Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) hopes a small addition to fiscal 2021 defense legislation will make a big difference in how the Pentagon spends its money.

The top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee argues Congress should let the military roll over as much as half of its annual operations and maintenance funding to the next year. OM money, by far the Pentagon’s biggest account, expires at the end of each fiscal year, prompting a scramble to spend the entire pot by Sept. 30 every year.

The Defense Department wants to spend nearly $290 billion on operations and maintenance in 2021, about $125 billion more than the next-largest category of personnel. If Thornberry’s proposal is implemented, the move could help the U.S. shrink defense spending over time.

“The Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Treasury, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development have that authority, with the 100-plus agencies that are under them,” Thornberry said July 1. “You don’t get to spend it all, but you can spend half of it in another year so that you reduce the pressure to use it or lose it.”

He wanted to attach the provision to HASC’s version of the 2021 defense policy bill, but the issue falls into the House Appropriations Committee’s court. Appropriators didn’t give authorizers permission to pursue the amendment, so Thornberry said he could pursue it on the House floor as the full chamber considers the bill instead.

“We can fuss and complain all we want about DOD not spending money efficiently, but here the problem is us,” he said. “As a Congress, we can fix it if we just will. We cannot let territorial parochialism prevent a fix that is working in other departments and that would make such a difference.”

Thornberry also wants to allow the Pentagon to ask Congress to shift unused money into big-ticket accounts like shipbuilding and facilities sustainment, instead of kicking the funds back to the Treasury Department. DOD officials have requested both changes, he said.

The rollover proposal garnered some bipartisan support during the July 1 markup session, a sign that it may get a bigger audience on the House floor.

“I think everyone in this room who has been a military commander is guilty of this,” Rep. Paul Cook (R-Calif.) said. “You say to yourself, well, maybe it’s cynicism, ‘Somebody else is gonna misspend the money. Let’s go ahead and do it.’ It’s actually criminal, when I think about it. I’ll probably burn in hell for doing this repeatedly.”

Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), a Marine Corps veteran like Cook, approved of the idea as well.

It could get traction in the Senate, too, though one Capitol Hill staffer said it’s hard to figure out how much should be allowed to roll over. The staffer prefers having DOD suggest areas where it wants to hang onto funds for another year, test the proposal for a year or two, and adjust the percentage accordingly.

The notion of helping the Pentagon spend operations and maintenance money more effectively has been raised before, but typically runs into problems with congressional appropriators, according to Todd Harrison, a defense budget analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies who supports the provision.

“That rush to obligate creates bad incentives for program managers and contractors alike, so allowing some of the OM money to carry over would reduce the incentive to just get things on contract at any cost,” he said. “It is difficult to quantify what the savings would be, but in general, this change should help reduce costs (and waste) over time. We’re not talking a 50 percent reduction or anything, but even a 0.1 percent reduction in OM costs through better execution and contract negotiations would be significant.”

Mackenzie Eaglen, resident defense fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, argues saving money may not always be the point. For instance, a rollover provision would help the Pentagon hang onto money it can’t use for exercises now because of the coronavirus pandemic, and repurpose it in 2022.

“This is the right thing to do because everything is so fluid and constantly changing with the pandemic. The intent behind this flexibility should not be to find savings, however. If they materialize, terrific!” she wrote in an email. “But the expectations should be low and the focus on giving Pentagon leaders maximum flexibility to be nimble in their response to a fast-moving pandemic affecting virtually every aspect of the force.”

Life can be expensive and sometimes it can feel like there is just an endless number of things that need to be replaced or bought for the home. Food, grooming products, cleaning products, items for pets—the list goes on and on. But there is hope for your bank account! Taking a few simple steps can help to drastically reduce the amount of money you spend on things around the house.

Meal planning

One of the easiest and most money-saving habits that someone can get into is meal planning. Spend as little as 30 minutes once a week sitting down to schedule out the meals for the entire week. Whether it’s reviewing recipes online or picking household favorites, the important things are to write down all of the ingredients for each meal and checking to ensure that none of those ingredients are already in the fridge or pantry to avoid overbuying. Mealtime will be so much easier with a little pre-planning.

