It matches. Gray is a fluid, flexible color that pairs well with a large variety of accents. This means you can swap out your color scheme over the years and keep the same paint job.

It’s elegant. Gray is a classic choice for a wall. Whether it’s a light smoky gray, a deep ash or a lavender tinted hue, gray doesn’t seem to age out.

It’s calming. Along with green and some shades of blue, gray has been shown to soothe and relax. This makes it a great choice for your bedroom.

It opens space. If you choose a light gray, the color can help create the illusion of a larger area. White is the typical choice for opening up a space, but if you’re looking for a bit more personality, gray is the way to go.

You can mix and match. Gray is an extremely flexible color. You can paint three of your walls a soft silvery gray, and then choose an accent wall to paint a deep slate. Or, paint your ceiling or floor a different shade of gray to add an interesting twist.

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Do you need to put down 20 percent to buy a house?

Not necessarily. In fact, most buyers make lower down payments.

But putting down 20 percent or more does come with major perks.

A mortgage lender would consider you more financially stable and less risky.

That means you wouldnt need to pay for private mortgage insurance.

Youd receive lower interest rates, too, which could save you thousands of dollars over your loan period.

With a larger down payment, youd also likely stand out among your competition if a seller has multiple offers.

A 20 percent down payment isnt necessary, but if you can afford it, consider these upsides.

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Earn More Money
If possible, increase your income. If you have been at your job long enough and your boss is pleased with your performance, ask for a raise. If that’s not possible, volunteer for projects that could put you in line for a promotion. If you work part-time, look for a full-time job or a second part-time one. Use your skills to earn extra money by freelancing or teaching others, or find odd jobs to generate additional income.

Reduce Expenditures
Look for ways to cut costs. If you live in an expensive apartment, look for a cheaper place, find a roommate or consider moving in with family or friends. Before you ask your loved ones for help, be honest about your circumstances, your ability to contribute to living expenses and how long you might need to stay with them.

You can also save money by cutting back on things like entertainment, eating out and clothing. If you spend a lot of money to commute to your job, ask if you can work from home, or consider public transportation.

Negotiate Repayment Terms
If you have explored these options and you’re still struggling to pay your bills, talk to your creditors. They would rather get some money than have your debts be discharged in bankruptcy court. Your creditors might be willing to lower your interest rates and allow you to make smaller payments over a longer period of time. A credit counseling company can help you negotiate with your creditors if you have not had success working with them directly.

Sell Property or Borrow Money
Another option is to sell some of your belongings to earn money quickly. Turn jewelry, clothing, accessories, electronics or even a vehicle into cash by selling them online or holding a yard sale.

If you’re in dire straits, you can borrow money from family or friends. Before you ask others for a loan, think about their financial situation. Your loved ones might feel obligated to help you, but it wouldn’t be fair to ask them for help if it means that they wouldn’t be able to pay their own rent or mortgage or feed their own families. If someone is willing and able to loan you money, agree to a plan with specific repayment terms and stick to it. If you don’t, it could cause irreparable harm to your relationship.

Explore All Options
If you’re buried in debt, you might feel that bankruptcy is the only option, but there are other solutions to explore first. With hard work and a combination of strategies, you can fight your way out of debt.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Debit Card Hassles
While a debit card can be seen as safer than carrying cash, it can be a costly mistake if a thief steals it or your personal information to empty your bank account.

If your credit card is lost or stolen, or the information on it is stolen, you cant lose more than $50 in unauthorized transactions, according to federal law. The same is true for an ATM or debit card if you report it within two business days, according to the Federal Trade Commission. You wont be responsible for any unauthorized withdrawals if you report the card missing before someone uses it without your permission"thats the good news. But it can get much worse with a debit or ATM card, the FTC says, if unauthorized use happens before you report it.

If you report a debit card loss within 60 days after your statement is mailed to you, you could lose up to $500 in unauthorized transfers. If you dont report it within 60 days, you risk unlimited loss. You could lose all of the money in that account and the unused portion of your maximum line of credit for overdrafts. The thieves could overdraft your account if you wait more than two months to report it.

Once you report the loss or theft of your debit card to the issuer, youre not responsible for additional unauthorized use.

