ArcaMax

Some time ago, I wrote about simple things you can do to get better gas mileage, which means less time and money spent at the gas pump.

One of those tips was to make sure your car's tires are always properly inflated because underinflated tires cause the engine to work harder than necessary, which wastes fuel, while overinflation causes tires ...Read more

So you're getting ready to sell your house. Just thinking about it can be an overwhelming experience.

Should you hire a real estate agent? Should you do a FSBO (for sale by owner) to keep from paying that big commission? Should you spend a lot of money to paint and re-carpet -- at least the front rooms?

Where do you start, and what can you do ...Read more

If your bank account seems to be on a diet and you can't figure out why, check your subscriptions. Between streaming services, beauty boxes, and apps that promised to "change your life," you might be leaking money like a slow-drip faucet.

I'm not against subscriptions. I love a good one when it actually makes life easier. But most of us sign up...Read more

Q: Our association board members never seem to enforce the rules, and recently, this ended up with someone getting hurt. Is our association liable because of this? Are the board members? — Andy

A: Community associations are responsible for maintaining the community and enforcing its rules. When board members fail to enforce these rules, it ...Read more

Dear Mary: What is a safe disinfectant for colored clothes, such as underwear and bath towels? I can't use chlorine bleach, and since I usually wash my colored clothes in cold water, I do not feel like I am getting them sanitized enough. Thanks. -- Sherri

Dear Sherri: Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill tested ...Read more

Discouragement plagues all of us from time to time. If you're discouraged about your situation -- be it financial, family, job or just basic uncertainty about the future -- there are some things you can do to counter those feelings and attitudes. The most important is to know this will not last forever.

Let's say your neighbor just got a ...Read more

You should see my email inbox. Yikes! It's overflowing with questions, tips, stories, feedback, rebuttals and all kinds of love from you, my dear readers. Today, I'm making a tiny dent in the pile with these responses to a handful of your questions on auto leasing, homemade laundry detergent and more.

Dear Cheapskate: My wife and I are ...Read more

If you've ever left a perfectly good pair of sunglasses in a restaurant bathroom, dropped them off a boat, or sat on them in your car, you know the sinking feeling: There goes $50, $75 -- maybe even $200 -- down the drain. I've learned (the hard way) that sunglasses don't have to cost a small fortune to protect your eyes from the sun and look ...Read more

There are a number of ways to buy prescription eyeglasses, including from local opticians, independent optometrists, optical departments in big-box retailers and online-only vendors. Regardless of the option you choose, the good news is that prescription eyeglasses do not have to cost hundreds of dollars.

There are two ways you can purchase ...Read more

Q: I live in a homeowners’ association, and I decorated my house and yard for the holidays. They made me take it down under threat of a fine. Are they allowed to do this? – Gunther

A: Living in a community association means following a set of rules and regulations you agreed to when you purchased your home. These rules often govern how you ...Read more