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Transforming your living space into a haven of comfort and style can seem daunting, but fear not! We have three best options to elevate your home decor game: wall murals, canvas, and wallpaper. Each option offers a unique, stylish, and customizable way to create a sanctuary you’ll love coming home to. So, let’s explore the best wall murals, canvas, and wallpaper and explore the endless possibilities they offer to transform your space.

Wall Murals: Best Way to Decorate Your Home

Wall murals are one of the best ways to give your home design personality and depth. These expansive art pieces may turn a plain wall into a gorgeous focal point, making a strong visual impression that will wow your visitors. Anything can be depicted on a wall mural, from tranquil landscapes and urban scenes to pop art and abstract patterns. The secret is to pick a design that expresses your personality and harmonizes with the room’s general motif.

Canvas: A Vibrant Interpretation of Colors

Canvas art is a perfect addition to your home decor, infusing it with a sense of elegance and sophistication. With a variety of sizes and styles available, canvas prints offer a wide range of options from photographs and paintings to digital art and typography. These versatile pieces can be grouped to create a gallery wall or displayed individually, providing a flexible and easily changeable solution for your home. The texture of the canvas also adds a sense of depth and warmth to your space, making it an excellent choice for creating a cozy atmosphere.

Wallpaper: A Timeless Classic

You can decorate your home & office with amazing peel-and-stick wallpaper. For a good reason, Peel and Stick wallpaper has made a strong comeback recently. Wallpapers have unlimited colors, patterns, and textures. Wallpaper can make a dramatic statement in any room. We have various wallpaper categories such as Art, Boho, Nature, Landscape, Geometric, etc.

All these wallpapers are peels and sticks, so you can remove them anytime. So they’re easy to apply and remove, making them a perfect choice for those who frequently change their home decor.

Tips for Choosing the Right Option

Consider your space: Analyze your room’s size and layout before choosing between wallpaper, canvas, and wall murals. While canvas and self-adhesive wallpaper can also be used for smaller spaces, wall murals work best in rooms with much wall space.

Assess your style: Evaluate your style as well as the overall look of your house. This helps you to choose the choice that will go best with your current decor.

Set a budget: The cost of wall murals, canvas, and wallpaper can vary greatly, so it’s essential to set a budget before shopping. This will help you narrow down your options and avoid overspending.

Don’t be afraid to mix and match: When it comes to home decor, there are no hard and fast rules. Feel free to combine wall murals, canvas, and wallpaper in different rooms or within the same space for an eclectic and personalized touch.

Conclusion:

Incorporating wall murals, canvas, and wallpaper into your home decor is an excellent way to bring life and character to your space. These versatile options allow you to create a unique and inviting atmosphere that reflects your personality and style. So, feel free to think outside the box and experiment with these stunning home decor solutions. Happy decorating!

Frequently Asked Questions: Home Decor

Q: What are the essential elements of home decor?

A: The essential elements of home decor include color, texture, pattern, furniture, lighting, and accessories. Combining these elements allows you to create a harmonious and visually appealing living space that reflects your personal style and preferences.

Q: How do I choose a color scheme for my home?

A: When selecting a color scheme, consider the mood you want to create, the size of your space, and the existing colors in your furniture and accessories. You can opt for monochromatic, complementary, or analogous color schemes based on your preferences. Feel free to experiment with different colors until you find the perfect balance.

Q: How can I incorporate texture into my home decor?

A: You can introduce texture to your home decor through various elements, including textiles (rugs, curtains, cushions), furniture materials (wood, metal, leather), and decorative items (woven baskets, pottery). Mixing and layering textures add depth and visual interest to your space.

Q: How often should I update my home decor?

A: The frequency of updating your home decor depends on your personal preferences and budget. Some people enjoy making seasonal changes, while others may update their decor every few years. As a general rule, focus on keeping your space fresh and functional, and be bold and make minor adjustments regularly to keep your home feeling current and personalized.

Q: Can I mix different interior design styles in my home?

A: Mixing different interior design styles can create a unique and eclectic space that reflects your personality. The key is to find a common element, such as color or texture, to tie the different styles together and create a harmonious look. Just be mindful of doing it sparingly, as too many competing styles can make your space feel chaotic and disjointed.

Source: fordhamram.com

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Finding an apartment in DC within your budget can be a challenge. While splitting the rent with a roommate is one way to save some cash ….at some point you need a bit more privacy and a place to call your own.  Studios are the perfect answer, a smaller footprint means a lower rent payment. We searched the current inventory and found these 7 studio apartments for less than $1500.  What you sacrifice in square footage, these apartments make up for in charm, location and value!

1380 Fort Stevens Apartments

1380 Fort Stevens Drive, NW
Washington, DC 20011

Apt #B — $1125

Located in the Brightwood neighborhood, 1380 Ft. Stevens boast comfort and affordability. Spacious one and two bedrooms apartment homes with updated kitchens and baths. Less than a five minute walk from your front door you can find over 15 casual dining options including Julia’s Empanadas, Serengeti Restaurant, and Sabor Restaurant. When it’s time to head to the grocery, Safeway is only .4 of a mile down the road. Commuting is a breeze with bus routes 52, 53, 54, E2, E3, E4, S1, S2, and S4 stopping right outside the property.

Chatham Courts Apartments

1707 Columbia Road, NW
Washington, DC 20009

Aparment #411 — $1445

Feel the pulse of the city in the center of Adams Morgan, outside the hustle and bustle of the thriving city awaits. Inside Chatham Courts find a quiet serenity from the moment you come in the front door, you will know you’ve found somewhere special. At Chatham Court, you will find apartments with spacious closets, remodeled kitchens, high ceilings, over sized floor plans, and hardwood floors that make a dramatic impression. The building is conveniently located within easy walking distance to the heart of Adams Morgan.

