it such a pain to steal that thieves will take one look, roll their eyes and move on to an easier target.
LOCK YOUR DOORS AND WINDOWS (NO, SERIOUSLY)
This is where I hit you ...Read more
Landlords pile 'junk fees' on Colorado renters, sometimes adding hundreds to advertised prices
Franklin Ramirez felt duped.
When he moved to Denver a little more than a year ago, he was told monthly rent at his two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in the downtown Civic Lofts building cost $2,355.
Then came the monthly fees.
Ramirez pays nearly $25 a month for “valet trash,” in which someone collects garbage outside the apartment ...Read more
Everyday Cheapskate: Productive Hobbies That Will Make You Smarter and Happier
Let's be honest. Most of us have dabbled in hobbies that didn't quite lead to anything. We've all spent a little too much time scrolling social media or binge-watching shows (I see you, entire weekend lost to Netflix). But what if your hobbies could actually make you smarter? I'm talking about productive hobbies -- the ones that not only fill ...Read more
Trump vs. Harris: How tariff policy impacts your portfolio
Tariffs have been a political economic talking point throughout the 2024 presidential election.
Although former president Donald Trump and vice president Kamala Harris offer different campaign proposals, the Republican and Democratic parties have both leveraged tariffs in recent years in an attempt to safeguard American manufacturers against ...Read more
Social Security benefits in 2025: 5 big changes retirees should plan for
If you’re retired or planning to retire soon, it’s important to have a plan for your retirement income. For most people, Social Security will play a significant role in this plan, so staying up to date on the latest benefits information is crucial.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently announced several key changes to the ...Read more
The Equal Credit Opportunity Act became law 50 years ago. Here are 6 ways it makes America better today
I am a single Black woman, and I can apply for a credit card all by myself.
Thankfully, this is an easy (and obvious) declaration for me to make today. Unfortunately, it wasn’t so long ago that things were a lot more complicated. Before 1974, it was perfectly legal for lenders to deny me credit based solely on my gender and race.
The Equal ...Read more
Medicare benefits in 2025: 4 big changes every enrollee should know
Big changes are coming to Medicare in 2025, and they could make a major difference in your prescription drug costs.
Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare beneficiaries will see the most significant updates to the program’s drug coverage since it was first introduced in 2006.
These updates are seen as a big win for many ...Read more
Study: Care for one infant costs at least 10% of a family's yearly income in 48 states
A typical week for Diana Carter, a 34-year-old entrepreneur with three kids based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and her husband, involves coordinating day care drop-offs and pick-ups for their middle child.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg: They also homeschool their oldest son and have family stop by multiple times weekly to help care...Read more
Company pays off debts in 'random acts of kindness'
When the letter came, Sonia Wignall didn’t believe it.
Why would she? Her debt was a stress-inducing albatross on her financial health and a stain on her credit rating. And, yes, she owed that $33,000 for a good reason, as she borrowed the money when she’d been forced to cut back on work to care for her dying father. But, really, who was ...Read more
Inside Consumer
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