ArcaMax

Dear Mary: I just read that that the company that holds my home mortgage is under investigation by the feds and has a net worth of negative $63 million. This company holds title to my house. If it goes into bankruptcy, am I at risk of losing my home, even though I've never been late on my payments? I don't want to refinance with another company,...Read more

Over the years it seems to me that Memorial Day weekend has developed a second identity. Officially, it's a day of remembrance. Unofficially, it's the kickoff to summer. A three-day event that requires burgers, new patio cushions, a cooler full of drinks, and at least one last-minute trip to the big, crowded store (you know the one) where ...Read more

Our favorite bed pillows get a lot of use every night. We keep clean pillowcases on them and don't think much about the pillow inside until it's time to change the bed linens. Have you looked recently?

Yikes! The pristine white pillows have turned blotchy with disgusting yellowish-to-brownish stains. What on Earth? The most common response is ...Read more

It was a lovely meal. The conversation was engaging, the entree delightful. A good time was had by all. The guests are long gone, and now you are stuck with an ugly red wine stain on your prized tablecloth. Is this linen destined for the ragbag? Not if you know this super simple solution.

RED WINE STAINS. If you get red wine on a washable ...Read more

I thought it would be just loads of fun to focus our attention today on frequently asked questions about frozen foods. But first, a little history.

Although the practice of preserving food by freezing can be traced back to 1626, it wasn't exactly practical. Frozen foods looked bad, tasted worse and were more apt than not to make people deathly ...Read more

Summer has a way of exposing everything you meant to get to earlier. The first hot stretch arrives, and suddenly the house starts telling the truth. The air conditioner runs longer than it should. One room feels warmer than the others. The energy bill climbs. A small issue you barely noticed in spring becomes something you can't ignore. That's ...Read more

Provided that your basic life needs for shelter, food and clothing are being met, more money is not going to make you happier. I know, that's hard to believe, but it's a proven fact. What will make you happier is learning how to manage well the money you have already.

Today, I want to give you a simple formula you can use to manage your money. ...Read more

It's been a hectic day. The family's hungry, the fridge offers little more than eggs and leftovers and you're fresh out of answers for the question everyone's asking: What's for dinner? The solution may be found in a single word: frittata.

A frittata is like an omelet but without the fancy pan work. It's similar to a quiche without the ...Read more

Our house is not haunted, but just try to tell that to our guests. "Our water heater makes funny noises," I warn. First-timers respond with a smile and nod -- and forget.

"What was that noise?" is the predictable next-morning question. Some say it sounds like a big clumsy man on the roof. Children trend more toward a "monster in the wall" ...Read more

Imagine this: You're off on a dreamy New York-London-Paris adventure. Somewhere over the Atlantic, someone swipes your carry-on. The airline shrugs. "Not our responsibility." You roll with it. London is fabulous. So fabulous, in fact, that you skip your flight to Paris and instead hop a train a few days later.

Fast-forward to departure day in ...Read more

Dear Mary: I used to buy a packet of "blue jeans softener" in a store that has since gone out of business. Added to the first washing, it would make a pair of new jeans feel like they had been stone-washed. I can no longer find anything like this. Do you have a suggestion for softening new denim? I've tried extra fabric softener in the last ...Read more

I was not born with a natural bent toward frugality. Everything in me cries out to spend, acquire, spend, achieve, amass, spend, spend, spend! I am drawn to the extraordinary, the luxurious and the unique. I live with visions of grandeur and opulence. My fondest dreams include tailored clothing, domestic staffs, $600 silk bed sheets, manicured ...Read more

I am noticing a growing trend in my mailbox -- readers in search of financial planners or advisers. Or assistants. The problem is that when taking in the message's context it's pretty clear that not everyone means the same thing when they refer to a financial "planner-advisor-assistant-helper."

One reader wanted to know where to find a "...Read more

Mother's Day has become one of those occasions that comes with a lot of expectation -- and a lot of suggestions about what you're supposed to buy.

There are reminders everywhere -- emails, store displays, last-minute "gift ideas" that guarantee to make the day special if you just click, buy and wrap in time. The message is clear: Don't miss it,...Read more

The most important thing you can do to make your personal economy strong is to have an umbrella -- a contingency fund with at least enough money to pay all of your bills without a paycheck for three to six months.

Call it $10,000. On a weekly basis, try to save 10% of your paycheck. It may sound like a lot, so if you can't do 10%, start with 5%...Read more