The prospect of job opportunities, social circles, and an all-around new way of life is enough for many to pack and move to a new city. In fact, it’s almost a way of life for many Americans versus their European counterparts. Americans will typically move 11x in their lifetime versus just 4x for Europeans.

One would think the frequency of these moves would make each, new time easier. But, lifestyles change, relationships flourish, and we tend to hoard so each move needs extra planning and labor.

[Read more…]

Though affordable healthcare coverage is available for eligible families in the US, many would agree that medical-related expenses cost a lot of money. Copays, premiums, and prescription costs can often set household budgets back. As it’s not a clever idea to go without medical coverage and care, you’ll want to find ways to cut back on the cost of common health care expenses. Here are a few examples.

[Read more…]

For years you swore that you would never become one of “them” — you know, a (gasp) minivan driver. You said that when you had kids, you would simply buy a huge SUV to cart everyone around, thus avoiding owning a minivan.

[Read more…]

When It Rains, It Pours
Sometimes no matter how well you plan something, it can blow up in your face. You may do your best to figure out every detail of a trip across the country. You may budget your gas properly, get food supplies in place, clean your home and car, leave early—and still find yourself caught in the middle of a storm that causes you to crash your vehicle.

As complicated as road trips are, they can’t hold a candle to moving to a new house or an apartment. Sometimes it seems like the house is falling apart as you leave, sometimes you’ll find all kinds of problems with a new property when you arrive. One of the worst things you can experience during such a transition is water damage—especially in L.A.

Los Angeles is a massive city that stretches for miles. At the wrong time it can take you an hour to drive one mile. If you leave a property you’re selling and it begins to leak, it could be a minimum of two hours before you arrive at your new home, drop off your goods, and make your way to the original property. [Read more…]