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The Infamous Mystery Means
Dear Mary: My husband has two jobs — he is an artist and a salesman. He earns commissions from both jobs, so we never know what our income will be. I work part-time and am paid hourly. How do we go about setting up a budget? — Carol, …Read more.
Handy Tools Ease the Pain
Manufactures have been making a name — and a profit — for themselves creating tools and gadgets to help consumers get a "better grip" on countless household tasks. And I'm not knocking it. But I love it when I don't have to …Read more.
Let the Decluttering Begin
I know it's time. It's been time for at least five years, possibly longer. I need to clean my kitchen. Now, before you send the Health Department to my address, let me explain. What I mean by "clean" is that I need to clean out and …Read more.
A Glimmer of Hope to Cling To
Think back to a low point in your life. Don't struggle with this, just try to recall when you were going through a difficult season and life seemed bleak. Now recall that first glimmer of hope you clung to as you could see that things were beginning …Read more.
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Close Down That Buffet in the DishwasherDear Mary: I have ants in my dishwasher, and I do not want to use toxic chemicals to kill them. I worry about residue getting on my dishes. Do you know how I can get rid of these ants? — Mistie B., e-mail Dear Mistie: Yours is a fairly common problem this time of year, as the summer heat sends ants in search of food and water. Ants can get into the dishwasher from a variety of places, such as the dryer vents and even the drain. Here's how to rid your dishwasher of pests: Pour a gallon of white vinegar into the bottom of the dishwasher. Close the door, and let it sit for an hour or so. That will take care of any ants that come in through the drain. Then run the dishwasher empty on the hottest cycle. Once the cycle is complete, spray the inside surfaces of the dishwasher with a solution of water and lemon juice. Ants hate citrus. In the future, do not store dirty dishes in the dishwasher, as it turns into an inviting buffet for ants. Dear Mary: I'm married and am responsible for my own credit card. When I applied, they sent me two cards, including one in my husband's name. Does this mean that this is a shared account, creating a shared credit history? I intended to use this account to establish my own credit history and credit score, not for it to be shared with my husband. — Le K., e-mail Dear Le: That second card with your husband's name means that he is either a secondary owner on the account or an authorized user.
Dear Mary: I am 64 years old and plan to retire when I am 66. My boss is urging me to retire now, which would leave me with $200 a month less than I would get if I retired at 66. If I do not retire now, he says he may have to pare down my salary because the company is cutting back. Do you think I should retire now? — Marge G., Illinois Dear Marge: I believe you are referring to the amount of money you would receive from Social Security if you were to begin drawing on that now instead of when you reach 66. I think you would be better off remaining employed as long as possible, even if that means having to take a pay cut to do so. Get serious now about cutting your expenses in every way possible so you don't feel a big pinch when your income is reduced. Do you have a question for Mary? E-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 18 books, including "Can I Pay My Credit Card Bill With a Credit Card?" To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.
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