Cortland Apartments

1760 Euclid St, NW
Washington, DC 20009

Apartment #207 — $1130

Come to the Cortland Apartments in Adams Morgan; you’ll find your choice of affordable studio, one-bedroom, and two bedroom apartments for rent in Washington, DC. These large apartments in one of Washington, DC’s most popular neighborhoods, offer multiple closets, foyers, beautiful hardwood floors, and large windows to welcome in natural light. The building is conveniently located one block from a Safeway grocery store, Starbucks, and countless dining options. In addition to Adams Morgan’s active social scene, The Cortland’s location is enhanced by its convenience. Living here means you are within walking distance of Dupont Circle, Woodley Park, and U Street metro.

Hampton Courts

2013 New Hampshire Ave NW
Washington, DC 20009

Apartment #405 — $1331

Constructed in 1926, Hampton Courts has the elegant appeal of the early 20th-century architecture. The building is equipped with two elevators, a controlled intercom entrance, and a laundry room with a card payment system. The studio, one, and two bedroom apartments at Hampton Courts has updated appliances and spacious floor plans. All utilities are included in your rent, so no need to worry yourself about additional bills. The U Street Metro Station is three blocks away and provides access to the yellow and green lines. Zipcar and car2go vehicles, as well as Capital Bikeshare bicycles, are just a block from the building giving you endless means of transportation. The Saturday Farmer’s Market, Yes Organic Market, Trader Joes, Vida Fitness and several yoga studios are all a few blocks away from your front door. Come and explore the city living in Hampton Courts.

Hilltop House

1475 Euclid St NW
Washington, DC 20009

Apartment #503 — $1425

Hilltop House is a hidden jewel of the Adams Morgan neighborhood. This community offers studio and one-bedroom apartments for rent. Each apartment has large windows and breakfast bars; creating a cheerful, open, and bright atmosphere. To keep apartment living and budgeting easy, all utilities are included with your rent. Hilltop House faces Meridian Hill Park, where residents may take in a variety of social and cultural events. Every Sunday the park is activate with kickball leagues, yoga classes, Frisbee sessions, and drum circles. Just a couple of blocks from the Hilltop House apartment community is the Columbia Heights Metro station with access to both the green and yellow like. Hilltop House Apartments have the perfect location to take in all that Washington, DC has to offer.

Meridian Park Apartments

2445 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009

Apartment #112 — $1399

Enhance your interaction with your home and its surroundings. Meridian Park offers spacious and affordable studios, one and two bedrooms apartment homes for rent. Featuring updated kitchens with stainless steel appliances, new cabinets, and countertops. The neighborhood is comprised of iconic Meridian Hill Park on its western boundary, booming 14th Street Corridor in the neighborhood’s core, legendary U Street corridor to the south, and row house lined streets lined in-between. Meridian Park is just a quick walk from the Columbia Heights Metro station. Your key to the city is here.

The Foreland

23 2nd  Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002

Apartment #11 — $1215

Everyday living is made comfortable and effortless at The Foreland. You can look forward to a convenient location, shopping, and a multitude of dining options. The units are equipped with hardwood floors and ample closet space. Multiple windows in each apartment provide ample amounts of natural lighting. The community is located directly across the street from the Supreme Court building and within walking distance of Capitol South Metro, the National Mall, Capitol Hill, and Union Station. Convenience and comfort are guaranteed at The Foreland.WC Smith embraces the belief that great customer service is our best amenity. Living at the Foreland means experiencing a higher level of service. Our service team is available 24 hours a day and you can access your resident account online any time; day or night. Discover classic charms and modern conveniences of the Foreland, located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, DC.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates. Rental providers will not refuse to rent a rental unit to a person because the person will provide the rental payment, in whole or in part, through a voucher for rental housing assistance provided by the District or federal government.


Also published on Medium.

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Source: blog.apartminty.com

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By Melissa 2 Comments – The content of this website often contains affiliate links and I may be compensated if you buy through those links (at no cost to you!). Learn more about how we make money. Last edited January 6, 2014.

Because we’re digging our way out of debt, I’ve been on a mission to cut corners anywhere I can.

I’ve made many changes to our household including making our own laundry detergent and liquid hand soap, switching to Ooma for our home phone service, negotiating a discount on cable (only because it’s bundled with our Internet; otherwise I’d ditch it all together), and air drying all of our laundry, just to name a few.

While all of these changes have helped us find more money to apply to our debt, without a doubt, the change that saved us the most money has been just saying no to going out to eat.

Saying No To Eating Out

Three years ago, I LOVED going out to eat.  I liked not having to cook and choosing from a wide variety of foods.  I liked the relaxation and the experience.

If you would have told me that one day I would almost never go out to eat, I wouldn’t have believed you, and I might have even cried a bit.  That’s how much eating out was ingrained in me.  Our family went out to eat at least two to three times a week.  (And it’s not lost on me that this habit is part of the reason why we have debt to pay off.)

But, one day, we just stopped eating out.  Every time we got the check at the restaurant, the experience became less enjoyable.  As we watched our credit card balances creep up, I felt guilty about my restaurant habit.

And now, three years later, we eat out less than 6 times a year.  It’s not hard.  I don’t miss it.  In fact, I actually prefer our food at home to restaurant food.

How To Eat Out Less

If you’d like to cut your restaurant habit, here are some tips to make it easier:

1.  Invest in good pots, pans and utensils.

If you don’t cook much at home now, you must have the basic materials you need to be able to cook.

2.  Be willing to spend a bit more on groceries.

I know, this sounds counter intuitive.  After all, you’re trying to eat more at home to save money.

However, from personal experience, I can say that part of the reason I loved going out was because I didn’t like the food we were making at home.  I was trying to scrimp on groceries to have more money to eat out, and couponing netted me things like canned biscuits and soups, which I wasn’t incredibly fond of.  Spending a bit more to eat foods you like at home can still save you more money than eating out and scrimping on groceries.

3.  Find easy to make recipes.

Even though I like cooking, I really hate to spend an hour on a meal just to watch my family devour it in 10 or 15 minutes.  Instead, I try to make my time in the kitchen easier.  I do this by making double of a recipe and putting the extra serving in the freezer for a fast meal later.  (This is my version of fast food now.)  I also use the slow cooker–a lot!

