When you own a home, you can’t call the landlord to repair a burst pipe or replace a broken refrigerator — it’s your responsibility. And while many homeowners budget carefully for mortgage payments and utilities, finding room in a budget for maintenance costs can be more difficult. Not only can home maintenance get spendy fast, but it’s also impossible to know how much repairs will cost — or when they’ll be needed at all. You might not be able to predict when your water heater will burst or your roof will start leaking, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make room in your budget for home maintenance and repairs. Consider the size of your home, its age, your local climate and the cost of materials and labor in your area when calculating how much to set aside each month. Factors That Affect the Cost of Home Maintenance The average homeowner…

Build-it-yourself furniture is popular for its versatility and low price tag, but it does come with one big drawback: You have to put it together yourself. Even putting the feet on a couch can seem overwhelming if you’re not good with tools or not used to working with your hands. But you can still succeed at assembling your new furniture, even if you’re not very handy. All you need to do is have a plan, avoid common pitfalls, have some help, make safety a priority and know when to put down the tool belt and call in the pros. 1) Plan Carefully There’s one sure-fire way to avoid the frustration that often comes with assembling flat-pack furniture, and that’s to go into it with a plan. Make sure you measure the space where you’re going to put the piece before you head out to your local big-box store. Clear the…