It’s harder than ever to buy a home, and even those who manage to do it often have regrets about their purchase.

Some 45% of homeowners have regrets about their current home, according to a recent survey from Bankrate. Their most common complaint: frustration over the price of maintenance costs and hidden fees.

A typical American homeowner spends over $18,000 on non-mortgage home expenses every year, according to Bankrate’s June 2024 Hidden Cost of Homeownership Survey. In some states, such as Hawaii and California, the fees stack up even higher, reaching around $29,000 every year, per Bankrate’s estimate.

These charges, such as internet bills, property taxes and maintenance, often aren’t front of mind when purchasing a property. But for those who buy a home at the high end of their budget, they can pose a major uphill battle.

That’s why it’s important to factor ongoing homeownership costs into your budget, as well as any offer you make on a property, lest you “get out over your skis,” says Mark Hamrick, senior economic analyst at Bankrate.

Without a significant financial buffer, he says, you could end up with surprise costs that force you to forego necessary home upgrades or repairs, or even cause you to fall into debt.

Here’s how experts say to deal with these sneaky costs.

One way to avoid surprise maintenance costs is to get a thorough accounting of the home’s potential defects, according to Zillow, a residential real estate platform.

At the very least, completing a home inspection will help you enter homeownership with a more complete understanding of what work your home may need, Zillow says. Your inspector may find small, non-deal breaker repairs like plumbing drips or loose handrails, but it’s also possible that they uncover bigger issues like foundation cracks. In that case, you’ll likely need a second inspection from a specialist.

The upside of paying extra for inspections is that you may be able to negotiate repairs into your sale price or have them corrected by your seller, which could save you money up front and down the line, according to Zillow.

But, even if you handle repairs early, upkeep will inevitably be required. While it may feel easier to delay updates until things reach their breaking point, Zillow says it’s more cost effective to opt for regular, ongoing maintenance instead.

To do this, try adding a few regular home maintenance tasks to your seasonal to-do lists, Zillow says. For example, by making an effort to budget out the time — or cash — for a major gutter cleaning in the fall, you may be able to save yourself from an expensive roof repair project by clearing out leaves before they cause a clog.

Bankrate’s Hamrick says all prospective buyers should consider their full range of financial needs and goals before rushing into homeownership. In the meantime, “there’s no shame in renting,” he says.

“We live in a highly competitive society and economy, and I think all too often people are being overly severe with their judgements about themselves,” Hamrick says. “They should give themselves some grace and time if the time currently isn’t optimal for buying a home.”

Move at your own pace in the buying process, and make sure you’re confident that it’s the best next step for you, he says. After all, deciding you’re ready to buy a home isn’t just about having enough cash savings to handle up front and ongoing costs, but also about ensuring you’re prepared to tackle the full range of responsibilities that come with owning a property.

To get a fuller picture of what you can afford, it may make sense to consult a financial professional who can help you assess your home-buying budget.

Are you ready to buy a house? Take Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course How to Buy Your First Home. Expert instructors will help you weigh the cost of renting vs. buying, financially prepare, and confidently navigate every step of the process—from mortgage basics to closing the deal. Sign up today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $97 (+taxes and fees) through July 15, 2025.

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Millennials and Gen Z workers now make up more than half of the labor force, and they’re re-writing the rules of the office.

Some of the biggest things on the corporate chopping block? Strict hours, stuffy dress codes and restrictive vacation policies. At least that’s the case for the small team at LA-based Socialista Queen, a social media marketing agency.

In May, 29-year-old Liat Aharon, the agency’s founder and CEO, posted a video about some of the office rules she has for her staff of four, some of which her peers say are considered “controversial” for a traditional work setting.

Among her company policies: Team members are permitted to start their workday whenever they want, whether it’s 6 a.m. or 10 a.m., as long as they complete an eight-hour workday.

Team members work a hybrid schedule and from an office Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, unless they’re on a photo shoot, during which they can work remotely.

Each person gets about 10 vacation days accrued throughout the year, but they’re also encouraged to take more unpaid days as needed like for a big trip, as long as they give enough notice.