4.  Find recipes you love.

Thanks to Pinterest, you can find many recipes for the ingredients you have on hand.  I use Pinterest every week to find new recipes.

5.  Have variety.

There’s nothing worse than cooking the same meals week in and week out.  Every week try at least one new recipe.  You’ll appreciate the change of pace.

6.  Don’t deny yourself completely.

You can still go out.  However, make it a special occasion and something you’re mindful of, not just the default because you don’t have any food prepared at home.

Do you need to kick the eating out habit?  If so, what’s your biggest challenge? 

Or, if you’ve already kicked the habit, what changes in your finances have you noticed?

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Source: biblemoneymatters.com

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Whether you’re renting your first apartment or just moving on up, you might ask yourself a question that many renters face: Furnished or unfurnished? Furnished apartments are less common but might possibly be the right choice for you. Furnished apartments usually come equipped with furniture, basic kitchen appliances and tableware, bathroom necessities such as a shower curtain, a washer/dryer set, and possibly a few other amenities. The exact items will vary depending on the landlord and what kind of place you’re renting.

Here are a few pros and cons to consider before you decide if furnished or unfurnished is right for you.

Furnished apartments: The pros

  1. Moving will be a breeze. If you’re a frequent mover, you want to keep your stuff to a minimum. Renting a furnished place means you won’t own most of the big items in your place, and it’ll be easy for you to pick up and move on short notice. It’s also cheaper if you hire professionals, since they’ll have a lot less that needs to be moved. Plus, you could do without the joy of moving a couch up a flight of stairs, right?
  2. You’ll save money buying furniture. This one has two sides – see the cons list later. A furnished apartment will save you a lot of money upfront if you don’t have furniture already. Do you really want to add a $1000 mattress to the things you have to pay for early on?

Read more: Short-Term Apartment Rentals: What You Need to Know  

  1. They’re good in a time crunch. Ideally, if you’re searching for a new apartment, you should measure your existing furniture and then pick a place that will fit your stuff. This can be a problem if you’re relocating on short notice, or if you’re moving across the country and can’t make the trip to see your new place in person before moving day. A furnished place takes the hassle out of moving in a time crunch – all you have to do is show up.
  2. Sometimes you can get a shorter lease. Most furnished apartments won’t require a year-long lease, since they cater mostly to students and traveling professionals who don’t stay in one place for too long. If you’re not ready to commit to one place for too long, you’re probably better going after a furnished apartment. They’ll be willing to do a shorter lease, and you don’t have to do such a big move for a place you’re only staying in for a few months.

Read more: Month-to-Month Leases: What You Need to Know

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Furnished apartments: The cons

  1. Your rent and security deposit might be higher. The money for the furniture has to come from somewhere. This isn’t a free gift for you, but money your landlord paid to make the apartment better. They’re going to build the price of the furniture into rent, and probably demand a larger security deposit to protect from damage to their valuable furniture. Speaking of which…
  2. You face a higher liability. In an unfurnished place, you might not get your security deposit back if you accidentally bust a hole in the wall or your kid draws all over the walls with crayons. There’s a lot more to break in a furnished apartment. Did you tear the upholstery in the couch? Scratch the dining room table? That stuff doesn’t belong to you, so you’re going to have to fix it yourself or pay to get it fixed. Better be careful!

Tip: Take a video inventory of everything the landlord provides in a furnished apartment before you move in. Take note of anything that’s broken. That way, you’ll have indisputable evidence if your landlord tries to charge you for something you didn’t break.

Read more: Be Aware of Actions That Might Violate Your Lease Agreement

  1. You’ll have no control over most of your décor. If you don’t like the couch in your furnished apartment, it’s a pain to get a different one. You could buy a new one, but you’ll have to figure out what to do with the old one, and if your landlord will let you in the first place. You can hang art on the walls and add other personal touches around the place, but you won’t have complete control over the look of your apartment. The look of the apartment is mostly determined by them, so if you care a lot about decoration, this probably isn’t the option for you.
  2. You’ll have fewer apartments to choose from. There’s a reason rental income is listed as “passive” on tax returns: the preference is for less active work. Furnishing and maintaining the furniture in an apartment is a competitive advantage, but requires a lot of work by the landlord, so it’s not as common, leading to a lot fewer options than for unfurnished apartments.
  3. The definition of “furnished” varies. You could be getting an apartment with everything you could think of to put in your apartment, or there might just be a bed frame and dresser. There’s no real standard of what “furnished” means, so you might still end up having to bring your own furniture to fill in some gaps anyway.
  4. Not a lot of room for what you already have. You probably don’t have a lot of stuff if you’re looking at furnished apartments, but you already have something. Anything you bring with any bulk might be difficult to fit in the apartment, requiring some clever rearrangement to make everything fit and function.

Read more: Benefits of Renting vs. Staying in a Hotel

Photo by Christelle BOURGEOIS on Unsplash

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Transiting the Panama Canal from the Caribbean to the Pacific Ocean is a once-in-a-lifetime trip for many travelers, especially for history and engineering buffs. If you’re considering this bucket-list sailing, you’ll want to find the best time to cruise the Panama Canal, whether that be to find better weather, lower pricing or fewer crowds.

The Panama Canal cruise season peaks between October and April, outside of the rainy season that can start as early as mid-March and extend into the fall. With a tropical climate, this region is home to rainforests, incredible biodiversity, lush landscapes, abundant wildlife and beautiful beaches, but the weather can be wet at certain times of the year.

Panama Canal itineraries come in several flavors. One-way cruises sail between Florida and California, Washington or Canada; these complete a full transit of the canal. Partial-transit itineraries sail round-trip from Florida ports and only go through the locks on the Caribbean side. Some ships depart from or end in Panama or Costa Rica and feature itineraries that focus on the Pacific Coast of Central America or the Caribbean.

