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For many Americans, buying a home is a long-awaited milestone. However, for nearly half of today’s homeowners, it has also become a source of regret. A new survey from Bankrate reveals that 45% of homeowners are dissatisfied with their home purchase, primarily due to the financial burden of ongoing expenses beyond the mortgage. Senior economic analyst Mark Hamrick explained the results of the May 14 study in a CNBC report.

Bankrate’s June 2024 Hidden Cost of Homeownership Survey discovered that the average homeowner in the U.S. spends over $18,000 annually on non-mortgage-related costs. These include maintenance, property taxes, utilities, and internet — many of these expenses aren’t fully considered during the home-buying process and come as a surprise to new homeowners.

In high-cost states like California and Hawaii, these hidden expenses can top nearly $29,000 a year.

“These charges can sneak up on homeowners, especially those who buy at the top of their budget,” said Mark Hamrick, senior economic analyst at Bankrate. “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.'”

The Bankrate study claimed that without a financial cushion or plan, these unexpected costs can quickly lead to mounting debt.

To avoid these pitfalls, experts like Hamrick recommend a few proactive strategies.

Real estate platform Zillow advises homebuyers to invest in a thorough inspection before purchase to uncover major hidden defects before they become a financial problem.

As reported by Bankrate in their study, identifying these problems early on can provide leverage in negotiating repairs, reducing the sale price, or catching the issues before they worsen.

Zillow also suggests integrating general maintenance tasks into seasonal routines. For example, a simple gutter cleaning in the Fall could prevent costly roof damage later on.

According to CNBC, Bankrate’s Hamrick left readers with a piece of advice. He tells potential buyers to take a closer look at their finances before rushing into homeownership.

Hamrick explained, “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.”

“They should give themselves some grace and time if the time currently isn’t optimal for buying a home.”

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Huge day for your most annoying friend. Spaceballs, which was one of our original spoof films, took inspiration from classics like Star Wars, had music that reminded us of Jaws, and had Rick Moranis in a big helmet. Now, it’s back!

If you grew up a comedy fan, you knew Mel Brooks’ movies. I grew up watching Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, and Spaceballs with my family and see Dark Helmet (Rick Moranis) take on the galaxy was just as thrilling as watching Darth Vader do so in Star Wars. But I love so much about this franchise. Do I love Lone Starr (Bill Pullman) because it is just a new Han Solo? Probably but hey, that’s okay. Now, I get MORE!

We all love a good cartoon mashup with something that’s sweet to eat. Does anyone remember the Dungeons & Dragons Nerds candy, and the Sugarfina Candy Simpsons collaboration? We actually think this one might top all of those. Via PR Newswire, we’ve learned the Hershey’s Kisses brand and The Pokémon Company International have joined forces for a chocolatey delicious journey, with special-edition Hershey’s Kisses wrapped in collectible Pokémon foils. You can check out the first images of the new Hershey’s Kisses and Pokémon collaboration down below:

There are 151 unique foil designs draw inspiration from the original Kanto region Pokémon. So each time someone unwraps one of these unique Hershey’s Kisses, it becomes a chance to discover, trade, and as the saying goes, “catch ’em all.” From Pikachu to Mew, each Hershey’s Kisses chocolate is wrapped up like a Poké Ball. In a statement, the Hershey Company’s Ashley Reeb said the following:

Our collaboration with Pokémon combines the timeless appeal of Hershey’s Kisses chocolates with the joy of discovery and collecting — making it more than just a treat. The special-edition foils may spark a little friendly competition but also unite fans around their love for milk chocolate and Pokémon.

As a way to help fans show off their finds, the Hershey’s Kisses brand is also debuting a limited-edition Collector’s Case. They’ve designed it to specifically hold all 151 chocolates. This way, Pokémon fans can proudly display their Hershey’s Kisses & Pokémon collection and fuel the chase to find every Pokémon. And the fun doesn’t end there. Throughout the summer, fans can log on to Hersheyland.com/Pokemon to track which Pokémon foils they’ve managed to find. Using the site, they can then monitor progress and unlock digital certificates to share on social media.

Pokémon aficionados will be able to find these Hershey’s Kisses in 10.1 oz and 34.1 oz bags at participating retailers nationwide this summer.

The post POKÉMON and Hershey’s Kisses Announce a Chocolatey Collectible Collaboration appeared first on Nerdist.

For decades, there’s been no shortage of zombie media, and it’s safe to say that the subgenre will never go out of style. And while many will moan about unoriginality and oversaturation, plenty of zombie-centric movies and TV shows have proven there’s more than one way to tell an apocalyptic tale of flesh-eating corpses. 

