And all those experts who advise skipping out on small pleasures, like your daily latte or avocado toast, might be missing the mark. “The whole idea of rice and beans, beans and rice is cool in theory, but it’s just not realistic,” says financial expert Aja Dang on a recent episode of the Money Confidential podcast. Dang burned out on the savings front after scrimping to pay off credit cards, a car loan, and a student loan....

According to National Geographic, 91 percent of plastic isn’t recycled. The 5 Gyre Institute, a nonprofit that researches and encourages action against plastic pollution, estimates that less than 10 percent of plastic is recycled, while 8 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year. Research suggests that the vast majority of plastic isn’t recycled, and new restrictions in China—which until recently accepted the bulk of recyclable items from the United States, according to The Atlantic—mean even more recyclable goods are ending up in the trash and, eventually, landfills....

Before you begin this outdoor project, make sure the rust hasn’t damaged the structural integrity of the item. Small spots of rust are likely manageable, but large corroded areas might not be salvageable. If the frame remains sturdy, use the following steps to paint rusty metal furniture, including pieces made from aluminum, iron, and steel. How to Paint Rusty Metal Furniture Be sure to work in a well-ventilated area, preferably outdoors, that’s not exposed to direct sun or strong wind, which can affect the adhesion of the paint....

How to Reheat Thanksgiving Turkey in the Oven The best part of reheating turkey in a warm oven is that you can use the appliance to reheat a slew of leftovers for a quick meal. Plus, the oven is a chef-approved method for reheating Thanksgiving turkey and takes very little effort, just preheating the oven. “The best way to reheat turkey is in the oven,” says chef Jose Garces. “Slice the turkey, place it in a shallow pan, add some chicken or turkey stock, and cover tightly with foil....

Before Getting Started Before you learn how to clean stainless-steel appliances, there are a few things you should know, starting with which tools and cleaners to use. For cleaning stainless steel as part of your routine kitchen cleaning, a simple microfiber cloth dampened with water will be sufficient. When it’s time to do a more in-depth cleaning, keep rubbing alcohol, vinegar, baking soda, and even rubbing oil on hand. It’s also important to know what not to use when cleaning stainless steel appliances....

What You’ll Need: 1 pot (preferably one that’s about 2 inches larger than the plant’s current container)Sharp scissors or pruning shears Knife or flat trowelPotting soil with perlite How to Repot Your Plant 1. Select Your Container To allow for plant growth, select a new container that is 1 to 2 inches larger than the pot your plant is currently in. Pots must have drainage holes in the bottom to allow excess water to flow out of the pot, otherwise roots can suffocate and develop disease....

Professional baker Vallery Lomas, author of Life Is What You Bake It, has the perfect plan to help you set up your pantry perfectly, no matter what your budget is. The first rule: Think about what you want to make. If you’re not a baker, there’s probably no need for a big bag of flour or a big bottle of vanilla extract—but if you are, you might save money buying those in bulk....

Step 1: Make sure your books are clean, dusted, and ready to be stored. Then find clean boxes that are the right size. (Avoid ones that were previously used to store food, as they might attract mice or bugs that will destroy your books’ paper pages.) Your best bet? Waterproof plastic containers. Step 2: Fill your boxes, wrapping each book in a paper towel or bubble wrap to prevent damage to the cover (or books sticking together), and stack the heavier books on the bottom....

If you haven’t considered a storage strategy for your spooky items, there’s no time like now to start. Use the following organizing tricks to make storing Halloween decorations a treat. 1. Sort into Categories Just like any home organizing project, the first step is to pull everything out that you want to organize and separate the items by type. This can be done any time before fall or after Halloween before putting things away....

How to Store Red Wine Red wine and white wine can be stored together, no wine fridge required. “Still wine in general benefits from being stored in a consistently cool, dark place that isn’t too dry,” says Amy Racine, sommelier and beverage director at JF Restaurants. “If there isn’t enough humidity, sometimes the cork can shrivel up and dry out, but most homes and basements already are just fine for this....

