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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.
Homemade Solutions Are Budget-friendly
Dear Mary: Do you have a homemade recipe for bathroom air freshener refills? I have Air Wick brand, and I'm wondering if there is an easier and cheaper way to refill it when it runs dry. — D.R., California
Dear D.R.: Four to eight drops of …Read more.
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Make Your Own Cream Soups, and Save a BundleDear Mary: I love the recipes you include from time to time in your column. I am trying to find recipe substitutes for the popular creamed soups, like cream of celery, cream of mushroom, etc. These condensed soups are killing my budget. I don't even want to pay a buck a can for the generic option at Walmart! — Nikki, Colorado Dear Nikki: Here's a bulk recipe to use in place of canned cream soups in casseroles, etc. Mix 2 cups powdered nonfat milk, 3/4 cup cornstarch, 1/4 cup instant vegetable bullion, 2 tablespoons dried onion flakes, 1 teaspoon dry basil leaves, 1 teaspoon dry thyme leaves and 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper. Store in an airtight container until ready to use. To substitute for one can of condensed soup: Combine 1/3 cup dry mix with 1 1/4 cups cold water in saucepan. Cook and stir until thickened. Add to your recipe as you would one can of soup. Yield: Equivalent of nine cans of soup. Variations: — Mushroom soup: Add 1/2 cup finely chopped mushrooms. — Celery soup: Add 1/2 cup minced celery, cooked. — Potato soup: Add 1 cup diced potatoes, cooked. — Vegetable soup: Add 3/4 cup mixed vegetables, cooked. — Broccoli soup: Add 1 cup chopped broccoli, cooked. — Asparagus soup: Add 1 cup chopped asparagus, cooked. Recipes for these and other popular mixes are featured in a booklet I put together called Make Your Own Mixes. We've made it available as an eBooklet, downloadable from your computer for $5 or as a printed booklet for $7.
Dear Mary: Recently I sold a piece of property, and I need advice on what to do with the proceeds. I am 78 and don't know whether to pay off the mortgage on my residence or keep making my mortgage payments and invest the proceeds. — Janet, email Dear Janet: You need sound advice from an expert who can sit down with you and assess your entire financial picture. That's not something I can do in this column. I suggest you contact the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), the country's leading professional association of Fee-Only financial advisors. These are highly trained professionals who are committed to working in the best interests of those they serve. It will cost you a couple of hundred dollars, but it will be well worth the investment. To find a NAPFA professional in your area call 847-483-5400 during regular business hours, Eastern time, or email info@napfa.org. For more information on NAPFA or fee-based financial planners, visit their website at www.NAPFA.org. Do you have a question for Mary? Email her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2099, Cypress, CA 90630. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com, a personal finance member website and the author of "7 Money Rules for Life," released in January 2012. To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2012 CREATORS.COM
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