COLUMNS

Talk about boundaries Dear Dave, My husband and I are just starting to get control of our finances, but we have a problem. My dad has a habit of expecting us to buy things for him. I know he has mon...read more

Many people live with the burden of how they may please God. They truly want to go to heaven when they die or when Christ returns, and they live with the idea that if they just perform enough good thi...read more

Have you ever heard someone make the comment, “They just need to get a job”? Maybe you are one of the very ones who say that. Then, upon answering your phone, there’s a telemarketer ...read more

Selling sentimental stuff Dear Dave, How do you decide whether or not to sell collectible memorabilia when you’re getting out of debt? William Dear William, In most cases, there’s a p...read more

Spring cleaning or prepping for paint, cleaning the wall is a must. Cobwebs, scuff marks and just plain old dust accumulate over time. The guidelines to this project are from www.truevalue.com. Start...read more

The majority of us—myself included—like pretty things, but have you ever given thought to the pretty things we buy because it’s the prettiest one in the store, only to cover it up wh...read more

Just be honest Dear Dave, I took a new job less than a month ago. Just the other day, I was recruited by a huge company for the same position that pays twice what I’m making now. I didn’...read more

Planning for college Dear Dave, We have two daughters, and we’ve started thinking about financial planning for college. What are the differences between an Education Savings Account and a 529 ...read more

This past week at my cancer surgeon appointment, I heard some great news! I am now two years cancer-free! Some of you may think my worries are all in the past. In a sense, they are. Any day of life y...read more

Spring cleaning continues. Last week, we began the project of cleaning the walls, and we want to continue that with ideas for removing stains and blemishes. Begin by washing the walls by spot-cleanin...read more

The new film10 Cloverfield Lane is a thriller movie with a plot so shrouded in mystery that it is difficult to review without spoiling major details. That being said, the things that can be discussed ...read more

No arguments Dear Dave, My dad and I have been having arguments over real estate and money. My wife and I are 33, and we have a rental property. We were trying to decide whether or not to sell the r...read more

Is it six months of paychecks? Dear Dave, Do I set aside six months’ worth of paychecks or the amount of my bills for six months when it’s time to save up my fully funded emergency fund?...read more

This past Friday night I attended a fun event at the Spruce Pine Community Center. It was publicized in the local newspapers, including the fantastic Franklin Free Press. The attendance was low, and ...read more

We started this project last week by picking a location in the house, putting up open shelving and mounting lighting. Now, we need pots and containers , which we will fill with 1” of sand or gra...read more