Meal planning allows for looking at the week’s schedule too. Planning something quick for nights when there’s practice or meetings to go to helps to keep stress levels down. It’s also healthier. When we have nothing to eat at home, we tend to grab fast food. This is not only unhealthy, but it can get expensive. Pick a special meal for nights when the family is all together and can enjoy it.

Update doors and fixtures

One tip that might not occur to everyone is that updating interior and exterior doors can help to cut down on energy costs. Consider looking into custom interior doors to help seal off parts of the house that don’t get as much use. There is no need to run fans or spend money trying to heat or cool guest bedrooms, storage, or unused office space. Doors that lead into any unfinished attics or basements are especially important as these are major points where air can escape, making HVAC units work overtime.

Switch to energy-saving light bulbs

Energy-saving light bulbs are an inexpensive way to lower electricity costs while also making a positive impact on the environment. Although the initial cost of the bulbs is usually a little higher than normal bulbs, they last much longer and are a better investment overall. Energy-saving bulbs can be found in the same place traditional bulbs are sold and should be marked with an energy-saving rating on the box.

Turn off electronics that are not in use

Experts estimate that as much as two-thirds of a household’s electricity costs are wasted on inefficient light fixtures, traditional light bulbs, and electronic devices that are not in use. Simple things like making sure to turn off the lights when leaving the room, turning off the TV when no one’s watching it, and putting laptops into power-saving mode when no longer in use can make a noticeable difference on the electricity bill.

If a major electronic device is going to be unused for more than a day or two, it’s a good idea to unplug it entirely. Televisions, game systems, space heaters, desktop computers, etc, can all be unplugged from the wall to avoid passive energy usage. This has the bonus of also protecting these devices against power surges better than even a surge protector can.

Keep a list

Maybe the most simple thing that will make the biggest difference is to keep a list of what needs to be picked up at the store. Make only one trip to the store a week unless it cannot be avoided, and take the list with you. Any time anyone notices something around the house that needs to be replaced or is running out it should be added to the list. That avoids the issue of overbuying things like milk that might go bad before it can be used or standing in the baking aisle trying to remember if you need sugar or not.

Shopping trips become faster and less stressful when there is a list in hand. This can also help avoid impulse purchases that sneak into the cart when you have to spend too long browsing the shelves.

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(WTNH)– These days working from home and social distancing guidelines are still keeping many people at home. 

And for some, it can be an opportunity to save money that would have otherwise been spent.

John Caserta, Chartered Financial Consultant, gives tips on how we can all save money while sheltering in place. Caserta suggests:

· Review your budget.

o Look at your monthly expenses by printing out the past three months of bank statements and credit card statements and compare them with statements from the same time in 2019.

o What has changed? Specifically look at:

• § Going out to eat
• § Dry cleaning personal services (haircuts!)
• § Gas/travel
• § Utilities
• § Groceries
• § Clothing

o Determine the net change – some categories may have increased, others may have decreased.

o Avoid online binge shopping – “retail therapy” can be expensive!

o Be mindful of how much you really need to spend in certain categories, like groceries an household items

• Cut out the non-essential items

o Identify overlapping expenses

Moving forward people should really focus on a few things: 

· Track expenses.

o By tracking expenses you can at least have a general idea of how much you spend on a monthly basis.

o Understand it will change from month to month. If you find yourself spending less than anticipated, put that difference into a savings or investment account.

o Identify patterns that can help you prepare.

· Automate savings.

o The easiest way to save money is to never see it! Automate savings and start with small amounts. Increase those savings incrementally and use things that will make it easy to make those changes like mobile apps.

· Small steps can lead to big changes.

o Ease into savings plans by beginning with smaller amounts.

A decade ago, in the midst of a dramatic decline in advertising revenue, predictions were rife that the newspaper industry would soon lose a pillar of its weakening business model — paid public notices.

Government-required public notices have been published in newspapers since colonial times, generating a steady and profitable income stream, especially at small weeklies. But the advent of websites operated by federal, state and local governments gave politicians a money-saving opening to redirect public notices to their own sites.

