Terms starting with H

Every Buhata Life Terms entry that starts with H, with its short definition.

H

Habit loopThe three-part pattern behind a habit, as described by Charles Duhigg: a cue that triggers it, the routine you do, and the reward that makes it stick.

Habit stackingJames Clear's name for building a new habit by tying it to one you already do, using the formula "After I do my current habit, I will do my new habit."

Habit trackerA simple record, on paper or in an app, where you mark each day you do a habit so you can see your progress at a glance.

Hand washing clothesWashing garments in a basin or sink with gentle detergent and slow, careful handling, for items whose care label says hand wash or that a machine could stretch or damage.

Hard inquiryA check of your credit report by a lender after you apply for credit; it shows on your report for up to two years and can lower some scores a little.

Hard water stainsWhite, chalky marks left on glass, faucets, tile and toilets when hard water dries and leaves its calcium and magnesium behind.

Head of householdAn IRS filing status for an unmarried person who pays more than half the cost of a home where a qualifying person lives for more than half the year.

Health insuranceA plan you pay a premium for that covers part of your medical costs, while you pay your own share through a deductible, copays and coinsurance.

Health insurance deductibleWhat you pay on your own for covered health care before your health insurance plan begins sharing the cost.

Health savings accountA tax-advantaged account for medical costs, open to people with an HSA-eligible health plan, where money goes in, grows and comes out for care without federal income tax.

Heat pumpAn electric system that heats and cools a home by moving heat: from the outdoor air into the house in winter, and out of the house in summer.

Hedonic adaptationThe tendency for the emotional lift or sting of a change to fade over time, so that how happy you feel drifts back toward where it was before.

Helicopter parentingA style of parenting where a parent stays overly involved in a child's life, hovering close to manage problems, choices and schoolwork, sometimes into adulthood.

HELOCA home equity line of credit: a revolving line secured by your home that you can draw on, repay and draw on again during a set draw period.

Herb gardenA small group of cooking herbs grown at home, in the ground, in containers or indoors on a sunny windowsill, to cut fresh for meals.

High chairA tall, freestanding seat with a tray for feeding a baby or toddler. CPSC's federal standard requires a three-point restraint and a passive crotch restraint.

High-efficiency detergentLaundry detergent made to clean with low suds in the small amount of water a high-efficiency (HE) washer uses, marked "HE" on the package.

High-yield savings accountA savings account paying a variable interest rate that's generally higher than a traditional savings account's, often offered by online banks.

Highly sensitive childResearcher Elaine Aron's term for a child with the trait she calls sensory processing sensitivity: deep processing, easily overstimulated, strongly responsive.

HOA feesRegular dues a homeowners or condo association charges owners to run and maintain the community, paid on top of the mortgage, taxes and insurance.

Hofstadter's lawDouglas Hofstadter's joke rule from his 1979 book Gödel, Escher, Bach: a task always takes longer than you expect, even after you allow for this rule.

Holiday budgetA spending plan for the holiday season that sets how much you'll spend on gifts, food, travel and decorations before the shopping starts.

Holiday stressThe extra pressure many people feel during the holiday season from money, packed schedules, family expectations and the wish for everything to go perfectly.

Holiday tippingA year-end tip or gift for people who provide regular services, such as a babysitter, cleaner or newspaper carrier, guided by etiquette rather than any rule.

Home equityThe part of your home you own outright: its current value minus everything you still owe on loans secured by it.

Home equity loanA loan secured by your home's equity that pays out one amount at the start and is usually repaid at a fixed rate; often called a second mortgage.

Home gardenA garden at home where a household grows some of its own vegetables, herbs or fruit, in the ground, in raised beds or in containers.

Home inspectionA professional look at a home's condition, usually before buying, that reports which systems and parts need repair or may need replacing soon.

Home inventoryA room-by-room record of what you own, with photos, values and receipts, kept to prove a loss to your insurer after a fire, theft or storm.

Home office setupArranging a desk, chair, screen and keyboard at home so you can work in a comfortable, neutral posture for long stretches.

Home warrantyA service contract, bought for a set term, that pays toward repairing or replacing covered home appliances and systems, usually with a fee for each service call.

Homeowners insurance claimA request to your homeowners insurer to pay for damage or loss the policy covers, backed by photos, a list of what was lost and your receipts.

Homework routineA set time, place and order for doing schoolwork at home each school day, so homework starts without a fresh argument every afternoon.

Homework stationOne set spot at home for schoolwork, stocked with the supplies a child needs, so homework starts in the same quiet place each day.

Hook, story, offerRussell Brunson's three-part formula from DotCom Secrets for any sales message: a hook to get attention, a story to build trust, then the offer.

Hose bibAn outdoor faucet on the outside wall of a house, threaded so a garden hose can screw onto it. Also called a spigot or outdoor faucet.

Hosting checklistA list of everything to prepare before guests arrive, from the menu and seating to keeping buffet food at safe temperatures for the whole party.

House cleaner costWhat you pay to have someone clean your home, quoted by the hour or as a flat price per visit, which is more than the cleaner's own hourly wage.

Household bill splitDividing a household's shared bills, such as rent, utilities and internet, among the people who live there, and settling up who owes whom.

Household binderA binder or folder that keeps a home's key information in one place, from contacts and schedules to copies of important papers and account details.

Household employeeA worker you hire to do household work, such as a nanny or housekeeper, when you control both what work they do and how they do it.

Household incomeThe combined income of everyone in a household over a year; the Census Bureau counts every member age 15 and older, before taxes.

Housekeeper salaryThe pay a housekeeper earns for cleaning and keeping a home or rooms in order; BLS put the median for maids and housekeeping cleaners at $17.07 an hour in May 2025.

Hurricane prepGetting a home and household ready for a hurricane: knowing your evacuation zone, stocking supplies, protecting windows and acting on watches and warnings.

HVAC filterThe removable filter in a furnace, central air conditioner or heat pump that traps dust from the air; ENERGY STAR says check it monthly and change it at least every 3 months.

HVAC tune-upA service visit where a qualified contractor checks, cleans and adjusts a heating or cooling system; ENERGY STAR advises one for cooling each spring and heating each fall.

Hybrid workA work arrangement that splits the week between working from home and working at the employer's site, such as three office days and two at home.