Time it right. Quitting anything you’re addicted to is challenging, and coffee is no exception. Choose a time that will support your withdrawal. The Monday your big work project is due? Not the best time.

A long weekend is a great time to begin so that you can distract yourself or, at worst, lay down with that 3 p.m. headache.

Find a suitable substitution. If you don’t want to quit cold turkey, you can find a substitution. Some people like to guzzle tea, water, or even decaf coffee as they wean themselves off that fresh brew. A more overlooked substitution is raw cacao. Sold in many grocery stores and available online, cacao nibs pack a caffeine punch that can help wean you slowly off the java juice. Warning: They’re bitter, and some people enjoy them more than others.

Warn everyone. Make sure to tell your friends, partner, and close colleagues you’re cutting coffee. This way, they can support you by nixing that afternoon coffee invite, and they’ll understand if you’re a bit groggy or snippy for the first few days.

Interested in housing and real estate tips? Feel free to contact me directly.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Cracks
The most glaring sign of a foundation problem is cracking in the foundation, walls or floors. This can be a result of movement in the soil that causes the house to sink. Even if a crack appears small, it can indicate that there is a serious problem. This should be addressed as soon as possible.

Settling or Heaving
You may notice that the house is settling or sinking on one side. This indicates a significant foundation problem that can result in safety issues. Ignoring even a small change will only allow the problem to get worse.

Sometimes the opposite happens and the foundation moves upward. You may notice that hallways, doors or garage walls are no longer level. This problem can be caused by expansion and contraction of the soil under the house or by moisture issues.

Moisture in the Crawl Space
You may notice excessive moisture, mold and mildew in your crawl space and may smell a musty odor inside the house. This problem can be addressed by improving the drainage system.

Problems Inside the House
The floors may sag or become uneven. This can be dangerous, especially for children and people with limited mobility, because it raises the risk of falls and injuries.

You may notice that the doors are difficult to open and close or do not line up properly. While this is common after a heavy rainstorm because of moisture in the air, if it happens during dry weather, it could be a sign of an issue with the foundation. You may see gaps around the window frames or exterior doors, or you may no longer be able to lock doors"this creates obvious safety concerns.

If you notice that your cabinets and counters are separating from the walls, that is a sign of a foundation problem. Even a small amount of movement can indicate that there is a serious issue.

Have Your Home Inspected
A foundation problem is something that needs to be taken seriously. Even something that seems like a minor change can be a sign of a significant structural issue. If you notice any of these signs, contact a local contractor immediately to have your house inspected. It’s necessary to correct foundation issues quickly to avoid further problems and prevent major structural damage.

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Here are a few tips to style a foyer to make a warm first impression…

Keep It Organized

Designate a space for everything: A tray for keys, cubbies for shoes and a stylish armoire for extra storage.

Dramatic Floors

Incorporate elaborate tile-work or stone to create a grand entryway that demonstrates attention to detail.

Add Some Plants

Plants liven up the space by providing visual appeal, making your home feel more calming.

Oversized Mirror

A large mirror near the entryway will make the space feel bigger while reflecting natural light.

Practical Seating

Consider a bench or chairs where guests can sit while getting their shoes on and off.

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Feeding, walking, grooming and cleaning up after a dog are daily responsibilities that everyone can do, and will also help teach children how to take care of something they love. For parents, however, there’s the extra task of paying for all the costs associated with the dog.

Here are some of the primary expenses of owning a dog that a family should consider before bringing one home:

Upfront Fees
Adoption fees are the first costs you’ll incur, whether from a pet store, private breeder or animal shelter.

Animal shelters will be the least expensive, though they’ll likely require your dog to be spayed or neutered at a cost of up to $200 or so. There are also the costs of vaccinations, license and microchip, all of which can easily add $100 or more to the initial cost.

Add in some initial necessities such as a leash, collar, food, dishware, bed and a crate, and you can easily spend $200 or so at a pet store to make your dog feel at home.

Veterinarian
Animal shelters may give you a coupon for a free visit to a local veterinarian for your dog’s first checkup. After that, you’ll have to pay for more vaccinations, annual physicals and any injuries that may pop up.

Bear in mind your vet may recommend akennel cough vaccination for your dog, heartworm test and prevention pills, flea and tick prevention tablets, and other services.

Pet Insurance
This is an optional cost, but one worth considering when adopting a dog. If your dog doesn’t have any serious illnesses and is spayed or neutered, $35 per month for a pet insurance plan is reasonable. That includes 80 percent reimbursement and $250 annual deductible. That’s $670 per year out of your pocket before medical costs are paid.

Having major surgery can more than pay for the cost, and even a middle-of-the road illness can make pet insurance worthwhile.