Overwhelmingly, that simply hasn’t happened. Despite growing legislative challenges, newspapers have managed to retain nearly all their public notice business. And for many, it has become indispensable to survival.

U.S. newspapers have lost about three-fourths of their advertising dollars since hitting a record-high $49.4 billion in 2005. By contrast, Richard Karpel, executive director of the Public Notice Resource Center, conjectures that newspapers’ public notice income has remained stable to down slightly.

The upshot is that public notices now provide a huge percentage of income for community newspapers. Jake Seaton, who is about to launch a Kansas-based company that aims to facilitate the public notice business, said some publishers have told him it’s their primary source of income. And because the costs of obtaining that revenue are exceedingly small, it’s an even larger portion of newspapers’ profitability.

When newspapers and their lobbyists tell legislators, as they sometimes now do, that loss of public notice income would shutter many newspapers, they aren’t bluffing. It would undoubtedly be a mass extinction event.

“The newspapers I know are just hanging on by their thumbs,” said Cynthia Prairie, CEO of The Chester Telegraph, a digital news site in Vermont.

No one knows how much money newspapers receive from public notice postings. But there are hints of its dimensions. For example, in a 2017 battle with Chris Christie, then-governor of New Jersey, the New Jersey Press Association said the state’s newspapers had $32.3 million of income from public notices the previous year. If that’s anywhere near representative of the nation as a whole, it would mean U.S. newspapers receive hundreds of millions of dollars from public notices.

Newspapers of all sizes, including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, publish public notices, also called legal notices. But they are most valuable to community dailies and weeklies which, despite their small size, nevertheless benefit from multiple local agencies that are required to post notices.

The industry’s success in retaining this business has proven to be crucial. With advertising revenue already sharply depleted, newspapers have lost even more retail ads during the coronavirus pandemic, resulting in staff layoffs and even newspaper closings.

Simultaneously, the need for viable local news institutions has rarely been greater, given the confluence of nationwide protests, Great Depression-level unemployment and the coronavirus.

This is also a moment when the debate about government support for news has shifted, with growing numbers of news executives and some politicians saying state, local and federal governments should consider helping to preserve local news. A remarkable letter sent in April by 10 news organizations called on the U.S. Senate to consider increasing government subsidies for local news.

Historically, newspapers and their trade groups have refrained from discussing the impact of public notices on their bottom line. But that has started to change.

The Tampa Bay Times, in a February editorial opposing a proposal to take public notices out of Florida newspapers, said the lost revenue “would be particularly painful for smaller newspapers that are often the sole independent source about what local government is up to in their communities.” In the New Jersey fight, newspaper officials warned that the proposed law could cost 300 newspaper jobs.

In both cases, the challenges to existing public notice statutes failed. The newspapers’ legislative victories in recent years appear to have carried into the 2020 legislative session as well. So far, modest setbacks have occurred only in Indiana, New York, Kentucky and Virginia, according to the Public Notice Resource Center, a nonprofit that promotes the value of newspaper-published public notices.

In legislative fights, the focus is usually on public notice provisions affecting governmental units — meeting and hearing announcements, financial reports, budget proposals, zoning changes and the like. But for most newspapers, the larger chunk of revenue comes from notice requirements on the commercial sector. They include categories like debtor property auctions, formation and dissolution of corporations, permit and license applications and so on.

In New Jersey, the newspaper association estimated that 77% of the public notice revenue in 2016 was from non-governmental sources.

As a result, the newspaper industry points out that taxpayer savings would be relatively small if newspaper publication was no longer required. Stephen Key, executive director of the Hoosier State Press Association, estimates the savings per Indiana adult at 50 cents per year. “I’ve never heard any average Hoosier say that’s an outrageous waste of their tax dollars,” he said.

Newspapers’ success at defeating most legislative proposals owes to a variety of weapons — their statehouse lobbying strength, publishers’ personal relationships with legislators and prominent editorials, for example. They’ve also somewhat neutralized the digital argument by providing free posting of public notices on their own websites and industry websites, in addition to the paid print publication. Traffic on newspaper websites far exceeds that of government sites, they say.

