Tag: Everyday Cheapskate

Another Brilliant Way to Use WD-40 Around the House

I had to laugh when I opened my mail to read how one reader was able to get his glass shower doors so clean and sparkly that they looked like new. I had a can of his remedy sitting right there next to my computer. Hold on! That can of WD-40 was not there to…


How to Cook Your Way out of These Common Kitchen Mistakes

It happened again; I suffered a kitchen disaster. Boy, do I hate when that happens! This time, I ruined an entire pot of pasta because I got busy and was not paying attention. By the time I realized, the pasta had cooked beyond al dente, all the way to al mushe. I could barely make…


Readers Need to Know: Pay Down Debt or Invest? and Help! Horrible Odor in Leather Couch

I love it when readers send me their questions. Today I pulled the following letters from the EC mailbag. Dear Mary: We are better off than most. We have no credit card debt. We have several hundred dollars in cash stashed away in a safe in our house. And we have about $5,000 in savings….


The Best Sweet Corn Tricks Ever—Plus More Great Reader Tips

Last week’s mail certainly proved my theory that we have the best expert community going on here at Everyday Cheapskate. Even better, we’re willing to share. Microwave Corn on the Cob Dear Mary: I wish to share a sweet corn trick with you and your readers that allows you to cook fresh corn in the…


3 Money Savers That Will Pay for Themselves Over and Again

I have to admit to being a bit of a gadget freak. I’m drawn to tools and devices that do cool things. And when I discover that cool includes being a money saver, that turns a purchase into an investment with a guaranteed rate of return. Here are several items I’ve found that can save…


Do We Need a Will? And More Great Reader Questions

Dear Mary: My husband and I just had our first child, and now that we have a new little life depending on us, we want to make sure she is always taken care of. Neither one of us has a will, but I think it’s important to set one up just in case. Problem is,…


3 Rs to Put Personal Finances Back on Track

It’s true that financial trouble is a major contributor to the breakup of the American family. It is also true that gaining control over one’s finances can repair marriages, restore families, and change the future. For that, I am eternally grateful. Let me assure you right up front that it’s possible for you to gain…


Stop Making These Dishwasher Mistakes

You may be curious how I know about all of these mistakes. Well, let’s just say that I’ve made all the mistakes so you won’t have to! Mistake: You Need to Pre-Rinse Scrape off all the chunks of food from the dishes, but don’t pre-rinse. It’s not necessary and only wastes time and water. Unless…


10 Minutes to Financial Freedom

Recently, I got a message from Natalie, who explained that as part of a financial preparedness event, she will have 10 minutes to speak about financial freedom. Her question to me was, “What would you talk about if you only had 10 minutes?” Only 10 minutes? I find it difficult to introduce myself in that…


A Surprising Reason to Use Fresh Ginger in Homemade Marinade

The nicest thing happened to me one day as I rifled through the mail. I got a letter from Dr. C. Eugene Allen, a professor and food scientist at the University of Minnesota who just happened to be a fan of this column. He was responding to a teriyaki marinade recipe for venison I’d offered…