Credit Card Protections
If your credit card or number is stolen, federal law offers a simple protection: Youre only liable for up to $50 in unauthorized transactions. That comes with one important caveat"you must report it to your credit card issuer.

Some issuers wont charge you the $50 and are vigilant, alerting customers when they see potential credit card fraud.

The $50 limit after quickly reporting the loss of a credit or debit card is great if you do it within two days. But wait any longer than that and a debit card could be much costlier than a credit card if thieves get their hands on it.

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Keep these tips in mind when selecting artwork for your home.

Golden Rule of Art Acquisition

Surround yourself with works that truly inspire and excite you.

Size and Scale

Whether its a painting or a sculpture, try to maintain a sense of size and scale thats appropriate to the room.

Consider the Atmosphere

In each room, we strive to create a different ambiance. Keep this in mind and select art that captures the perfect mood for each setting.

Color and Style

The art you choose to display should be consistent with the overall aesthetic, so consider how the colors and textures will fit into a room.

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Here are some of the best financial benefits that service members have available to them:

Inexpensive Retirement Plan
The Thrift Savings Plan has a low annual expense ratio of 0.038 percent of assets, making it a far better retirement plan for military members than 401(k) retirement plans, which have annual fees and expenses of 1-2 percent.

In 2019, military members can contribute up to $19,000 to the plan"and up to $56,000 if receiving tax-free income while deployed.

Free College
The Post-9/11 GI Bill covers the full cost of in-state tuition and fees at public colleges for up to four academic years, or up to $23,671 per year for private or foreign schools. A housing stipend and money for books and tutoring are also included.

Longtime service members can transfer their benefits to a spouse or children.

Mortgage Help
The Veterans Administration (VA) offers home loans to military members with no down payment required. Veterans and surviving spouses are also eligible for these VA home loans, along with other housing programs from the VA.

The VA guarantees a portion of the loan, which is provided by private lenders. A potential downside of not making a down payment on a home, or even a small down payment, is that you could owe more on the home loan if housing prices drop and you have to move and sell your home.

Housing Allowance
For as long as you’re in the military, you’re given a tax-free housing allowance. The monthly subsidy covers all or part of your monthly rent or mortgage. The amount is determined by your rank, location and if you have dependents.

A military pay stub lists a “Basic Allowance for Housing,” along with other benefits.

Guaranteed Return on Savings
It’s unlikely that you’ll ever find a savings program as good as the Savings Deposit Program run by the Department of Defense (DOD).

Deployed members in designated combat zones can deposit up to $10,000 each time they’re deployed and earn 10 percent annual interest, compounded quarterly. The program lasts up to three months after returning from combat.

Since military pay during deployment is tax-free income, members receive more take-home pay, and can put that extra money into the DOD’s savings program.

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

Published with permission from RISMedia.

But that perk can cost you some money in the long run, if youre not careful. Here are some mistakes to avoid with a cash-back credit card:

Spending to Earn More
Buying something for the sake of earning more cash back rewards is wasted money. If a purchase is unnecessary, then doing it just for the rewards is equally unnecessary.

Why spend money to earn a little money back? Most of the purchase price wont be returned anyway, with 1 percent cash back being the norm. Even at 5 percent in rewards, that leaves 95 percent of the purchase price you spent on something you dont want or need.

High Annual Fee
A cash-back reward is essentially a discount on a purchase. If youre going to buy gas and groceries anyway, you might as well get 5 percent cash back on them if you can. But take into account the cost of an annual fee, as it can take a few thousand dollars in spending per year to earn enough cash back to make up the cost difference between a fee and no-fee card.

If a cash-back credit card has an annual fee of $75, for example, and pays 5 percent cash back for grocery store purchases, it would require spending $1,500 to get that $75 fee back. Thats a lot of groceries to buy before getting money in your pocket.

Paying Interest
Your cash rewards will be useless if you dont pay off your balance in full each month or on time and incur interest. People who pay interest each month are often charged a higher interest rate on their cash-back card than on a credit card with no rewards. If you regularly carry a balance on your credit card, look for a card with the lowest interest rate instead of one with rewards.

