COLUMNS

EE bond dilemma Dear Dave, I have about $36,000 in debt, not including my house. Of that amount, $30,000 is a truck that’s worth about what I owe on it, and the other $6,000 is student loan de...read more

Paying off credit cards Dear Dave, How do you feel about taking money out of savings to pay off credit cards?  Peggy Dear Peggy, I’m okay with this under two conditions. One is that yo...read more

I saw something today. That seems rather nondescript, admittedly, but what I saw made my day and served as a reminder that, as a rule, people are good. Several weeks ago, we ran an article about a l...read more

A couple of weeks ago in this space, we discussed how a new paint job can really liven up a room and change the atmosphere inside your home. This week, how about preparation? If you want a new, inspi...read more

Larger emergency fund? Dear Dave, My wife and I are following your plan, and we just paid off all our debt except for the house. Since we work for the same company, do you think we should have an em...read more

I know, I know...the kids have just started back to school, and a lot of you parents are trying to catch your breath from all the preparations, as you should. But when you’ve realized how bored ...read more

A burden to help? Dear Dave, Do you believe that the adult child of a senior citizen who is physically and mentally healthy but has neglected to plan for retirement should be burdened with providing...read more

If you or someone else in the house are making plans to head off to college, career or other commitments, here are just a few things you must have to settle into your new place. •A BASIC TOOL KI...read more

Finding responsible renters Dear Dave, I’m a landlord, and I own a few houses and duplexes around town. Recently, I made the mistake of renting to some tenants who were not respectful of my pr...read more

One of my goals in writing this article is to address the great questions that have bewildered the handyman (or woman) for decades. For example, last week we looked at the names of sizes of nails. Thi...read more

The numbers don’t lie Dear Dave, Why do you think all debt is bad? Aren’t some kinds of debt, like a mortgage or student loans, good? Nathan Dear Nathan, It sounds like you’re l...read more

Hello again! I hope all of you woke up with a positive attitude. Having a positive attitude is an amazing attribute to life. I choose to be as happy as I can every day. I’ve had so many comment...read more

There are many facets of our lives that are quickly being lost. With the rise of cordless screw guns, nails are being replaced with screws. Just think about it. When was the last time you drove a nai...read more

Hiring the right person Dear Dave, I own a small business with two employees, and I have a bit of a hiring conundrum. I’m looking at two candidates for a position, and on paper they’re e...read more

The Alabama summer heat is upon us, and with it comes the costlier task of cooling the house. But there are some things to remember that may keep a little cool change in your pocket. Get to know Mr. ...read more