ArcaMax

If recent world events have given you a big, fat wake-up call, you are not alone. The message is clear: Every household needs to have some amount of food in storage. Natural disasters like blizzards, hurricanes and floods often come with little or no warning.

Stocking up now on the right nonperishable food items will help you weather the storm ...Read more

I love plants, especially beautiful houseplants. Healthy, economical plants can make any space warm and inviting -- not just for humans but for pets, too! Some cats and dogs enjoy taking a nibble or two. And that's a problem because some indoor plants are toxic to cats and dogs.

If you have pets but also enjoy beautiful indoor foliage, you want...Read more

Like trying to hold onto a handful of water, money has a way of magically disappearing right before our eyes!

Has this ever happened to you? It's Friday. You stop by the ATM on your way home from work and get out cash for the weekend. Without much detailed calculation, you punch up a number which is far more than enough.

It's Monday morning, ...Read more

Think you might tend to be slightly unorganized? Let's take this little quiz to find out!

Have you ever:

-- Not answered your phone because you couldn't find it?

-- Thrown away an entire Tupperware container because the contents had been in the back of the fridge so long that replacing it seemed preferable to cleaning it?

-- While searching ...Read more

DETERMINE CURRENT FOOD SPENDING

It's not easy! Start writing down everything you spend on food for at least one month. I mean everything -- from the donut and coffee on the way to work to the fast food stops with the kids to lunch money to major shopping jaunts. This is what you are spending on food, and plan on a big shock. Your awareness of ...Read more

There's nothing like microfiber for cleaning just about any surface in and around the house. If you've never used a microfiber cloth, you're going to be amazed by how fast and efficiently you can clean.

HOUSECLEANING AND CAR WASHING

They're chores that most of us love to hate. Who would have thought there could ever be a better way to scrub ...Read more

Recently, I heard from a reader asking if I knew of any natural pest control to rid an apartment of fleas -- a method that would not be toxic to small children.

Treating their pets and animals would be the first step, but surprisingly, these folks have no animals. The truth is that flea infestations often can occur simply when neighborhood cats...Read more

Hot, homemade bread with no yeast, no eggs, no oil and no sugar. For hardcore bread lovers, that may sound awful, but you just have to try this.

For those times when you're fresh out of yeast, this is the recipe you'll be glad you kept handy.

No-yeast bread, often referred to as soda bread, is different than a light, airy yeast bread. It's ...Read more

I love days like today when I get to open the "Everyday Cheapskate" mailbag, read all the letters from our growing Debt-Proof Living family, and attempt to answer your questions about everything from an easy way to make great compost (I'm still working on that one) to just about anything else you can imagine to do things better, faster and ...Read more

Over the years, I've heard from dozens of readers who have lent money to friends and family members only to become outraged when the deal goes sour. The problem is they write to me after they've made the loan. By now, they've been waiting months, even years, for repayment, and they hope I can wave a magic wand to get their money back.

I tell ...Read more

A KNOCKOUT PUNCH FOR CAT ODOR

Dear Mary: My mother-in-law has a leather couch that is only about two years old. Several months ago, her cat relieved herself on the sofa, and I? mean more than once.

Mom has tried everything she can think of to get the odor out. Most cleaners that claim to take out odors don't say whether they're safe for ...Read more

Receiving so many awesome time- and money-saving tips from my dear readers always reassures me that I have the best job in the world. You never fail to make my day.

FRESH POTPOURRI

When I peel apples, oranges and other fruit, I save the peels in a freezer bag. When I want some potpourri, I dump the peels into a small saucepan and add a little ...Read more

Ever feel like a kitchen klutz? Wish you could take that odd assortment of stuff in the pantry and freezer, mix it with leftovers in the fridge, and make something delicious without a recipe and without running to the market? That's called cooking with a formula -- not a recipe.

Well, grab your whisk, and shout for joy! Thanks to this foolproof...Read more

Recently, a letter from my dear reader Jenny reminded me that everyone needs to make sure they have certain legal documents in place and updated -- even me. My husband and I have our important papers in our safe, but they may be out of date. They are definitely "out of state," due to our relocation to Colorado.

Thankfully, we now have an option...Read more

My Dear Readers: These days, it's easy to fall into the muck and mire of worry and defeat. Personal crises like financial emergencies or job loss -- or, worse, home loss -- punctuated by the daily news can ruin your perspective and dump you into a pit of despair.

What you need to know today is that even when things seem completely hopeless, ...Read more

The news is constantly changing as experts learn more about the wicked virus that has invaded our world. Good, reliable information about food safety is absolutely crucial right now.

Restaurants have mostly moved into "to-go only" mode, closing their dining rooms but continuing to offer some combination of takeout, drive-thru and home delivery....Read more

Once upon a time, there was a restaurant located in Fountain Valley, California. Mananas' claim to fame: fresh, hot, homemade flour tortillas.

Mananas had a machine -- a big, crazy machine -- set up in plain sight. It alone was worth the trip, if only to watch a tiny ball of dough start at one end, go through a series of squishers and rollers, ...Read more

Have you ever noticed that no matter the size of your apartment, condominium, house, garage, drawers, closets, hard drive, handbag or briefcase -- it mysteriously fills to capacity?

Our first apartment was 300 square feet. We were newlyweds and still in that "cozy stage," so it wasn't a problem. Three years later, we were packed to the gills ...Read more

Being wasteful is easy, especially when everything seems to be so plentiful and simple to replenish. Just order more. Or run to the store, right?

Sure, we love to buy things on sale, but that's not the only way -- or the best way -- to cut costs. Discovering simple ways to make things last longer is the surefire way to save time and money.

...Read more

There's no doubt about it; I've got spring fever. My daffodils are peeking their tiny heads through the ground, the grass is turning green, and the Colorado Sun? It's legendary.

Despite the challenges we face right now, this is temporary. Life goes on, and we need to adjust as nimbly as possible.

I've been working on adjusting my stubborn ...Read more