Daily Expenses
Daily care costs are minimal. You can probably get by spending $30 or less per month on dog food. You can give your dog a bath and haircut yourself, and dog toys are pretty cheap.

Once you’ve got a dog leash and collar in hand, walking your dog is free"and that may be the best part of these expenses: free exercise.

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Everything you own is competing for space in your house. Everyday items, such as clothes and exercise equipment, along with seasonal things like pool toys and Christmas decorations, are taking over your limited square footage.

You can create more space by moving some things around, but that doesnt always solve the problem. Here’s where you can find additional storage space in a cluttered home:

Under the Bed
Dont let the space under your bed go unused or gather dust. Buy some plastic bins and use them to store seasonal items such as winter clothes. Put your heavy sweaters in them during warm weather, and switch them out with your bathing suites and shorts during colder months.

If you have more space under your bed, store shoes, linens, blankets and other things you dont need every day.

Vacuum Storage Bags
Some clothes are bulky and can take up a lot of room in a drawer or closet. Vacuum storage bags are sold at home supply stores and can hold your winter clothes for a few months. Use your vacuum cleaner to remove the air and collapse the bag. They can also be used for other bulky items like comforters, sheets, blankets and towels.

Over-the-Door Organizers
This hanging organizer can look like something out of your old dorm room, but it still comes in handy. Hang it over the back of your bedroom door to store shoes, baseball hats, belts, scarves and jewelry.

Charging Station
You may not notice them immediately, but there are probably tangled charging cords all over your house. They don’t usually cause a huge storage problem, but they create clutter and can be ugly to look at.

Buy a charging station that can conceal the cords and keep your phones and other electronic devices accessible in an area that looks pleasant.

Garage
A garage can easily become one of the most crowded areas of a house. Clean it up by putting things in bins, donating what you dont need and hanging a peg board to hold your tools.

Everything should have its own space, especially in the garage where things can get cluttered quickly. Use a thick marker to draw an outline on the peg board for each tool. When you see an outline without its tool in place, youll know that a tool is missing. It should also help you put tools back where they belong after using them.

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Looking to attract homebuyers? Boost your curb appeal.

The first thing buyers see is the yard, so spruce up the landscaping and make necessary repairs.

Prune overgrown bushes and trees to avoid looking neglectful.

In flower beds, remove weeds or dead plants, add flowers in sparse areas, and apply fresh mulch.

Line your walkway with potted plants to make the property feel more inviting.

Ensure water fixtures, such as fountains, ponds and sprinklers, are clean and operating properly.

Have your patio and walkway power-washed to get rid of any dirt or grime.

As they say, first impressions are everything, so put your yard to work for you.

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I Dont Make Enough Money to Save
You are more than likely wrong about this one. Sometimes it’s about writing down your numbers and determining what you can cut and save on.

With the improving economy, it’s becoming even easier. Household incomes have been increasing and the unemployment rate has been falling the past few years, giving more people a chance to save. And many are doing it. The personal savings rate in the U.S. rose to 5.9 percent in March after rising steadily since 2013. But theres room for improvement. The personal savings rate averaged 8.29 percent from 1959 until 2017.

Ill Start Saving When I Earn More
How many times have you told yourself that you’ll start saving when your income rises enough so you can afford it? Unfortunately, this kind of thinking won’t get you anywhere. Expenses often increase as pay does, so putting off saving for this reason doesnt mean youll do it later. Start now instead of waiting.

Im Young. Ive Got Decades to Save
Telling yourself that you’ll save later can affect your retirement planning. Its a problem that can be dealt with later, the thinking goes, and it can be hard to imagine what will happen decades from now.

The value of compounding and saving early in life are explained on the website interest.com. Waiting only five years, not decades, can require a higher savings rate to reach a retirement goal of $1 million by age 65.

According to the site, if you save $405 per month by age 25 at an average annual return of 7 percent then youll have $1 million at age 65. But if you wait until youre 30 to start saving then youll need to save $585 per month to reach that same goal.

Its Too Difficult
Saving money isnt easy, but it isnt as difficult as you might think. Some apps can help. Digit monitors your spending and moves money from your checking account into savings when you can afford it. Meanwhile, a finance app, Acorns, automatically invests your spare change.

Some retirement plans take the work out of investing with target-date retirement funds. Workers select a fund closest to their retirement date and the portfolio changes automatically as they age"aggressive investing when theyre young and more conservative as they near retirement.

Enrollment in a 401(k) retirement plan can be automatic when a worker joins a company, allowing them to opt out if they want to. Employee contributions can also be automatically increased over time.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Climbing plants. Climbing vines indoors can add a jungly, naturalistic element to your space. Some of the coolest vines for interiors are ivy, heartleaf philodendron, jasmine and betel leaf plant.

