Color Of Money

BPT Finally! The economy is improving, interest rates are low and many consumers now find themselves in a great position financially to become a first-time homeowner. There’s a small problem though for some locations around the country – the booming real estate market is resulting in rising home prices and increased competition for the most…

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Family Features When it comes to remodeling, there are dozens of ways to improve your home’s overall value and appeal without breaking the bank. Opt for projects that are manageable in scale, affordable and deliver benefits in multiple ways, such as aesthetics and energy efficiency. Ditch uninviting doors From the curb, doors can have a…

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Family Features Whether a Millennial keen to put down roots and buy a house in the near future, a Gen Xer intent on nourishing credit health to keep life goals on track or a Boomer who wants to ensure their finances are in order before retirement, good credit health matters. A majority of Americans feel…

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Family Features As the calendar turns over a new year, it’s a good time to take stock of your finances. Evaluating what missteps you made with your money in the past year, determining how you can correct those errors and setting a realistic budget will put you on your way to better financial health in…

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BPT Are you ready to put your deck on the best-dressed list this summer, but hesitant to dent your savings? With these simple design ideas, you can make your deck the perfect place for summer festivities. 1. Accessorize with railings. An easy way to give your deck a beauty boost is to update the railing….

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ABOVE PHOTO:  When it’s time to draw the drapes in the bedroom you can still have natural light and silent, passive ventilation with Energy Star-qualified fresh air skylights – plus gaze at the moon and stars at night.  Operated by touchpad remote control, the solar powered skylights and blinds, along with installation costs, are eligible…

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BPT Nine years ago, Peter Esswein, a resident of Sandy Springs, Georgia, enrolled in a health information technology degree program at DeVry University to capitalize on the growing prominence of electronic medical records. “I always wanted to work in the medical industry, and the time was right for a personal career change,” Esswein says. “Completing…

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BPT To help people set basic, foundational goals that can help put them on their own unique path toward attaining financial security, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) recently announced the launch of a new mobile-friendly Spanish-language financial goal calculator on MassMutual.com/es/Latino. The mobile-friendly calculator was developed to address the top four financial concerns of…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  Sens. Hughes, Haywood, Democratic Appropriations Committee hold hearing  on PA’s crumbling school infrastructure. HARRISBURG–SenatorVincent Hughes released the following statement on the Auditor General Eugene DePasquale’s audit of the School District of Philadelphia: “I commend the auditor general and his team for their thorough review of the School District of Philadelphia’s finances. With the…

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By Dale Mezzacappa thenotebook.org The Pennsylvania auditor general says the model for funding the School District of Philadelphia is fundamentally flawed and could ultimately endanger its purpose and mission – adequately educating students – if it isn’t doing so already.  In an 86-page report, Auditor General Eugene DePasquale says the District’s total reliance on outside…

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