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As a homeowner, home window repair is a fact of life. Sometimes, you don’t have a choice—perhaps because of storm damage. Other times, you might replace the windows as part of a remodel to change the aesthetics of a space, or to reduce energy costs.

Sometimes, you’ll need to decide between window repair and replacement. Then, you’ll need to select options in materials and glass. When talking to an expert about repairing or replacing windows, you may hear new lingo. The person will likely want to discuss the window frame, as well as the following:

•  Sill: That’s the strip running horizontally across the frame’s bottom.

•  Jamb: Those are the sides of the frame, running vertically.

•  Head: That’s the strip running horizontally across the frame’s bottom.

•  Sash: Some windows have one or more panels that move; the material that forms the frame that

•  holds these individual panes is the sash.

•  Stiles: These are sections of the sash that run vertically.

•  Rails: These are sections of the sash that run horizontally.

Here’s what you need to know about window replacements, cost considerations, and tips for financing the project.

Repairing vs Replacing Windows

If you’re having issues with your windows, you may be wondering whether or not you actually need to replace the window. Here are a few things to consider when trying to decide if you are going to fully replace windows or simply do a few small repairs to make sure they are still functional.

First, if you have one or more windows with cracked or otherwise broken glass, but frames are still solid—and you’re satisfied with how they look—it probably makes sense to just replace the glass with a quality product.

If you have double-pane windows, ones where two panes of glass are separated by a space (gas- or vacuum-sealed) to reduce heat transfer and increase efficiency, know that the seals can also break. You can tell if seals are broken with this simple test: If the window fogs up, you should be able to wipe the condensation off of the window, either from the inside or outside.

If you can’t, the seal is most likely compromised. If this happens, it’s highly unlikely you can simply replace the glass. But, if the frames are solid, you could still replace the panes, sashes, and seals. And be aware that if you have triple-paned windows, this seal breakage could happen in even more places.

Do you actually feel air coming in through a window? If so, you can caulk or weather-strip the trouble spots and see if this solves the problem. Are there small spots of wood that are rotting? If so, you can try scraping away rotted areas, then making putty repairs and repainting. Did you fix the problem? If repairs for either issue (air leaks or rotting wood) don’t solve the problem, that window will likely need replaced.

Here’s another issue to consider. Is the window stuck? There are a few different troubleshooting things to try, including looking for broken hardware pieces and replacing them; or scraping away paint, sanding down the area, opening up the window and cleaning the tracks. If one of these solves the problem, great. If not, then you’ll either need to replace them.

Finally, here is a benchmark to consider: Perhaps you fixed the problem, but the window is warped or otherwise damaged. This is a sign of issues to come and, as with most maintenance, being proactive about window replacement usually makes the most sense.

Benefits of Replacing Windows

If you decide that it is time to replace some or all of the windows in your house, you will likely cut your energy costs once the project is completed. According to ENERGY STAR® , windows granted the ENERGY STAR seal of approval can lead to the following annual savings for a typical home:

•  $126 to $465 when replacing single-pane windows

•  $27 to $111 when replacing double-pane windows that are clear glass

When you replace windows, you are also adding to the sales potential of your home, partly thanks to the energy savings. They also add to the curb appeal of the house, because windows are one of the most obvious features of a home as people walk or drive by. If the windows look old or poorly maintained, then potential buyers may conclude that the entire home needs maintenance, which may not be true at all.

And if you’re installing new windows as a way to invest in your home, consider larger ones that let in more natural light. Using daylight to brighten up your home has been found to be beneficial to people, enhancing productivity and improving mood. Natural light can help fine-tune circadian rhythms, which can add to a better sense of well-being.

Types of Window Materials

In general, you’ll need to choose what type of glass you want and what type of frame/sash materials. There are numerous materials you can choose from for your windows, ranging from vinyl to wood, fiberglass to aluminum and more. Vinyl choices are typically the most affordable and are usually low maintenance and durable. They can last a long time, since this material doesn’t peel or fade, chip, or rot.

For a traditional look, you can choose wood. They provide an elegant appearance, but typically come with more maintenance because wood can warp and rot, and paint will eventually chip and peel. Wood is almost always more expensive than vinyl.

Fiberglass is a little more expensive than vinyl, but can offer more durability and provide more energy efficiency. Scratches and nicks are harder to see, which is good; and, because the material doesn’t expand or contract to any significant degree, you seldom have to worry about air leaks.

Aluminum frames and sashes are long lasting and durable, and you can choose from numerous colors and finishes. This material creates a more modern look than wooden ones. And, although this material can be less efficient because the metal conducts heat, you can select ones with thermal breaks to minimize the issue.

You can also choose clad windows that are wooden inside your home, to provide a beautiful appearance, but vinyl, aluminum, or fiberglass on the outside where durability is more important. These windows are typically more expensive, but they do provide a versatile approach.

If you’ve got an historic home and you want to return your home to its original integrity, you may need to work with a company that can customize windows for you. The wrong style of window and use of anachronistic materials can significantly mar restoration efforts.

