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Everyday Cheapskate: Random, Useful, Fun Travel Tips
Whether you'll be traveling in the next few weeks or have plans for a trip in the summer, it's always a good time for travel tips.
NO ROOM FOR AIR
Sure, you can find cheap plane tickets, but you'll pay many extra fees if you are not aware. Thankfully, most airlines still allow one free carry-on bag. The way to win this game is to make the most...Read more
Tax refunds are larger this year. Make yours a stepping stone for your future
Tax refunds are the biggest windfall of the year for many American households. And ‘tis the season: Through the week ending Feb. 13, nearly 13 million people had received 2025 federal tax refunds averaging $2,476, according to the IRS.
That average refund amount is up 14% from the same time period last year, and it’s expected to grow in the...Read more
Redfin to show some non-MLS home listings in deal with Compass
Redfin visitors will soon be able to see for-sale homes that haven’t been widely advertised — but Washington properties may not be included, as the practice remains restricted in the state.
Rocket Companies, owner of Seattle-based Redfin, announced on Thursday a three-year syndication agreement with real estate brokerage Compass to showcase...Read more
The newest trend in LA office space: In-house studios for traveling influencers
For the trendiest tenants in Hollywood office buildings, it's the latest fad that goes way beyond designer furniture and art: mini studios
To capitalize on the never-ending flow of stars and influencers who come through Los Angeles, a growing number of companies are building bright little corners for content creators to try products and shoot ...Read more
Everyday Cheapskate: Small Household Habits That Quietly Drain Your Wallet
If money had a sound, the most annoying noise in your house wouldn't be the teenager's subwoofer or the dryer thumping an unbalanced load. It would be silence. The quiet drip of habits so small and ordinary that nobody notices them -- until the checking account screams for mercy.
Most people don't overspend in dramatic ways. What gets them ...Read more
Real estate Q&A: How can I stop neighbor from leaving dogs' waste in my yard?
Q: My neighbor down the block walks their dogs up and down the street. The dogs often relieve themselves on my lawn, and the neighbor doesn’t pick it up. It’s really getting old. What can I do about it? — Irwin
A: Dealing with neighborhood issues can be frustrating, especially when it feels like someone is not respecting your property. ...Read more
Seattle Airbnb prices are spiking for World Cup. Should you rent your home?
Seattle residents will have a choice this summer: Get paid to ditch town for a few weeks, or learn to call soccer “football” in their own homes in exchange for hundreds of dollars. Many are considering renting out their homes to World Cup tourists.
Nearly 150,000 fans from around the world will need lodging throughout Seattle’s six 2026 ...Read more
Everyday Cheapskate: You'll Want to Make a Batch of This Effective DIY Upholstery Cleaner
This DIY recipe for upholstery cleaner is easy to make, super effective and (you know what's coming) cheap!
YOU'LL NEED:
-- cheese grater
-- eggbeater or whisk
-- medium mixing bowl
-- 6 tablespoons grated Fels Naptha laundry bar soap*
-- 2 tablespoons borax*
-- 2 cups boiling water
*available in most supermarkets in the laundry aisle, ...Read more
UWM reports higher fourth-quarter profit, lower full-year net income
United Wholesale Mortgage reported another profitable three months to end 2025, posting net income of $164.5 million for the fourth quarter.
That compares with $12.1 million in net income the Pontiac-based company reported in the third quarter of 2025 and $40.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.
For the full year, the company reported net ...Read more
Everyday Cheapskate: 8 Strategies to Graduate College Debt-Free
There was a time when I didn't have much opinion on paying for college with student loans. That was before the advent of email and thousands of messages, all with a similar subject line: "Help! I'm drowning in student loan debt!"
That was before I learned that about 85% of college graduates do not end up working in their major. That was before ...Read more
Everyday Cheapskate: How to Clean Your Keurig Machine and How Often You Should
While drinking coffee has health benefits, using your Keurig machine daily without routine cleaning and maintenance can lead to awful consequences.
