ArcaMax

Several years ago, my son gave me the bounty from the two fruit trees that pretty much rule his backyard. My Mother's Day gift of Meyer lemons weighed in at 124 pounds. I know, lucky me!

I had to figure out ways to use, share and preserve lemons in a big hurry. I juiced, cooked and baked all kinds of lemon things. And I learned so many ways to ...Read more

We've all faced that moment of truth: You open the refrigerator door and there sit the Chinese leftovers from last night's dinner, looking a little wilted and more than a little judgmental. You didn't throw them away -- good for you. But what do you do with them now?

Before you resign yourself to eating cold lo mein over the sink, let's rethink...Read more

Q: My partner and I have been together for a few years and have been living in a rented house. It’s time for us to buy our first house. Do you have any recommendations on what we should be looking for in our new home? — Christine

A: There is no shortage of advice when you are looking to buy your first home.

The first thing to understand is...Read more

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

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

Over the years, I've received thousands of money-saving tips from readers -- many of which I've shared in books, newsletters and this column. And there are plenty that I've not shared for a variety of reasons, but mostly because they don't work.

Some work so poorly, they actually end up costing time and money, not saving anything. One of those ...Read more

Some time ago, I wrote about simple things you can do to get better gas mileage, which means less time and money spent at the gas pump.

One of those tips was to make sure your car's tires are always properly inflated because underinflated tires cause the engine to work harder than necessary, which wastes fuel, while overinflation causes tires ...Read more

So you're getting ready to sell your house. Just thinking about it can be an overwhelming experience.

Should you hire a real estate agent? Should you do a FSBO (for sale by owner) to keep from paying that big commission? Should you spend a lot of money to paint and re-carpet -- at least the front rooms?

Where do you start, and what can you do ...Read more