ArcaMax

Over the years, readers like you have sent me incredible tips -- creative, practical and sometimes downright ingenious. These nuggets of wisdom have saved me time, money and a fair amount of frustration.

While I've carefully held onto these gems, somewhere along the way, the names of these clever contributors seem to have wandered off. But ...Read more

Dear Mary: How can I get rid of white water rings on wood tables? Thanks! -- Amy

Dear Amy: There are homemade remedies, but I've had only marginal results using things such as mayonnaise or other household products to remove the infuriating white marks you describe.

I suggest you save yourself a lot of time and frustration with a Homax White ...Read more

As I rifle through my virtual mailbag where readers send their best ideas for how to save time and money, some invariably arrive without the sender's name. Not all are worthy of passing along, but now and then, one of these orphans is just too good to cast aside. Today I have a collection of these no-name submissions that are up for adoption.

...Read more

I promise not to ask if you remember when the price of gold was fixed at $35 an ounce or when U.S. currency was tied to the gold standard (hint: The Gold Standard Act was passed on March 14, 1900, but later suspended). Things have changed drastically over the years, with gold now hovering around $1,800 per ounce.

Let's turn to your jewelry box,...Read more

Saving money doesn't have to require becoming a miser or even erasing all the fun from your life. In fact, there are so many ways you can choose to not spend just $5 every day -- and instead hide that money away in a safe place. It's about sidestepping sneaky little expenses that can add up faster than loads of dirty dishes after a big ...Read more

Doing something about consumer debt is good for your finances -- and just about every other area of your life.

HEALTH

Experts say there's no question that carrying a lot of debt can be stressful, causing all kinds of health issues. It can result in worry, sleeplessness, communication breakdown, depression and anxiety. Credit card debt takes a ...Read more

No doubt, you've noticed that some food products come with dates and codes printed on them. And who isn't noticing this more now as food costs are skyrocketing?

Do those codes and dates mean the item must be consumed by that date or just sold by that date?

What about canned or packaged goods that show only a date like "2.01.25"? Does that mean...Read more

Borax, a combination of sodium, boron and oxygen, is a natural substance mined from the earth in its crude form, found in abundance in the deserts of California and Nevada.

Powdered borax is white, consisting of soft, colorless crystals that dissolve in water. Borax is an ingredient in many detergents, cosmetics and enamel glazes. The trademark...Read more

Dear Cheapskate: After 10 years at the same job, my husband was recently laid off. I'm a freelance writer. I work mainly from home so I can be with our 3-year-old son. We've always relied on my husband1s company for health insurance. Now we're faced with paying for COBRA, and the cost for a family of three is outrageous. We have no choice but to...Read more