Pets

cat lying on table next to vase with flowers

Did you know you have to pay to get information from animal Poison Control?

Rita R. Robison / August 7, 2026

For years, I’ve written about Poison Help centers, a national network of state centers that help people out when someone […]

More reasons not to let pets sleep in your bed

Rita R. Robison / June 3, 2026

In the past, I’ve written it’s not a good idea to let pets sleep with you because a study found

How to buy pet insurance

Rita R. Robison / June 2, 2026

Is buying pet insurance a good idea? Some policies don’t work well for pet owners. Some pets need coverage more

a woman and a girl wearing life vests riding on red jetski

Safety tips for Memorial Day weekend and throughout the summer

Rita R. Robison / May 22, 2026

It’s the Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial beginning of summer. Here are tips from consumer organizations and government agencies to help you have a safe Memorial Day and safe activities all summer long as you enjoy great weather and being outdoors.

What not to give for a gift

Rita R. Robison / December 23, 2025

Since gift giving is big this time of year and I just wrote about the best gifts I’ve ever received,

Follow these tips so you don’t accidentally leave a child or pet in a hot car

Rita R. Robison / July 27, 2025

When my daughter came to visit and we rode in her rental car, she wondered why the screen kept saying

Bloggers are busy as spring hesitantly begins

Rita R. Robison / March 30, 2025

The TV weatherman and I must have had a misunderstanding. I watched the weather forecast carefully and I was sure

Facts and figures for Halloween 2024

Rita R. Robison / October 30, 2024

It’s that time of year again. Decorations are coming out and goblins, ghosts, and an array of other characters will

Has summer gone away already?

Rita R. Robison / August 25, 2024

Suddenly, last summer … I was all set to continue a busy week of gardening and enjoying summer weather. I

This week's top 10 money tips

1. Take a look at these 20 ways to save money.

2. Check out whether Mint Mobile’s unlimited plan for $15 a month will work for you.

3. Consider a childcare swap, where you take turns watching each other’s children, to save money on childcare.

4. Be prepared to pay a fee if you need to call animal Poison Control if your pet ingests a chemical, pill, or other possible poison.

5. Consider having your kids attend community college for two years and live at home to save money and avoid huge student loans.

6. Take a look at a new report, which found that the typical worker can’t afford a middle-class lifestyle in any of the 50 largest U.S. metro areas.

7. Check out the scams a seller encountered when he sold a vehicle on Craigslist.

8. Be aware the U.S. government has returned about $100 billion of about $166 billion collected under President Donald Trump’s invalidated emergency tariffs. Refunds are going to the businesses not shoppers.

9. Check out these rules for portfolio planning when you’re 45.

10. Take this quiz to see if you know the importance of five milestone ages in retirement planning.

Thanks for subscribing to my newsletter. Tell your friends and co-workers about it so they can make savvy money choices, too. Here’s the sign up: https://tinyurl.com/makeyourmoneywork. And, for a big bonus, they’ll also get my free e-book on how to optimize their personal finance decisions.

July 13, 2026