ArcaMax

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 can "tink" almost as well as I knit (knit spelled backward is the process of undoing your ...Read more

I did something really dumb that cost me $750. It's so dumb, I'm a little embarrassed to even tell you about it.

That was the price tag on my fancy schmancy progressive eyeglasses. I went for the pricey frame and all the bells and whistles because I do enjoy seeing well. But if you've ever worn the "progressive" style of lense, you know that ...Read more

What would you do this holiday season if you had absolutely no money to spend and no available credit either?

That's the question I ask this time of year, and the responses have been all over the map from all-out panic to excitement at the thought of taking on such a challenge.

I'm not suggesting this should be the case for anyone. I'm simply ...Read more

Are you worried that your gifts are never good enough? Certain that your friends and relatives will write you off as cheap and no longer worthy of their love and friendship? Before you rush out to replace gifts you've made or purchased with pricey alternatives, consider the findings of a respectable study that might just challenge your ...Read more

When it comes to doing laundry, sometimes you need a little extra help to tackle tough stains, eliminate odors, and make your clothes cleaner and fresher. That's where laundry boosters like borax and washing soda can come in. In this post, we'll compare these two popular laundry additives, exploring their similarities, differences, and the ...Read more

It's not only the price of heating oil that has shot through the stratosphere this fall. Homes that heat with electricity are at risk because many utilities run on natural gas, and the price of it has gone up, too.

Thankfully, there are steps we can take to reduce high heating bills. Experts say it is not unreasonable that you could reduce your...Read more

It was February 2020 when Procter and Gamble introduced a new product to the homecare market, Dawn Platinum Powerwash Spray. "It's magical, better than anything we've ever come up with! Dishes almost clean themselves!" they said. I scoffed. And then millions of social media comments, reviews and videos have proven me wrong. Given that kind of ...Read more

It's a benchmark, a goal, a mindset -- a kind of game I play with myself. Whatever the price tag -- real or perceived -- I challenge myself to find a way to get it down to "half the price." Here's an example.

Harold and I make a business trip to California about every month, to take care of a business we have there and to stay connected with ...Read more

As the cost of basic consumer goods continues to be much higher than a year ago, frugality is fast becoming its own art form. I hope the following encouraging tips from your fellow readers on how to be a frugal rockstar will inspire all of us to pay attention and embrace ways we can immediately begin to see more money left in our wallets.

Over ...Read more

Dear Cheapskate: I hardly ever carry cash and rarely use credit. I use only a debit card. But still, there are times I feel out of control. How can I get some control over my spending? -- Rob K., Nebraska

Dear Rob: Merchant research groups have proven it over and again: Customers who shop with plastic spend about 30% more than those paying with...Read more

If we sang it once, we sang it a thousand times. "Sixteen Tons" was No. 1 on the Lowell Elementary School hit parade, holding the record as the most requested song in fourth-grade music class.

To be perfectly candid, I hadn't thought much about the old miner and his doleful lament until just recently. We were having dinner with friends when the...Read more

Erma Bombeck, the late humorist, summed up family relationships when she spoke of "the ties that bind ... and gag!" That just makes me laugh because it is such a colorful word picture. Maybe you've thought this from time to time: "Family -- can't live with 'em, and can't live without 'em!"

The same thing could be said about credit cards in ...Read more

It's been such a good week, as measured by my bulging email inbox! I just love to wade through reader mail and clever money- and time-saving tips sent in by my dear readers! Enjoy this small sampling!

DISHWASHER STUFFIES

I wash my children's stuffed animals in the dishwasher. I run it on a normal cycle, soap and all (although I use much less ...Read more

What to give for Christmas when you don't have time to shop, don't want to put much thought into it and just need to check someone off your list? A gift card, of course.

At this point, I will resist the urge to list all the reasons that gift cards are not really gifts, why they are so problematic for both the giver and the recipient, or ask if ...Read more

Car insurance is a funny thing. You pay a small fortune to get it and keep it. Then, if you have the blatant audacity to actually file a claim, the company either increases your premiums or cancels you altogether. OK, that may be a bit extreme, but you get my point.

While the world of insurance can at times be so confusing as to be maddening, ...Read more

Sharing our hope, strength and super money-saving ideas is one of the best things about this Everyday Cheapskate family! My virtual mailbag has been full and running over as of late. Today, it's time to share a few of your great ideas.

THRIFTY LAYERING

Explore your preferred thrift store for 100% silk shirts or blouses. I am always amazed by ...Read more

If you or someone in your family could use a haircut but you're a little short on cash this month, don't let this challenging economy keep you from looking your best. Check out these tips and tricks for saving cash on family haircuts and other salon treatments.

BRAVE

Go online and search for beauty schools in your area. BeautySchoolsDirectory....Read more

My virtual mailbag is turning up questions and situations that I doubt are exclusive to only the writers. We all face the same kinds of problems and situations, so I hope that these few letters I answer today will have far-reaching answers and solutions for many of you. Or at least give you some entertainment!

Dear Cheapskate: What do you think...Read more

A perfectly ripe, fresh, slightly crisp tomato elevates so many things, from salads to BLTs. But here's the problem: At my house, we frequently cannot consume them in the short window of a couple of days before they turn mushy and slightly spoiled.

I have tested so many ways to keep tomatoes fresh long enough to use them -- on the counter, ...Read more

Broke till payday? No worries when you know how to make Peanut Sauce Noodles -- only three ingredients! What a fantastic, quick, anytime meal -- kid-friendly, too. Even a fifth grader could get this meal on the table (with supervision).

First, I am going to give you the complete instructions as I would tell you over the phone. Then I will ...Read more