Experiment with store brands.  Most of the time they are surprisingly good and almost always less expensive.  Did you ever think of tossing in an extra handful or two of your own macaroni  when fixing hamburger helper with their little dab of macaroni?  That easily gives you 1 or 2 more servings and no noticeable diffe...more

Loved the article but disagree re: coupons.  You should have seen me today when I discovered I could get 2 of my favorite ice creams for the price of 1 But I didn't have the required coupon!  Oh, disaster!  So I rushed around, found a clerk who drug me down 2 or 3 check outs til we found the desired coupon. Ran back to...more

I miss my friendly home town bank.  Now it's dog eat dog!  I made a good decision awhile back & locked in a 5 year 4% IRA at US Bank.  5 years is a bit scary because I can't change the rules without a penalty.  BUT US Bank sure changed the rules (or fee).  Instead of the agreed upon $10 or $12 annual fee it jumped to $...more

Thanks, Wake up and put down the joint.  Your explanation does give me food for thought. Now, if only my income could keep up.  These 1% interest rates on retirees lifetime savings don't balance out with inflation real well!

Someone please explain to me because this time my elder wisdom isn't working for me.  Just got my annual homeowners insurance bill.  How can the value of my house drop so drastically and my insurance goes skyrocketing the other direction??  I have a $1,000 deductible.  My insurance agent's explanation is the high cost ...more

I can't believe how touchy some people are re: new vs. used.  I recently acquired a beautiful Lane cedar chest with upholstered seating at a yard sale.  $20 bucks vs. $500.  Do I feel smart or cheap?  My sister and her family and mine have been treating each other to great gifts this way for years.  We shop all thruout...more

My husband receives a govt. pension (small) so all the many years he had social security taken from his other jobs hardly count due to the offset, unless you think $136 is worth counting.  All the $ he "gave" to social security is just lost!  Can someone please explain the logic?  We want our money back!!

My husband & I have always saved, no matter what and managed to raise our 2 children comfortably on his full time and my part time blue collar jobs.  We've never bought a new car & never missed one--had lots of trips all over US in nice used cars such as T Birds, campers, etc.  We now own free & clear 2 homes, have no ...more