ArcaMax

Some days, my email inbox fills me with joy. And then there are the days that a message nearly breaks my heart. That was the case when I opened this letter from one of my dear readers who lives in Missouri.

Dear Mary: In one of your columns ("What To Do When You Can't Pay Your Bills?" EverydayCheapskate.com/bills), you recommend paying your ...Read more

From regular oil changes to changing furnace filters and annual trips to the dentist, smart consumers know that preventive maintenance can avoid costly repairs down the road. Insurance is another item that needs to go on your routine maintenance list.

Here's the challenge: No one wants to think about insurance unless forced to. But at least ...Read more

Dear Mary: We are one month behind on our mortgage payments and plan to catch up this month. We have told our credit union we will pay half on the 1st and the second half on the 13th. This will bring us current. Still, they call all day, every hour. When we answer they say they have to call us constantly until the amount due is paid. That is ...Read more

We all know the laundry pile never goes away. But instead of guessing your way through life, here's a no-nonsense guide to how often you should launder key household fabrics -- and yes, that includes your sheets, towels and all those overlooked blanks and throws.

BEDDING

Your nightly contact zone deserves weekly attention. You spend roughly 50...Read more

Q: I purchased a house with my girlfriend, but because she had better credit, we put it in just her name. Besides splitting the down payment, I’ve been helping pay all the bills, including the mortgage, and I even paid to have the roof repaired. Now, she’s saying it’s her house, and I have no say in it. Is there anything I can do? — ...Read more

As pension funds and other investors have cut back new private equity investments after years of poor returns, Wall Street private equity managers such as Apollo Global, Blackstone, and KKR have moved more heavily into corporate lending.

They compete with banks to make loans but aren’t bound by the rules that govern banks. The managers bundle...Read more

Using aluminum foil to line cookie sheets or to keep a steak hot while you finish getting everything ready to eat are nothing new when it comes to useful household tips. But there are many other ways to use aluminum foil you haven't heard of -- ways that can save you time, money and effort.

CLEAN SILVER

Line a bucket or bowl with aluminum foil...Read more

It pretty much kills me to spend money for things I know I can make myself for less than their pricey commercial cousins.

Take cleaning products for example. Knowing how to make things for pennies that cost dollars at the store just makes me happy. It's a no-brainer.

Here are three handy recipes to help you get started saving all that money ...Read more

A restaurant menu is no big deal, right? It's just a list of the food items that a restaurant offers its customers. Sure it is. Plus a whole lot more.

Before menus ever make it to the printer, restaurant owners hire menu engineers and consultants to bury super sneaky psychological tricks into the pretty pictures and mouth-watering descriptions ...Read more

There's a certain chill that no amount of layers can fix, the kind that creeps up your sleeves, numbs your fingers, and makes you wonder if your blood type is iced tea. That's when I reach for one of my favorite frugal comforts: a humble, homemade rice pack.

No cords, no batteries, no plug-in heating pad with a mind of its own. Just plain rice,...Read more