Category: HOME

Keep Important Papers in the Freezer

I am always entertained and often educated by the tips readers mail in. Today is no exception. I’m pretty sure you’re about to agree with me. Safely Frozen I am on a waiting list to get a safe deposit box at my bank. While I wait, I am keeping my important papers in a heavy…


Immunocompromised People Should Take Precautions With Pets

Q: I have a compromised immune system, and I want to adopt a cat. What do I need to know about protecting my health? A: Many people are immunocompromised because of physiologic factors like pregnancy or extremes of age, metabolic conditions such as diabetes, infectious diseases like HIV, or treatment with immunosuppressant drugs for autoimmune…


The Best Vegetable Seed Catalog Companies for Gardeners

Q: I saw an article that you wrote that said there were garden vegetable seed catalogs available at the Direct Gardening Association website. I can’t find that site. Can you help? A: Well, that group ended last year during the pandemic. So, to help you out, here are my favorite vegetable seed catalog companies. Jere…


When Choosing a Lot for a House, Don’t Overlook Drainage Problems

Dear James: Our last house had drainage problems after storms. When we select a lot to build our new house, what steps should be taken to evaluate possible drainage issues?—Jessica R. Dear Jessica: When selecting a lot for a new house, most people think poor drainage can just make the yard muddy or harm landscaping….


How To Make a Competing Offer on a Home

Dear Monty: I am interested in buying a home. However, I just found out today that there is another offer on the house. I have not made an offer yet, but I don’t want to unless I know how much the other offer was. I want to know whether I should offer more. Are they…


How to Make a Proper, Beautiful Bed

Beds in catalogs always look effortlessly stylish, but it’s not hard to bring that style to your own bedroom. The secret is a mix of layers, patterns, and pillows. These tips can help you transform your bed—and the look of your entire bedroom. Mix and Match Bedding doesn’t need to be matchy-matchy. Mix in pillowcases…


Food Cost-Cutting Strategies for Every Lifestyle

If it seems as though you never have enough money to consistently save some of it for emergencies—consistent, regular deposits out of every paycheck that go straight into a savings account—perhaps it’s time to consider that you’re handing over your savings to restaurants, drive-thrus, diners, and coffee shops. Think about it. No matter your lifestyle,…


Spring Cleaning: Time for a Fresh Start

Regardless of what the groundhog predicted, it won’t be long before we notice longer days, warmer sunshine, budding flowers, and the onset of glorious spring. After the “dark winters” we’ve been through during the past few years, this year, more than ever, it seems apropos to embrace the spring cleaning season and get ready for…


Planting Annuals: Tips for a Beautiful Flower Bed

Question: We have several bare areas where we want to plant something. We might be moving this summer, but maybe not until next year, so we don’t want to spend a lot. We have not had good luck with the packs of annual flowers in the past. How do we make annuals work? Answer: Annual…


Being James Bond: Spy Gear You Can Use

Caught in the Act The spread of surveillance devices in cities, on highways, and even in our homes is enough to make anyone paranoid. There’s a strong chance that you’re being monitored in some manner whenever you drive down the highway or through an intersection, use an ATM, or even when you knock on a…