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Gift-Giving This Season

Dear Readers: We are always looking to save money, but the holiday season can be particularly challenging. We want the best for our families, but how can we give without breaking the bank? We face a lot of pressure: TV commercials tell us to spend, spend, spend; kids and grands want what they want; if someone gives you a gift, you feel like you have to reciprocate. Just hold the phone. Before spending anything, sit down, take a hard look at your finances, and create a budget. This will protect you from overspending. And think about starting a savings plan for next year. Giving a gift ...

COVID Causes Rift Between Nurse’s Boyfriend, His Sister

DEAR ABBY: I am a nurse in New York City. My boyfriend lives in Philadelphia. During the height of the pandemic, we didn’t see each other because I worked on a COVID unit and contracted the virus. His sister became very controlling and kept urging him not to see me, which brought me great pain. I was extremely lonely, and for months, the only people I saw were my co-workers. At the end of May, my boyfriend and I began seeing each other regularly. Because he sees me, his sister refuses to see him, which makes me very sad. His mother died two years ago. When his family tries to ...

Not So Neighborly Neighbors

Today’s Sound Off is about yard maintenance: Dear Heloise: With the fall comes yard maintenance: cutting trees back, mulching and raking leaves. Two of my neighbors use those blowers that blow leaves and debris out into the street, but unfortunately they don’t bag the leaves and twigs. The first strong wind that comes along blows everything back where it was, or worse, it ends up in everyone else’s yard. My neighborhood is in the suburbs, and everyone takes great care with their yard. This makes our street look nice, keeps property values up and makes this a healthy, happy ...

Coin Collector Is Blindsided by Wife’s Sale of Gold Piece

DEAR ABBY: My wife recently came back from a gold/silver/coin merchandiser event and told me she had sold an old U.S. $5 gold piece (for probably less than it was worth). I was hurt, not only because I have a coin collection and would have been interested in knowing about and seeing the coin, but also because she didn’t seem to understand how disappointed and hurt I was. She gleefully announced she was going to use the proceeds to purchase an exercise bike. I took a two-hour walk to work off my feelings and then skipped dinner because I had lost my appetite. Sometimes I feel that my ...

A Fashion Plate In Plaid

There is a lot of serious business happening in the news these days. I don’t know about you, but the statistics on the COVID-19 cases and deaths are trying my soul. While I feel terrible for the families who have lost loved ones, and send them my prayers, I will try today to bring a smile to ...

Antiques Bring Beauty to the Holiday Table

As we enter the holiday season, things aren’t quite right. Thanksgiving had no traditional outdoors Macy’s Day Parade, no big gatherings and instead featured mask-wearing, social distancing and small groups. It is a holiday like no other that’s for sure. However, we must prevail and hang in there. How can antiques and collectibles help? It’s obvious — these small treasures offer a bit of beauty and distraction at any table, no matter how small the group gathered for a meal. For example, Croesus ware. This pretty style of glass adds a beautiful glimpse of elegance to ...