Blog

*(Family Features)–Millions of working Americans are still without health insurance, and many more worry about whether they’ll be able to afford their existing coverage due to rising health costs. “With the rising cost of care, individuals want more affordable options when it comes to health insurance,” says Scott Krienke, senior vice president, marketing and productRead more

While you may not give thought to your home-heating devices, it’s actually best to inspect them annually, according to Jimmie Cho, vice president of services for SoCalGas. “Now is the time to perform maintenance on your home-heating appliances to check that they can be operated safely and efficiently,” says Jimmie Cho. Why should you checkRead more

When a home fire occurs, heat and smoke build and spread quickly and silently, leaving families with as few as three minutes to escape. Fire safety and survival begin with preparation. Yet, according to a recent national survey from the nonprofit Home Safety Council (HSC), only 37% of respondents have taken any actions at homeRead more

*By Dr. Judith S. Black   Helping older family members stay safe, secure and independent begins with preparation in the home. Learn how to help seniors stay safe and healthy by following these tips: Since snow and ice and other adverse weather conditions raise the risk of falls during the winter season, it is importantRead more

*By Barbara Pronin, RISMedia Consumer Columnist     For some people, an afternoon nap is a signal you are losing your edge. For others –and not just for the elderly – naps can be a valued way of life. Most people, say the sleep experts at the Mayo Clinic, fall somewhere in the middle ofRead more

*By Barbara Pronin, RISMedia Columnist   It’s possible to reduce home energy costs by as much as a third this year by following four simple recommendations. “Fans, lighting, doors and windows can suck up a lot of energy,” said Do-it-Yourself video host Jeff Meacham. You can improve efficiency and save money in four main areas.”Read more

Today’s modern world shows how much our relationship with animals has changed, says animal chiropractic consultant Dr. Rod Block. “Back before the mechanical wonders of industrialization, we relied upon animals to carry the brunt of our work; essentially, their purpose was to haul loads, plow fields and chase down prey,” says Block, author of “LikeRead more

*By Barbara Pronin, RISMedia Columnist   If you have good credit but carry a credit card balance, you may receive offers to transfer your balance to a different card. If the APR you are paying is 15 percent or more, this may a good time to save a lot of money by transferring your balanceRead more

Are you better off now than you were four years ago? Though the recession and the hardships that followed mean many Americans can’t answer that question with a simple “yes” or “no,” personal finance guru Eric Tyson suggests it might be more to your benefit to ask yourself a slightly different question: What can youRead more

*By Barbara Pronin   There are two ways to get richer, financial analysts tell us: earn more money or spend less. The first part isn’t always possible, but spending less is relatively easy – especially when it’s possible to get for free some of the goods and services we have become accustomed to paying for.Read more