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These five gardens will add natural charm to your home…

Formal Garden

Though they require effort to keep perfectly manicured, they recall a bygone era of grandeur that always impresses.

Container Garden

A low-key option that works anywhere, fill pots, planters or reclaimed materials with greenery and flowers.

Japanese Rock Garden

Also known as a Zen garden, if you enjoy meditating, this will be your new favorite place.

Kitchen Garden

Grow your own fruits, vegetables and herbs right outside your home and live sustainably.

Flower Garden

From a classic rose garden to overgrown wildflowers, flower gardens can be designed to suit any personality.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

All the green smoothies and exercise in the world wont keep your body healthy if youre living in a contaminated environment. In order to help keep your body happy and thriving, try these four quick and easy DIY projects to improve your homes health.

Inspect for Mold
Mold spores are everywhere, but when living in your house, they can give you pesky allergies or endanger your life.

To ensure your home doesnt have any dangerous mold growth, do a walk-through and know where to look. Mold loves humid, damp areas. This means your bathroom, washing machine, kitchen, attic and basement are prime real estate for all types of mold.

If you spot a suspicious area, use an at-home mold testing kit to determine if its harmful. Certain types of mold (like black mold) require professional remediation, so dont try to remove it yourself. However, you can treat most molds with a bleach solution, proper drainage and a dehumidifier. Just make sure youre on the lookout to keep your home safe.

Install a Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats do so much for your home. Not only do they help you save money on energy, but they can also monitor your air quality. Smart thermostats like Nests send an alert to your smartphone if it notices air problems. That way, you can make the necessary changes to breathe better. Installation of most smart thermostat models is relatively simple. Just make sure the product is compatible with your home, and follow the instructions carefully.

Change Air Filters
If you have an HVAC unit, you have air filters. These hardworking filters sift out impurities in the air so that they dont wind up in your lungs. If youre super sensitive and live with furry friends, replace your air filters every month or two. If you dont use the heating and cooling system often, you can stretch that to twice per year. You could also purchase air purifiers for your home to keep pollutants down.

Dust and Vacuum
Sorry to add to your chore list, but keeping a clean home is essential to your health. Dust doesnt just look dingy; its made of pet dander, human skin cells, dirt, grime, pollen and a lot more icky stuff that causes all sorts of health issues.

Do your lungs, eyes, sinuses, ears and immune system a favor by getting yourself a wool duster or disposable duster product. Then, run your duster along the backside of appliances, the tops of ceiling fans, under furniture and other places large collections of dust might be hiding. Once you see how dirty your duster gets, youll be glad everything you picked up isnt floating around in the air anymore. Finish by vacuuming all the carpets in your house to remove more dust and other particles.

Staying healthy is a 360-degree endeavor requiring you to mind what you put in, on and around your body. Follow these tips to tackle an essential part of home health and add to your overall well-being.

Source: Fatima Puri/RISMedia’s Housecall

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Do you dread refilling your cars tank?

These tricks can boost gas mileage and save cash

Turn off your engine when parked for over 10 seconds, as idling wastes fuel.

Avoid aggressive driving”like rapid acceleration and braking”which can lower gas mileage by up to 33 percent.

Dont keep heavy items in your car. An extra 100 pounds could increase gas costs by up to $0.03 per gallon.

Combine errands. Several short trips, each taken from a cold start, can use twice as much fuel as one long trip with a warm engine.

Keep tires properly inflated to avoid slashing your gas mileage.

With these tricks, avoid pain at the pump!

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Facing the prospect of foreclosure can be terrifying. Programs are available to assist borrowers in difficult circumstances, but some people prey on homeowners who are afraid and desperate. Here are some tips to help you avoid becoming a victim.

Beware of False Claims
Sometimes scammers find out the names of homeowners and their mortgage lenders and call or send letters claiming to be from the lender. In other cases, they claim to represent the lender without naming it, or say they work for a government-approved agency. Fraudsters might offer to buy your home for cash at a price well below market value. Dont provide any financial information to someone who contacts you if you didnt reach out to the company or agency on your own first.

A company other than your lender cant pre-approve a mortgage modification or guarantee that youll be approved if you fill out an application. Only your lender can decide whether to modify your loan. Paying an outside company wont increase your chance of being approved for a mortgage modification.

Dont Be Pressured Into Making Payments or Signing Documents
Its illegal for a company to demand payment up front for a mortgage modification. Dont pay, even if the company offers a money-back guarantee.

Fraudsters often tell homeowners to pay them a fee and promise that theyll handle everything. They tell homeowners not to have any further contact with their lender or instruct them to send mortgage payments to a different address. Dont fall for it.

Avoid any company or representative who pressures you to sign documents that you havent had a chance to review or dont understand. Dont sign a document unless youve had it reviewed by your own attorney and you understand the reason for it and the ramifications.

Some scammers tell homeowners they need to sign over the deed to their home but claim that the transfer is only temporary. Dont sign over your deed to anyone unless your mortgage lender has agreed to forgive your balance and youre working with the lender directly.

The Right Way to Avoid Foreclosure
The foreclosure process is long and expensive for mortgage lenders and is filled with all sorts of potential problems. Your lender would rather work with you to modify your loan and keep you in your home than proceed with foreclosure. If youve fallen on hard times, contact your lender to explain your circumstances and discuss your options.

Mortgage assistance programs are available for homeowners who are struggling, and you can apply for free on your own. You can also get help from a housing counseling agency approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional or legal advice.

Published with permission from RISMedia.