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There’s No ‘Right’ Time to Combine Finances These days, combining finances isn’t something that happens the day you get married. For couples who live together before marriage, deciding when to combine finances might happen organically or out of necessity. Lauren Anastasio, a certified financial planner with SoFi, says there’s no right or wrong time to consider opening a joint bank account or taking out a new credit card together. When you do it is up to you....

During the summer all I want to do are eat salads. Salads and anything grilled (like these amazing eggplant rolls). And ice cream. I could totally go for some of this lemon ice cream right now! This southwestern chicken salad is perfect for the summer because it combines both of my summer favorites – salad and grilled chicken. Pair it with a refreshingly cool cilantro lime dressing for the ultimate summer dinner for the entire family....

“It’s a very outdoor and sports-oriented area of Canada,” Brown says. “Originally, the living room had a very cliche ‘mountain’ aesthetic with rustic river rock and a wood mantel around the fireplace. And although it had lots of windows, the dated decor choices made it feel dark and small.” Brown knew that the living area would be where the family would gather most, naturally, and so she aimed to make it feel as welcoming and comfortable as possible....

Space-saving furniture and decor isn’t just about being smaller or more narrow, it’s about using pieces creatively, as well as finding items that can be easily stored to free up room when not in use (think: New Year’s Eve parties and holiday gatherings). Our editor perused Target’s home section to find these five thoughtful furniture and decor ideas that have surprising space-saving features, and they’re all on sale. Opalhouse Designed with Jungalow Olivia Round Pouf When searching for additional seating, particularly if you enjoy hosting for the holidays, get creative with comfortable and multifunctional options....

“Focus on squatting movements where the hips shift back rather than straight down,” says professional strength and conditioning coach Jerry Handley, owner and head coach at Viking Performance Training. Dr. Enad adds that “good form should feel like you’re going to sit down into a chair behind you, leading with your buttocks, but staying well-balanced with good posture.” Sending your hips back instead of straight down helps your shins remain vertical, Handley explains, while also minimizing stress to the knee....

But the big problem with all that beach gear is that it’s all weirdly shaped and bulky—and so storing it can be a challenge. (My current storage system involves piling the items in a disorganized heap in a corner of my garage.) The StoreYourBoard storage rack can be just the thing to keep everything tidy and tucked away. It has heavy-duty steel arms, set at a 30-degree angle, that can hold the weight of multiple chairs, and are wide enough to keep surfboards or paddleboards in place....

The Environmental Impact of Seafood The world’s 4.6 million fishing boats use many catch methods, some better for the environment, others more damaging. However, most seafood comes from fish farming, called aquaculture, and there are many ways to farm fish. In the fishing industry, most of the planet-warming emissions come from fuel. One study found that fishing boat fuel causes 4 percent of the total greenhouse gas emissions from global food production....

To find the best bathroom cleaners, we spent hours researching several options and top-rated products while considering factors like type, ingredients, and compatibility on surfaces. We also asked Angela Brown, CEO and founder of Savvy Cleaner and host of the daily show Ask a House Cleaner, for her tips and insight on what to look for when choosing a bathroom cleaner and how to keep your bathroom clean. Our top pick is the Kaboom With OxiClean Foam-tastic Bathroom Cleaner because of its impressive cleaning power, surface versatility, and unique color-changing action to show when a surface is clean and ready to be wiped or rinsed....

“Humidifiers can have benefits for several dermatologic conditions, including dry skin and eczema, and conditioning the nasal passages and throat when the air is dry,” says Dr. Erum Ilyas, MBE, FAAD, a dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group. To find out which styles are the best, we purchased 27 humidifiers and put them to the test at our lab in Des Moines, Iowa. Over the course of two days, testers evaluated each option based on six categories: setup, effectiveness, design, size, ease of cleaning, and overall value....

To find the best moisturizers for oily skin, we did extensive research while considering factors like ingredients, consistency, and type. We also spoke with Y. Claire Chang, MD, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist at UnionDerm in New York City, for expert tips. “Skin hydration is different from skin oiliness, with the former indicating the skin’s water content,” Dr. Chang says. “It is all about choosing the right moisturizer for your skin type....

