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Mortgage Insurance? Not on Your Life!
Dear Mary: I just bought a house, and I've been getting a lot of flyers about mortgage protection insurance. Is it something good for a new homeowner or just a waste of money? — Donna, email
Dear Donna: Great questions. "Mortgage …Read more.
Tips That Make You Feel Like a Genius
Secretly, I feel like a genius when I discover a secondary use for this or that — in case I run out of this, but have plenty of that! Like using a paper coffee filter to wash a glass top or mirror when I'm in a pinch for paper towels. Or using …Read more.
Supermarket Tricks That Makes Us Spend More
I've always thought of myself as pretty sharp when it comes to spotting supermarket trickery. I'm not even fazed by an end-cap display announcing, "Special." I know their ways. They hope we'll just assume that "special" means …Read more.
The Struggle to Actually Use up Gift Cards
My love-hate relationship with gift cards has intensified. What a pain, really. I'm one who just forgets to use them, and when I remember, I try to figure out how to use each one to the last cent. I was reminded of my situation recently when I …Read more.
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Kitchen Advice To Amuse and InformDear Mary: I have really cheap countertops in my kitchen. I hate them. I am thinking about trying the Modern Masters desert sand countertop finish kit, which allows you to refinish a countertop yourself. What do you think? Are there other ways I can upgrade my countertops inexpensively? — Sarah, e-mail Dear Sarah: I do not have firsthand experience with the product you mention. However, I have read up on it and find it to be impressive. The cost appears to be about $250 to resurface 20 linear feet of counter. Compared with replacement, that is quite economical. I assume that you're pretty handy with do-it-yourself kinds of projects or you would not be considering this. The product appears to be readily available online, so why don't you take some time to find reviews and personal experiences of people who've used it to resurface their countertops? If you decide to move forward, here's my advice: Figure out how much it will cost, how long it will take to complete and how difficult it's going to be. Then double all three — the time, effort and money. That probably will come very close to reality. Good luck! This looks like a great project that could give you a brand-new appreciation for your kitchen. Dear Mary: I must share my funny dishwasher story with you. I was intrigued by your idea of washing car mats in the dishwasher. However, I made a terrible mistake.
Dear Kathy: You made me laugh out loud. That does sound like something Lucy and Ethel would do, except in their case, Ricky and Fred would have walked in on the mess. I have a feeling this is a lesson you won't have to learn again. Moral of the story: Use only detergent made for an automatic dishwasher. Should you forget and come face to face with a kitchen full of bubbles again, here's the remedy: Open the dishwasher door, and throw in a cup of white vinegar. That will help to dissipate the problem so you can bring an end to the foaming mess. You still will be on your own to clean up the floor. 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 2010 CREATORS.COM
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