COLUMNS

Baby, it’s cold outside. And about to get colder. Just in case you didn’t get those pipes wrapped and insulated before the hard freeze, here are some tips on thawing them out. Did you kno...read more

Relationships and money Dear Dave, My father-in-law wants to help us with our mortgage. We’ve been working hard to pay off our home early, and we’ve reduced what we owe to around $35,000...read more

You need actions, not words Dear Dave, My husband and I have about $20,000 in credit card debt, plus payments on a new truck. We also have a camper he bought before we got married that we’re s...read more

I occasionally think about my childhood days and recall the simple blessings I had that so many children have never known. I had to ride the bus to school every day. [Well, that wasn’t one...read more

Don’t play the game Dear Dave, How do you feel about timeshares, and the free trips and dinners they offer as part of their sales pitches? Is it possible to win with these things? Dan Dear D...read more

Well, this is it. After this year the 2000’s will no longer be a teenager. What a crazy ride this century has been in it’s formative years. It seems that everything is changing, exponenti...read more

Growing up on a small farm, I can remember hearing the expression “straddling the fence.” I also knew that one side of the fence could be a safe place and the other side could be a danger ...read more

Worried about mom Dear Dave, My mom is 75, and I’m the executor of her estate. She has $500,000 in retirement accounts, and the only debt she has is around $70,000 on her mortgage. Most of her...read more

I’ve heard it all my life. The older you get, the faster the time goes by. I’ve got news for you. It’s true. You’re probably reading this on the day after New Year’s at...read more

Invest now? Dear Dave, I’m almost debt-free, and I’ll be finishing my master’s degree soon. I’m not from this country, so I’ll be returning home in the next three to fi...read more

The days of counting down for Christmas have ended, but that expression got my thoughts to spinning on how many things we count down for.   Have you ever thought about that? If you haven&rs...read more

That’s a lot! Dear Dave, I’m on Baby Step 1 of your plan, and I work at a community college that takes a mandatory 20 percent from our pay for retirement. I know you say retirement contr...read more

One of my favorite things about Christmas is that you hear people say, sing and talk about things that you never hear any other time of the year. For example... “Figgy Pudding.” I don&rs...read more

Make sure it’s a gift Dear Dave, I’m on Baby Step 4 of your plan. I’m debt-free, and I’m currently putting lots of money toward retirement. Now I want to go back to school an...read more

Short term planning Dear Dave, My husband and I are completely debt-free, and we’re saving up for our first house. We currently have about $90,000 in savings, and we’d like to buy a home...read more