Search

Growing a Whole Child in a Snapshot World 06/11/2018 08:00pm • Sitting outside of a coffee shop, I chatted with Cindy Wasson, the founder and director of 10th Street Preschool in Santa Monica, California. We lamented how fast-paced the world is now, and how everyone is glued to an electronic gadget, including parents. That day we saw many parents whiz by, pushi The Guide for First-Time Homebuyers 06/11/2018 08:00pm • Owning a home is a major milestone many Americans expect to achieve in their lifetime. It's not simply about having the ability to stay in one place for years -- it's also about taking advantage of the incentives to homeownership, including the financial security to make a major investment and see 7 tips for buying beach real estate in Del., Md. 06/11/2018 12:00am • EDITOR'S NOTE: The housing bubble before the recession drove prices up at the Delmarva beaches. Then prices sank. It's been nine years since the end of the recession. So have the beach communities recovered? In the series, Beach Real Estate Guide, WTOP's Colleen Kelleher brings you advice on buying, How to Buy a Foreclosed Home 06/10/2018 08:00pm • As home prices soar in many cities, buyers might look to foreclosures as an affordable option for landing their dream home. Typically, a foreclosure occurs when a homeowner no longer can make the mortgage payments and the lender seizes the property. The lender then requires the former owner to vaca 6 Side Jobs to Make Extra Money 06/07/2018 08:00pm • Working on the side Whether to make a dent in their debt, save up for vacations or gain more financial independence, many workers are turning to side jobs to supplement their incomes. Demanding anywhere from just a few to several dozen hours a week, "gig" labor goes by several names. The Bureau of L Everything You Need to Know About Alternative Mortgage Lenders 06/06/2018 08:00pm • The 21st century is an incredible time to be a homebuyer. In decades past, your mortgage options were likely limited to whatever your local bank was willing to offer you. But today's marketplace offers a refreshing array of options. With the rise of alternative lenders, homebuyers are able -- now m Giant Food says HelloFresh 06/05/2018 06:16pm • WASHINGTON — Giant Food says meal kit delivery company HelloFresh is now available in Giant Food stores. HelloFresh, the second-largest meal delivery kit company in the U.S. market behind Blue Apron, is branching out into retail stores and its partnership with Giant is one of several planned pa How to Invest in the Booming Pet Industry 06/03/2018 08:00pm • Americans will spend more than $70 billion on their pets in 2018, according to the American Pet Products Association. Globally, pet care is a $100 billion industry and growing. "The pet industry is booming," writes JJ Kinahan, chief strategist at TD Ameritrade, in an email. We spend as much on our Retailers Are Fighting for Your Business -- Here's How to Take Advantage 06/03/2018 08:00pm • Competition is fierce among the biggest players in the retail industry. And one of the biggest battles is over the busiest customers -- the ones who don't have time to shop in stores, but also don't want packages left unsecured on the front stoop during their long workdays. The ones who need grocer 10 Ways to Make Money if You've Been Laid Off 05/31/2018 08:00pm • Losing a job can turn your life upside down, especially if you are only a few years away from retirement. But a sudden layoff doesn't have to completely derail your retirement plan. Here's how to make some money between jobs and get through this period unscathed. 1. Go for a temp job or contract w 10 Cities Where Gig Workers Can Flourish 05/31/2018 08:00pm • The rise of the internet has propelled the growth of the gig economy. Rather than hold down a 9-to-5 job with a single employer, workers are increasingly weaving together their livelihood from a number of short-term gigs. Those who drive a car for Uber or assemble furniture for customers found on t How to Successfully Negotiate With Wedding Vendors 05/30/2018 08:00pm • Wedding planning is supposed to be exciting, but the process can quickly become stressful as budgets grow tight. According to the 2017 Real Weddings Study from The Knot, an online resource for wedding news and inspiration, the national average wedding cost $33,391. So, it probably comes as no surpr 3 Ways Your Cash Could Earn More 05/28/2018 08:00pm • It's hard to believe, but a little more than a decade ago, savers could earn up to 5 percent annual interest from bank certificates of deposit and savings accounts. That was before the financial crisis forced the Federal Reserve to lower short-term interest rates to nearly zero and keep them there How to Budget for Your Kids' Summer Vacation 05/28/2018 08:00pm • Summertime, and the living is easy -- unless you're a parent of young children, trying to find and afford ways to occupy them during the long break. If you have a baby in day care, the center is likely to be open year-round, so you're all set. Otherwise, the lack of school can create a big gap in yo 3 Tips for Online Students From Success Coaches 05/24/2018 08:00pm • Online students often juggle a full-time job and family obligations while working toward their degrees. It can become overwhelming very quickly, so having personalized support from university staff is critical. That's where a success coach comes in. Many online colleges offer coaching programs as a