Did you know there are specific car care tips by season? For example, one of my must-dos before the first snowfall is making sure my car has antifreeze as well as plenty of window washing fluid. On the flip side, after winter, I always “treat” my car to a full car wash. Why? Because it’s…
Who doesn’t want to save money on gas these days. While the prices at the pump aren’t at historic highs —and boy are we thankful for that — they are still pretty high. For example, it used to cost between $30 and $40 to fill the tank of our Subaru. Now? It’s $50 to $60….
I love the notion of finding vacation rentals when traveling to Europe. In fact, the last time our family vacationed in Spain, we rented two different places to stay. In Malaga, along the Costa del Sol, we rented a three-bedroom villa on a hillside overlooking the Mediterranean. Then, when we got to Barcelona, we rented…
Did you know that you can buy generic Girl Scout cookies or Girl Scout cookie knockoffs or dupes in stores and the cookies taste like the real thing? Sure, they don’t have the same names as your favorite Girl Scout cookies. However, if you were to do a blind taste test, I’m confident you couldn’t…
If you’re planning on visiting Maine in the winter, you may be wondering what fun things there are to do and where to go. Well, in addition to writing Real Sophisticated Consumer, I have a blog called Southern Maine on the Cheap. From that blog, I’ve rounded up nine things to do when you visit…
When I was living in New York City in my 20s, my friends and I loved to go skating in the winter. Our favorite was Wollman Rink in Central Park. At that time, it was a little known ice skating gem in Manhattan. If I were still living in NYC, I would consider ice skating…
When I was writing my books on etiquette and gift giving, I talked about the importance of personalizing the gifts you give to people. This isn’t about monogramming everything. It’s about finding something that speaks to the recipient. If the person you’re buying gifts for loves all things vintage and retro, then this article is…
Did you know that Nordstrom is a pet friendly store? What about Duluth Trading Company, True Value or LL Bean? Believe it or not, you can bring your dog with you when you shop at these retailers and many, many more. How do I know this? One, I’ve brought my own dogs, Oscar and Sadie,…
Are you looking for help figuring out how to convert youth to women’s shoe sizes? Or do you have a kid with big feet and you want to be able to buy them a shoe in a women’s size for a perfect fit? When my own daughters were little kids, they both went through puberty…
Ingram Media Group The Ingram Media Group is a Limited Liability Corporation formed in Maine in 2024. It oversees all of the websites and blogs that writer Leah Ingram operates. They are, as of 11/20/2024: Ingram Media Group umbrella: Follow Leah Ingram on Social Media, too! Flipboard @Leah_ingram Facebook @theleahingram Pinterest @leahingram Amazon Shopping @theleahingram…
I’ve just updated this birthday freebies post to add in additional ways you can get something for free at a restaurant, such as ice cream, or store for your birthday in 2024. Currently, I cover 45 birthday freebies or perks for this year. Also, I’ve included legit examples of free birthday treats I’ve gotten on…
I never thought about how long appliances last until we moved into our second home. There, we found a kitchen straight out of the 1970s — complete with harvest gold and brown appliances. In fact, the refrigerator was almost as old as I was. Clearly, it was on its last legs — I mean, how…
You probably don’t think about air pollution in your home. Especially with wildfires nationwide and air quality warnings from Seattle to New York City, you may think that air pollution happens outside. You would be wrong. Indoor air pollution is a serious problem affecting the health of millions of Americans daily. In many cases, contributors…
Anyone who has lived through wildfire smoke lately may be looking for home air filter replacement and subscription options or air purifiers to use in their homes. I get that. With the fires air quality is poor. This is outside, obviously, but also, inside the home. One of the best ways to improve your indoor…
When is Amazon Prime Day in 2024? The first Prime Day of the Summer was July 16-17, 2024. The second one is October 8 and 9 2024. What’s so great about Amazon Prime Day? Well, in addition to getting great deals on Amazon, Amazon Prime Day has become such a thing that you can expect…
When you’re selling your home, you want it to sell fast and for the most money possible. That’s why it makes sense to be smart about staging your home, do whatever you can to improve your curb appeal, and find colors to paint your home so you can sell it fast and for more money….
Are you wondering how to get your home ready to sell–and sell fast and for the most money? You’re smart–the part about getting your house ready to sell. That’s because many homeowners don’t realize how much work goes into getting your home ready to sell. They think they have to put a “for sale” sign…
Did you know there are plants that absorb moisture? People usually put them in bathrooms to help keep the humidity down. It’s something I’m considering for my home. You see, moisture is a problem in our upstairs bathroom. It shouldn’t be, because there is a window to the outside. However, the bathroom doesn’t have an…