Mary Hunt

Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/contact/, "Ask Mary." Tips can be submitted at tips.everydaycheapskate.com/ . This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book "Debt-Proof Living."

How to Safely Dispose of Expired Medications and Household Cleaners

Every day my email box loads up with messages, many of which contain questions from you, my dear readers. And…

9 hours ago

Gratitude on a Budget: Cheap and Cheerful Ways to Give Back

Some people's generosity comes with ribbon-cutting ceremonies and giant cardboard checks. The rest of us? We show our gratitude with…

1 day ago

When It Comes to Storing Bananas, Don’t Believe Old Wives’ Tales

For years, I believed an old wives' tale that bananas will turn black and spoil almost instantly if you put…

5 days ago

Cheap Source for Quality LED Lightbulbs and More Great Reader Tips

Not all companies are starving for business these days. If my mailbag is a good indicator, businesses that offer any…

1 week ago

How to Kick Chiggers Out of Your Yard Without Going Broke

You spend a perfectly nice Saturday pulling weeds, trimming roses and finally conquering that corner of the yard that's been…

1 week ago

Get Financially Confident, Starting Now

For a good deal of my life, I lived under a dark cloud of fear that I would end up…

2 weeks ago

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…

2 weeks ago

How to Make Your Old Dishwasher Perform Like New

There are many things in my life that I enjoy but would not be completely devastated if required to give…

2 weeks ago

Halloween Costumes Compliments of the Closet (Not the Credit Card)

When my kids were little, I shelled out a pile of hard-earned dollars to make matching Popeye the Sailor Man…

2 weeks ago

Make Your Own Mixes and Save a Bundle

They're convenient and tasty, but have you ever considered the high cost of your favorite prepared mixes and spices? In…

3 weeks ago

Which Bills to Pay First?

If you don't have enough money to pay all your bills, which should you pay first, and which ones can…

3 weeks ago

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,…

3 weeks ago

How to Rake Leaves Without Breaking Your Back (or the Bank)

Every fall, trees throw their own version of a ticker-tape parade, and like clockwork, we're the lucky ones who get…

3 weeks ago

How to Unclog a Toilet — Quick and Easy!

No one likes to talk about it, but truth be told, it happens. Toilets malfunction. They get clogged. Sure, it's…

4 weeks ago

Opting for the Minimum Payment Changed My Life

At the time, it seemed like a good idea. But going for the minimum payment option "just this one time"…

4 weeks ago