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Are you house rich, but cash poor? The phrase is often used to describe people who have a house payment so large they can't afford anything else – like food, gas, utility bills and things they need day-to-day. If this describes you, don't worry. You're not alone, and you can get through it with these ten life hacks for lowering your living expenses.

One: Develop a spending plan

The old-school term for a spending plan is a budget. As much as most of us hate the idea of budgets, they are lifesavers when it comes to helping you save money. If you've tried budgets and they just don't work, consider Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University, or BudgetsAreSexy.com if you want a different, more fun, less painful approach to...

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If disaster strikes, will you be ready? In the case of an emergency that occurs in or around your home, time is of the essence and every second definitely counts. The best thing you can do to be prepared is to know who to call in each emergency situation. Do you need poison control? Is it smart to quickly call the relatives? How best to stop a rogue pipe from flooding the basement?

This emergency contact list will ensure that you can stay calm in an emergency by knowing who to call and what actions to follow. Read on and stay safe and prepared in your home, no matter what catastrophe befalls you.

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If your home is in pretty good shape (i.e. it's decently updated and not in need of a total overhaul), you might think it's ready to go on the market as is. But little things you wouldn't expect can end up being deal breakers. And, when you've got competition, you need your home to stand out for all the right reasons. Give your home a good look and address the little things now before they become big problems when buyers are balking.

Cords hanging from your mounted TV

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#1 Using Bleach as a Cure-All

If bleach is your chicken soup for whatever ails your home, proceed with caution.

Bleach can:

• Eat through the sealant on stone surfaces like granite
• Discolor laminate and colored grout
• Fade enamel and acrylic tubs
• Dissolve vinyl and linseed-based flooring like linoleum
• Corrode seals within the disposal

In addition, bleach kills mold on non-porous surfaces but can feed future mold growth on absorbent and porous materials, like grout. Yep, whitening grout with bleach creates a mold feeding ground. Whoops.

Better options? Water and vinegar are all you need for most cleaning jobs. If you've got a heftier mold or mildew issue, apply a commercial anti-fungal product.

And to clean your disposal, just dump cold w...

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As a homeowner, you've probably wondered what you can do to create a safer, more secure environment for your family. An easy, low budget do-it-yourself (DIY) project may be the answer.

DIY safety and security projects not only help you save money, they also foster a sense of control over your household's well-being and give every family member the chance to get involved. If you're ready to improve your home's safety and security, use these 10 simple DIY projects to get started.

1. Install a wide-angle peephole.
A peephole lets you see who's on the other side of the door before you open it, helping provide extra protection to your family. Available at your local hardware store, peepholes are affordable and can be installed 

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