Dear Monty: Should I have my brand-new home inspected? I am in the process of building a new house. My agent told me that, on completion, I should have an inspection. My builder informs me that it is inspected three times during the process and once after completion. They use an independent inspector to check…
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….
Build a Lightwell Under an Attic for a Skylight
Dear James: My living room is too dark, so I want to add a skylight. My house has a pitched roof. How can I add a skylight when there is an attic above the living room?—Colleen G. Dear Colleen: Installing a large skylight will definitely bring more natural light into your living room. The basic…
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…
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…
Cat’s Silent Heart Disease Causes Painful Hind Leg Paralysis
Q: Latte, our 8-year-old indoor cat, suddenly started crying and pulling himself along on his front legs while dragging his back legs. We rushed him to his veterinarian who diagnosed a saddle thromboembolism and recommended euthanasia because Latte’s prognosis was so dire. We agreed, but because of Latte’s stress and ours at the time, we…
Chain-Link Fencing Is Effective and Easy to Install
Dear James: We decided to raise chickens and need to fence our backyard. Is a chain-link fence a good choice, and what are the various parts we will need to install it? —Rhonda F. Dear Rhonda: Chain-link fencing is a versatile choice for your backyard. It makes an effective enclosure for any type of pet,…
How to Stay Safe Outdoors While Using Space Heaters and Fire Pits (Plus Other Ways to Stay Warm)
If you’ve invested some time and energy into sprucing up your outdoor space, you might be looking for ways to extend your enjoyment of it. But as the weather gets colder, it’s likely that you’ll have to turn to space heaters, fire pits, and other outdoor heaters to make sitting outside comfortable so you can…
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…
-
Recent Posts
-
Archives
- May 2025
- April 2025
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- September 2013
- July 2013
- March 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- December 1
-
Meta