Aharon tells CNBC Make It she publicized her office rules after seeing another creator post their own video as a Gen Z manager, “and it made me laugh, because I had no idea these things were controversial.”

“I love to live a good life,” Aharon says. “I think making life in the office fun should always be a priority.”

She says her policies are inspired by the flexibility she wishes she had throughout the jobs of her early 20s as a restaurant worker, phone salesperson and other gigs, plus hearing from friends who say they’re “miserable” in their jobs.

“I just don’t get the point, because it’s so easy, in my opinion, to make an environment fun if you have the right people,” Aharon says, adding that “hiring the right people is huge in these kind of situations.”

The CEO doesn’t typically look for an education requirement for her hires. “The first time I was hiring I even wrote, ‘I don’t care about your resumes,’” Aharon says. “I want to make sure that you know how to edit a video and have a good attitude. I don’t care if you’ve graduated college to be in social media management, personally.”

She conducts candidate interviews herself and asks situational questions, like how they’d handle a project with a client, to get a feel for their decision-making process and how they communicate.

Not everything Aharon does is so zillennial-coded. She says the best thing a candidate can do to set themselves apart is to follow-up with a thank-you email soon after meeting.

“If you follow up after three or four days, it shows me one thing, but if you follow up after an hour or in the same day, I’m like, ‘OK, this person really wants this,’” she says.

Aharon says some of her peers call her management style “lenient,” though she doesn’t see it that way.

“I also do have boundaries that none [of my staff] have ever stepped over,” like not abusing the time-off policy and making sure flexibility never results in missed deadlines, she adds. “I’ve just discussed with them that these are the fun rules until anyone makes me have to change that, which is how I think life should be, where you give people the benefit of the doubt unless proven otherwise.”

Aharon says her flexible company policies have never led to issues their roughly dozen clients including a jewelry business, moving company and orthodontist office.

Ultimately, “I think the office should be a safe place where people have a good time, because you never know what people are going home to,” Aharon says.

Are you ready to buy a house? Take Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course How to Buy Your First Home. Expert instructors will help you weigh the cost of renting vs. buying, financially prepare, and confidently navigate every step of the process—from mortgage basics to closing the deal. Sign up today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $97 (+taxes and fees) through July 15, 2025.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn to connect with experts and peers.

When it comes to company culture, Bill Phelps, the CEO of Dave’s Hot Chicken and former CEO of Wetzel’s Pretzels, doesn’t compromise.

The 69-year-old CEO says the biggest red flag he looks out for when running his business is “toxic” people — those who lack the empathy to support their teams and the generosity to share their success with others.

It’s an offense that can even lead to termination, he says.

“I take no pride in firing people, but I take pride in having an incredible culture,” Phelps tells CNBC Make It. “You have to do the things that are necessary to maintain that incredible culture.”

Toxic people will show up in every organization, Phelps says: “It’s human nature.” While tolerance for difficult behavior may vary, Phelps says he’s learned from experience that the best approach is to adopt a zero-tolerance policy.

That’s because “the toxic tone is contagious,” Phelps says. It’s up to a manager, or CEO, to spot toxic behavior and take the necessary steps to eliminate it quickly while promoting and investing in employees who foster a positive culture, he adds.

Since taking the helm of Dave’s Hot Chicken in 2019, Phelps has grown the Pasadena, California-based company from a single store to over 300 locations globally. The company has also sold the rights to about 1,000 more locations, Phelps told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” last week.

Phelps also says he’s not afraid to ask franchisees to leave the organization if he feels it’s necessary — often through an honest conversation that gives a store operator the chance to sell their business rather than being forced out, he says.

“That’s a tough conversation, but it’s the right conversation for the whole system,” Phelps says.

Phelps says toxic employees lack generosity and positivity in the workplace, but there may be other warning flags as well.

Tom Gimbel, CEO of staffing and recruiting firm LaSalle Network, looks out for entitled employees that expect a promotion or a raise without going the extra mile. Meanwhile, Talia Fox, CEO of executive consulting firm KUSI Global, says her biggest red flag is employees who refuse to take responsibility for their mistakes and instead blame others, the CEOs said in 2024.