But mostly, newspapers rely on research showing that, for all the assumptions made about the internet’s triumph over print, newspapers remain the best vehicle for alerting citizens about important government business, especially in small towns.

“When we read a newspaper, the tactile, contemplative experience and the size of its pages encourage us to find information we didn’t expect to see,” said the National Public Resource Center in a report. “Public notices don’t stand a chance (on the internet). They get lost and are easily hidden.”

While newspapers have succeeded so far in maintaining public notice income, that doesn’t mean their success will continue. In addition to legislative proposals to transfer notices to government websites, digital news startups have been agitating to get in the game.

The New Haven (Connecticut) Independent, one of the nation’s pioneering digital news sites, was one of the first to attract public notice business. Paul Bass, the site’s founder and editor, said the revenue, mainly from the city council and city clerk, amounts to about $10,000 a year. Claire Schoen, board president of the Connecticut nonprofit NancyOnNorwalk, said the site brings in about $5,000 from local and state governments.

Chris Krewson, executive director of LION Publishers, listed five other digital news sites as having attracted public notice business.

Local officials often place these notices voluntarily, in addition to meeting the legal requirement of print publication. That’s the case for the 8-year-old Chester Telegraph. But the amount isn’t much.

“If we’re making $2,000 a year from the notices and other advertising by the local governments, I’m happy,” said Prairie, its owner.

Prairie twice has traveled to Montpelier, the state capital, to argue that, as newspapers become increasingly weaker, digital news sites should be eligible for more of the public notice business. So far the answer has been no. Jay Allred, president of Source Media Group, has had the same experience, unsuccessfully challenging notice statutes in Ohio.

In a 2017 Columbia Journalism Review piece, Liena Zagare, publisher of the digital news site Bklyner, and her husband Ben Smith, now a New York Times media columnist, argued that public notice laws were propping up “a kind of zombie print press” that make it difficult for community news startups to succeed.

As newspapers’ economic health weakens, and the pace of consolidation grows, owners have high motivation to maintain the status quo. Sue Cross, executive director and CEO of the Institute for Nonprofit News, said this can create perverse incentives.

Cross said she’s had conversations with publishers interested in becoming digital nonprofits who have talked about “having to stay in print to retain (notice revenue),” she said. “I’ve come to wonder if paid legal ads have turned from lifeline into a trap.”

A decade ago, I co-authored a report with Geoffrey Cowan of the University of Southern California documenting ways in which governments’ longtime subsidies of newspapers and other news businesses have declined. The cutbacks, led by the virtual elimination of postal subsidies, have been especially hard on local news.

In that paper, we joined others in warning that the other big subsidy supporting local news — public notices — was also vulnerable and could disappear, creating news deserts across the country.

If and when newspapers fade away, though, it doesn’t necessarily follow that the public notice subsidies for local news need to die, too.

Even if governments redirect public notices to their own websites, local and state officials could follow the lead of the town of Chester, Vermont, and voluntarily place notices in their hometown digital news sites. Alternatively, legislatures and local governments could mandate that notices be posted at these digital sites.

Finally, since prevailing advertising rates at digital news sites are a fraction of newspaper rates, politicians could use the savings to subsidize local news in other ways.

The recent letter from news groups to Congress, for example, endorsed Steven Waldman’s longtime proposal to have governments place a greater share of general-purpose advertising in local news outlets — military recruitment ads, census information, health alerts and the like. Waldman estimates that could mean $1 billion or more in new revenue,

That and other ideas for government news subsidies are, of course, controversial. But public opinion may shift if more and more Americans find themselves with no practical way of getting information about their hometowns.

What’s more, the controversy about news subsidies needs to be viewed in historical context. For more than 200 years, federal, state and local governments have been providing an indirect subsidy for local news in the form of public notices.

Most people would agree that, in terms of informing the public and helping underwrite local news coverage, it’s worked out pretty well.

David Westphal, a retired newspaper editor, is a senior fellow at the Center on Communication Leadership and Policy at the University of Southern California.

Joe Biden. Photo is in the Public Domain.
This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.

