Dear Mary: My 30-year-old son-in-law needs to get a credit card approved so he can buy tires for his truck. Every time he applies for a card, he gets denied. He has no credit and needs to begin building credit. He did try Orchard Bank, but their cards have an annual fee. Can you suggest…

This morning while waiting for my car to fill up, I put the time to good use. I read all the hazard warnings. I couldn’t help but think how much better off we might be if there were similar warning signs posted in stores, restaurants, and malls warning of the hazards of plastic. ATM, debit,…

Little things mean a lot—like the two words “batteries included.” Just knowing they’re in there somewhere means less hassle and one less thing to buy. But face it. The initial powering-up of a battery-operated device is a minor concern. It’s the cost of keeping it going for years to come that should be considered. The…

Insurance is a funny thing. You learn all you can, shop diligently, scrape together the money to pay for it, and then hope you’ll never have to use it. In addition to health and automobile coverage, most people insure their lives so that in the event of their death, those who depend on their income…

Dear Mary: We’ve just received notice that the rent on our three-bedroom house is going up from $950 to $1,200 a month. We were struggling before, so we really can’t afford the increase. We have looked at an apartment community, where our rent would be around $850 a month. I found another home that could…

Bill Smith sits down to his most dreaded chore—paying bills. Every month, it’s the same story: Pay the most urgent, and leave the rest. There’s never enough money, no matter how hard he works. Jane Miller flies into the school office frazzled and 30 minutes late because she was 20 minutes late getting out of…

For decades, I’ve pleaded with my readers not to use debit cards because they are not safe. And for years, I warned my sons about the dangers of riding motorcycles because they are not safe. Has anyone listened and taken heed? Debit cards are more popular than ever. And on the subject of motorcycles in…

Dear Mary: I have been dating a woman for about two years. Getting to know her, I have learned that she has significant financial problems that she has not told me about. I have found out by doing a little research on my own (public records, etc.). This is a serious relationship. We are both…