Breaking News

Lifestyles

Are resort fees ever worth it?

By SALLY FRENCH NerdWallet Resort fees that aren’t advertised as part of the room rate of a hotel stay can surprise many travelers when they see the final price. Some hotels say the separate fees help cover the costs of valuable amenities like classes or equipment rentals. Those fees may even encourage guests to use these amenities. But the government says resort fees are a play for profit because they reduce the commissions resorts must pay travel agents based on nightly rates and resorts aren’t being transparent enough about the added fees when travelers are trying to ...

Planning proposals need not be difficult

Metro February 14 is a day dedicated to love. And for couples who are pondering their futures together, Valentine’s Day may seem tailor-made for wedding proposals. According to a survey of 1,000 married adults by James Allen, an online diamond and bridal jewelry retailer, people really love getting engaged on Valentine’s Day. Forty-three percent of Millennials report favoring Valentine’s Day for proposals — whether they’re doing the asking or being asked. There are a few things to keep in mind when considering whether or not to pop the question on Valentine’s Day. Here are ...

Just who was Saint Valentine?

Metro Valentine’s Day presents an opportunity to express feelings of love. Greeting cards and heart-shaped chocolate boxes are traditional gifts, as are red roses. Most people know how and why Valentine’s Day is celebrated, but few may know the person behind the holiday’s name. The Catholic Church recognizes three different martyred individuals with the name Valentine, who each may hold ties to the Valentine’s Day celebration. The name Valentine comes from the Latin “Valentinus,” which means “worthy, strong or powerful.” The name was a common moniker at the time. It is ...

Man adventures in his new tiny home

By Joe Napsha Tribune-Review Benjamin D’Amico of Irwin is going on a life-changing venture and getting back to the land, at least for the foreseeable future, by living in a tiny house he built in a North Huntingdon barn and hauled to a farm in central Ohio’s Amish country. “I’m actually thrilled to go out there,” D’Amico, 31, said of his plans last week to use his 1990s truck to haul his 28-foot-long, 8-foot-wide, 8,300-pound house some 125 miles to Berlin, Ohio, about 30 miles southwest of Canton. Like so many other Americans, D’Amico said the changes during the ...

Finding more leisure time

Metro Everyone appreciates some time to rest and relax. But few may realize just how valuable free time can be to their overall well-being. A 2021 study from the American Psychological Association found that individuals with up to two hours of free time per day reported feeling better than people who had less free time. The sense of well-being free time provides underscores the need for leisure time. Unfortunately, a 2016 survey from the Pew Research Center found that 12 percent of adults in the United States felt they were too busy to enjoy life. These strategies to create more ...

When pinching pennies isn’t enough

By KELSEY SHEEHY NerdWallet Scaling back streaming subscriptions is solid savings advice for some. But what if the choice you’re faced with is not whether to pay for Netflix or Hulu, but whether to pay for food or electricity? Millions of Americans face food, housing and general financial insecurity every year, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Department of Agriculture. And getting help often means navigating a maze of websites, automated telephone systems and confusing applications only to land on a yearslong waitlist or worse — find out you don’t ...