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Dear Dave: I'm 23, debt-free, and I've almost got my fully funded emergency fund in place. I was curious about your thoughts on saving up money to buy a duplex, living on one side, and renting out the other. It would be my first home purchase, and my first rental property. - Derrick Dear Derrick: Well, the good news is your renter would be right next door. You can keep an eye on things. The bad news? Your renter would be right next door. It would be a necessity to have very cl...
Dear Dave, We recently started following your plan, and it has made a huge difference in our financial outlook and our marriage. When it comes to the Baby Steps, when do you recommend setting aside money for a wedding? We have a daughter, and we want to be able to do as much as possible for her when the time comes. Jim Dear Jim, That's a good question. There's not really a Baby Step specifically for weddings. In my mind, it should probably come after Baby Step 5-setting aside...
You've probably heard people talk about their "go-to" recipes. Maybe you have some go-tos yourself. They're those dishes that are easy to make, foolproof and always deliver delicious results that you can count on for just about any purpose, from family meals to casual get-togethers with friends to special-occasion parties. With holiday celebrations of all kinds fast approaching, desserts are generally the go-to recipes that are most in demand. Especially prized are treats that...
Every time I travel to Europe in the off-season, I find myself enjoying a cool and comfy tranquility - and not missing the heat and crowds that so often come with peak season. But even more than that, I enjoy catching Europe by surprise - at its candid best, living everyday life. When I travel outside of the tourist season, Europe seems even more welcoming than normal. Some of my warmest European memories have been gained while wearing a sweater in the off-season. Lingering ov...
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am way past my childbearing years and do not have any health problems. Do I need to continue getting Pap smears? At what age is this test no longer necessary? ANSWER: Getting regularly scheduled Pap smears is important for almost all women. That said, whether you need to continue getting Pap smears, also called Pap tests, depends on your age, risk factors for cervical cancer and results of past Pap tests. Pap smears often can catch cervical cancer in its...
Dear Cathy, My grandson adopted two rescue dogs. The second dog he adopted had been hit by a car and left on the road to die. She was found by a rescue provider, taken to a vet, nursed back to health and was fostered by my grandson. She was such a sweetie that she became part of the family. She gets along well with the older dog. The problem is, a few months ago, she started to dig holes in the back yard. This has become an ongoing habit. Can you give any insight into why...
Dear Dave, My husband will be finishing physician assistant school in December, just a few days before our first baby is due. We've got about $70,000 in student loan debt, and we're trying to get everything paid off. Both our cell phones are pretty old, and I'd like to get a new one that costs $350 so we can have really good pictures of the baby. My job is the only income we have right now, and I'm making $45,000 before taxes. Is this a silly thing to do in our situation?...
Here's a sobering thought as we all look forward to the bounty of Thanksgiving dinner: According to the subtitle of a study first published in 2012 and updated in 2017 by the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council, "America is losing up to 40 percent of its food from farm to fork to landfill." The largest part of food waste happens at home, with an average of 238 pounds of food per person being tossed out every year. On a helpful, hopeful note, the report also includes sm...
When I first came to the Cinque Terre, then an isolated stretch of the Italian Riviera south of Genoa, it was a classic "back door": a string of five pastel-hued hamlets, gently and steadily carving a good life out of difficult seaside terrain. It was authentic, romantic, and without a tourist in sight. Fast forward several decades ... and the once-sleepy villages are now on Instagram bucket lists and mobbed in high season by organized tours and cruise-ship excursions. The...
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: What can be done about thumb arthritis besides having surgery to relieve the pain? ANSWER: There are a number of therapies to consider before turning to surgery to treat thumb arthritis. Although these therapies may not always provide long-term relief, for most people with thumb arthritis, they can effectively lessen symptoms, and surgery may not be necessary. Surgery for arthritis of the thumb is usually a treatment of last resort. The thumb is designed to...
Dear Cathy, I have a 5-year-old mixed breed dog. Most of the time, he's a lovable smooch. When I take him to the dog park, he plays with the other dogs and runs and really has a good time. But whenever I have him on a leash, if he sees another dog on a leash or a human in our vicinity, he goes nuts with an aggressive stance, barking and pulling. What can I do about it? - Dennis, Las Vegas Dear Dennis, Leash reactivity describes aggressive behaviors seen while a dog is on a...
Q. I've gotten out of debt before following your plan, but I always seem to fall right back in. I find myself spending more than I mean to whenever I go out shopping or running errands. I'm tired of all this, and I want to stop busting my budget and get control of my money once and for all. Do you have any advice? A. Years ago, when I lost everything financially, there were two or three extremely strong emotions that spurred me toward change. Probably the biggest emotion was...