Incurring Transaction Fees
Private retailers, government entities and public utilities sometimes charge a transaction fee to consumers who use a credit card. This fee can easily exceed the cash back youd get on a rewards card. Credit card companies dont allow many businesses to charge a fee for using a credit card, though the business cost can be passed on through higher prices or a minimum charge. Ask if theres a fee before you swipe.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Here are three instant advantages you can expect when adding mature trees to your property.

Increased Property Value

Studies have shown that mature trees can increase a homes value by as much as 19 percent..

Improve Your Outdoor Space

Add instant privacy to your backyard by screening out the neighbors or create a shady canopy over your terrace that allows you to enjoy it at all hours during the summer.

Environmentally Friendly

Trees instantly help by absorbing carbon and other pollutants in the environment. Additionally, trees can help cool your home with natural shade and provide protection in the winter.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

The money is usually invested in mutual funds, so parents dont have to keep a close eye on how theyre performing.

Because 529 plans have a much shorter time to grow than retirement accounts do, a severe market drop can affect how much money they have for college. For this and other reasons, its a good idea to set up a 529 wisely and keep an eye on it.

Conservative investments are one way to go, especially if all of your college money is in a 529. Most 529s offer age- and risk-based investments as the child grows, moving from stocks to more bonds as they get older, much as a retirement fund can. In addition, some 529 plans offer savings accounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Whatever returns a 529 plan gets, the best way to get the most out of it is to contribute to it regularly, such as through automatic deductions from a family checking account. Contributions arent deductible on federal taxes but many states offer a deduction on a state tax return.

Investment allocations can be changed twice a year, so be sure that the change youre considering is one you want to make.

Another way to save with a 529 plan is to use one of 13 prepaid tuition plans offered by 12 states and one not-for-profit organization. They allow participants to pre-purchase future tuition at a predetermined rate today.

The most widely offered 529 plans are college savings plans that typically use mutual funds to grow contributions that parents make to the plan.

If your child doesnt want to go to college, a 529 plans beneficiary can be changed to another family member to use for college.

If the money isnt used for educational purposes then the earnings, not the contributions, will be subject to income tax plus a 10 percent federal penalty. Some plans may also charge extra fees.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Countertops. While real wood countertops may be more difficult to maintain, their gorgeous look in your space may make them worth it. Shop around with your local counter conveyor, or hire someone to create a custom job.

Ceilings. Wood ceiling panels or planks can be a great way to add a rustic, farmhouse touch from above.

Art. From wall hangings to sculptures, there is no shortage of wood art. Hit up Google to find a few pieces, or for more original work, call up your local gallery.

Accents. Wood lighting fixtures, wood coasters, wood vases or plant holders, wood-framed mirrors and more. The options are quite literally endless when it comes to spreading wood accents around your space.

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Super Sanitary

Todays cutting-edge models boast a self-cleaning functionality, air-purifying systems and automatic flushing.

Personalized Experience

Some high-tech toilets boast adjustable heated seats, foot warmers, ambient colored lighting and even Bluetooth capability.

Built-in Bidets

High-tech toilets often include a remote control to adjust the temperature and spray position of a built-in bidet, as well as a warm air dryer.

Water Efficient

Toilets are the main source of water use in most homes. However, some smart toilets use as little as 0.8 gallons per flush.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Skip the weather. As tempting as it may be to springboard off the weather, this can lead you down the empty-conversation rabbit hole and into a twenty-minute dialogue about rain. Asking about almost anything else should yield more interesting results.

Think of base questions. So, what should you talk about, if not the weather? Come up with a short list of base questions you can turn to in a flash. If you’re talking to a stranger or new acquaintance, try “have you done any traveling lately?” or “are you reading any good books?” These more personal questions show genuine interest and will actually reveal something about your conversation partner.

Make eye contact. Regardless of what you’re discussing, work to maintain or at least occasionally create eye contact, which signals to your conversation partner that you’re listening; this can help forge intimacy.

Keep asking questions. An awkward lull in the conversation? Keep asking questions. If you know your convo partner well, turn to questions about their family or hobbies. If it’s a new acquaintance, ask them if they’ve checked out a specific restaurant you loved, or what they do for fun in the area.

Understand how to wrap up. Nothing is more uncomfortable than not knowing how to escape a conversation when it has run its course. A simple, “well it was great chatting with you,” should suffice, and is a lot less uncomfortable than floundering in social agony.

Published with permission from RISMedia.