ArcaMax

Let's not beat around the bush. Eating out is eating up your future. It's gobbling down your present and keeping you stuck in the past. That heavy debt you're hauling around didn't happen while you were asleep. Chances are pretty good you're eating your way into debt.

Breaking the eating-out habit isn't easy to do, but it can be done. What it ...Read more

Fruit flies are amazing, and by that I mean amazingly annoying! These tiny creatures can detect the smell of ripe fruits and vegetables from miles away. If there's a bowl of fruit on your kitchen counter, there's probably a fruit fly or two looking for a way into your home to get to it. They're so small they can get in through window screens or ...Read more

You should see the big wad of lint I just plucked from the trap of my clothes dryer. Ack! Where does all of that come from? I know I emptied all pockets, and I'm certain I did not wash a bag of pillow stuffing.

I'll tell you what it is, and I am not happy about this: It's visual proof the dryer is wearing out our clothes. Those fibers were ...Read more

If you've ever had to deal with an invasion of ants, you may know the meaning of exasperation. While the kids think ants are so cute because of the way they march in formation, stop to help one another and work hard to prepare for their life challenges ahead, it's better to study these amazing creatures than to wake up and find a million or so ...Read more

It is not the most elegant question I get but certainly one of the most common. "I've tried everything I can think of, but that stubborn, ugly toilet bowl ring won't go away!" readers say. "It goes away but just keeps coming back!"

Toilet bowls develop discolorations for many reasons that have nothing to do with the quality of the housekeeping....Read more

Getting our outdoor grill cleaned, polished and ready for the warmer months had me thinking about how much fun it would be to celebrate. Why not do things up right with an amazing menu and a few good friends, even if that means grilling on a budget?

What happened next I can only attribute to a momentary lapse of good judgment.

I visited the ...Read more

Most ceiling fans have a switch with two options. Forward spins one way and Reverse the other. But why? What for? Who made that rule?

Years ago, a reader sent in her handy tip, passed along from her husband, a heating and air conditioning specialist: "In the winter, make your ceiling fans spin counterclockwise." Or was that clockwise? To be ...Read more

Seasoning packets from the supermarket may be convenient, but they have drawbacks -- not the least of which is they're relatively expensive! I just checked Lawry's Taco Spices and Seasonings Mix -- $1.57 for one packet! I just hate to pay that much for so little. And I don't have to because I've got a great recipe to make taco seasoning mix ...Read more

Corn on the cob is a summer staple that should be part of every summer celebration and backyard cookout because not only is fresh corn cheap when it's in season but it's also quick and easy to prepare!

There must be as many ways to prepare fresh corn on the cob as there are people who love to eat it. Here are four of my favorites:

1. Stovetop ...Read more

For many of my readers, their pets are like children. So, of course, you love your furry friends and want the best for them. But if the cost to keep them fed, healthy, cared for and looking good has gotten so high and you're the one coughing up fur balls, take heart. There are lots of little ways to cut pet expenses that together will help you ...Read more

Somewhere back in my dark financial past, I discovered that emotional spending was a great antidepressant. I spent to change my mood, to reward myself and to make myself feel better.

I spent money when I felt sad and when I felt glad. I spent money so I wouldn't feel broke. I spent to get approval, to make my kids more popular, to impress ...Read more

A number of years ago, I met Kathryn and Galen. They'd won a contest sponsored by Woman's Day magazine. The prize? A money makeover and financial coaching with ... me!

Not only were they drowning in debt but Galen was also dealing with a protracted season of unemployment.

Even with our new scaled-back lifestyle, my students were $1,000 short ...Read more

Our homes are well-accessorized with glass from windowpanes to shower doors to tabletops to lovely glassware. While glass is both beautiful and durable, normal wear and tear or mindless abuse can result in ugly surface scratches.

I wanted to kick myself around the block. Rather than stop and think, I grabbed a razor blade to remove adhesive ...Read more

Whether you're a newlywed, a recent grad moving into your first apartment or one of the 25% of millennials who Forbes recently reported will be moving back home with Mom and Dad, surely the idea of furnishing a kitchen has crossed your mind.

I'd love to help you get started. Here's the deal: There are a few basic kitchen tools you absolutely ...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

I know it's hard. I know you're desperate. You're stressed and losing sleep. Things are tough. You have to do something, and soon. But whatever you do, don't touch your retirement account. Don't borrow against it. Don't withdraw from it. Just leave it alone.

What's so bad about liquidating a retirement account? Here are five reasons you'll ...Read more

Got creepy bugs and crawling insects like ants, centipedes, cockroaches, silverfish or bedbugs trying to take over your home or garden? Need to know how to get rid of them? Don't call an exterminator quite yet. I'm confident this is a problem you can fix yourself with diatomaceous earth -- cheaper and faster!

FOOD-GRADE DE

If you want to treat...Read more

I would like to personally thank the late John W. Hammes, an architect working in Racine, Wisconsin, who in 1927 invented the garbage disposal. What a brilliant idea. Is there anything more convenient in a kitchen than a garbage disposal? For me, it's right up there with my dishwasher.

I've learned the hard way that a garbage disposal is not a ...Read more

Finally, you found the perfect pair of jeans. They fit great and feel fantastic. Basically, you want them to last forever, but that's not going to happen. In fact, just the opposite is what I'm hearing from my readers: These days, jeans seem to rip and fall apart long before their time. This problem sent me in search of a solution to make jeans ...Read more

Faithful readers will recall that over the past years, I'd received more requests for the best inexpensive cordless stick vacuum than all other such requests combined . I heard you loud and clear because I'd been hearing the same request from myself.

Twice now I've pointed you to my Best Inexpensive Cordless Stick Vacuum, and twice ...Read more