Art. Don’t be afraid to add some unique art to your bathroom! A cool painting or sculpture can make a great focus piece.

Lighting options. From an interesting lighting fixture to a colored bulb or recessed lighting beneath, don’t be afraid to get funky with your lights.

Mirroring. Add an expressive picture frame to the edge of your vanity mirror, or create an entire mirrored wall to open up the space and add light.

Playful patterns. If you’re a fan of patterns, consider placing a bold pattern on your ceiling, floor or on one wall to make the space more interesting.

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Here are a few tips for the ultimate staycation…

Call the Cleaners

Have a cleaning service do an extra deep clean so your home practically feels like a hotel.

Pamper Yourself

Pick a few products to upgrade around the house, like luxurious bath salts or fine linens for your bed.

Make Reservations

Book yourself a day at the spa, make a special dinner reservation or buy tickets to a show.

Stock Up on Your Favorite Foods

Everyone eats well when they go on vacation, so its perfectly fine to indulge in your favorite gourmet items and sweets.

Family Activities

Plan out a few activities that the whole family will enjoy, like apple picking or taking a day trip to a nearby attraction.

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Best of all, most shrubs thrive for years without requiring much work on your part! Just be sure the shrub type is suited to your area, plant it where it gets the full sun or partial shade it requires, and water regularly for the first couple of seasons to help it get established.

If youre looking to improve your homes curb appeal, House Beautiful notes five of the best shrubs to consider for hardiness and color:

Forsythia. Best for early blooms. Nothing says spring like that first bright pop of canary-yellow forsythia. The newer varieties are more compact for small gardens.

Lilac. Best for fragrance. Ranging from pale pink to deep purple, the spikey blooms of this old-fashioned spring bloomer are sweetly fragrant and make a great hedge or accent. Bonus: They attract butterflies and rebloom throughout the season.

Azalea. Best for shade and a low profile. This attractive shrub boasts glossy leaves and spring flowers that come in nearly every shade, including red, pink, purple and orange. There are evergreen and deciduous types, so read the plant description before buying. They can make a lovely low hedge.

Rose of Sharon. Best for full sun. This plant comes alive in late summer when many other flowering shrubs have lost their steam, and it boasts pink, white, lavender or blue flowers that bloom well into fall.

Butterfly bush. Best for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. Aptly named because its fragrant blooms of white, pink or purple typically attract butterflies and hummingbirds, this sturdy shrub is compact and non-invasive, so it plays well with other perennials in mixed border spaces.

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Some dentists and other healthcare professionals, such as eye doctors, audiologists and even veterinarians, offer medical credit cards to help patients spread the cost of a procedure over time and make paying for it easier. The credit cards are used to pay for healthcare services that arent covered by insurance or Medicare, or to cover expenses a patient cant afford.

Doctors who provide medical credit cards arent providing loans themselves, but are working with third-party companies that offer the cards.

Why Get a Medical Credit Card?
Medical credit cards allow a medical bill to be paid back over the span of months or years without being charged interest on the loan. The interest is deferred, and if the bill isnt paid off before the interest-free promotional period ends"such as 12 months"then the interest is added retroactively to when the purchase was first made. The interest rates are usually high. One medical credit card provider, CareCredit, has an interest rate of 26.99 percent for new accounts.

Minimum monthly payments are required during the promotional period, though higher payments will likely be needed to pay the balance off during that time. Interest can also be charged if youre more than 60 days late on a payment, warns the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

CareCredit gives an example on its website of a cardholder with a $1,200 medical charge with no interest charged if paid in full within six months. A $200 monthly payment for six months would pay off the $1,200 without any interest charged. But if only the minimum monthly payment of $39 is paid each month, then the $1,200 balance would only drop to $1,134 after six months. In this case it would take 96 months to pay off the loan at 26.99 percent interest. The $1,493 in interest paid over that time is more than the amount borrowed in the first place.

Even without a medical credit card, you may be able to pay your bill without interest by asking your medical provider if you can work out a payment plan with them directly.

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A bold and beautiful combination of Art Deco and Mid-Century Modern, heres how to infuse the Hollywood Regency Style into your home.

Bold Patterns and Palettes

Contrasting color combinations and simple patterns are used to create visual drama throughout.

Go Big on Lavish Details

Bring out the lacquered furniture and metallic finishes. This is a style for those who want to put grandeur on full display.

Plush Textures

It wouldnt be glamorous without a few sumptuous layers, like silk window treatments and velvet throw pillows.

Embrace Your Eclectic Side

Juxtaposing modern and traditional elements is a hallmark of Hollywood Regency.

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