What's the first thing you'll serve to your guests when they sit down to Thanksgiving dinner next week? That's an important question for any menu. The first course sets the tone for the meal to come. It should, as the old phrase goes, whet the appetite, sharpening the senses and adding a happy edge to guests' anticipation. A great introductory dish should not only look beautiful, smell enticing and taste delicious, but also satisfy and leave guests wanting more. At...
Strung along the Danube River, three capital cities - Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest - make up a triangle of enjoyable urbanity at the heart of central Europe. Each of these capital cities shares a common Habsburg history, and thanks to their proximity - only one or two hours apart by train - combining all three into one trip is a breeze. Vienna ranks at the top of my list of elegant European cities. Once the capital of the mighty Habsburg empire, it has a rich culture you...
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Is removing the bladder a reasonable treatment option for a 78-year-old with nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer? My dad has tried other therapies without much success, but I'm worried removing the bladder will be too difficult for him to manage. ANSWER: In the situation you describe, bladder removal is a reasonable approach. Bladder cancer can be a lethal disease if it's not aggressively treated at this stage. Although the surgery is complex, when it's...
Dear Cathy, I have two Japanese Chin brothers that have just turned 2. I have French doors to my patio that are off my family room, giving full view to the outside, which includes a long driveway to my unattached garage. The problem starts when I pull into the driveway as I return home. I can see them going crazy jumping on the glass and scratching it. By the time I walk from the garage to the house, they are still jumping and scratching on the glass. These doors are not the...
Dear Dave: Is it OK to give very young children an allowance? - Christie A: Teaching kids there's an emotional connection between work and money is one of the best things you can do as a parent. Once your kids are old enough to do a few simple chores around the house, they're old enough to earn a little money doing them. In my mind, there's absolutely nothing wrong with putting kids who are 3 or 4 on a basic commission system. If they do the jobs you assign them, they get...
Many people refer to the Labor Day weekend, now more than two months past, as the unofficial end of summer grilling season. But those of us who love to grill know that you can't stop just because you've turned the calendar page. There are diehards, of course, who brave the elements to continue grilling outdoors. I've even known of people who protect their food and themselves with an umbrella in the pouring rain to keep practicing their favorite cooking method, regardless of...
With a rich culture, friendly people, affordable prices, and a salty setting on the edge of Europe, Portugal understandably makes a rewarding destination for travelers. Bustling Lisbon and the sunny Algarve coast are well known to tourists (for good reason), but quieter places also offer tantalizing tastes of Portuguese flavor. About 90 miles northeast of Lisbon, just east of the pilgrimage site of F·tima, is lushly green Tomar - a quaint town of about 20,000 residents, set...
Dear Cathy: My Maltese, Tim, is 10 months old. I feed him wet and dry food on a paper plate. He eats a little and then I have to put the food on the floor where he eats some, goes away and then comes back and eats most of it. I tried using a regular dinner plate with the same results. This is my fifth dog and they all ate off paper plates without a problem. We have been crate/potty training him for three months. He seems to get the pooping outside part, but we're not sure...
I just turned 50, and my health care provider recommends that I get a colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer. I want to have the test done, but as a recovering addict, I don't want pain medication. Is this possible, or would the pain be too much? What are my other options? ANSWER: For people in your situation, there are several alternatives to choose from when considering a colonoscopy. In addition to the option of forgoing pain medication completely, you could have the...
Dear Dave, I'm 26 and single, and I have about $35,000 in credit card and student loan debt. I'm only making $20,000 a year right now, but I expect to be making almost $30,000 soon. Under the circumstances, can I get by with $500 in my emergency fund, or do I need to have $1,000 set aside like you recommend in Baby Step 1? I'm worried about keeping up with bills while saving money for my starter emergency fund. Thomas Dear Thomas, I know it will be tough, but a $1,000...
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I recently was diagnosed with diverticulosis. Are there certain foods I should avoid altogether or specific foods that would benefit my diet? ANSWER: Diverticulosis is a common condition that usually doesn't cause any symptoms. But, in some cases, diverticulosis may develop into a more serious disorder known as diverticulitis. Research has shown that eating a high-fiber diet may play in a role in preventing diverticulitis in people with diverticulosis. Other...
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I recently was diagnosed with diverticulosis. Are there certain foods I should avoid altogether or specific foods that would benefit my diet? ANSWER: Diverticulosis is a common condition that usually doesn't cause any symptoms. But, in some cases, diverticulosis may develop into a more serious disorder known as diverticulitis. Research has shown that eating a high-fiber diet may play in a role in preventing diverticulitis in people with diverticulosis. Other...
Dear Cathy, We got our third miniature schnauzer two months ago at 9 weeks old. We have his crate in our kitchen, in which he has not soiled. After the first two weeks there were no mishaps in the kitchen, so we introduced him to the rest of the house. Right away he went into the den and took a poop on the new rug. Next it was the dining room rug - three times on different corners. We thought he might smell our old dog, so we kept him out of the area, and I deep cleaned the...