In addition to visiting Panama, many itineraries include ports of call in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Colombia or Mexico, which can be the highlight of the trip, especially for outdoor enthusiasts.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter.

It used to be that only smaller Panamax ships could squeeze through the locks of the Panama Canal. However, with the opening of a new set of locks in 2016, larger New-Panamax-sized ships can transit, as well. That means you take a Panama Canal cruise on a small-masted Windstar ship or luxury Silversea cruise or can sail on a megaship as large as the 1,094-foot-long and 136-foot-wide Norwegian Bliss.

Here, we look at Panama’s peak cruise season month by month, so you can consider the weather, pricing and crowds to determine the best time to cruise through the Panama Canal.

October

Pros: October is one of the best months for cooler temperatures, lower fares and fewer crowds.

Cons: October is still the rainy season, and it’s humid. It’s also hurricane season in the Caribbean.

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Ships: Princess, Holland America, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line, Oceania, Hurtigruten Expeditions, Lindblad and luxury lines Scenic and Silversea offer sailings during the month.

October is a rainy month, but it’s also one of the coolest months of the year, with high temperatures in the low to mid-80s. The average year-round temperature in Panama is about 86 degrees, so it doesn’t vary much during the year, but it’s more humid in October with the wet weather. It’s also possible to have hurricanes this time of year if you’re cruising in the Caribbean.

For outdoor adventure seekers, it’s too wet for hiking in the rainforests, but other activities benefit from the rainy season, including whitewater rafting. In Quepos, Costa Rica, Windstar Cruises offers rafting trips to the town of Santo Domingo, where you can take a float trip on the Savegre River. Experienced surfers can also check out the big swells on both coasts of the country.

If you have an extended stay in Panama City, consider a trip to the Archipelago de las Perlas (Pearl Islands) in southeastern Panama to view the humpback whales. It’s a short flight to the islands, or you can travel by ferry to see the whales that are still in the waters around the archipelago after coming to breed in August and September. If traveling earlier in the month, you may also see nesting loggerheads and green turtles southeast of Panama City in Isla Canas (Cane Island) or Bocas del Toro.

Related: Best Panama Canal cruises for a bucket-list trip

November

STAR CLIPPERS

Pros: November is one of the best months for lower cruise fares.

Cons: November is still the rainy season and the end of hurricane season. You can also expect some crowds in port with the national holidays.

Ships: Windstar, Star Clippers and Seabourn will also have vessels transiting the Panama Canal in November.

November can be rainy — and even the rainiest month of the wet season — with temperatures starting to warm closer to December. The month brings a mix of low-priced early-season fares but also several public holidays that bring crowds of both tourists and residents to attractions in places like Panama City and Boquete.

For a rainy-day excursion, ride the Panama Canal Railway, one of the world’s great train rides. If you’re in Panama City, plan an indoor excursion with a visit to the world’s first museum dedicated to biodiversity, the Frank Gehry-designed Biomuseo.

You can celebrate Panama’s Separation Day on Nov. 3 or Flag Day on Nov. 4. These holidays, along with a few others in November, feature parades, parties and other displays of national pride, so you can expect it to be busy in towns across the country.

Related: The best time to go on a cruise

December

Pros: December is the beginning of the dry season, so the weather will be drier and less humid.

Cons: The month is one of the busiest times for tourism, so you can expect to pay higher fares and have more crowds in port.

Ships: A few additional cruise lines offer Panama Canal crossings during December, including Celebrity, Carnival, Crystal and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

With drier weather and high temperatures hovering around 88 degrees, it’s less humid in the region in December. However, it’s the holiday season, so cruise fares and other costs, like hotels for pre- and post-cruise stays, will be more expensive if you travel this month. December is one of the peak tourism months in Panama, with Panamanians traveling for the holidays and visitors from North America and Europe escaping the cold weather at home.

December is the best month to plan excursions to places like Panama’s rainforest and Chagres National Park to meet the indigenous Embrera people. You can also take an eco-cruise on Gatun Lake, which concludes with a visit to the Agua Clara Locks Visitor Center, where you’ll learn about this engineering feat that connects two oceans. If you’re comfortable exploring on your own, rent a car or hire a local guide to visit places like Soberania National Park.

Related: Tips for booking the best cruise shore excursion for your money

January

Tauck’s Panama and Costa Rica itinerary. TAUCK/FACEBOOK

Pros: January is regarded as one of the best months to visit Panama with the drier weather and high temperatures around the mid-80s. It’s also less bustling with tourists than it is in December.

Cons: It’s peak season on land and at sea, so hotel and cruise prices are high. Panama City will also be busy with the jazz festival mid-month.

Ships: Cunard, Azamara, Emerald Cruises and Tauck Tours (with a chartered Ponant yacht) enter the market in January.

January’s dry weather makes the month the perfect time to explore Central America’s national parks, jungles and tropical rainforests, including Costa Rica’s Manuel Antonio National Park and Curú Wildlife Refuge and Panama’s Darien National Park. During your visit, be sure to look for monkeys, sloths, iguanas, blue-footed boobies, capybaras, crocodiles and even manatees on a jungle boat tour along the canal and into Gatun Lake.

If you’re a jazz buff, the Panama Jazz Festival is held in Panama City in mid-January, January 16-21. The six-day event features hundreds of renowned jazz musicians from around the world with live performances, a gala evening and concerts. If you’re embarking in Colon, Panama, you can fly into Panama City a few days early for the festivities. The distance between the two cities is less than 50 miles. Alternatively, linger in Panama after your cruise to attend the festival, or look for sailings with full-day stops in Panama City during the jazz festival.

Related: When is the best time to book a cruise?

February

Pros: February is the second-best month to cruise the Panama Canal, with optimal weather during the dry season.

Cons: It’s still peak season with higher cruise fares and prices ashore — but there are fewer cruise lines in the region. Snowbirds are still avoiding the cold weather and snowstorms at home, so you can expect many tourists, especially in Panama City. Carnival typically occurs across the country in February, depending on when Easter falls that year, bringing crowds.

