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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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May Tip of the Month RevealedI always am searching for great tips from my readers. When I read today's first tip, which is from Sara in Minnesota, I was impressed with her resourcefulness. It is wonderful to hear how readers have thought to take what they already have and make it work for them in a new way without spending a dime. Sara did that, and that's why she has won the Tip of the Month for May. She'll be getting a free one-year membership to my Web site, http://www.DebtProofLiving.com, with access to my monthly newsletter, calculators and online community. Congratulations, Sara! TIP OF THE MONTH. The time between when I leave for work and when I return home can be 10 or more hours, which is too long to start a roast in the slow cooker in the morning. I always have wanted one of those slow cookers with a timer. The other night, I had a roast that needed to be cooked, and I thought, "I bet that timer that turns my lamp on every day at 6 o'clock would also turn my Crock-Pot on at 11 a.m.," and it did! Instead of having to buy a new slow cooker despite the one I have being perfectly fine, I solved the problem using something I had already. — Sara, Minnesota CHOCOLATE DELIGHT. I've discovered mini semisweet chocolate morsels. I've found I can use half a bag per cookie batch and still get chocolate goodness in every bite because they distribute better throughout the dough than the regular-sized morsels.
LAST DROP. I always am frustrated by pump spray bottles that don't pump when they get close to empty because the straw doesn't reach the last remaining bit of product. To solve the problem, I take the top off, remove the straw, and let the liquid from the straw drain into the bottle. I throw the straw away and put the lid back on. When I turn the bottle upside down and spray, I get those last drops easily! — Holly W., e-mail SCUFF STOPPER. I use magic sponges (such as Mr. Clean Magic Eraser) all over my house to remove marks on surfaces. When they wear out, I cut the remaining good pieces off and throw them in the glove compartment in my car. Then I use them to remove sap, gunk and bumper scuffs without damaging the paint. — Juli, e-mail SELF-RELIANT WARRANTY. I never buy an extended warranty. Instead, I self-insure all items that I purchase, from cars to electronics to appliances. Anytime a retailer offers an extended warranty or a maintenance agreement for a fee, I decline. Then I put that amount in a savings account for repairs or replacements. I have plenty of money in that account each year to cover the one or two items that go bad or need to be repaired. — Karen, Illinois Would you like to send a tip to Mary? You can 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 "Debt-Proof Living" and "Tiptionary 2." To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.
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