ArcaMax

I hope you enjoy the following tips from your fellow readers as much as I have. There's just something satisfying about discovering even the smallest ways to do better while saving time and money.

SAFE, NOT SORRY

A clever way to avoid a possible carjacking is to be always aware of what's going on around you. If you think someone is following ...Read more

Selling soon? You're about to learn that when it comes to selling a house, you can judge a book by its cover. Some call it curb appeal. I call it the little things that get potential buyers through the front door, and that's what matters most.

If you have a limited budget -- and these days, who doesn't? -- here are 12 home improvements...Read more

People who can take an idea and turn it into a living are not particularly unique. But they do seem to have certain personality traits in common. Do you have what it takes to turn your talents into profits?

No. 1: Collaboration. At the top of the list for successful entrepreneurs is the ability to collaborate.

Successful entrepreneurs don't ...Read more

Dear Mary: We just built a new home and got our loan through a local bank that does not report loan activity to the major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion). Is there anything bad about that? -- Jon and Lori

Dear Jon and Lori: This is not unusual. Lenders are not required by any law to report. The only reason this might be of ...Read more

I love opening my email inbox where messages with favorite tips land. Some days, it's bulging; other days, not so much. But every day, your messages of support, love and occasionally a great tip charge my batteries and confirm how much we need one another. Enjoy the following tips from your fellow readers.

DIY FROZEN COFFEE DRINKS

I make my ...Read more

Is your stuff really worth what it's costing you to store it? There's nothing like a couple of episodes of the reality television show "Hoarders" to make even the biggest clutterbug want to get rid of something.

To be honest, I've watched that show just once, and that was enough to last for the rest of my life. Halfway through, I had this ...Read more

Hello, fall baking! I can't think of a better way to do that than with fresh, homemade pumpkin puree -- the star of the show in so many fall recipes. There's pumpkin pie (and oh, what a difference it makes when we use homemade puree), pumpkin muffins, pumpkin pancakes and even pumpkin spice lattes. Yes, pumpkin puree is one of PSL's key ...Read more

Today, I'm reaching into my virtual mailbag, pulling out a handful of great reader tips, Whether any of these tips apply to you and your situation or not, just reading them can't help but get you into frugal mode, looking for every way, big or small, to save time and money.

MORE SPONGE

I discovered that my kitchen sponges were only getting ...Read more

Hypermiling may sound like the latest popular adrenaline-inducing extreme sport, but not so, unless you consider extreme gas conservation a sport. Some drivers and online groups have adopted "hypermiling" as a way to combat high gas prices by changing the way they drive. It's a hyperactive driving technique for saving money.

Hypermiling ...Read more

Dear Cheapskate: I have lived in my house for over 30 years and experienced many maintenance issues that could be solved. But this is a first -- a horrible weed infestation called Creeping Charlie has taken over the lawn. I have tried weed killers, but nothing I've tried has worked to kill the entire weed down to the roots. I look at my neighbor...Read more

I get a lot of mail on the subject of weddings -- stories of joy and tales of woe, great ideas, and even an occasional blooper. In nearly 32 years, I cannot recall a single time I've heard from a bride or groom who wished they'd spent more money on their wedding. The best wedding mail comes from brides who are so happy with their frugal choices ...Read more

Problems with cleaning smoke produced by burning candles and soot from fireplaces are the subject of messages I get frequently. Until I discovered Lestoil, a heavy-duty multipurpose cleaner that apparently has been around since 1933 (but not at all familiar to me!), I didn't have very good news for my inquiring readers. But that's all changed ...Read more

Of all the people I know and love, I can't think of anyone who wouldn't welcome a small income boost this month -- or any month, for that matter. Whether you're between jobs, figuring out how to cover a bill or hoping to stash more cash into savings, get your creative juices flowing with these ideas.

DON'T OVERINSURE

You need term life ...Read more

Emotional intimacy is the key to a healthy marriage and necessary for developing financial harmony. The secret to creating emotional intimacy is for each of you to meet the needs that are most important to the other. Emotional intimacy is key because it produces authentic trust and respect.

Studies show that married people who behave as true ...Read more

Readers know that we pull out all the stops around here to celebrate Christmas early. Or at least start thinking about the holidays, which are just a couple months down the road. If you are or have ever been plagued by credit card debt, I can nearly guarantee that revolving expenses related to Christmas have contributed greatly to that miserable...Read more

I've never been one to keep a daily journal. I wish I would have done that, though. I would love to go back and read my thoughts from my college years, those early years of my marriage. For sure I'd look up the day I learned I was pregnant with our first son. I know I was excited. But how did we celebrate? Who did we tell first? Those are things...Read more

It's still October, but it's not too early to start planning for Christmas. If you're ready to make this year a debt-free Christmas, I've got three very useful ways to find the extra cash you'll need to do that. And time is of the essence because Christmas will be here before we know it.

Rather than choose one of the following options, I ...Read more

Shortly after I wrote a column on the specific steps to prepare chuck roast (a relatively cheap cut of beef) so that it turns out like prime rib, I got an email from faithful reader Mary B. We went back and forth a bit as she prepared this for guests. I thought you would enjoy the feedback.

But first, here's a quick refresher on how to do this:...Read more

That bottle of liquid chlorine bleach sitting in your laundry room has all sorts of uses that have nothing to do with laundry. It can help keep your flowers looking fresh, purify water in emergencies and even lend a hand when you're cleaning up after a disaster.

DETER MOSQUITOES

While bleach may not be the first thing that comes to mind when ...Read more

Laundry challenges, it seems, come in every size, shape, and intensity. Rather than thinking there is no solution for that stain, shrunken item or another laundry disaster, consider the ways you can recover and renew situations gone bad.

SHRUNKEN

Don't be too quick to toss out that favorite sweater that just got shrunk in the hot wash or went ...Read more