Recently
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.
Commingle Personal and Business Finances? Never!
Dear Mary: I am reading your book, "Debt-Proof Living," and have begun tracking my expenses. I have a home-based business. Should I include business expenses or just personal expenses in the tracking? — Lucy, Vermont
Dear Lucy: You …Read more.
more articles
|
Land a New Job Before You Quit the Old OneDear Mary: My husband quit his job after 20 years when he was 50. He is eligible to start drawing a pension of 2 percent. We thought he would find another job and we could wait until he was 55 before we started the pension, which would allow a larger monthly check, but he has not worked in more than two years now.
My net income is about $35,000 annually. We don't have any debt. Still, it takes all of my income for us to get by. We have money set aside for retirement, both savings and a small 401(k). However, we are using some of the money in savings, and I am unable to save any more. Would you recommend that we start taking his retirement? -- Colette T., e-mail Dear Colette: I'm not sure what you mean by a "small 401(k)," but I think it's safe to say it's a lot smaller now than when you wrote to me. Assuming you are both in good health, you would be foolish to start taking his retirement now. It can't be much if it was only 2 percent of his salary two years ago. Even if it is up to 5 percent of his salary at retirement, that's peanuts. Leave it alone, and let it grow. You need to stop dipping into your savings. If you have no debt and take home $35,000 annually, take a serious look at all the ways you can reduce your spending. You both could have another 40 years ahead of you.
There is a lesson to be learned by all who are reading this: Never leave a job voluntarily until you have securely landed the next job, no matter how tempting it may be to leave. Dear Mary: I need to know what to do with my oil after frying, for example, oil from the FryDaddy after it gets cloudy and thick. Can it be filtered somehow? If not, how should I dispose of it? -- Jennifer, Alabama Dear Jennifer: Disposing of used cooking grease properly is an environmentally important task. There are several ways to safely dispose of it, but it never should be poured down the drain. To throw away the small amount you are talking about, allow the oil to cool. Next, carefully pour it into a strong sealable container, such as an old plastic jar or other disposable container with a lid. Then dispose of it with your regular household trash. 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 DebtProofLiving.com and author of 17 books, including "Debt-Proof Living." To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
