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Fun (Cheap) Birthday Gift Ideas for Kids
Several months ago, I got a message from Elaine G., who recently had joined a moms group. With all of her newly minted friendships, she and her little one are getting invitations to lots of toddlers' birthday parties. Her dilemma took me back to …Read more.
What You Need To Know if Your Bank Fails
If it seems that more banks are closing this year than normal, you are absolutely right. Since January 2009, 106 banks and 19 credit unions have failed in the U.S. That's more than four times the number of closings in 2008. It's the most since the …Read more.
Make Your Own Sanitizing Wipes
Dear Mary: I would like to find a recipe to make hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes. Do you know of one? — Delores, e-mail
Dear Delores: I have been thinking about the same thing, now that we're learning that products like Purell are …Read more.
7 Simple Ways To Stretch Food Further
Buying groceries on sale and cooking meals at home are excellent ways to keep the cost of food under control, but there are other things we can do. Here, for your enjoyment, are simple ways other "Everyday Cheapskate" readers make food and …Read more.
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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.
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