Many of you will be traveling by airplane this summer, and I hope you don’t get into the mess that my friend did. Here’s what happened. Eleanor and her husband booked two roundtrip tickets to Portland at different times, so they each had their own confirmation number. The day before the flight, Eleanor received an email confirming her trip but not her husband’s. Read more

When it comes to ensuring a successful move, preparation is absolutely crucial. Consider the following preparation tips:

1. Go easy on the cushion wrap. When packing boxes, you can speed up the process by using newspaper instead of cushion wrap or packing peanuts. Read more

We’ve all been hearing about examples of consumer outrage and it has me worried. Are we taking out our frustrations about the pandemic, divisive politics and life in general on whoever can’t solve our problem at a given moment? I’ve heard stories about people melting down because a store has run out of their favorite cheese. It’s obviously not just about the cheese—there’s a lot more going on. Read more

With Yana Carpenter of Water Heaters Only, Inc.

Water heaters have been around for more than a century, but the past two decades have seen a flurry of technological innovation go into these staple household fixtures. What’s more, the pace of innovation shows no signs of slowing down. We sat down with Yana Carpenter, marketing director at Water Heaters Only, Inc., to discuss what’s driving these advancements in water heater technology, what options are available to homeowners and what further innovations might be on the horizon. Read more

Whether you’re preparing for an earthquake or the next wildfire season, part of your planning should include creating what safety experts call a “go bag.” My problem is that every time I start to prepare, I only get partway there and never complete the task. Sound familiar? Read more

I was sad to hear that a friend’s husband was recently taken for a ride by some guys wandering their neighborhood selling pressure washing services. All the red flags were there. Read more

With wildfires threatening residential areas in multiple parts of California, Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a State of Emergency. Once again, Northern California residents must grapple with fire, heat, and smoke affecting their homes and communities.

As previous wildfire events have taught us, recovery is a slow and often confusing process. Below, you’ll find resources to help you get started and make sense of your options.

You can visit our wildfire preparedness page for information on preventing future wildfires. Read more