After you’ve selected material for the frame, you’ll have to decide on the type of glass. There are a few different types of glass, and they all have different functions—so do your research or work with a professional to find the best option for your home. Types of window glass include the following:

•  Insulated glass: These windows have at least two panes apiece, hermetically-sealed ones divided by spacers.

•  Heat-absorbing tinted glass: Because these windows can absorb heat from the sun, they can keep your home or business cooler. Plus, they reduce glare.

•  Reflective-coated glass: This can also reduce glare and heat in the home.

•  Gas-filled glass: These are insulated, gas-filled units that provide more insulation than just air. Gases used are usually krypton or argon.

•  Low-emissivity-coated glass: These windows can provide significant savings in energy costs in colder climates.

•  Spectrally-selective-coated glass: These allow in light while filtering out significant amounts of heat.

Window Replacement Cost

Home Advisor provides guidance into typical window replacement costs in 2018. Replacing windows can be an expensive project, but it could ultimately improve the value of your home. While prices vary based on a few factors, like where in the country you live and the size of the windows, these general estimates could give you an idea of what replacing windows might cost you.

•  Single-hung windows: $175 to $350 per window

•  Double-hung windows: $300 to $800 per window

•  Sliding windows: $325 to $1,200 per window

•  Casement windows: $275 to $750 per window

Using a Personal Loan When Installing New Windows

Once you’ve decided how many windows you will replace and what the window replacement cost will be, consider taking out a home improvement loan to fund the repairs. You can use the SoFi personal loan calculator to determine what a personal loan with SoFi could look like.

At soFi, you can get a low-rate personal loan with no fees required when you’re ready to repair or replace your windows. You can quickly and easily find your rate and complete an application online. Live customer support is available seven days a week, and if you lose your job through no fault of your own, you can apply for Unemployment Protection—we can even assist you in your job search.

The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
PL18221

This statistic has been making the rounds, but perhaps you’ve been too busy between work, kids, and just generally being superman or woman to notice it.

According to the Federal Reserve Board’s 2016 Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households, 44% of all respondents could not cover an unexpected $400 emergency expense, or would rely on borrowing or selling something in order to do so. And believe it or not, that 44% is actually an improvement over previous results that go back to 2013. Still, it’s not making anybody feel any better.

If you’re part of this statistic, rest assured that there are ways to liberate yourself from this kind of burden. Saving money is power.

While the great expense of raising children can make you feel financially insecure, there are ways to work it so that you and your kids come out ahead. Even if you grow your family, there are habits to learn and stick to that can help keep you on top of your finances. Getting a grip on your budget, your finances, and your expenses can make for a happier family and a somewhat less stressful existence.

Here are a few suggestions that can help you save money while raising young children.

Establishing an Emergency Fund

Even if you can only afford to contribute a few dollars a week, an emergency fund can help you deal with the unexpected without necessarily having to resort to a credit card. These funds should be in a separate account (not your checking account) where you can access the funds easily, but not that easily (really, save it only for emergencies).

Treating Your Family to Home Cooking

Cooking in bulk, say on Sunday night, before the week begins, is a good way to have meals on hand and to eliminate the temptation for takeout and ordering in. You can save a lot of money in the process, especially if you cook with good health in mind. It’s also a great group activity for the fam.

Rethinking Your Grocery Budget

Walking through a supermarket is an exercise in resisting temptation. Instead, arrive with a pre-prepared list in hand, and stick to it. Planning meals (see our second suggestion) can get your shopping chore done faster.

You don’t have to get completely frugal—some snacks should be allowed—but if the bulk of your shopping list is planned and practical, you’ll likely see the difference in your budget, and, more importantly, in your family’s health.

Staying at Home

It may seem old-fashioned, but young children usually love old-fashioned fun: board games, charades, watching movies, reading comic books, playing music, taking walks, and telling stories can save you money on most outside activities.

You don’t have to give up the outside world completely, but cutting down could surely make a difference in your monthly outgoing expenses.

Buy Secondhand

New clothes are not always a good solution for kids who quickly outgrow their old clothes. Accepting hand-me-downs, attending yard sales, and checking out online trading can be great ways to avoid the high prices of children’s clothing, and possibly the high price of your own wardrobe as well.

Sharing a Nanny

One of the most draining costs of raising young children is day care and/or a nanny. Nanny shares are actually a thing, because of the need to save money with a baby or young child while still benefiting from high-quality care. Nanny sharing can result in a cheaper monthly nanny bill, and a chance for your child to learn how to interact and get along with other children (hopefully).

Asking Your Doctor and Dentist for Free Product Samples

After your child’s checkup, it can’t hurt to ask if there are any free samples you can take with you. Whatever you get can be one less product you have to buy at the drugstore: eye drops, skin cream, toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss. It’s a doggy bag that saves you money.

