ArcaMax

It's time to reach into the inbox and pull out a few questions from my loyal readers, the answers to which I suspect might be of interest to others. I love receiving your questions, by the way, so keep them coming!

Dear Mary: What is tamari? It is an ingredient in a recipe for Spiced Hazelnuts I would like to make. Where can I find it? -- ...Read more

Some years ago, on my Debt-Proof Living website, I asked: What would you do if faced with an unexpected windfall of $10,000?

Responses ranged from saving every penny, to giving all of it away, to using all of it to get caught up on bills. This got me thinking: What fascinating response would I get if I were to change the word "windfall" to "...Read more

It's reader response day, when I take the opportunity to report just a few of the comments I get from you, my dear readers, every single day of my life. And you wonder why I keep doing this. I guess it's no secret that I thrive on hearing from you and getting your feedback on what you read.

Comment on: "Best Inexpensive Heated Mattress Pad"

...Read more

Every year, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 48 million people become ill from food contamination. To avoid this, many dietitians say washing produce thoroughly with a vinegar solution can help kill bacteria and ensure it is safe for consumption.

Walk into any grocery store these days and it's more than ...Read more

A new leather sofa or leather handbag -- so beautiful. Or perhaps it's the car you've had for a long time, the one with leather upholstery that still looks fantastic because that you've babied and protected it against spills and stains. And then somehow, that beautiful leather gets hit with an ink stain. It shouldn't happen, but life being what ...Read more

I'm not certain about when a subject becomes a saga, but I think sure we've crossed over into saga territory on the subject of terrific ways to use Blue Dawn dishwashing liquid that have nothing to do with washing dishes.

Seriously, these days, I can't wait to open my inbox to see if there could possibly be more. And the saga continues ...

...Read more

What would it feel like to check your bank balance and find a pile of money you didn't know you had? Stop wasting money on goods and services that don't matter in the long run. By plugging the money leaks in your life, it's possible you could see the financial equivalent of working a second job in your wallet.

BUYING FROM A TV OR INTERNET AD. ...Read more

Kitchen cabinets are for storing dishes, not grease. Unfortunately, wood cabinets -- painted or natural with a clear finish -- are prone to all sorts of grease, grime and gunk from simply being in the kitchen.

Depending on just how much grease and grime you're looking at and the supplies you have available, here are four options for your ...Read more

My fondness for TV game show lighting rounds -- the duration of the round is a predetermined length of time, and the goal is to accomplish as much as possible within that period -- may have something to do with my attention span. Lightning-round questions are short, the answers quick and concise.

I see we have lots of questions in the audience,...Read more

Today, my dear readers, I have a question for you: Is there a difference between borrowing and financing? Don't stress. I'll tell you. There is, and understanding the difference is important to your financial health.

Debt is the result of both borrowing and financing. But think of debt as a rope. You can use it to lift, rescue and tie things ...Read more

I had to laugh when I opened my mail to read how one reader was able to restore his shower doors to being so clean and sparkly they looked brand-new! I had a can of his remedy sitting right there next to my computer.

Hold on! It was NOT there to be used as a computer screen cleaner. (I've never tried it; I do not intend to; and I hope you do ...Read more

If you or someone you love will be heading off to college soon, a laptop will be absolutely essential. But where to start? Nowadays, students' computers are just as important as their student ID. But where to start?

College is expensive enough, so it's important to shop smart. But not to worry. My EC team and I have done the hard part, figuring...Read more

Here's why I love it when readers send me their time- and money-saving tips: Reading them makes me think and focus, if only for a few minutes. And that's the secret to staying on track with managing my time and money.

I know that I move in the direction of my thoughts. So, whether a tip is relevant or not to what I'm doing in the moment, simply...Read more

Just this past weekend, while selecting grout for my new laundry room floor, I did a double take in the flooring aisle at Home Depot. The beautiful "hardwood" flooring didn't seem to match the sign that clearly read "Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring." What?! Really? Truth.

But even the most luxurious vinyl comes with its own challenge, as evidenced ...Read more

Isopropyl alcohol, commonly known as rubbing alcohol, is extremely useful around the house because it acts as both a solvent and a disinfectant. And it's cheap! All of this makes rubbing alcohol a nearly magical ingredient in so many useful homemade solutions.

Rubbing alcohol comes in varying strengths, from 70 percent all the way to 99 percent...Read more

When our lives get chaotic, we pay dearly in terms of time, money and stress. There are hundreds of things you can do to simplify your life. Here are seven to help you get started ... one a day for the next week.

1. Carry only the keys you use every day. Take everything else off your key ring. If you don't recognize what a key is for, toss it. ...Read more

I know exactly what day it was because I got up very early to be among the first to know Punxsutawney Phil's prediction for how many weeks of winter were still ahead. As I was waiting for the live coverage to begin, I got an email that made my heart race. It was from LifeLock, the identity protection service I've used for many years. The subject...Read more

Nok-Out and I met quite by accident. In searching for ways my readers could deal with offensive odors, we found each other online. I've used it continuously in my home since then, and recommended it to readers facing serious and potentially expensive odor issues. Not everything in life can be doused in bleach. But Nok-Out? No problem! (It was ...Read more

When I am not writing about personal finance and consumer debt, I knit. Something about the gentle rhythm of yarn and needle calms my spirit and unwinds my brain.

I have managed to finish a few projects, not because I'm a great knitter but because I "tink" ("knit" spelled backward) almost as well as I knit.

Because all knitters make mistakes, ...Read more

Quite possibly one of my favorite aspects of writing this column is the mountain of reader feedback it produces. I have the best readers in the universe, too. Nearly every letter turns into a love fest, which of course charges my batteries, making me love my readers all the more!

Do you recall the letter from Pat, who complained of her lettuce ...Read more