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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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Gratitude, No Matter WhatThe best weapon we have against these times of economic uncertainty is gratitude. We can chase away the dark clouds by expressing genuine thankfulness for what we do have rather than focusing on what's been lost or temporarily missing. We must realize just how blessed we are. Figure out a specific way that you can practice gratitude every day, as today's first tipster did.
GRACIOUS LIVING. I keep what I call a "thankful journal." Every day, I write a sentence or two about five things for which I am thankful. I don't let myself reuse the same thing for a week, and the list can include anything, small or large. This really helps to put my thoughts on a positive track. -- Mary, e-mail SMART STORAGE. I thoroughly wash and air-dry empty three-liter soda bottles. Then I use them to store dried beans, rice and small pastas. It is easy to pour in and out of the bottle because of its wide mouth. Contents will keep indefinitely, and in a humid rural environment, it protects contents from moisture and potential critters. -- Patricia S., North Carolina COMPUTER CHASE. You can get a computer for free with a little research and persistence. Schools, businesses and government offices give away computers when they upgrade to newer systems. Put the word out to local businesses and schools. Put your name on any list you can find to receive discarded equipment. A little patience and getting on as many of those lists as possible will speed the process along. Bonus: A free computer makes it easier to pay for the best available Internet connection.
BATH-TIME BLUES. For the cheapest fun around, give children a colorful bath! As the water is running, add a few drops of liquid food coloring. My kids loved to mix the colors. There's not enough food coloring in the water to stain either the tub or the children's skin, and it makes bath time a blast. -- Kathy, Texas VEGGIE GOLD. Used vegetable oil is in high demand. You can advertise on FreeCycle.com or Craigslist to give away your used oil, or you can find someone advertising to pick it up. In most cities, there are shops that convert diesel engines to run on used vegetable oil, so people need it to run their converted diesel engines. Some cities even are experimenting with oil collection sites. -- Ralph W., e-mail CAKE SOLUTION. I like to use round coffee filters to line the bottom of layer cake pans. I spray them with a little Pam, which makes for easy cake removal after baking. -- Maxine B., Minnesota TOASTY TOES. To keep myself warm at night, I fill a tube sock with a pound of white rice and tie a knot to keep it closed. I zap it in the microwave for about three or four minutes and place it at the foot of my bed before retiring. It stays warm for quite a while and keeps my feet toasty well into the night. -- Amy, California Would you like to send a tip to Mary? You can 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 DebtProofLiving.com and author of 17 books, including "Debt-Proof Living" and "Tiptionary 2." To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
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