The Trump campaign is heading for a free-fall, the point in the campaign where the worse it gets, the worse it gets. That’s when centrist Republicans and independents start heading for the exits, not wanting to be associated with a candidate who could be the biggest loser of all time in American presidential politics. Joe Biden’s lead in the polls is now up to 14 points across the country and 8 points in pivotal Wisconsin. And the gap is widening.

These are polling numbers and they are notoriously unreliable as to final outcomes. This time around, though, unlike 2016, Donald Trump is a known commodity. He has been in office 3 ½ years and center stage just about every day. For better or for worse, we have a pretty good fix on this complicated man.

Further, the election is a referendum on him and not so much on the issues he has championed — turning the clock back in immigration, on health care access, on global alliances like NATO, on free trade with China, Europe, Mexico and Canada. We know clearly what he is against.

What he is for is a shorter list: tax cuts, higher defense spending, conservative judges, higher deficits and national debt.

He inherited an economy that was rumbling along at a pretty good pace and added stimulus with deficit spending and the tax cuts. It worked until the pandemic torpedoed the happy times. No one, neither he nor Biden, has much of a clue on how to resuscitate the devastated economy.

The Federal Reserve, thankfully, has a semblance of a game plan: massive bailouts and ultra low interest rates. On a bipartisan basis, Congress pumped $3 trillion into the nation’s for-profit and non-profit corporations. Despite all that, the economy is still tanking.

Layoffs will accelerate this month with the end of the extra $600 per week jobless compensation. Federal funds only delayed the terminations. Companies go under if they carry more labor than needed for work volumes. And volumes are still way off.

Congress and the president can’t agree on a forward plan.

In that vacuum that starts in the Oval Office, there is a golden opportunity for Biden to start acting like the leader he soon will be come. He doesn’t need to be shanghaied any more by the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. The progressive presidential candidates all fell by the wayside. Bernie Sanders lost decisively.

He can keep the left-wingers in his camp by promoting their goals, but can also pick off the independents and defecting Republicans by voicing pragmatic ways to get to where most Americans want the country to be led. Here are some examples:

1. Universal coverage for every American home. Dump Medicaid for All; it’s a 50-state managerial mess. Many doctors and dentists won’t take Medicaid patients. Adopt Medicare Advantage for All, not Medicare for All. Medicare Advantage offers a far better platform with choice, competition, better management and lower costs. Americans are voting with their feet for by flocking to that platform for coverage. Another no brainer: Add a money saving and health enhancing medical home for every American’s primary care. Savings are a proven 20 percent to 30 percent. Won’t that sell to voters across the board?
2. Pragmatic Immigration reform. Yes, close our borders to illegal immigration, like most countries do. But keep the doors open to talented people. Give illegal kids born here citizenship. But limit adult illegals working here to Green Cards the rest of their lives. It’s a pragmatic compromise.
3. Trade with other countries. Do what Warren Buffet proposed: allow increased exports to the U.S only to the extent that our trade partners allow more imports of U.S. goods and services.
4. Support for entrepreneurs. Our economy has been battered by the shutdowns. We will have lost many employers before this scourge is over. We don’t even know how bad the damage has been. The fed’s bold action saved some of us. But we need the job creators to swing into action. It’s the entrepreneurs who create most new jobs. The Wisconsin program of 25 percent tax credits for angel investments has worked exceptionally well. Increase it to 40 percent and expand it across the nation. It will give new hope and life to many pending startups.
5. Free college education. Cut a deal with the young people of America. We will pay for your education, but you need to pay it back with national service in needed sectors. That deal has worked superbly for generations with the GI bill and service in the National Guard. It’s working with AmeriCorps. How about health care and environment advancements as other options?

The time is right for Joe Biden to come out of his basement bunker. Instead of waiting for Trump to screw up some more, a likely prospect, as the president gets more and more desperate, get bold. Lead the nation to a pragmatic progressive platform that works to unite the country.

Go with concepts that have worked, not high-flying sound bites. Make the progressive ideas workable.

John Torinus is the chairman of Serigraph Inc. and a former Milwaukee Sentinel business editor who blogs regularly at johntorinus.com.