Ships: Ponant is the only new addition in the region, offering one sailing early in the month. The other cruise lines sailing the Panama Canal in February are Holland America, Oceania, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Carnival, Lindblad, Tauck, Emerald and Windstar.

Take advantage of the final weeks of the dry season to book active outdoor adventure excursions like hiking, kayaking and zip lining. Another option is the Rainforest and Aerial Tram tour to the Gamboa Rainforest Resort in the 55,000-acre Soberania National Park. The tram climbs 280 feet through the dense jungle vegetation to reach the tree canopy above. During the ride to the top, keep an eye out for local wildlife, including white-faced capuchin and howler monkeys, sloths, butterflies, iguanas, toucans and frogs.

Carnival is a festival in mid-January in Panama City and other towns around the country. It’s one of the biggest celebrations in Central America — even bigger than the Christmas holidays for most families, so you can expect crowds during that time.

March

Explora Journey’s new vessel, Explora I. EXPLORA JOURNEY

Pros: March is the last month of the dry season, although the rains can start by midmonth during some years. You can expect pleasant weather, although it’s quite warm, with temperatures reaching as high as the low 90s. You can also find late-season low fares on some of the larger ships.

Cons: It’s still one of the busiest months for travel with the moderate weather.

Ships: New luxury line Explora Journeys joins the vessels in the region in March with an extended sailing that includes transiting the Panama Canal.

With the warmer temperatures, March is an ideal month to head to the beaches on one of the San Blas Islands, an archipelago of about 365 islands and cays off the Caribbean coast of Eastern Panama. Some cruise lines that visit the archipelago are Windstar, Star Clippers, Hapag-Lloyd and Ponant.

You can also look for excursions through the cruise line — or make independent arrangements — to go on an adventurous hike under the canopy of the rainforest, take a boat tour to explore the diverse flora and fauna along the canal or go windsurfing or sailboarding on Costa Rica’s Lake Arenal with the Arenal Volcano as the backdrop. March is also the last month for surfing enthusiasts to hit the big waves on the Caribbean and Pacific coasts.

Should Semana Santa (Holy Week, from Palm Sunday through Holy Saturday) fall in March, there will be more crowds nationwide in Panama with religious processions and reenactments, parades and other special events. Many venues and attractions may be closed on some days during the festivities.

April

Pros: April is one of the best months to look for lower late-season fares on the larger ships.

Cons: The weather may not be ideal. The high temperatures in Panama hit just below 90 degrees on most days of the month. Mid-April is also when the wet season typically begins, so you can expect high humidity and rain. It’s also still a busy time with tourists, so the prices are high ashore. If Easter falls in April, you may have to contend with the crowds celebrating Holy Week during the festivities.

Ships: If you’re interested in a sailing on a luxury cruise ship, Silversea is the only luxury line still in the region in April. For a cruise on a large ship, choose among itineraries on Norwegian, Holland America, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Princess.

With the high temperatures and humidity — and the threat of rain — you might want to take tours where you can easily escape from the heat and the showers. If you’re in Panama City, visit the vibrant neighborhood of Casco Antiguo in the city’s historic district.

Dating back to 1673, the UNESCO World Heritage Site features landmarks like the Panama National Theater and the Cathedral Basilica of St. Mary. You’ll also find some of the city’s best restaurants, beautiful squares and plazas and top-rated museums. If you’ve booked a pre- or post-cruise hotel in town, be sure to catch a sunset from one of the city’s many rooftop bars.

Bottom line: The best time to cruise the Panama Canal

When to cruise the Panama Canal will depend on what’s most important to you.

If having the best weather is your top priority, January, February and early March offer the best weather during the dry season with low humidity — but it’s also the most expensive time to travel to the region. You can expect crowds, especially with the festivals during that time.

If you want the best pricing and fewer crowds, October and November are the rainy season, so the pricing will be lower — and you’ll avoid the holiday crowds and high fares in December.

Late March and April also offer lower fares as it’s the beginning of the rainy season, but you can expect crowds during the Holy Week festivities in the country.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

Source: thepointsguy.com

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A mortgage escrow account is an integral part of the financial picture for many homeowners. These accounts are typically used in two ways: to hold an earnest money deposit a buyer puts on a home after signing a contract with the seller (it’s released at the closing), and to pay a homeowner’s property taxes, mortgage insurance and homeowners insurance premiums.

When it comes to the latter, some homebuyers are required by their mortgage lender to have an escrow account; others may opt into one through their mortgage servicer. Here’s how mortgage escrow accounts work, and if you do have a choice, the pros and cons to consider.

How do mortgage escrow accounts work?

Once you become a homeowner, a mortgage escrow account is an account used to hold and ensure that some of the major, ongoing expenses associated with your home are paid on time. Typically these expenses include:

  • Mortgage insurance payments
  • Homeowners insurance premiums
  • Property taxes

Instead of paying insurance and taxes separately, from a personal account, the money to cover these bills — plus a little extra, known as a “cushion” — is included in your total monthly mortgage payment. The mortgage lender or servicer holds these funds in an escrow account and makes the payments on the homeowner’s behalf as they are due. Payments might be made monthly, quarterly or bi-annually.

The key difference between an escrow account and any other financial account you might have: You don’t manage an escrow account yourself. Escrow is facilitated by a third party — in this case, your lender or servicer.

Should you use an escrow account?

Depending on the type of loan and its specifics, you might not have the option to forgo an escrow account. If you’re obtaining a conventional mortgage — that is, one from a private bank or lender — an escrow account is often required with a down payment of less than the standard 20 percent, as is mortgage insurance. You often don’t have a choice if you’re getting a federally backed loan, either. FHA loans and USDA loans require escrow accounts, though VA loans do not.