Cutting Down on Extracurricular Activities

This doesn’t make you a bad parent. Allowing your child horseback lessons or Little League baseball instead of horseback riding lessons and Little League still gives them the benefits of activity and socialization.

You child will usually let you know which activity is the most important to them. It also teaches your child one of the most difficult lessons to learn in life: we can’t always get everything we want. A great source for free activities for kids: your local library.

Reducing the Amount of Toys you Buy

This may sound cruel, but you may have noticed that your child plays with a toy for a few hours at the very most, and then abandons it (have you seen Toy Story?).

Buying fewer toys will save you money and make your child cherish the toys already there. This tip doesn’t mean that you should never buy another toy again. Check online for sales, discounts, and trades.

Signing up for Free Offers and Coupons

Online commerce wants you! They’ll do anything to attract you and keep you. This often includes getting messages to you for flash sales, discounts, and coupons you can use right from your phone. Check your favorite stores for kids. They’ll be glad to hear from you.

Other Ways to Save Money While Raising Young Children

Need additional guidance? Check out SoFi Relay, our new money tracker. You can see your finances at a glance, and track and categorize your spending.

You’ll be able to track your money and cash flow daily to help hit your targets. The best part? SoFi Relay has absolutely no cost.

The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
Automated and advisory services offered through SoFi Wealth LLC, a registered investment advisor.
SoFi can’t guarantee future financial performance.
This information isn’t financial advice. Investment decisions should be based on specific financial needs, goals and risk appetite.
Neither SoFi nor its affiliates is a bank.
SoFi Checking and Savings^TM is offered through SoFi Securities, LLC, member FINRA / SIPC . Advisory services offered through SoFi Wealth, LLC, a registered investment advisor.

SOAD18107

It’s not exactly a surprise that the average American has plenty of debt . Households with credit card debt carry an average balance of over $15,000. Frustratingly, these debts often come with exorbitant interest rates.

While some folks are able to manage their debts just fine, some may feel overwhelmed juggling loan payments of varying sizes with due dates scattered throughout the month. When life gets busy, missing a payment is too easy and can land you even further behind. Having multiple debts can be stressful and can make budgeting and planning for the future challenging. And let’s be real: No one likes feeling overwhelmed by multiple debt payments.

For most people, the goal with paying back debt—especially consumer debt, like credit card debt—is to do so as quickly and painlessly as possible. If this is your goal, you have options. One of those options is debt consolidation, where you pay off qualifying debts using a new loan, often called a “debt consolidation loan” or a “debt relief loan.” To determine whether consolidating your debts into one single payment is the right choice for you, read on.

Should I Consolidate My Debts?

It may be worth considering consolidation if it will help you simplify your finances and lower the amount of interest you pay overall on your combined sources of debt. For example, if you have multiple credit cards and each has a high interest rate, consolidating to one loan with a lower interest rate could get you out of debt sooner. That, and you could enjoy the sweet relief of only having one payment to manage for the debt you consolidated.

Consolidating your credit cards to a lower interest rate with a debt consolidation loan could help you get out of debt sooner.

Pros of Debt Consolidation

1) You can streamline multiple debts into one payment, making the payback process easier and more efficient.

2) If you consolidate your debt, you may pay less interest over the life of your loan.

3) Consolidating credit card debt can lower your revolving credit utilization ratio, which is a factor considered by most credit bureaus in the calculation of credit scores. If you lower your balance on several credit cards, but keep them open, you’ll decrease your credit utilization ratio. That’s a good thing! Revolving credit utilization ratios are also often considered by lenders when making credit decisions.

That said, debt consolidation isn’t for everyone. Taking out a new loan may come with fees, so you’ll want to do the math and make sure it’s worth it before moving forward. You should also be mindful of the repayment period and ensure you only finance the debt on a timeline that works for you. Be wary of a loan term that’s too long—even if the loan has a lower interest rate, you can pay more in interest over time with longer repayment periods.

Cons of Debt Consolidation

1) If the loan term is longer than necessary, you could potentially pay more in interest even if the rate is lower.

2) Some debt consolidation programs are scams. It is important to understand that not all loan consolidation tactics are created equal. There have been some unsavory and even fraudulent loan consolidation services that don’t really help get your debt under control. If a lender is asking for money upfront to consolidate your debt, for example, that’s a red flag.

How Do I Consolidate My Debt?

Debt consolidation, in theory, is very simple. You, or a lender, pays off all of your unsecured debts (like credit cards and personal loans) using a new loan. Then, moving forward, you’ll only make one monthly payment on your new loan.

A “debt consolidation loan” or a “debt relief loan” is often just a personal loan. This means that you have the option to seek out personal loans from reputable banks, credit unions, or online lenders. You do not have to work with a debt consolidation services provider that you don’t feel 100% comfortable with. Think of it this way: If it sounds sketchy, it probably is.

When it comes to low-rate personal loans, at SoFi we pride ourselves on transparency and a level of customer service unmatched in the lending industry. Also, our personal loans come with no origination fees, prepayment penalties, or late fees.

The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website on credit.