Catherine Hiles

If you have credit card debt, the thought of paying it off likely occupies a lot of your brain space. Working towards becoming debt-free is a great goal, and yet considering ways to pay it off, such as debt consolidation, can be nerve wracking. Is there truth to the statement that debt consolidation can hurt...

Mortgage refinancing can help homeowners get a lower interest rate or a shorter loan term, but refinancing comes with a price. The average cost to refinance is between 2 and 6 percent of the loan amount.
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Typical Range: 2 to 6 percent of the loan amount
Buying a home is one of the largest expenses many people will take on in their lifetime. Most buyers don’t have the cash to purchase a house out...

One offers professional monitoring, while the other lets users self-monitor and install their own equipment. But there’s a third contender to consider, too.
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SimpliSafe and ADT are both household names in the home security world, but there are quite a few differences between the two companies. SimpliSafe is known for its DIY options, but ADT has taken a major swing at that arena with Blue by ADT...

TruGreen has complete and affordable lawn care plans for most homeowners, which makes it an appealing choice—but homeowners may want to dig into reviews before hiring.
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A brown lawn that’s full of weeds is a real downer, but many homeowners don’t want to spend their spare time treating, fertilizing, and aerating their lawns. For those homeowners, a lawn care service that does all the work for th...

See our favorite products for life with man's best friend—all tried and tested by Bob Vila editors.
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Like welcoming a new member of the family, adopting a dog can be a big change for households. The right gear will help you successfully raise your pups, keep them healthy, and control the mess that undoubtedly comes with a four-legged friend.
The pet owners on our staff know and agree: Your pup d...

Flood insurance is highly encouraged for Florida residents who live in high-risk flood zones, but how much is flood insurance in Florida? The average homeowner pays $657, with a cost range between $194 and $3,877.
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Typical Range: $194 to $3,877
National Average: $657
Florida is known for its breathtaking beaches and year-round warm temperatures, but many Florida residents are at risk of flooding...

They’re one of the most-used appliances in most kitchens, but how long do ovens last, and is there anything homeowners can do to help extend their life?
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Q: We just purchased our first home and maxed out our savings on the down payment. The appliances in the home are fairly old, and I’m a little concerned about them breaking down and not being able to afford to replace them. The oven in particul...

Hurricanes can run the gamut in severity, from windstorms that knock over a tree to whole-home devastation. Make sure you’re adequately protected by following the steps in this guide on how to get hurricane insurance.
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Hurricanes are one of the most destructive forces a home can face. In 2021, the Atlantic hurricane season alone was expected to exceed $70 billion in damage costs. For homeowners ...

A new floor can transform a home from drab to desirable. Empire Today’s transparent pricing and wide range of flooring options could make it the best choice for many homeowners; but does it live up to its reputation?
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Empire Today, which some may know as simply Empire, is a long-standing flooring company with decades of experience selling and installing various types of floors. The company boast...

A construction-to-permanent loan helps borrowers finance land purchase and home building before converting the cost of construction into a traditional mortgage, with no extra closing costs.
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Q: We’re thinking of building a house, and we heard that a construction-to-permanent loan can help finance the build and cover additional costs like the land, then transform the loan into a mortgage. What is...

Mobile banking offers a convenient way to manage your money on your phone through an app. You can skip the trips to the bank and deposit checks from home, check your balance whenever you want, and identify suspicious charges as soon as they happen.
Discover more about what mobile banking is and how it can help you ditch in-person banking.
The hardest part of switching to mobile money management may be choosing which app to use. What are the essential mobile banking app features you should loo...

It’s no secret that women generally make less than men. And in recent years, women have been leaving the workforce in larger numbers.
The number of women without high school diplomas in the workforce decreased by 12.8% from Q3 2019 to Q3 2021. Comparatively, the workforce’s number of men without high school diplomas decreased by 4.9%. And women at other education levels have left the workplace in higher numbers than their male colleagues, widening the gap even further.
To better understand th...

In an ideal world, we’d all make enough money to pay for essentials and grow our savings to pay for the unexpected. But in reality, things like student loans, unexpected car repair bills, and medical bills can prevent you from spending money on what you want.
Around 28% of Americans had debt in collections on their credit reports in August 2021, according to the Urban Institute. That number may soon increase as the COVID-19 freeze on student loans ends on August 31, 2022. But by taking contro...

Mobile banking is a safe and easy way to manage your money from your phone or tablet. Financial institutions design their mobile banking apps to be user-friendly and secure, so you can spend less time worrying about your money and more time enjoying life.
Learn more about mobile banking, and see why Chime is the #1 most-loved mobile banking app¹ in the U.S.
What is mobile banking?
In the past, banking meant physically going to your bank to make deposits and withdrawals. But mobile banking all...

Credit cards are helpful tools. They can help you pay for everyday and surprise expenses without adjusting your budget. Many offer perks such as points and cashback for using them frequently. But they also tend to have high interest rates, and overreliance on them can result in substantial debt that feels overwhelming.
Paying off credit card debt can be easier than you think. If you’re wondering, “How do I pay off my credit card debt?” the following tips can help.
Assess your credit card debt...