Let’s assume you do have a choice. There are viable reasons to have an escrow account: It can be an easy, hassle-free way to make payments for your mortgage, homeowners and mortgage insurance and property taxes, and the cushion can help cover potential shortfalls. You don’t need to be diligent about setting aside the funds, including extra for any unforeseen increases in premiums or taxes, and then making sure you meet the due dates for payments. Of course, there are negatives as well — it increases your monthly mortgage payment, and you might prefer to handle your own finances yourself, without a third party involved.

Pros of a mortgage escrow account

It’s automatic

Having your mortgage lender or servicer hold your property tax and homeowners insurance payments in escrow ensures that those bills are paid on time, automatically. You don’t have to keep track of it, or even think about it, and you avoid penalties such as late fees or potential liens against your home.

You’re covered when there are shortfalls

Homeowners insurance premiums and property tax assessments can fluctuate over time. For example, if your escrow account happens to be short due to your property tax bill increasing, your servicer will typically cover the difference temporarily. To make up for it, they’ll eventually increase your monthly mortgage payment.

No surprises

The exact amount needed for escrow is added to your monthly mortgage payment for you, so you’ll know what to expect the majority of the time. If the escrow component of your monthly mortgage payment needs to increase, you’ll get a notice from your lender or servicer in writing. Plus, your lender or servicer is required to send you an annual escrow statement that shows the amounts you’ve paid (and the drawdowns) along with any overages or shortages.

“Escrow accounts make life a lot easier for the majority of homeowners that want to add predictability to their monthly expenses, rather than getting whacked twice a year with big insurance and property tax bills,” says Greg McBride, CFA, Bankrate’s chief financial analyst.

Potentially lower mortgage costs

Depending on your mortgage lender, you may be able to get a discount on your interest rate or closing costs just by having an escrow account.

Cons of a mortgage escrow account

It’s automatic

While it’s convenient to not have to think about making various payments on time, this pro can actually be a con for organized homeowners who prefer to have full control over their payments. Many mortgage lenders allow homeowners to make property tax payments directly to the county assessor and homeowners insurance payments to their insurer.

You might miss out on investment opportunities

In particular, the money that might end up as an overage in an escrow account could be used for short-term investments. Earning interest on such investments may make more financial sense for you, instead of allowing a bank or lender to reap the gains.

Digital tools and attractive CD rates can help you invest your money outside of escrow and earn a better return for the long term, notes Henry Yoshida, founder and CEO of Rocket Dollar, a platform based in Austin, Texas, that enables users to invest funds from tax-advantaged retirement accounts.

“With interest rates where they are, there is limited opportunity cost from forgoing interest earnings on money that is instead being escrowed by the loan servicer throughout the year,” McBride says.

A large upfront deposit

Often, setting up an escrow account requires a homebuyer to deposit an amount equal to two to three months’ worth of property taxes and insurance premiums. These are sometimes called “prepaids,” and they can significantly add to your mortgage closing costs.

Because you’ll be paying for insurance and taxes with your regular mortgage payment, you’ll have a higher payment each month. Of course, you have to pay for insurance and taxes anyway, so they aren’t an additional cost. But having them in your monthly payment could leave less room in your budget month-to-month, and prepaids can exacerbate that.

Can be a target for scammers

Large sums parked in an escrow account make it an attractive target for fraudsters. Common mortgage escrow fraud schemes include cyber-thieves setting up fake websites that look similar to the servicer you’re working with, or spoof email addresses to try to get your personal information. Some sophisticated scammers even set up fake phone lines in an attempt to build trust. Under these false pretenses, fraudsters might try to persuade you to wire them money.

Possibility of incorrect estimates

The amount that needs to be tucked away in your escrow account hinges on your insurance premiums and property taxes, which can vary year-to-year. Generally, the previous year’s bills are used to figure out how much you’ll need, but incorrect estimates can happen if, for example, the assessed value of your home has increased — or you appeal and get a reduction in your property taxes.

FAQs

  • No. Mortgage escrow accounts are typically only required with certain types of loans — if you’re not financing your home purchase with a mortgage loan, it’s not a requirement. You can pay your insurance and property taxes on your own if you choose, as you would any other types of bills, or you can set up an escrow account at your bank if you’d like the convenience of them doing it for you.

  • An escrow account for a home purchase is managed by a third party, such as a mortgage servicing company, escrow agent or escrow company. Its purpose is to pay for taxes and insurance — the funds are included in your total monthly mortgage payment, and the servicer or agent makes the payments automatically on your behalf. Many people find this convenient, but some would rather manage their finances themselves.

  • No, you cannot take money out of your escrow account. The money held in a mortgage escrow account is held by the lender or loan servicing company on your behalf, to serve a specific purpose, and it is not typically accessible to the homeowner.

Bottom line

With a mortgage escrow account, your mortgage lender or servicer is allowed to collect the amount of your homeowners insurance, mortgage insurance and property tax payments, sometimes plus a cushion, month in and month out. It’s a very common financial tool and helps to ensure your obligations as a homeowner are met without much effort on your part (aside from making your mortgage payment). However, if escrow isn’t required, you might want to explore alternative uses for those funds.

Source: thesimpledollar.com

Apache is functioning normally

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available.

In 2020 and 2021, many major hotel companies offered some of their most generous promotions. That’s how some TPG staffers achieved top-tier Hyatt Globalist with just 10 nights. But those days are far behind us.

Overall, hotel promotions aren’t quite as generous as they once were. But from helping you accrue additional points to earning elite status faster, they certainly should be on your radar.

However, keeping track of the latest hotel bonuses can be difficult — especially if you’re juggling points and elite status with multiple programs. With that in mind, we’ve created this guide to track current promotions across the major hotel chains.

Most of these promotions require you to book directly with the hotel chain. Bookmark this page for regularly updated offers, links and other information about your favorite hotel programs. We’ll also discuss which offers will get you the most bang for your buck.

