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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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One Simple Tip to Make Moving EasierHaving recently moved the Debt-Proof Living office to a beautiful new location about 10 miles away, I have a new appreciation for everything a move entails. One simple tip from a clever reader made things a lot easier. Check it out, and keep it in mind if you see a move in your future. COLOR-CODED MOVE. While packing up our possessions for a big move, I used multi-colored paper to identify our moving boxes. I assigned each room in the new place with a different color, and used my computer and printer to make all the labels I needed and in just the right size. Our helpers commented on what a great idea it was because it made distributing the boxes to the correct rooms quite easy. — Brenda, Michigan FREE OFFICE SOFTWARE. There is a movement toward "Open Source" software. Not only is this kind of software free to use, it comes with the "insides" of the program the programmers use to make it accessible to all (called the source code, hence the term "open source"). This allows other programmers to make improvements and changes. The grandpa of all these projects can be found at www.OpenOffice.org. This is a suite of office software very similar to Microsoft Office. It has clones for Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access. And it is free! — Mark, Minnesota PRESCRIPTION FOR ORGANIZATION. I use my empty prescription bottles to organize and store everything from birthday candles to small screws, paperclips and other small stuff. I have the best-organized junk drawer around. — Tammy, Florida FREE PREPAREDNESS BOOK. FEMA offers a free book, "Are You Ready? An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness," that will help you prepare for any natural or manmade disaster.
CAR INSURANCE AND THE COLLEGIAN. If your kids go away to college, either with or without a car, check with your insurance agent to see if you qualify for a rate reduction. If you live in a large city and your child goes to a college in a smaller city, your insurance should go down. I reduced my annual premium by $360 when my son went to a small college with his car. — Linda, Minnesota EXPIRED BUT STILL USEFUL. I was carjacked a couple months ago and lost my car, wallet and photo ID. When I went to the bank to close my accounts, I was surprised to find out that I couldn't close my accounts without a picture ID, even though I had my birth certificate and Social Security card. I was extremely fortunate to have an old, albeit expired, driver's license at home. It came in very handy. — Leilan, Michigan Would you like to send a tip to Mary? You can email her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. Include your first and last name and state. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 20 books, including her brand new release "7 Money Rules for Life." 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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