Home and Garden

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You can use retirement savings for down payment on a house, but should you?

LOS ANGELES — Raiding retirement savings for a down payment on a home can be tempting, especially if you’ve struggled to scrape together enough money to buy. But should you? Most 401(k) and similar retirement savings plans like Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) allow homebuyers to ...

Soil is the foundation of your garden, so keep it healthy

We all dream of it: A breathtaking, lush, verdant garden that nourishes our souls and makes us the envy of the neighborhood. And to make that dream come true, our first thoughts tend to focus on plants. But the garden is a structure, and like any structure, it requires a good foundation. That's ...

A few thoughtful additions can greatly improve efficiency in laundry rooms

Laundry rooms may not be the most glamorous rooms in a home, but they do get lots of usage, particularly in homes with children. Because laundry rooms tend to be well trafficked areas, it makes sense for homeowners to make them as functional and user-friendly as possible. With that in mind, ...

How to use recycling to save money in your garden this season

With prices for many things creeping up this year, gardeners shopping for supplies might be looking to tighten their tool belts. Before heading to the garden center, take a look around your home, garage, shed and recycling bin. There might be some perfectly good gardening gear hiding in plain ...

Nobody said vegetable gardens must be in the backyard. Put them out front if it’s sunny

If you've dreamed of growing a vegetable garden but your backyard is too shady, is paved or is simply too small, consider the front yard. Planned properly, it will not only provide a nice harvest but might even bring new friends to your gate. Such gardens were commonplace a few generations ...