This article focuses on limited-time promotions, excluding ongoing offers like AAA and AARP member discounts. Further, the list doesn’t include ongoing offers on cobranded hotel credit cards, but you can check out the following links for details on these cards:

Related: 6+ unexpected travel discounts that can save you money

Limited-time credit card hotel discounts

Use these targeted credit card deals to save on your next hotel stay. HYATT

Amex Offers, Chase Offers and Citi Merchant Offers can offer significant hotel discounts. While we didn’t find any current Citi hotel offers, here are a few targeted offers that TPG staff found on their credit cards — check your cards and see if you have them too.

Amex Offers

American Express is currently offering several hotel promotions for select cardholders via its Amex Offers program, including:

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  • 7,500 bonus points after spending $2,000 or more on your card (expires March 31). TPG values 7,500 Marriott points at $63.
  • Caesars Rewards Las Vegas: $40 back after you spend $200 or more (expires May 31).
  • Hilton properties in Mexico: $150 back after spending $750 or more (expires April 30).
  • Hilton’s in the US, Mexico, Caribbean, Colombia, Honduras and French Polynesia (select properties only): $200 back after you spend $1,000 or more (expires May 31).
  • Hyatt Hotels & Resorts Canada: $100 back after spending $500 or more (expires May 15).
  • IHG Hotels and Resorts: $40 back after you spend $200 or more (expires June 16).
  • Lotte Hotel: $100 back after you spend $500 or more (expires Aug. 1).
  • Lotte New York Palace: $150 back after you spend $750 or more (expires July 23).
  • Mandarin Oriental: $100 back after you spend $500 or more (expires March 31).
  • Marriott Bonvoy properties in the U.S., Caribbean, Mexico and Canada: 20% back, up to a total of $50 back (expires March 31).
  • Marriott Bonvoy properties in the U.S., Caribbean, Mexico and Canada: $60 back after spending $300 or more (expires March 31).
  • Marriott Homes & Villas: $200 back after spending $1,000 or more (expires May 31).
  • Riggs Washington, D.C.: $120 back after spending $600 or more (expires April 30).
  • Sonesta: $60 back after spending $300 or more at properties in the U.S. and U.S. territories (expires April 30).
  • Staypineapple: $50 back after you spend $250 or more (expires April 3).
  • The Line Hotels: $60 back after you spend $300 or more (expires April 30).
  • The Ned NoMad Hotel: $100 back after you spend $500 or more (expires Sept. 4).
  • Viceroy Hotels & Resorts US & Mexico: $200 back after you spend $1,000 or more (expires May 31).

Remember that Amex Offers are targeted. So, you should check your offers and enroll in any that interest you.

Related: Which is the best American Express credit card for you?

Chase Offers

Chase Offers are targeted. Several of our staffers have this Chase Offer:

  • Thompson Hotels: Earn 15% back when you spend $100 or more, up to $37.95 (Expires April 21).

Related: Check your Chase Offers to save money with Marriott, Lyft and Carnival

Accor Live Limitless

Accor Live Limitless has a couple of promotions that might help you earn extra points and qualify for status. These promotions require you to register.

Promotion Details Register-by date Dates of stay
4x points at new hotels Earn 4 times the points at new Accor Hotels. Deadline passed. Through May 5, 2023.
Earn bonus status nights with fast track

This targeted promotion isn’t open to members with a U.S. primary address.

Classic members will earn f5 status nights toward Silver.

Silver members will earn 7 status nights toward Gold.

Gold members will earn 10 status nights toward Platinum.

 Deadline passed. By May 2, 2023.

Related: The award travelers guide to Accor Live Limitless

Best Western Rewards

Best Western’s promotion allows you to earn up to 16,000 bonus points, which requires registration. Here are the details:

Promotion Details Register-by date Dates of stay
Stay two nights and get 8,000 bonus points (up to two times). Complete two separate or consecutive eligible nights to earn 8,000 bonus points following completion of the eligible nights.

Valid only on Best Western-branded U.S., Canada and Caribbean stays.

 N/A. Stay by May 7, 2023.

Related: Your ultimate guide to Best Western Rewards

Choice Privileges

Choice Privileges is back with a promotion advertising a gift card, but cashing out your points for the gift card isn’t required. You can read more about their ongoing deals here.

Promotion Details Register-by date Dates of stay
Bonus points after two paid stays Earn between 5,000 and 8,000 bonus points on the second paid stay. Choice advertises this promotion as being enough points for a $50 gift card, but you can keep the points instead. N/A. Stay by June 30, 2023.

Related: The best hotel credit cards

Hilton Honors

Hilton has been generous with its recent promotions. Note that the Double Up + Explore promotion requires you to register. For more details, visit this page.

Promotion Details Register-by date Dates of stay
Double Up + Explore Earn double points and 1,000 bonus points (worth $6 at TPG’s valuations) for each of Hilton’s 18 brands you stay at during the promotional period. N/A. Stay by April 30, 2023.
Free bonus points at Hilton’s newest properties. Earn 1,000 Hilton Honors points per night at select properties.

Earn 5,000 Hilton Honors points per three-night stay or longer at select properties.

 N/A. Ongoing promotion.

Related: How to choose the best Hilton credit card for you

IHG One Rewards

You can earn bonus IHG One Rewards points with the loyalty program’s latest promotion, but you must register

Promotion Details Register-by date Dates of stay
2,000 bonus points every 2 nights  Earn 2,000 points for every two nights of eligible paid stays. N/A Feb. 9 to April 14, 2023.

Related: 7 ways to earn more IHG One Rewards points for your next redemption

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott is offering an appealing promotion for points and elite status seekers. Check your “promotion central” to see if you have any targeted promotions.

Promotion Details Register-by date Dates of stay
Delight in the unexpected: Earn twice each night Earn 1,000 bonus points (worth $8.40 based on TPG’s valuations) and one elite bonus night for each night you spend at a Marriott Bonvoy-branded property at a qualifying rate (award stays are excluded.). April 9, 2023. Feb. 7 to April 23, 2023.

Related: The award travelers guide to Marriott Bonvoy

Radisson Rewards Americas

Here’s one noteworthy promotion from Radisson Rewards Americas. Make sure to register.

