Kimberly is our home security expert and has been writing about security and safety since 2013, covering everything from security systems and home automation to identity theft protection, home warranties, medical alert systems, and more. She has personally tested hundreds of system components and interfaced with dozens of home security companies to find out what’s happening behind the scenes. Her work has appeared in many notable brands, including The New York Times' Wirecutter, Reader's Digest, Forbes, People, Woman's World, and Huffington Post.
In 2018, she had her first child, which opened up a whole new avenue of security experience with baby gear. She wanted to purchase the safest items for her family.
Kimberly received her Bachelor of Arts in multimedia journalism from Simpson College. Her natural curiosity helps her research as she seeks the truth when learning about, comparing, and personally testing products and services.
Nest is one of the best Wifi thermostat products on the market. It continuously learns about your heating and cooling preferences, so you don’t have to worry about adjusting the thermostat multiple times throughout the day. After one to two weeks of use, the thermostat will remember your habits and begin to set the temperature automatically. You also have the ability to make changes from the Nest app, so if you want to make any adjustments when you’re away from home, you can. Read the rest of our Nest learning thermostat review to see if it’s a good fit for your household…
You’re away on a work trip when you get strep throat, and you don’t have time to go to the doctor. Wouldn’t it be nice to get a prescription without finding a doctor’s office, trying to schedule an appointment and filling out all of that endless paperwork? This is where using a virtual doctor app can be handy. From the comfort of your bed, you can visit with a physician, get a diagnosis and have medication prescribed. Learn more about how these services work and if they really work as they’re advertised.
From appliances to lighting to speakers, everything is connecting to the internet, and there’s no stopping it. Smart home equipment is becoming more affordable and less avoidable on the market. Everything from our dishwasher to our cars will be “on the grid”, ie. connected to the internet (and many devices and appliances already are!). Read some astonishing statistics about home automation as well as where the market is headed…
In our house, we donate all of our unused clothes, shoes and household items to Goodwill. The items are still in good shape, we just don’t find ourselves in need of them anymore, which is why it’s nice to give them a second life. Donating to Goodwill is also a good tax deduction, so those who donate also get a “reward” for their goodwill. In this article we’ll discuss the tax benefits of giving, not to mention how important donating is whether you benefit from it or not.
There are many other elements to home security that you should consider besides installing a security system. Have you considered how to protect your family from items like carbon monoxide and fires? What about securing your home when you leave for vacation? Or how about how you can deter a burglar from targeting your home? These (and more) are all important aspects of securing your home that we can help you with. Our home security experts have spent countless hours researching, calling companies, and personally testing gear to bring you the latest accurate information and data on home security products and services.
Nest has been a big player in the home security and automation field for some time now. After a lot of demand from its consumers, the company released the outdoor Nest camera for homeowners to protect the exterior of their property. With the addition of the Nest Cam Outdoor, Nest helps you video monitor the inside and outside of your home as well as control the temperature and alert you of smoke and carbon monoxide (that is, if you choose to purchase each of Nest’s products). In this Nest outdoor camera review, we’re going to discuss the key features, pros, cons, pricing and more to help you make a more informed purchase decision.
America’s 1st Choice Home Club jumped from servicing only 2 states to servicing all but 2 states in the matter of 1 year. The company quickly moved up in our rankings due to this transition as well as for other reasons. America’s 1st Choice Home Club covers a large number of appliances and systems and has a service call fee starting at $75. The company is transparent in its offerings, which makes us ask, “Are they too good to be true?”
Arlo’s lineup of stand-alone security cameras is one of the best we’ve seen. And we know because we’ve used nearly all of them! Read about our firsthand experience, sharing the perks (and shortcomings) of Arlo and the different camera options that are currently available.
You’re looking for some extra peace of mind but don’t want to throw all your hard-earned money toward a security company. Which self-monitored home security provider is the most affordable? There are many companies to consider, but with the rapid changes in technology, the value you get can differ vastly. In general, if you’re comfortable with monitoring your own system, you’ll save significantly over a professionally monitored system (one that uses human staffed stations to monitor your system and dispatch authorities on your behalf). However, we do feel a self-monitored system isn’t as secure as a professionally monitored system, but understand professionally monitored isn’t for everyone. We’ve made it easy for you to make the best choice by ranking the top 6 self-monitored home alarm systems by cost. Keep in mind that the cheapest are seldom the best performing systems, so be sure to read our review of the best self-monitored home security systems for a better value and performance perspective.
If your least favorite chore is vacuuming; there are automatic vacuum cleaners that could save you time and headaches. The Roomba robot vacuum will suck up all the dirt and debris on your floors without having to lift a finger. For this review, we’ll be focusing on the Roomba 960 (our pick for best robot vacuum cleaner), although we will compare it to previous and newer models in the pricing and tech specs section. Find out why Roomba is the #1 pick for best vacuum robot…