“Owning your mistakes and having a high level of integrity is so critical,” Fox said. “Just show up and have some honesty around it.”

Are you ready to buy a house? Take Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course How to Buy Your First Home. Expert instructors will help you weigh the cost of renting vs. buying, financially prepare, and confidently navigate every step of the process—from mortgage basics to closing the deal. Sign up today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $97 (+taxes and fees) through July 15, 2025.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn to connect with experts and peers.

Couples often feel like they have the same arguments over and over again. 

As a therapist, I’ve heard many couples describe how a seemingly minor disagreement can spiral into an intense fight that goes unresolved, and eventually repeats without changing or improving. Even when they’re not fighting, these couples report an underlying tension between them that makes it difficult to enjoy their relationship. 

To break this pattern, I encourage them to start a “relationship bank account,” in which they make “deposits” when they’re not in conflict. These deposits are actions that make the other person feel like their happiness is being prioritized.

The current account balance reflects how safe and secure couples feel in their relationship. A positive balance means they know they have the emotional “funds” to handle any surprise “bills” with a minimum of conflict; a negative balance means any unexpected “charge” can send them into a “debt” spiral that causes a blowout fight.

Ultimately, the goal is to make more deposits than withdrawals, with arguments becoming less intense and, eventually, less frequent.

I start this process by asking each partner what makes them feel loved and appreciated. Then we can determine what kinds of actions they can each take to make deposits into their relationship bank account. 

Here are four common ways to bolster your account:

It’s easy for a relationship to fall into a familiar pattern of work, chores, kids, and screens. You might spend hours a day in close physical proximity to your partner, but you may not feel connected to them. If that’s the case, check in and find a few minutes of connection. 

This can be as simple as turning to your partner and giving them your undivided attention for a few minutes. How was their day? How is that issue they were dealing with at work going? Are they feeling okay physically? Is there anything you can do to help? 

A random hug as you pass your partner in the kitchen. A kissy face emoji sent from work. An inexpensive but thoughtful gift. An unexpected compliment. Random acts are small things that require little effort, yet their effect on your partner can be outsized. 

These small deposits let your partner know you’re thinking about them at times when they least expect it.

There’s often one partner who always makes plans, and it’s easy for them to start feeling underappreciated. Making an effort to switch up the roles can have a positive effect. 

Take on planning with something as simple as making dinner reservations at a favorite restaurant or as complicated as mapping out a weekend getaway. Even if the results aren’t perfect, it shows that you’re listening to your partner and addressing their needs.

Most people assume that intimacy means sex, but sex is simply a form of intimacy. Intimacy means having an emotional connection and a feeling of closeness.

The actions we’ve explored so far can make your partner feel seen and supported, which can lead to an emotional connection, which can lead to emotionally meaningful sex — all of which can add to the balance in your relationship bank account. 

The deposits above are often missing in unhappy relationships. In my experience, couples tend to overlook these small actions more and more over time. The longer you’ve been in a relationship, the more likely you are to encounter a low balance — or an overdraft — in your relationship bank account.  

The key is to break through any resistance you might feel, and remember how impactful the little things can be when they add up. By making small, regular deposits into your relationship bank account, you’re building up savings when times are good — and giving yourselves a cushion to withdraw from when they’re not. 

Phil Stark is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist seeing clients in person in Los Angeles, CA, and all over California and Florida via telehealth. In a previous career, Phil was a screenwriter and producer, with credits on films and TV shows like “South Park,” “That ’70s Show,” and “Dude, Where’s My Car?”

Are you ready to buy a house? Take Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course How to Buy Your First Home. Expert instructors will help you weigh the cost of renting vs. buying, financially prepare, and confidently navigate every step of the process—from mortgage basics to closing the deal. Sign up today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $97 (+taxes and fees) through July 15, 2025.

I expected to face new challenges in my 90s, and I have. However, what has truly surprised me is the number of new joys I’m experiencing.