Great leaf rakes come in many designs. A number of leaf rakes feature traditional metal tines supported with a coil spring and a wooden handle. Others employ wider plastic tines to grab and draw more leaves at a time, making it easy to spread leaves across more ground or grab and draw mounds of wet leaves. Some leaf rakes use a thinner build or employ a staggered, dual-tine system to help maneuver between the shrubs....

To find the best natural cleaning products for your home, we spent hours researching various options while considering factors such as type, ingredients, and packaging. All of our picks are either EPA Safer Choice Certified, rated B (low concern) or higher by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), and/or Green Seal Certified. We also tapped two experts: Allen Rathey, Director of Indoor Health Council, and Robert W. Powitz, PhD, MPH, RS, licensed sanitarian and principal of R....

“A lounge chair gives a more comfortable option over a traditional accent chair,” says Ashley Mecham, a designer at Decorist. Unlike full recliners, they have no “moving parts” or static, she adds, but they do still recline back further than a regular chair—giving you that satisfyingly cozy feeling. To help you find a chair that suits your needs, we rounded up the best lounge chairs you can buy right now in various styles, materials, and price ranges....

“When it comes to a high-quality rug, the two most important factors are construction and material,” says Caron Woolsey, founder and principal designer of CW Interiors. “For example, hand-knotted rugs are extremely durable. They’re also typically constructed with superior wool which, in turn, adds to their durability,” she says. To determine the best rugs, we spent hours researching rugs at a variety of prices for every budget, as well as different styles, materials, and sizing options....

But not all appliances are created equal, so we spent six days testing 22 vacuums in our lab. After evaluating them for things like ease of use, maneuverability, and effectiveness on multiple surfaces, we narrowed it down to the cordless stick vacuums on this list. We also considered factors like battery life and overall value when coming up with our recommendations. The Tineco Pure One S11 earned the top spot on our list because it has all the features you need in a cordless vacuum, including powerful suction, LED lights, and high-tech sensors that detect dirt and dust....

To find the best patio dining sets, we thoroughly researched the category and considered factors like style, material, size, and maintenance. We also looked at added features, like umbrella holes and cushions, when making this list. These factors affect whether you keep your outdoor furniture for a year or a decade, so we took them all into account when coming up with our recommendations. For expert insight, we spoke to Kathy Kuo, an interior designer with more than 20 years of experience and the CEO of Kathy Kuo Home....

While not having central air might seem like a disadvantage, there are many benefits to using other forms of home air cooling. Window air conditioner units are easy to install yourself, they’re less expensive than purchasing a central air conditioner, and they’re highly energy efficient, allowing you to save money on your energy bill every month. However, not all window air conditioners are built the same. Depending on your home’s square footage, window dimensions, and your own noise or aesthetic preferences, certain window AC units may be a better choice for you than others....

We asked Brian Walsh, associate director of Concept Interiors, about what to look for when shopping for the best flooring for basements. “The best basement flooring should be waterproof or at least moisture-resistant,” Walsh says. He also advises that the material of the flooring—as long as it’s appropriate for basement use (you can’t use solid wood in a basement as fluctuating moisture levels could cause the flooring to buckle or split)—doesn’t matter as much as the prep work....

We tested 27 outdoor solar lights in our Lab and evaluated them on setup, features, design, brightness, durability, and value. We even set up a GoPro camera to find out exactly how long the lights stayed on in the middle of the night. For expert advice, we spoke with Cate Singleton, director of design at Tilly, an online landscape design company. Before deciding which outdoor solar lights to buy, the most important factor to consider is how much sunlight you get in that area, according to Singleton....

To find the best sink caddies, we spent hours researching various models on the market and assessing them for style, durability, and storage capacity. We turned to Holly Blakey, a professional organizer at Breathing Room, for advice on how to choose the best sink caddy for your kitchen. “Select the material carefully,” Blakey says. “[Your sink] is a wet space, so you don’t want [a caddy] that will rust, collect mildew, or break....