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Asphalt is a popular choice for paving driveways. It’s an environmentally-friendly material that can be recycled and is unlikely to cause damage to vehicles. Asphalt also lasts for decades and can enhance your home’s curb appeal, but eventually, it may show signs of wear or damage. If you notice any of these problems, they should not be ignored.

Visible Signs of Damage
If your driveway is cracked in one or more places, you should have a professional inspect it. Even if the cracks don’t seem like a big deal, they can expand. A cracked driveway can cause damage to vehicles and increase the risk of a person falling and getting injured, particularly at night or when guests visit.

Wear and tear from vehicles driving over asphalt can cause potholes as the ground becomes weak and cracks. If your driveway has several potholes, the surface may not be strong enough to support the weight of vehicles. Rain and water from melted snow can settle in the holes and cause them to expand, which can lead to serious injuries or damage to vehicles. If your driveway has potholes, it most likely needs to be repaved soon.

If your driveway’s surface is uneven and covered with bumps, that means it has structural damage below the surface. Contact a professional to have the driveway inspected.

Sometimes an old driveway will begin to crumble. If the pavement is eroding, that is a clear sign that the driveway needs to be repaved before the problem gets worse.

Since asphalt is porous, it should be able to filter water and allow it to enter the ground below. If water is pooling or running off the driveway in a stream, that needs to be addressed as soon as possible. If it isn’t, you could wind up with a serious drainage problem that affects your entire property.

Have Your Driveway Inspected
The last thing you want is for a family member or visitor to fall and get injured on your driveway or to suffer damage to a vehicle. If you notice cracks, potholes, bumps, erosion or drainage issues, it’s most likely time to repave your driveway. That can be a significant expense, but it can prevent many more serious and expensive problems later.

Even if there’s no visible damage to your driveway, there could be some that is hidden. The foundation may have broken down over the years, and you will see damage on the surface sooner or later. If your driveway was paved 20 or more years ago, or if you’re unsure of its age, you should have it inspected. A professional can let you know if it needs to be repaved. If it’s currently in satisfactory condition, it can still be helpful to know approximately how many years of use your driveway has left so that you don’t wind up with a costly and unexpected project.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Credit cards can be used to buy almost anything, but using them for small purchases can seem like a waste of time when debit cards or cash are more convenient. However, there are both advantages and disadvantages to using a credit card for small purchases.

The Negatives

The ease of use of a credit card can lead to spending without giving it much thought, and can encourage you to make unnecessary purchases or spend more than you normally would.

Numerous studies have shown that credit cards cause people to spend more. McDonalds reports that it sells an average of $7 to someone using a credit card, compared to $4.50 to someone paying in cash.

States have been found to raise highway tolls more often when drivers pay through electronic toll collection instead of cash. An electronic debit isnt seen as real money until the credit card statement arrives.

Making a lot of small purchases on a credit card can lead to a long billing statement, requiring consumers to carefully go over them for fraudulent charges or mistakes. Criminals take advantage of this by making several small, unauthorized charges instead of large ones that are easier to spot.

Not paying your credit card bill in full each month is another downside to putting a lot of small purchases on a card. If youre paying interest on a credit card balance, youre essentially paying more for everything you bought with the card. This goes for items big and small.

The Positives

The upside to making small purchases with a credit card is that doing it regularly can eliminate the need to go to the bank or carry large sums of money. Small transactions can also add up in credit card rewards”though theyre only worthwhile if you pay off the balance after each statement cycle.

And in a small way, multiple small purchases on a credit card can show you how much youre spending on small things that you may be able to do without and save some money on. Those coffees, candies and other small expenses add up, and a credit card bill of several pages is an easy way to see them together.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

In the modern world, children are exposed to technology at a young age. Many parents introduce their children to technology early in the hope that they will grow up to be tech savvy and do well in school and on the job. With all of the challenges and stresses of being a parent, it can be tempting to sit children down in front of the TV to have some time to cook, clean and do laundry.

Scientists have noted that too much screen time, particularly at a young age, can affect childrens development. The amount of time that children spend in front of screens should therefore be monitored and limited.

Effects of Too Much Screen Time
Too much exposure to technology can cause children to become detached from their families and friends. Kids may spend so much time focused on TV, video games or a computer that they are not having conversations with others, even if they are sitting in the same room.