It's essential to clean a Keurig because it can be a health hazard if not cleaned properly. Like any coffee maker (or espresso machine), Keurigs can grow mold if not properly drained, descaled and ...Read more
Pension funds invest in private credit. What are these high risk, high reward loans?
When the economy is good, predictions for the next downturn abound: when it will start, what will cause it and who stands to lose.
This time around, Wall Street-watchers are warning about private credit, a high-risk, high-reward debt market that shuttles billions of dollars beyond the constraints of traditional banking.
Defaults on these risky...Read more
Buyer for Oceanwide Plaza's infamous graffitied towers emerges
A buyer has emerged for the notorious graffiti-bedecked towers in downtown Los Angeles — a Riverside County developer who intends to finish the stalled $1.2-billion project.
The proposed buyer of the residential, hotel and retail project in bankruptcy proceedings is a partnership led by Kali P. Chaudhuri, whose KPC Development Co. owns and ...Read more
Rents are rising fast in Michigan's mid-size cities. Here's why
Michiganians looking to escape high rents in the state’s biggest cities might have a hard time this year, even in metro areas that have historically been affordable.
The cost of rent in mid-market areas like Lansing and Battle Creek has risen much faster than in Detroit or Grand Rapids over the last few years, according to data compiled by ...Read more
Everyday Cheapskate: Homemade Febreze? I Tried It So You Don't Have To.
Every so often, a reader sends me a message that begins with, "Mary, have you heard about this?" That's usually followed by a link, a whisper of thriftiness, and a promise that the solution will both cost less than pocket change and change my life forever.
This time, it was homemade good ol' basic Febreze Fabric Refresher spray (unscented) ...Read more
Real estate Q&A: What happens to our lease when our landlord sells property?
Q: We are about halfway through our lease, and our landlord just told us he’s selling the property. In fact, he offered to sell it to us. We’re not sure if we want to buy it, but just in case, what happens to our lease when he sells the property? — Javier
A: When you are renting a property, unexpected changes can happen, including the ...Read more
World of Warcraft to partner with Zillow to display in-game homes
Scrolling through Zillow window shopping homes you can’t afford is a mixed bag. It’s nice to dream, but it can be a tough reminder of your pocketbook.
Or, you could just scroll Zillow on World of Warcraft.
The more than 20-year-old multiplayer online game has teamed up with Zillow to create a new “microsite” where players can browse ...Read more
California bill would mandate insurance for homeowners who reduce wildfire risks
A bill requiring insurers to offer coverage to California homeowners who make their property resistant to wildfires was introduced Wednesday in the Legislature.
SB 1076, by state Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, D-Alhambra, would require insurers to offer and renew coverage for any home that meets wildfire-safety standards adopted by the insurance ...Read more
How Zillow changed every step of homebuying and selling in 20 years
Twenty years ago last week, a Seattle startup called Zillow launched the first public website showing on- and off-market property values.
Since then, and throughout waves of controversy and housing ups and downs, Zillow hasn’t just survived — it’s dominated.
Zillow has ballooned from an advertising business into a market gatekeeper that ...Read more
Everyday Cheapskate: How to Clean Hardwood Floors With Hydrogen Peroxide
The finish on hardwood flooring is neither fragile nor indestructible. Hardwood floors must be cleaned properly using the correct solvent level to protect their beauty and fine finish. Some of us (ahem) have had to learn this truth the hard way.
Even though you can't damage hardwood floors by walking on them, all wood is susceptible to stains. ...Read more
Inside Consumer
Popular Stories
- Tax refunds are larger this year. Make yours a stepping stone for your future
- Redfin to show some non-MLS home listings in deal with Compass
- The newest trend in LA office space: In-house studios for traveling influencers
- Real estate Q&A: How can I stop neighbor from leaving dogs' waste in my yard?
- Rents are rising fast in Michigan's mid-size cities. Here's why



























