As we keep trying to dig ourselves out of this sluggish economy, some of us are a bit perplexed about how to make the holidays a success without going into greater debt or inducing undo stress.  And so, I would like to offer a few tips and ideas to make your holidays a bit brighter without breaking the bank.  […]

Everyone has heard of the expression, “If it’s free, it’s for me.”  The word “free” mesmerizes us.  The sheer thought of getting something for nothing gives us a rush of adrenaline.  But for everything that you may think is free, think again, even if you are spending a penny or a dollar for a so-called free […]

Most of us are familiar with the puzzle of the glass that appears, in accordance with one’s perspective, as either half-empty or half-full.  While pessimists view the glass as half-full (“I don’t have enough; I need more!”) and optimists deem it half-full (“I have plenty for my needs.”), the truth of the matter is that […]

Let’s pretend for a moment that I’m the compassionate, slightly ghoulish son who inherited his father’s business in the hit series Six Feet Under.  Let’s pretend also, that the cosmos, or perhaps your doctor, has tipped you off to the fact that you aren’t long for this world.  Gently, but with a salesman’s deft touch, […]

How would you like to make a few hundred dollars in a day or two?  You can do just that, if you hold a yard sale or garage sale the right way. Yup, there’s a right way and a wrong way to do everything, and this includes planning and conducting yard sales and garage sales.  […]

Why did the old sit-com Happy Days carve a permanent place in the hearts of so many Americans?  Was it because the writing was hilarious or the acting brilliant?  Or was it something else?  My money’s on “something else.”  I think we loved stepping back in time to a simpler, gentler day – an era […]

‘fess up.  Sometimes you’re dumbfounded concerning the simplest of tasks.  Heck, we all are, particularly when it comes to our cars.  But remember the adage, “Knowledge is power.”  Being informed about the workings of your vehicle puts the power in your hands instead of a mechanic’s.  It can reduce the cost of maintenance and even […]

Benjamin Franklin is quoted as having said, “Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead.”  If you think Ben’s was a cynical view of human nature, you may wish to examine your own track record.  How many times have you broken a confidence, and to what degree?  I’ll come clean and admit […]

As precious gifts, children are meant to be cherished.  Innocent human beings, they look to their elders for life’s basic necessities and, just as importantly, guidance, love, and protection.  These truths should be obvious.  It boggles my mind, then, when I witness mindless acts that place little ones in danger. Driving down a busy commercial […]

Given the state of the world, I think that children of all ages would be prudent to revisit some of the core lessons that our parents taught us when we were younger.  If you were like me, you probably sloughed off much of this advice and only took it to heart when your parents’ fears […]