ArcaMax

It was shocking, if not surreal. The email message was from a woman I'd never met and whose name I recognized only because, a few months earlier, she mailed me a book she'd written.

The message announced that she and her family were planning a road trip to Disneyland and would just love to stay with us since (at the time) we lived nearby and oh...Read more

Shortly after takeoff, the pilot circled over the Great Salt Lake, tipping the wings ever so slightly so we could witness the unusual reddish-purple color of the water -- a phenomenon, he explained, that occurs when a particular species of algae meets up with a certain bacteria. It was quite fascinating.

Just as he was bringing the plane level ...Read more

If I asked you to deduct your monthly expenses from your monthly income, I have a feeling you'd look pretty good on paper. The mystery for many people is why they can't get through a month without using a credit card to cover unexpected expenses, such as a prescription for a sick child, a quarterly insurance premium or a wedding shower gift.

...Read more

If you've ever stared at a grocery aisle full of cooking oils, wondering if you're picking a kitchen staple or a chemistry experiment, you're not alone. The world of cooking oils is a confusing place, and the debate over seed oils is heating up. Are they really as bad as some say? And if so, what should we use instead? Let's clear this up.

WHAT...Read more

As Irish hotelier Patrick McKillen tells it, he met the former emir of Qatar on a yacht in Doha to discuss a business opportunity in California, more than 8,000 miles away.

McKillen and Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani were discussing the purchase of a Beverly Hills hotel, which McKillen said he committed to managing and redeveloping.

Now ...Read more

Q: We purchased our first home late last year. We have been getting notices in the mail telling us that our real estate taxes were not paid. We called the tax collector and were informed that we owed property taxes for the entire year, even though we only lived there for a few months. Is this legit? — Harold

A: Understanding real estate taxes...Read more

It's time once again to reach into the mailbag to answer a question from my dear readers. It's kinda my favorite day, which should give you an idea of how much I love to hear from you. While I cannot respond personally to all your messages and letters, know that I read every one, selecting those to answer here that I believe will have a ...Read more

Not only do houseplants bring warmth and a sense of calm to a home, but they are also an inexpensive way to decorate. Keeping your beautiful houseplants looking healthy and green is the challenge. The most common question is: Why do the leaves turn brown?

According to the Smart Garden Guide, there are many reasons why the leaves on your indoor ...Read more

Dear Mary: We would like to enlarge our small two-bedroom bungalow. Our kids are reaching the teen years, and we need more space. We have always budgeted our money.

We have $6,000 in our emergency fund and drive two paid-for cars, and our only debt is our mortgage. We have college savings accounts for our kids and tithe to our church. Our ...Read more

Let's be honest -- nobody wakes up thinking, "Today, I'd love to pinch every penny so hard Abe Lincoln winces." But with prices climbing faster than my stress level when I realize I've left my phone at home and have to survive a whole day without it, smart money habits are a must. The good news? You don't have to live off canned beans in a dimly...Read more

Q: I am buying a vacation home with one of my children, and we will take turns using it and split the cost and expenses. We want to make sure that if something happens to me, she does not have to split the house with her siblings, whom I made other arrangements for in my will. What can we do? —Marjorie

A: When a property is co-owned with ...Read more

These days, it's practically inevitable that you or someone close to you will face a period of unemployment. Consider these practical tips while dealing with the financial and emotional toll of leaving one job and searching for another.

DON'T TAKE IT PERSONALLY

Losing a job can cause shame, humiliation and embarrassment. You may feel depressed...Read more

Discovering that you'll be getting a tax refund is certainly not the worst news you've had in your life. In fact, it's easy to see a tax refund as some kind of gift from the universe. You might even be feeling kinda proud of your forced savings account, to which you knowingly contribute every payday while living from paycheck to paycheck and ...Read more