At this year’s Tribeca Festival, Tina Romero, daughter of horror legend George A. Romero, makes her feature directorial debut with Queens of the Dead, which she co-wrote with writer-comedian Erin Judge (Quiet Desperation). The filmmaker and former DJ pays homage to her late father while making a name for herself with “a big gay zombie movie.” 

Set in Brooklyn, Sam (Jaquel Spivey) shimmies his way around a hospital delivering jello cups to patients and colleagues, the kind of nurse who puts a smile on everyone’s face, trying to distract them from whatever pain they’re experiencing. Sam’s night takes a turn when he’s asked to resurrect his drag persona as a last-minute dance party replacement. It’s hinted that the last time he performed was a disaster.

For party organizer Dre (Katy O’Brian), this day/night is endlessly stressful, presenting one issue after another. Drag performers Ginsey (Nina West) and Nico (Tomás Matos) are being catty, Dre’s conservative brother-in-law Barry (Quincy Dunn-Baker) says all the wrong things while unclogging a toilet, drag queen Yasmine (Dominique Jackson) drops out for another gig, and there’s some past beef between Dre and Sam. But none of that compares to the unknown horrors that lie ahead. 

Amidst the party planning chaos is a zombie outbreak gradually making its way to the warehouse, forcing Dre and the queens to hunker down with Barry, Jimmy the bartender/owner (Cheyenne Jackson), Kelsey the intern (Jack Haven), and other surprise visitors. Meanwhile, Dre’s wife Lizzy (Riki Lindhome), a nurse who works with Sam, and a trans patient named Jane (Eve Lindley) escape the hospital now overrun with the undead and try to find their way to the others. 

Queens of the Dead is very character-driven, and no matter the amount of screen time, just about all of them leave a lasting impression. Drag artist Julie J, credited as “Zombiequeen,” opens the film as the first queen we see get bitten. In those first 5–10 minutes, the character serves up laughs while visiting a church rocking a devastatingly gorgeous outfit in head-to-toe sparkles. It’s a brief moment of realism (yes, queens pray, too!) that quickly descends into campy horror, a perfect way to set the genre-bending tone. 

Speaking of the fabulous wardrobe, costume designer David Tabbert (Fire Island, Werewolves Within) dresses the characters in an array of eye-catching fits, particularly the performers’ stage looks. Tabbert’s work really shines in a third-act makeover montage that results in a series of Beyonce meets Mad Max DIY battle gear. And in true Romero fashion, the slow-moving zombies aren’t especially gory. The special effects makeup by artist Lindsay Gelfand (Fallout) has more of a subtle B-movie look but is highlighted with a dance party shine, complementing the glam party looks from the makeup department led by Christina Grant (Smile).

As all zombie stories do, Queens has social commentary, touching on everything from the gig economy struggle to drug addiction to LGBTQIA+ discrimination in the healthcare industry. The ensemble cast expertly delivers those dark, emotional moments that come with a zombie apocalypse, like fearing for their lives, the tragedy of losing loved ones, and repairing relationships in the face of death. Props to Jaquel Spivey and Nina West for the especially touching kinship between Sam and drag mom Ginsey. There’s an overall theme of self-love, acceptance, empowerment, and the importance of coming together as a community. The zombies distracted by their phones and social media is a nice satirical touch that recalls Dawn of the Dead’s critique of mindless consumerism.

Even with those sobering topics, the majority of Queens is a high-energy blast that’ll have audiences dancing in their seats to the synth-y sounds of Blitz//Berlin (SYFY’s Day of the Dead). Horror fans won’t consider the film scary, or even that gory. Romero told the New York Times she opted for a “delicious candy-colored world” over “ripped-out chest cavities.” But anyone who goes in expecting to be entertained won’t be disappointed. The humor may outweigh the terror, but there’s still tension and high stakes, increased by the complex bonds between chosen family and frenemies. 

Tina Romero’s Queens of the Dead is a hilarious glam-gore zombie flick that celebrates the colorful, expressive world of drag with a talented ensemble cast made up of both established and rising stars who know how to balance emotion and campiness. The horror-comedy is a guaranteed future cult classic, boasting major rewatchability and a loud and proud debut from a master of horror in the making. 

Queens of the Dead had its world premiere June 7 at the 2025 Tribeca Festival.

The post Tribeca 2025 Review: Tina Romero Makes a Fierce Debut with Queer Zom-Com ‘Queens of the Dead’ appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.