Promotion Details Register-by date Dates of stay
First time’s a charm Earn 3,000 bonus points for your first booking in the app. N/A. Ongoing promotion.

Related: Here’s why Radisson Rewards is the best loyalty program for earning free nights

World of Hyatt

World of Hyatt recently launched its latest Bonus Journeys promotion. Here’s a high-level overview of Hyatt’s promotions.

Related: The most award-friendly hotel program: Everything you need to know about World of Hyatt

Wyndham Rewards

Wyndham Rewards has two generous promotions now — both require you to register. Here’s an overview.

Promotion Details Register-by date Dates of stay
Stay 3 nights, earn 2 free Book three qualifying nights at participating hotels in Europe, Africa, Eurasia or the Middle East and you’ll earn 15,000 Wyndham Rewards bonus points (enough for two nights at some Wyndham properties). April 30, 2023 (also the book-by date). By Sept. 30, 2023.
Earn 1,500 bonus points Targeted promotion. N/A. Ongoing promotion.

In addition, there are limited-time offers through Wyndham’s member month promotions — including property credits and a broader free-night offer.

Additional reporting by Ehsan Haque, Ariana Arghandewal, Katie Genter, Ryan Smith, Caroline Tanner and Benji Stawski.

Source: thepointsguy.com

Apache is functioning normally

The Department of Education has proposed new regulations to protect students enrolled in for-profit institutions and certificate programs from being saddled with debt they can’t afford to repay. The public has until June 20 to comment on the proposal.

“We cannot turn a blind eye to the college programs that are leaving students with mountains of unaffordable debts,” said Undersecretary of Education James Kvaal in a press release from May 17.

According to Kvaal, for-profit and career colleges are at the center of the problem, and the latest proposals offer the strongest protection yet for students and others involved against what he called “low value, debt-fueled colleges.”

These provisions would put metrics in place for institutions that fall under “gainful employment” regulations — targeted primarily at nondegree programs or any for-profit educational program — to decrease the number of students left with excessive debt compared to earnings. Low-performing institutions could lose access to federal financial aid.

“These programs disproportionately target many of the lowest-income students, in many cases leaving them financially worse off than if they never attended,” Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, a nonprofit organization of public education advocates, said in an email response.

The proposal also aims to increase the transparency of out-of-pocket costs and student outcomes for all educational institutions (public, private and for-profit) by collecting and publicizing more detailed college-level data. This is especially noteworthy, Pringle said, as it’s the first time students and their families will have access to this program-level data, empowering their decision making.

Cost of attendance, nonfederal aid and average debt and earnings are just a few data points that could be collected. Students would have to acknowledge this information before receiving federal financial aid from colleges not meeting the standards.

According to the Department of Education, proposed changes could affect nearly 1,800 underperforming programs, impacting over 700,000 students. Here are the proposal details.

Programs must achieve metrics to access federal financial aid

For-profit institutions and public or private nondegree programs are required to adequately prepare students for gainful employment to access federal financial aid, according to the Higher Education Act.

To hold programs accountable, the Department of Education will require institutions to meet performance standards in two areas:

Debt to earnings. The share of a graduate’s annual income needed to make their student debt payments cannot exceed 8%. For graduates on income-based repayment plans, their debt-to-earnings ratio must be less than 20% of their discretionary income — defined as income above the 150% federal poverty guideline.

Earnings compared to high school graduates. An institution must have at least half of its graduates earning more than the typical high school graduate with no postsecondary education. Graduate income is compared to the labor force of the college’s state.

Failing one metric would force the institution to alert students that the program may lose access to federal aid. If a program fails to achieve both metrics twice within three years, the program will completely lose access to federal aid.

Public access to more detailed college-level data

The department is also pushing for greater consistency in reporting the cost and return of postsecondary education. By collecting more detailed data on the cost of attendance, potential earnings and typical debt, the federal government wants to help students and families avoid impossible debt burdens.

New data collected could include the following:

  • Cost of tuition, fees, books and supplies.

  • Licensing requirements and exam passage rates (if applicable).

  • Nonfederal aid amounts per student.

  • Amount borrowed — for federal and private loans — per student.

  • Earnings per student.

Information will be made public on a department-run website, requiring students to acknowledge they’ve reviewed the data points before they can receive loans for a program that does not meet federal standards.

These metrics will also feed a “watch list” of institutions that leave students with high debt and poor earnings.

Additional provisions

Proposed regulations also include changes to other government-defined regulatory areas that will better equip the agency to hold institutions accountable — both proactively and once standards have not been met. They are:

Financial responsibility. Institutions would report behavior that could indicate a higher risk of closing suddenly — such as failing to make debt payments for more than 90 days. Certain financial triggers could lead to the Department of Education requiring a letter of credit from the institution to guarantee payment.

Administrative capability. There would be greater requirements for college administration programs, like career services and financial aid offices. Proposals would also include preventing administrators with previous misconduct around federal financial aid programs from being hired.

Certification procedures. The Department of Education would like to be able to more easily adjust its agreements with institutions receiving federal financial aid.

The regulations would also make adjustments to Ability to Benefit — a provision of the Higher Education Act allowing students without a high school diploma to have access to federal financial aid.

This proposed rule is currently open for public comment. Submit comments at Regulations.gov before June 20.

The Education Department expects to finalize the rule by the end of 2023. Rules finalized by Nov. 1, 2023, will go into effect on July 1, 2024.

Source: nerdwallet.com

Apache is functioning normally

Northwestern Mutual, Special Spaces Recognize 10-Year Anniversary of Company’s Childhood Cancer Program with 10 Dream Bedroom Makeovers HGTV star Mina Starsiak Hawk collaborates on latest bedroom reveal for a child in her hometown MILWAUKEE, Nov. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — In recognition of its Childhood Cancer Program’s 10-year anniversary, Northwestern Mutual, through its Foundation, collaborated with Special … [Read more…]