Moving can be stressful, and if you're moving out of state or to a brand new part of town, it can feel isolating. If you're looking to meet your new neighbors but are unsure how, follow these suggestions:

Do a walk-around. If you're outgoing, take time on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon to do a lap of the neighborhood, ringing doorbells and introducing yourself to the new neighbors. No need to bake a pie or cookies - a simple handshake will do!

Send out mailers. If you're less outgoing, try sending out some "New to the Neighborhood" cards with some brief info on you and your family. You can even let folks know a good window of time (Saturday afternoons?) for new neighbors to drop by and say hello.

Involve the kids. If you're a parent, take stock of which neighbors seem to have kids, and invite them over to meet your brood.

Suggest a dog-walk. No kids? The same goes for dogs! Drop by a pup-owning neighbor and suggest a morning dog walk at some point in the future so both you and fido can make new friends.

Throw a mixer. If you like hosting, throw an open house-style mixer to meet your new neighbors, and send out the invites via mail.
 

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You likely take precautions to maximize your physical health, like eating right, exercising and sleeping regularly. But how often do you think about your home health? A healthy home begins with healthy plumbing; to keep home plumbing healthy, Harts Services recommends the following tips:

Check the outdoors. Make sure all storm drains, gutters, pipe vents, and downspouts are cleared of debris to prevent unwanted water from leaking into the home. Also check the flow of all outdoor faucets to monitor for drips. Faucet drips may indicate cracks that can cause leaks.

Complete a sump pump test. Pour a gallon of water into the sump pump pit. The sump pump should activate and push the excess water out through the drain pipe. If your sump pump is not working, enlist the help of a plumbing expert.

Tune-up your kitchen sink. Check the pipes underneath the sink for leaks then run hot water down the drain for 15 minutes to clean out the drain. Also, check to see how the sink is draining. For garbage disposal maintenance, throw ice in the disposal and run cold water through to clean the blades.

Perform a bathroom check. Remove shower heads and let them soak in a vinegar bath for an hour to remove any sediment. Open the toilet tank and flush to check the mechanism and make sure each part is functioning properly. Monitor the refill valve and make the tank refills within one minute. Check your toilet bowl for cracks or leaks. If you suspect a leak, add food coloring to the toilet tank and wait 30 minutes to flush. If the coloring appears in the toilet bowl, the tank is leaking into the bowl.

Monitor for invisible leaks. Find the main shut off valve and turn off your water. Check your water meter leak indicator for any water movement.

Source: Harts Services
 

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(Family Features)--If your homeowner insurance rates are creeping up even though you haven't filed any claims, it may be time to take a look at how you can bring those prices back down.

Research, smart shopping and even some home upgrades can make a noticeable difference in your insurance premiums. Explore the cost-savings potential with these tips from the experts at CertainTeed, a manufacturer of exterior and interior building products:

Shop for the best rates. It's easy to be complacent when you've used the same insurance company for years, but if getting the best rate is your objective, it's a good idea to shop around. To do effective comparison shopping, have a copy of your current policy ready and contact a handful of competitors. Provide them the exact same coverage details so you can compare like rates, but also be ready to listen to information about additional coverage options that may suit your needs.

Combine homeowner insurance with other policies. Most insurance carriers offer multiple policy discounts, which they apply when you insure more than one item. For example, if your homeowner insurance carrier also insures your cars, you're likely to save money on the rates for protecting both your home and automobiles.

Update your home's first line of defense. Many homeowners focus on aesthetics when it's time to make upgrades, but there are some important functional improvements that can make a difference when it comes to your insurance premiums. For example, as extreme weather becomes more commonplace, the first line of defense is often the type of roofing material chosen. Many insurance companies even offer discounts for using impact-resistant shingles. Check with your insurance provider before making a final selection, but in general, look for products that include "impact-resistant" in their name and specs, and "Class IV Impact Resistance," the highest rating available for roofing materials.

Install a home security system. An intruder alarm can provide more than peace of mind. Insurance companies often reward homeowners who take steps to minimize the chances of burglary or vandalism. After all, a well-protected home is less likely to result in a claim for losses. Some companies offer varying degrees of discounts on insurance rates depending on the type of system you install, so be sure to thoroughly research the options.

For example, a system that simply emits a loud noise when triggered may generate one level of discount, while a system that dispatches emergency personnel when activated can lead to an even better rate.

Source: CertainTeed

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If you’ve got a credit card in good standing, then you probably receive frequent solicitations to increase your credit line. The offer is always tempting. But is it smart? Here are some reasons why increasing your credit line can be a good idea...followed by an important caveat!

More purchasing power. Obviously, an increased credit line will allow you to buy more. If you’re short on funds - perhaps you’re in need of a home improvement or a special event is looming - a credit line increase could help you out in a tight spot.

An improved credit score. If you increase your credit line - and don’t use it or use only a small portion of it - you will actually improve your credit utilization ratio, which is the sum of your outstanding credit balances, divided by the sum of your total credit limit.

The opportunity for other loans. An increased credit line may also make it easier for you to get other lines of credit, such as a car or home loan, as it shows you’ve demonstrated a pattern of responsible credit behavior.

An emergency fund. A credit card with a higher limit can serve as your emergency fund, keeping it on hand in case something goes wrong, such as an unexpected car repair or medical bill.

The caveat? While the above are all good reasons to get a credit line increase, it’s all for naught should you max out that credit line and fail to pay it back within a short time frame. Accumulating more debt at a high interest rate will only hurt your credit score and your overall financial picture.

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If you’re in your fifties and short on retirement savings, the money mavens at The Motley Fool remind us, you are not in a good place. Most seniors will need 70 to 80 percent of their previous income to live comfortably, and Social Security will provide only about half of that.

If you’re looking at that scenario, you are right to worry, according to financial advisors. But it isn’t time to panic - yet - if you take the following three steps now:

Make lifestyle changes - Downsize your living space. Become a one-car family. Eat out less often and cut down on clothing buys and other nice-but-not-necessary expenses. If you can manage to free up $500 a month to save over the next 15 years, and your investments generate an average seven percent return, you’ll be on track to accumulate $150,000 - not a huge amount, but a better position to be in.

Get a side gig - You can only cut back on so many expenses before there is no lifestyle left. The obvious answer is to generate more income with a side hustle. Figure out what you can do. If you can bring in $500 a month in addition to the $500 you are saving, you will be on track to accumulate $300,000 by age 65.

Plan to work a little longer - It’s hard to push yourself to keep working when you’ve been looking forward to retiring. But working longer means more time to contribute to your retirement plan. Also, the longer you delay taking your Social Security benefits, the higher the amount you will receive when you do retire.

With Americans living longer these days, the last thing you want to do is be dreadfully short of funds in your senior years. Resolve now to do what it takes to put yourself in the best financial position possible.

Published with permission from RISMedia.