Consumer

/

Home & Leisure

/

ArcaMax

Everyday Cheapskate: You Need a Freedom Account

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

If I asked you to deduct your monthly expenses from your monthly income, I have a feeling you'd look pretty good on paper. The mystery for many people is why they can't get through a month without using a credit card to cover unexpected expenses, such as a prescription for a sick child, a quarterly insurance premium or a wedding shower gift.

...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: Confused About Seed Oils? Oh, Yes We Are!

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

If you've ever stared at a grocery aisle full of cooking oils, wondering if you're picking a kitchen staple or a chemistry experiment, you're not alone. The world of cooking oils is a confusing place, and the debate over seed oils is heating up. Are they really as bad as some say? And if so, what should we use instead? Let's clear this up.

WHAT...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: Are High-Efficiency Washers Worth It?

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

It's time once again to reach into the mailbag to answer a question from my dear readers. It's kinda my favorite day, which should give you an idea of how much I love to hear from you. While I cannot respond personally to all your messages and letters, know that I read every one, selecting those to answer here that I believe will have a ...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: Why Houseplants Turn Brown and How to Stop It

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

Not only do houseplants bring warmth and a sense of calm to a home, but they are also an inexpensive way to decorate. Keeping your beautiful houseplants looking healthy and green is the challenge. The most common question is: Why do the leaves turn brown?

According to the Smart Garden Guide, there are many reasons why the leaves on your indoor ...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: Debt and That Squished Feeling

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

Dear Mary: We would like to enlarge our small two-bedroom bungalow. Our kids are reaching the teen years, and we need more space. We have always budgeted our money.

We have $6,000 in our emergency fund and drive two paid-for cars, and our only debt is our mortgage. We have college savings accounts for our kids and tithe to our church. Our ...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: How to Make the Most of Your Money in 2025 (Without Feeling Like You're Living in a Bunker)

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

Let's be honest -- nobody wakes up thinking, "Today, I'd love to pinch every penny so hard Abe Lincoln winces." But with prices climbing faster than my stress level when I realize I've left my phone at home and have to survive a whole day without it, smart money habits are a must. The good news? You don't have to live off canned beans in a dimly...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: Must-Follow Steps When You're Out of a Job

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

These days, it's practically inevitable that you or someone close to you will face a period of unemployment. Consider these practical tips while dealing with the financial and emotional toll of leaving one job and searching for another.

DON'T TAKE IT PERSONALLY

Losing a job can cause shame, humiliation and embarrassment. You may feel depressed...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: Use Your Tax Refund to Make Your Life Better

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

Discovering that you'll be getting a tax refund is certainly not the worst news you've had in your life. In fact, it's easy to see a tax refund as some kind of gift from the universe. You might even be feeling kinda proud of your forced savings account, to which you knowingly contribute every payday while living from paycheck to paycheck and ...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: Your Money Temperament and Why It Matters

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

Whether you're aware of it or not, you have a money temperament. Everyone does. It's the way you naturally think about money, behave with money or react to money. To loosely assess your money temperament, and to have a little fun with it, consider the following scenario and choose the response that's closest to what you would do.

Your rich ...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: Feeling Rich and Living It Up

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

Dear Mary: My husband and I have been out of debt for approximately five years. It's great. The problem is we now seem to spend a lot of money needlessly just because we can. We have so much money over and above our living expenses that it is easy to be reckless.

We keep just enough in savings ($2,000 or so) for emergencies but never get beyond...Read more

 

Related Channels

America's Test Kitchen

America's Test Kitchen

By America's Test Kitchen
ArcaMax Chef

ArcaMax Chef

By ArcaMax Chef
Tim Carter

Ask The Builder

By Tim Carter
Dr. Lee Pickett

Ask The Vet

By Dr. Lee Pickett
Jae-Ha Kim

Celebrity Travel

By Jae-Ha Kim
Richard Montgomery

Dear Monty

By Richard Montgomery
Gene and Katie Hamilton

Do It Yourself Or Not

By Gene and Katie Hamilton
Eric Peters

Eric's Autos

By Eric Peters
Mary Hunt

Everyday Cheapskate

By Mary Hunt
Jim Daly

Focus on the Family

By Jim Daly
Georgia Garvey

Georgia Garvey

By Georgia Garvey
Jeff Rugg

Jeff Rugg

By Jeff Rugg
Lenore Skenazy

Lenore Skenazy

By Lenore Skenazy
Kathryn Weber

Living Space

By Kathryn Weber
Cathy M. Rosenthal

My Pet World

By Cathy M. Rosenthal
Christopher Elliott

Problem Solved

By Christopher Elliott
Ilyce R. Glink and Samuel J. Tamkin

Real Estate Matters

By Ilyce R. Glink and Samuel J. Tamkin
Zola Gorgon

Recipes by Zola

By Zola Gorgon
Rick Steves' Europe

Rick Steves' Europe

By Rick Steves' Europe
Eileen Ogintz

Taking The Kids

By Eileen Ogintz
Various authors

Travel & Adventure

By Various authors
Christopher Elliott

Travel Troubleshooter

By Christopher Elliott

Comics

David Horsey For Better or For Worse Andy Capp Bizarro Zits Mike Smith