Kids who spend several hours a day in front of a screen dont spend nearly as much time playing outdoors. Exercise helps children develop motor skills and maintain a healthy weight. Exposure to sunlight and fresh air can reduce stress and contribute to a sense of wellbeing. Children lose these benefits if they spend hours inside focused on a screen.

Too much time watching TV and playing video and computer games can cause children to become overstimulated. This can cause them to become easily distracted, making it difficult for them to concentrate in school.

If children have TVs, video games or computers in their bedrooms, they are often tempted to use them at night when they should be sleeping. Even if parents impose strict bedtimes, studies have shown that using a screen shortly before going to bed can make it difficult to fall asleep, which means children may not get the rest they need to stay focused in school the next day.

It’s important to make a distinction between time spent watching TV and playing video games for entertainment and time spent using a computer for homework. The risks to childrens health and development come from overuse of screen time for entertainment.

The Right Amount of Screen Time
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under the age of 18 months not be exposed to screens at all because of the impact on their brain development and ability to bond with family members. Between the ages of two and five, the AAP advises parents to limit screen time to an hour a day. For older children, parents should use their discretion.

Talk to your family about the benefits and risks of technology and set guidelines for your children. Set a positive example yourself. Make a point of spending time with your children talking face to face without distractions so you can develop strong bonds as a family.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

The entrance of your home says a lot about your character, from interior design to overall aesthetics. Below are some helpful tips for making sure your space wows you and your guests every time.

Kill the clutter. Clutter is a huge no-no in your entryway, as it impacts the entire vibe of your space from the moment you set foot in the door. However, this can be hard, as the entryway is the space you dump your keys, mail, boots and coat. To remedy this, make sure you have designated, tucked away spaces for everything you store at the entrance of your home. Hooks for coats, baskets for mail and a covered bin for shoes can all work wonders.

Add a statement. Placing a beloved piece of art or furniture in the mouth of your home is a great way to appreciate it every time you enter, and can offer a fantastic conversation starter between you and guests.

Have a seat. Whether it’s a plush chair or a simple bench, a seat in your entryway is great for roosting as you tie your shoelaces, and makes a perfect place for attractive accent pillows.

Light it right. Good lighting in your entryway is a must. Add an attractive lighting fixture, set up a dimmer for mood and a floor or table lamp for added options.

Personal touches. Placing photos of your family and pets in your entryway can add a nice personal element and warm your heart every time you pass by.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

To avoid late fees and a possible increase in your credit card interest rate, make at least the minimum payment on your credit card bill each month. The minimum due will change from month to month, so it can be hard knowing ahead of time how much money you’ll have to come up with to pay that minimum amount.

Paying only the minimum, however, means it will take a while to pay off the credit card bill in full, resulting in interest payments on the balance. Paying the balance in full each month is the only way to avoid paying interest.

The minimum payment depends on the size of your balance and the rules of your credit card issuer, which are listed in your cardmember agreement. If you owe a small amount such as $25, you’ll usually have to pay it in full.

There are two basic ways to calculate the minimum payment when carrying a balance:

Flat Percentage
This is the percentage of your total statement balance, including finance charges and any fees. Most credit card issuers charge 5-7 percent of the balance as a minimum payment.

Percentage Plus Fees and Interest
This formula calculates 1 percent of your total balance, excluding finance charges and fees. Then the fees and interest accrued during the billing cycle are added to the minimum balance due. For example, a $2,500 balance at 15 percent interest would have a minimum payment of $56.25. One percent of the balance is $25 and the interest charged would be $31.25.

You can incur additional fees if you pay the previous month’s payment late, if you don’t pay the previous month at all or the past due amount, or you exceed your credit limit. If you carry a balance on your credit card, you’ll notice a small box on the first page of your statement that shows the payment required to pay off the debt in three years. It will also show how long it will take to pay off the debt by only making the minimum payment each month.

You can also find an online calculator to see how long it will take to pay off the debt and how much interest you’ll pay over time. You can plug in numbers to see how making more than the minimum payment can sharply lessen the amount of time needed to pay off the debt.

Published with permission from RISMedia.