How to avoid a big tax bill or fine-tune your refund (BPT) - Think back to your last income tax return. Did you owe Uncle Sam a lot of money, or did he give you a big refund? Whatever your situation, you can influence next year’s outcome by adjusting your payroll withholding. Remember the IRS Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate, your employer asked you...
Ask the pharmacist: How to avoid medication misfortune during a natural disaster (BPT) - Whether it’s plywood, bottled water or generators, Americans gather the necessary supplies and seek the appropriate shelter if confronted by the wrath of Mother Nature. Regardless of the disaster – hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires – lives can be turned upside-down in an instant. Some of the most commonly overloo...
Three ways to bring added entertainment to your outdoor experiences (BPT) - There’s a reason it’s called the “great” outdoors. Nothing can quite compare with the beauty and majesty of wild places. When summer rolls around, the urge to explore grows for many people, inspiring millions of travelers to camp, hike and tour the country’s natural wonders. Modern outdoor enthusiasts have disco...
Technology makes it easy to work from home and enjoy summer to the max (BPT) - No one wants to see a cloud on a sunny summer day, but when it comes to how technology can make your life better, a different type of cloud can actually brighten your day. Cloud storage – often referred to as just “the cloud” – makes it easy to work at home or from anywhere, plus it makes it a snap to plan summe...
Hitting the road? Apps to pack to avoid summer brain drain (BPT) - Warm weather and sunshine are putting families across the country in vacation-planning mode. Whether traveling by train, plane or automobile, mobile devices are typically the first thing parents and kids pack. In fact, American families take more than 100 million leisure trips a year and the average family jugg...
PTSD: Not just a military problem (BPT) - Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that affects millions of individuals worldwide. While it is often closely associated with combat veterans and other members of the military, the fact is PTSD can affect anyone who experiences a traumatic event. During the past year, many communi...
The skinny on summer snacking [Infographic] Americans love to snack, and summer snacking is among the most popular of American traditions. When the sun is shining and the weather is wonderful, we enjoy feasting on our favorite treats at ballgames, picnics and outdoor activities. Yet the desire for indulgent taste can often get in the way of making good nutritional choices, especially while out and about. Snack smarter this summer and nosh on snacks that will fill you up, but not out.
Father's Day gift guide for the outdoorsy dad Year after year, moms and children are faced with the same question: “What are we going to get dad for Father’s Day?” Finding the right gift can be stressful and the department stores filled sky-high with matching tie and sock combinations are less than helpful. This Father’s Day, take the guesswork out of gift-giving...
Add years to your pet's life with expert tips (BPT) - Few things in life are as special as the unconditional love and loyalty a pet provides. With 78.2 million owned dogs and 86.4 million owned cats in the United States, according to The Humane Society, it’s obvious Americans enjoy having pets. What might not be so apparent is how best to care for them. When it com...
Create an outdoor space that 'wows' (BPT) - Whether you own a cozy cottage or mega mansion, as a homeowner, you likely embrace the outdoor living trend. But when you look at your deck or patio, does it leave something to be desired? By taking a do-it-yourself (DIY) approach, you can affordably create outdoor spaces that enhance the style and functionality...
100 percent live like they mean it, 61 percent invest like they do [Infographic] Charles Schwab surveyed 1,000 Americans who express a significant degree of personal ownership in their everyday lives, and found that a majority are also highly engaged in investing: nearly two-thirds (61 percent) are actively involved in their portfolios. Though a majority of those surveyed also grab hold of the wheel when it comes to investing, a sizeable number of go-getters in life say they are not actively involved in their investment portfolio, revealing a dichotomy between how they...
Navigating a lung cancer diagnosis (BPT) - Far too often, people make the mistake of assuming that lung cancer only affects people who smoke, but the disease can affect anyone. In fact, approximately 10 percent of patients with lung cancer have never smoked and approximately 50 percent of newly diagnosed lung cancer patients have already quit smoking. U...