How to save hundreds on your grocery bill: Former merchandiser explains that supermarket specials work on a rotation – so you can work out EXACTLY when to buy in bulk

• A former supermarket employee has revealed a secret tip to keep an eye on 
• Posting on Facebook, Kath said price tags on sale items have a tiny date
• Found in the bottom corner, this date indicates when the promotion is set to end
• By keeping track of these codes customers can estimate when the prices return
• Kath says she uses this tactic herself and can help others save money 

By Carina Stathis For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 01:04 EDT, 5 July 2020 | Updated: 03:32 EDT, 5 July 2020

A former supermarket employee has shared a secret tip about ‘specials rotations’ that could save customers hundreds of dollars on their grocery shopping.

Posting to the Budgeting, Food, Savings Ideas, Stockpiling, Life Help Australia Facebook group, an Australian woman named Kath said all the special tags on sale products have a date on the bottom corner that indicates when the promotion ends.  

She said these sale offers are planned in advance and are often on a rotation across several stores for a certain amount of time.  

Customers can save money by taking note of the little-known date codes and tracking when the sale prices will return. 

A former supermarket merchandiser said the special tags on sale products have a date in the bottom corner that indicate how long the promotion is on for and when it finishes (pictured)

‘Does everyone know about supermarket specials rotations?’ She asked the online group. 

‘Big name goods do not randomly appear on special. Companies pay for the sales to move bulk goods from their warehouses and they are planned a year in advance.

‘I used to be a merchandiser and had to go into supermarkets when the sales rotations came around.’

• Your secret weapon against dirty grout: Mum transforms… Your Friday night dinner sorted: Home cook shows off her… From trash to treasure: Savvy DIY woman reveals how she… Savvy woman saves hundreds of dollars after creating her own…

Kath says customers can save money by keeping track of the little-known date codes and purchasing what you need to last until the product is on special again

Kath described how one week it would be Woolworths putting a product on special and the next week it would be another big store selling pet food, long life milk, cereals and health goods.

‘And it is all new fresh stock. Many of these rotations were halted during early COVID days, but now seem to be back on track,’ she said.

The insider said in order to know when the prices will drop you simply need to count the number of weeks from the last time the item was seen on sale.

‘This cereal at normal price is $6.50,’ she said, adding: ‘On a six-weekly rotation it will be on sale at $3.25. Now I will make a note of this in my diary for six weeks’ time and check then. This special will end on 14/7.

‘This cereal at normal price is $6.50,’ she said, adding: ‘On a six-weekly rotation it will be on sale at $3.25’ (pictured) 

Kath said she purchases certain items in bulk to last her until the next sales rotation.

‘As you can see this is a huge saving. The ticket has the date it ends in the bottom corner,’ she said.

Other social media users who are part of the Facebook group were amazed at the detailed budgeting insight.  

‘This is great advice! Being a family of eight, shopping specials is a must to get the best deal so I will take more notice next time I’m shopping,’ one woman said.

‘Literally the best advice I’ve seen on this page so far, thank you for sharing this, honestly the best,’ another said.

A third added: ‘Great info to share I only buy the expensive shampoo and conditioners when it’s half price – have noticed it is half price about every six weeks.’

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Sure, you could go to the laundromat every weekend to wash your clothes. But buying a good washer and dryer is a way better investment in the long run. It’s also much easier on your back.

Even if your home or apartment is already equipped with a washer and dryer, it might be worth considering an upgrade, especially because many new models come with energy-saving features that are good for the environment and your power bill. There are also various features to consider now, such as whether you want big drum size (helpful if you have a large family, or want to be able to wash blankets and loads of towels) or if you want to be able to control the device from your phone. Also, make sure your machine comes with a gentle and cold cycle (for your nicer items) and a quick cycle, for when you only want to wash one or two items.

Before you make your selection for what is going to work for you and your family, here are a few factors to keep in mind, courtesy of Jon Gibbons, a UK-based cleaning expert and consultant for Smart Vacuums.

• Make sure your new appliances are the right size for the space you have at home. (Speaking of which, where will you be doing laundry in your home? You’ll need a water source for the washing machine, and most dryers need a spot to vent.)

• Check that it has all the different wash programs and spin types you want.