Like most of people my age, I believe dwelling on regrets is a waste of time. I no longer regret that I took so few science and economics courses or that I never lived abroad. I’m truly grateful for my family and the life I have lived. This sense of gratitude is relatively new for me.

So when people ask me what they can do to make sure their older years are just as fulfilling, I share my 10 non-negotiable rules for being 90 and happy. This list has been a valuable roadmap for me, and I believe that no matter how old you are, you will find them helpful, too.

I’ve found that older people tend to be kinder than they were when they were younger. Cultivating a habit of kindness brings meaning to our lives.

Research shows that receiving even a small act of kindness has a much greater impact on us than the giver might expect. But I’ve also noticed that we are often less kind to ourselves than we are to others. We tend to berate ourselves mercilessly when we can’t find the right word or when we forget an appointment.

Now, I remind myself, “Not to worry. This is all part of normal aging.”

This has been a reliable way for me to stay grounded and maintain a positive mindset. Each morning, I take a minute to express gratitude for three things in my life. I try to mention different things each day, but it’s okay to repeat some.

Whenever I stop this practice, I soon realize that I don’t feel as good as I would like, so I make it a point to start again.

The older I get, the more I try to simplify my life, and I’ve found that routines are very helpful. I have an exercise plan, and I see my dentist and doctors regularly. I try to make general decisions about moderation regarding alcohol and food. Last week, for instance, I decided to eliminate onion rings from my diet.

And a big improvement has come from my decision to place my phone in just three spots in the apartment. This has dramatically reduced the number of times I lose my phone and panic while I run around madly searching for it.

During the pandemic, we learned just how important our relationships are for our health and happiness. Yet we often wait for others to reach out to us.

What’s worked for me is connecting proactively, starting with my friends and family who are going through tough times. I also prioritize spending time with those who lift my spirits.

After retiring, I’ve come to realize the importance of staying involved in projects that we are passionate about and enjoy. This can be creative, such as painting, or hobbies like gardening, or even volunteering at a hospital or soup kitchen.

Currently, my pursuits include writing articles, serving on a Strategic Planning Task Force at my retirement community, and spending time with my grandchildren.

We all experience the loss of loved ones and the loss of our own abilities, but few of us have been taught how to properly grieve and mourn. I find meaning and support through my Unitarian Universalist church. I also find solace in spending time alone, walking in the woods, and writing in my journal.

When we allow ourselves to fully experience our emotions, it helps us recover our sense of well-being and joy over time.

We used to believe that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but recent studies on the aging brain tell us that we can continue learning throughout our entire lives.

About six months ago, I started taking an online course for conversational French. To my surprise, it has been a real pleasure, and I am confident it’s helping to keep my brain sharp.

Happiness doesn’t depend on avoiding setbacks, failures, losses and tragedies. Anyone who lives to be 80 or 90 will experience all of these. Instead, happiness is connected to your attitude.

For me, this means consciously deciding not to dwell on the past or worry about the future. It means staying in the present moment and enjoying my time now.

Laughter is more important than ever as we age. I just finished a nine-week comedy class where we practiced scenes from well-known plays. They were quite funny, and as the weeks went by, we found even more humor in them.

With all of us in our 80s and 90s, we frequently lost our places, dropped our scripts, forgot where we were supposed to be and sometimes didn’t hear each other. But we had so much fun and laughed throughout the class. I felt tremendous joy, fully aware that I was part of the great human comedy that is life itself.

Katharine Esty, PhD, trained as a social worker and social psychologist, and was a practicing psychotherapist for 30 years. She is the author of the bestselling book ”Eightysomethings: A Practical Guide to Letting Go, Aging Well, and Finding Unexpected Happiness.” As a recognized expert on aging well and family dynamics, her views have been featured in Psychology Today, CNN and The Wall Street Journal.

Are you ready to buy a house? Take Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course How to Buy Your First Home. Expert instructors will help you weigh the cost of renting vs. buying, financially prepare, and confidently navigate every step of the process—from mortgage basics to closing the deal. Sign up today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $97 (+taxes and fees) through July 15, 2025.