ArcaMax

Dear Mary: We live in Nevada and own a second home in Arizona. My husband wants to sell the Arizona property and then use the proceeds to pay off our credit debt, auto loan and home equity loan on the Nevada property -- about $165,000 total.

I disagree. I think we should rent the Arizona property to generate income and benefit from its future ...Read more

Over the years, I've picked up my fair share of housecleaning tricks -- some from sheer trial and error, others from seasoned professionals who make scrubbing and tidying look like an art form. The best cleaning hacks aren't just about getting things spotless; they're about getting there cheaper, better, faster and without pulling a muscle.

So ...Read more

I reset my lawn sprinkler timer, which was more than an hour off due to the spring ritual known as daylight saving time. Rather than move it one hour ahead, I decided to let it run backward. It was mesmerizing to see time back up -- so much so that when I reached the desired time, I didn't stop. I let it go back another 24 hours and then another...Read more

Driven to save myself and my family from financial ruin, I jumped into the deep end of the industrial real estate industry. I knew nothing about negotiating. All I knew was that I had to close deals -- bringing interested parties together, getting them to agree and seeing that everyone walks away a winner.

I no longer sell real estate, but I ...Read more

How's your health? Not your physical fitness, but your financial well-being. For most of us, how much we earn tells us how we're "feeling" financially. But your income is only one part of the equation. How much of your income do you actually keep?

Not very much, I'll bet. Your income is low, you say; you've got bills to pay. Rents are sky-high;...Read more

Believe your eyes -- it's spring! Time to bid farewell to the snowblower, gas up the lawnmower and let the sunshine in (whether your allergies approve or not). And what better way to welcome the season than with a few simple money-saving tips to freshen up your home and yard?

DIY GLASS CLEANER

Forget expensive window sprays -- your pantry has ...Read more

I'm sure my supermarket is not the only grocery store with an area in the back I call "My Bargain Bin." It's refrigerated and features some dandy bargains, especially on perishable items approaching that "sell by" date. There are no limits on the number of items I can load into my cart -- all of them with ridiculously low, rock-bottom prices.

...Read more

Dear Mary: What does it mean to "balance" my bank account? How do I do that? Why should I? I really appreciate you answering my question. I'm sure I should know this, but honestly, I don't. -- Josey

Dear Josey: This is a great question, and I'm sure you'd be surprised to know just how many of your fellow readers want to know the same thing!

To...Read more

Dear Mary: We have decided to pay off a bunch of bills and do some much-needed repairs on our house. Can you tell me the difference between a home equity loan and a home equity line of credit? Which would be better? -- Scott

Dear Scott: With a home equity loan, or a HEL, you walk away with a check for the full amount of the loan and a second ...Read more

The claims are so over the top, they practically sparkle. The messages flood in from every direction -- email, TV, radio, social media and sometimes even hand delivery by a very enthusiastic "friend."

"Make over half a million dollars every four to five months from home with a one-time investment of just $25!"

"Become a millionaire overnight -...Read more