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Money & Finance
Family-friendly tips to save energy at home
Saving money and reducing your home's energy usage are a priority for many homeowners these days. Some energy-saving actions such as switching off lights when leaving a room and turning off the water while brushing your teeth or washing your hands are simple and cost effective. This summer, try a few energy saving tips to save your family some money while keeping the environment in mind.
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Lower summer energy costs and get a facelift for your home
During summer, many of us look forward to fun-filled days at the pool or beach, but we definitely don't look forward to exorbitantly high cooling bills during the heat of the season. There are a number of ways you can improve the energy-efficient aspects of your home and save on electricity costs.
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How much does that doggie in the window really cost?
No matter how you acquire your new best friend, pet ownership comes with significant start-up costs and ongoing maintenance expenses. Often, people and pets come together unexpectedly. Sometimes, however, you do have the opportunity to plan ahead for pet ownership. When that opportunity occurs, keep these considerations...
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Five rules for buying a foreclosure or short sale with confidence
Some analysts say the rebound has begun and home prices may rise by the end of 2012. This means now may be buyers' last chance to take advantage of affordable properties and low interest rates. If you want to score a bargain before the housing market recovers, you'll need to follow a few rules to invest with certainty.
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How to ease arthritis pain
For the 50 million American adults currently suffering from arthritis, symptom management is the name of the game. Although it's the leading cause of disability in the U.S., and the second most frequently reported chronic condition, there are currently no cures for the family of musculoskeletal disorders known as arthrit...
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Increase garage sale profits with some marketing basics
As the weather warms up, garage sales begin appearing all over the U.S. Garage sales are a great way to clean out clutter while making some extra dollars for home improvements, bills, vacations or even "retail therapy." Garage sales are great opportunity to employ basic marketing principles in a fun way; a little innovat...
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What lies beneath your dream home?
In a buyer-friendly market, home shoppers can be pretty particular in their search for a dream home. A sewer line inspection is not included in the standard home inspection and is regularly waived in the purchasing process. Buyers should reconsider including this important step before they sign a deal.
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Avoid becoming 'unscoreable' and maintain your credit history as you age
You've spent your whole life managing your money with flawless proficiency. You have a sparkling credit score and very little debt. But is it possible to get to a point where you have so little debt that you could actually fail to register a credit score?
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Home organization for the busy household
Between work, school, children's activities, family obligations and travel plans, today's busy families are left with little time to keep their homes tidy and well-organized. With summer fast approaching, it is important for on-the-go families to realize that home organization does not have to be difficult or time consum...
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Financial tips for new graduates
If you are a new graduate, a college degree is just the first step in the new direction your life will be taking. A new career, potentially a new community to live in and a bit of cash in your pocket to spend - there are a lot of changes happening. Here are some financial tips to help grads get the most out of their new ...
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Protect your identity as you would other valuables
There is good reason for the concern to protect your assets. You've worked hard to obtain them and will do everything reasonable to shelter them from harm. As has been true throughout time, as advances are made in securing and protecting our valuables, there's someone working just as diligently to gain access to your hard-earned assets. Your identity is no different.
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Financial savings and more when shopping online
Saving money is a hot topic these days, from television shows about extreme coupon clipping to stores advertising huge savings for specially marked and bulk items. But you might be surprised to discover how much money you can save while shopping online.
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national news

Candidates hold U.S. flags during a naturalization ceremony to become new U.S. Citizens at Convention Center in Los AngelesBy Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Supporters of U.S. immigration reform are hoping that the smooth and drama-free passage of their legislation through a Senate committee - a departure from almost everything that has happened in Congress over the past four years - will boost the likelihood of the bill winning full Senate approval. Even Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa, the senior Republican on the Judiciary Committee who voted against the immigration bill on Tuesday, told Reuters TV that the "very fair" debate by the panel "does improve its chances. ...


Wed May 22 17:29:42 UTC 2013

Charles Taber opens the two-week old storm shelter that saved his life in the May 20 tornado in Oklahoma CityBy Carey Gillam and Ian Simpson MOORE, Oklahoma (Reuters) - Tornado survivors thanked God, sturdy closets and luck in explaining how they lived through the colossal twister that devastated an Oklahoma town and killed 24 people, an astonishingly low toll given the extent of destruction. At least one family took refuge in a bathtub and some people shut themselves in underground shelters built into their houses on Monday when the powerful storm tore through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore. ...


Wed May 22 19:58:05 UTC 2013

Hagel takes part in a news conference on efforts to eliminate VA claims backlogs, at the U.S. Capitol in WashingtonBy Jane Sutton MIAMI (Reuters) - Military and civilian lawyers for prisoners at the Guantanamo naval base urged U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to improve conditions for detainees, putting more pressure on the Obama administration to make good its promise to close the camp. The plea from 18 lawyers representing "high-value" prisoners came before a speech by President Barack Obama on Thursday when he will address counterterrorism measures such as drone strikes and closing Guantanamo. ...


Wed May 22 21:30:47 UTC 2013
The horrific attack that left a U.K. soldier dead on the streets of London could have been worse, were it not for the actions of a 48-year-old single mom, the U.K.'s Telegraph reports. Ingrid Loyau-Kennett spoke with the Telegraph about speaking directly with the suspected killers in the attack's immediate aftermath. In a photograph, Loyau-Kennett [...]
Wed May 22 18:53:08 UTC 2013