COLUMNS

Pay it off! Dear Dave, I can’t decide what to do about my car. I owe $8,000 on it, and I have the cash to pay it off with plenty left over. One of my co-workers said I shouldn’t pay it o...read more

What happens when a smoke alarm sounds in your home? The answer to that question is based on your level of preparedness and how well your family is taught to react in this situation. The answer shoul...read more

Oh yes, friends! Spruce Pine Day is almost here! The big day is this coming Saturday. Vendors will be there around 8 a.m. The bands will begin at 9 a.m. Mark your calendar, highlight Saturday, or tie...read more

Spending money in the budget? Dear Dave, We are debt-free except for our home, and we have six months of expenses set aside in our emergency fund. Every time we do our monthly budget, we set aside a...read more

Mortgage disability insurance? Dear Dave, If someone is following your plan, is it a good idea to get mortgage disability insurance during Baby Step 2? Craig Dear Craig, No, it is not. Mortgage d...read more

Fire safety is always an important topic, especially at this time of year as we begin preparing our homes for the cold winter months to come. In October of 1871 there was a huge fire that did a lot o...read more

For the last few weeks we have been repairing holes in walls, and today we will look at an age-old way to prevent many of those holes from forming in the first place. A properly installed door stop wi...read more

Stick with the plan Dear Dave, I follow your advice and live on a budget, but it’s really hard to save up for a down payment on a house because property is so expensive here in New York. My fa...read more

Sell personal car to help pay business debt? Dear Dave, My husband started his own one-man small business as a handyman a little less than a year ago. He has netted $17,000 in that time, but the bus...read more

A truck stopped in the road in front of my house the other morning. A woman got out and placed what looked like a puppy on the road. She waited for it to cross the road, but it didn’t move. I wa...read more

As we wrap up our wall project from the past two weeks, it’s time to learn how to match the paint to the rest of the wall. There are three ways to match the paint. 1) Use some leftover paint th...read more

Last week we filled that hole in our drywall, and now it’s time to apply the mud (sheetrock compound). This is a step that a lot of folks hate because they can’t get a smooth finish. Don&...read more

Planning and success Dear Dave, I’m stuck in a dead-end job, and I only have a high school diploma. I’ve never minded long hours and hard work, but I’ve begun to realize I need to ...read more

Are you ready for Spruce Pine Day? If you aren’t, then now is a good time to start preparing. Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 20. Bring your own chairs or quilts or blankets to sit an...read more

Holes in drywall....they happen. Doorknobs, chairs, indoor baseball games and many other things can happen that may  leave you with a hole to patch. Here are a couple of methods to repair the &l...read more