As Miguel Pires, co-owner of IMBUE The Salon, puts it, most of us have a love-hate relationship with our bangs. “Not everyone has the same hair texture, and oftentimes many people encounter cowlicks around their hairline that make styling their bangs tricky,” he says. “And not all bangs are cut equal! Sometimes your stylist may have not taken into consideration your hair texture or lifestyle that makes styling your bangs a chore....

On this week’s episode of Money Confidential, host Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez explores our very best advice from financial experts on how to talk money with your partner effectively. To begin with, couples need to understand that differences in financial approach (and arguments about them) are all too common—thanks to different upbringing around finances, according to Brad Klontz, PsyD, CFP, a clinical psychologist and certified financial planner. He suggests that those differences could actually work in your favor, as your partner can help you “gut check” spending and avoid frivolous purchases....

The good news is there are smart, simple ways to sweeten foods without adding sugar or artificial sweeteners. (Because let’s face it, liking sweet foods is what makes us human.) We sat down with Jennifer Tyler Lee, author of Half the Sugar, All the Love: 100 Easy, Low-Sugar Recipes for Every Meal of the Day, to learn the most effective ingredients for cooking and baking with less added sugar. “These ingredients, available in most well stocked grocery stores, preserve texture and add flavor so you won’t miss the sugar one bit,” says Tyler Lee....

Why Weighted Blankets Require Special Care Purchasing a heavy-duty blanket that perfectly suits your sleep needs is one thing, but storing and washing weighted blankets is a topic that’s slightly more complicated, especially if your blanket isn’t safely encased in an easy-to-clean duvet cover. Bulky blankets are anything but easy to fold, and the idea of simply throwing a 20-pound blanket in the washing machine sounds logistically impossible given their heft....

Despite their similar acronyms, these two accounts are different—though both have to do with healthcare. (Not confusing at all, right?) Read on to learn the difference between an HSA and an FSA. “Both of them allow you to set aside money on a pre-tax basis,” straight from your paycheck, says Katie Waters, CFP, founder of Stable Waters Financial, a Georgia-based financial planning firm. By lowering your gross income through HSA or FSA contributions, you ultimately save money on taxes....

If you’re not familiar, bouclé is a soft, nubbly woven material, which, when found in upholstery, creates the sensation of being in your own private marshmallow heaven: every surface pillowy and white, every angle gently curved and pert, and a feeling of peace and cleanliness in the air. But its origins are much more dynamic. “Interest in this type of fabric increased after Chanel started using it for [its] clothing,” Amina El Kadiri, an interior designer at Valyōu Furniture tells Real Simple, “Bouclé is a very elegant, French-style fabric....

My curiosity peaked when I tried the JLo Beauty Hydrafacial in Los Angeles this year (Lopez launched the JLo Beauty Booster, which was designed to supplement the traditional hydrafacial with added hydration). What resulted was four days of an unbelievably dewy, clear complexion (or that J. Lo glow, as they say)—and a desire to learn more about the rest of her line. After hearing J. Lo herself hype up the collection’s hero ingredient—the JLo Beauty Olive Complex (a four-part blend of squalane, fermented oil, extra virgin oil and leaf extract)—I had to try it for myself....

DIY Incredibles Shirts Okay so let’s start at the very beginning when I was invited to an Incredibles 2 press event at Pixar in San Francisco a couple of weeks ago. Of course the first thing I did was say yes then I proceeded to watch The Incredibles like ten times over the course of the past two weeks. Fast forward one week to the big announcement that Cricut is now offering 9 different packs (3 different designs in each) of game-changing patterned iron on vinyl!...

But what happens if you do the same thing, day-in and day-out? Is sticking to a narrow fitness routine “bad” for you? Could strictly being a runner or yogi do more harm than good? Here’s what medical and fitness professionals have to say about the importance of exercise variety, along with some helpful tips to get you out of a fitness rut (or prevent one in the first place)....

Not only does the plant add personality to a space, but you can play with placement. Suspend one as a natural curtain in front of a window or let it trail over the edge of a side table. As the plant matures, it will grow 2- to 3-foot-long tendrils. Already own a string of pearls? Add other trailing succulents to your collection, such as the string of fish hooks or string of dolphins (yes, these are real plant names!...