Tag: Family & Home

Good Talk: Reviving the Art of Conversation

In “Lost in the Cosmos: The Last Self-Help Book,” Walker Percy writes, “Johnny Carson, when questioned about his aplomb on the stage before a TV audience of millions, replied: ‘Sure, I’m at ease up there—because I’m in control—but when I’m at a cocktail party and caught in a one-on-one conversation: panic city!’” In his book…


Dogs That Eat High-Fat Snacks Risk Pancreatitis

Q: Max, our 7-year-old terrier mix, lost his energy, stopped eating, and started vomiting. His veterinarian diagnosed pancreatitis and hospitalized him for treatment. How can we prevent this from happening again? A: Pancreatitis is inflammation (“-itis”) of the pancreas, the organ in the abdomen that secretes two important groups of chemicals: the digestive enzymes that…


A Boy and His Dog? No, a Boy and His Phone!

Are there still bonds of love and loyalty between a boy and his dog? Do teens even have time to spend with their pets, or are they too busy with their electronic devices? I’m an unlicensed and uncertified undercover observer of how parents and their children interact in different settings. My most recent observation occurred…


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…


How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats and Other Flowerpot Pests

Q: Last week you answered a question about removing fungus from houseplant pots before bringing them in for the winter. My plants always seem to have whole armies of crickets, pill bugs, ants, earwigs, or worms. How do I get rid of them? A: I am glad you asked, because I have an update to…


Children’s Bedtime Reads for Fall 

Autumn is an exciting time for a child. The wind is picking up, trees are painted in warm hues, and pumpkins, apples, and scarecrows abound. The school session is in full swing, and the holidays are around the corner. As night falls earlier and earlier, perhaps there is time for an extra bedtime story. In…


Redefining Life Balance

Life balance—who among us doesn’t crave that elusive idea of checking all the boxes, feeling on top of things, and never letting one ball drop. Is true life balance even achievable? Author and business expert Christy Wright set out to answer this question in her new book, “Take Back Your Time: The Guilt-Free Guide to…


‘You’re Enough’: Son Makes Tear-Jerking Viral Video for His Disabled Dad With Cerebral Palsy

A heartrending video created by a son for his dad with cerebral palsy, who can’t throw a baseball with him like other dads, went viral on TikTok. The touching video posted on social media was made by college student at LSU in Baton Rouge Joe Wampler, 21, as a way of telling his dad that, despite…


British-Asian Clan With 15 Albinos Might Be the World’s Biggest Family With the Condition

A British-Asian family with 15 albino members who say their condition has brought them together are applying to be formally recognized as the world’s biggest albino family. Pakistani-born Aslam Parvez, 64, and his wife, Shameem, 65, of England, both have white skin due to albinism—and so do all their six children, and some of their siblings,…


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…