• Ensure your washer and dryer both have a good RPM (Revolutions Per Minute), of around 1000 or higher. (The higher the RPM, the faster it will be for the dryer to get your clothes dry.)

• Check out the noise levels so you know if you will be comfortable when the appliances are running.

• Check how much water the washing machines uses and how eco-friendly it is.

Should You Buy a Washer-Dryer Combo or Separate Appliances?

Washers and dryers are typically sold separately, but if you’re short on space, there are models available that both wash and dry in one unit.

“There are pros and cons to buying a separate washer and dryer compared to one unit that does both and it all depends on your space, budget and how many loads you do per week. When you have a smaller space available, a unit that both washes and dries will cut the amount of space you need for a washer and dryer in half,” says Bailey Carson, Head of Cleaning at Handy, the New-York based online marketplace for home services. “It’s also best for someone that does around one or two loads of laundry a week. While there are benefits, a combo unit can be more expensive than buying two separate units so you’ll want to take that into consideration. Having two separate units does require more space but it allows you to finish doing your laundry quicker since you can run both machines at once.”

One more piece of advice, courtesy of Handy’s Carson: “Lint that’s sitting in your dryer can clog it and also push air back into it, leaving your clothes hot and damp. This would then require you to run your dryer two or three times in order to fully dry your clothes,” she says.

“Before you run the dryer, check the lint trap and remove any lint build up with your hand or a dry cloth,” Carson says. “You can also rinse the filter after wiping it clean under room temperature water. Make sure to let it dry before putting it back. By simply cleaning the lint trap each time, you’ll have dry clothes after one cycle, which will help you save on energy costs.”

We love to ask experts for recommendations about the best products to buy, especially when it comes to big-ticket items like beds, home appliances, and treadmills. With that idea in mind, here are suggestions from cleaning and household experts about the best washers and dryers for your money.

Best Washer and Dryer Sets: Look for July 4th Sales

LG WM3700HWA White 4.5 cu.ft. Smart wi-fi Enabled Front Load Washer: $648 at Home Depot (list price $999)

LG DLE3500W 7.4 Cu. Ft. White Electric Dryer: $628 at Home Depot (list price $899)

It’s a common occurrence in the modern world. You’re trucking along for years, perfectly content with your household staple. But then it’s time to get a new electric toothbrush, oven, TV or, in this case, washer and dryer, and you discover that things have gotten way fancier and more smartphone-y than you perhaps realized. This isn’t a bad thing, but it can be startling to realize that, sure, you can use your phone to do your laundry.

Gladys Connelly is a Hastings, Florida-based housekeeping technical writer at thehousewire.com. “With my years of experience, I can say that washers and dryers play one of the most important roles in tidying up the entire house,” she says. “But finding the best ones without taking up too much on the budget might be a little tough.” That’s why she recommends the pairing of LG WM3700HWA “as your washer,” and the LG DLE3500W “for your dryer.”

“LG WM3700HWA provides the most water and energy-efficient way of washing your clothes. Also, what I love the most about this product is how I can do my laundry with simple voice commands, since it utilizes AI technology and works well with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa,” she says. “Using its LG SmartThinQ app, I can also control the machine using my smartphone.”

The LG dryer Connelly recommends “also has the same AI technology feature with the washer that can be manipulated using their app. Additionally, it has an option where it allows you to keep your clothes wrinkle-free. This is very convenient especially for those people like me who always forget to remove clothes from the dryer afterward.”

Miele WWH860WCS W1 Washer ($1,999) and Miele TWi180WP Dryer With Steam ($1,899)

Maryana Grinshpun is an architectural designer in New York City and the owner of Mammoth Projects, which works with residential and commercial clients on projects at varying scales. Even if you don’t live in New York, you might have a relatively small living area, and perhaps you have concluded that you don’t have enough space for a washer and a dryer. But Grinshpun says that compact options are available.

“In NYC, most units require stacking models, and ventilation isn’t always an option,” Grinshpun says. “For higher-end projects, we prefer Miele. These models are compact, reliable, and beautiful.”

