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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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How To Disinfect Cold-Water LaundryDear Mary: How can I disinfect my colors when I launder them in cold water? I don't want the colors to run, but I want to make sure that the bacteria are killed. Because the colors are dark, I can't use bleach. — Mary H., Florida Dear Mary: Household ammonia, white vinegar and Pine-Sol are all disinfecting agents you can use in place of bleach to kill germs and bacteria in laundry. Hydrogen peroxide is another disinfectant, but it's also a natural bleaching agent, so I wouldn't use it on colors. And try adding one cup of white distilled vinegar to that last rinse as a softening agent. The acid in vinegar is too mild to harm fabrics but strong enough to dissolve the soaps and detergents so they rinse away more easily. Dear Mary: Should spouses have their own credit card accounts? My husband and I have one account for which I am the "authorized user." Are spouses who only have cards as authorized users jeopardizing their future credit scores and possibly setting themselves up for other problems if the primary account holder dies? — Dana, e-mail Dear Dana: The answer to both of your questions is yes.
If your husband is carrying a balance on his credit card account and he dies owing money, the entire balance will become due and payable. As an authorized user, you will have no rights on that account. You will not have the option to make payments on the outstanding balance, creating a problem at a time that is already stressful. If you have not done so recently, order your credit report from www.annualcreditreport.com so you can begin to monitor your credit history. Do you have a question for Mary? Send it to mary@everydaycheapskate.com. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.debtproofliving.com and author of 16 books, including "Debt-Proof Living." To find out more about Mary and to read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2007 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.
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