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(Reuters) - A year after purchasing their Richmond, Virginia, fixer-upper for $290,000 in 2010, Sherry and John Petersik rolled up their sleeves and tackled the outdated kitchen.

They dragged the refrigerator and microwave out of the way, set up a dish-washing station at the bathroom sink and plunged into do-it-yourself mode, installing a new countertop, refinishing cabinets and replacing appliances.

"We knew to expect the chaos," says Sherry Petersik, 30. That's because it's the second home the Petersiks have renovated for fun and the promise of profit.

They actually lost money on their first handyman's special, buying a home for $190,000 at the height of the real estate bubbl...

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FOR many recent college graduates, the dream of owning a home may have to be postponed awhile as they first grapple with repaying mounds of education loans.

Outstanding student loan debt now totals over $1 trillion, according to a report last month from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. That surpasses the amount owned on all credit cards in the United States.

Student debt has become an issue in the presidential race, with both President Obama and Mitt Romney, the presumed Republican nominee, supporting efforts to extend loan subsidies set to expire in July.

Last year alone, students took out $117 billion just in federal loans. And it’s no wonder: According to the Colleg...

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It's the least favorite thing for many sellers, packing up their homes and relocating to a new home or even a new state.

Most people associate moving with stress but it doesn't have to take the thrill of moving into a new home away. Preparation and careful planning can not only ward off the stress but also save you money.

Here are some quick tips to help you move out of your old home and into your new one with ease and comfort.

Get organized. Moves are often a chaotic mess. Very often the sale goes through and sellers scramble to get their belongings packed up and loaded into the trucks. Then when they get to their new home, there isn't a trace of organization.

Boxes that were...