Bosch 300 Series Washer: $989 at Home Depot (list price $1,099) and Bosch 300 Series Electric Dryer: $989 (list price $1,099)

If you have a small place and you like the idea of the Miele but not the price tag, then Grinshpun says “for a slightly less expensive option, we refer clients to Bosch. Again, we’ve found these to be reliable and attractive.”

Best Washer and Dryer Combos

Splendide WD2100XC White Vented Combo Washer/Dryer: $1,311.84 at Amazon

If you’ve got a big, active family, then Gibbons recommends the Splendide WD2100XC, which can hold a lot of clothes while getting the grass stains out.

“This washer-dryer has a fantastic RPM of 1200 for speedy cycles and clothes that feel drier after being washed. It has a great capacity of 15 pounds, which means you have more than enough space to wash clothes for the whole family,” Gibbons says. “It comes with a great selection of programs for you to use, including a sport one for kids who like to rough it up in the dirt. The water level is also adjusted automatically, saving you money on bills and making it an eco-friendly choice.”

The Splendide was primarily designed for use in RVs and other mobile homes. It does an exceptional job in these settings, but the beauty of this model lies within its versatility, Gibbons says. As a vented machine, it is not difficult to hook it up in your home and have it running there,” he says. “In fact, it is entirely possible to move it between each location — a washer/dryer that you can take with you when you are off on long road trips, as well as one that you can use in your home the rest of the year. It was designed for small spaces, and that includes the home as well as your RV, all without impacting its ability to wash and dry clothes.”

LG WM3997HWA Ventless 4.3 Cu. Ft. Capacity Steam Washer/Dryer: $1,695 at Amazon

The LG WM3997HWA Ventless has enough options that whether you want a gentle clean or a machine to really get in there, you should be able to find what you are looking for, according to Gibbons.

“From a top brand, this washer/dryer is packed with fantastic features like anti-vibration tech, TurboWash, and a Cold Wash that really reaches into fabrics and cleans them just as well as a warmer cycle,” Gibbons says. “There are 14 wash cycles in total as well as 4 dry cycles and 5 different temperatures to choose from, meaning that there is something for every occasion. It’s got a massive capacity for big loads, and the 1200RPM makes laundry a breeze.”

Best Smart Washing Machine

LG Front-Loading Smart Wi-Fi Washer with TurboWash and Steam: $1,618 at Home Depot

The more kids you have, the less time you have. So if you find you’re constantly having to wash clothes for your brood, then you’ll need something that can take care of a lot of clothes quickly. Luckily, Nicholas Holmes, the Singapore-based founder of ProductReview.com.au, has a suggestion.

“If you have a big family, this washing machine is best for you,” says Holmes of the Front-Loading Smart Wi-Fi Washer with TurboWash and Steam by LG. “Its TurboWash technology gives the big load the same great wash that it gives to the small quantity and washes the whole load in 30 minutes. It can bear up to 8 pounds weight, and the users can wash all their clothes in one turn, thus saving a lot of time for the day.

“Its 6Motion technology uses six different washing directions that provide the smart washing experience,” he adds. “In all directions, the clothes move gently, and even the hard stains go away with such quick washing. Its Allergiene technology uses the power of steam to kill dust mites and removes pet danders up to 95%. It’s a smart laundry machine that notifies you on your smartphone when it is done. It works best with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa that makes it easy to operate with simple voice commands.”

Best Portable Washing Machine

Portable Washing Machine TG23: $185.95 at Amazon (sold out)

If price and space are an issue, then Holmes recommends the ThinkGizmos Twin Tub Washer Machine with Wash and Spin Cycle Compartments. It’s compact and portable, and you can put it anywhere, as long as it has access to water. You can even bring it on a camping trip.

“The build is strong and durable, so it provides value for money. It does not need extra space because of compactness, and consumers only need to set it up near the access to water and draining area. Users can set the washing and spin timer according to their needs, i.e., up to 15 minutes and 5 minutes, respectively,” he says. “There are two modes – soft or normal; you can choose the one according to clothes fabric and cleaning requirements. Moreover, it comes with a ‘free’ Lint Filter that collects debris from the water in the washing tub.”

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