Money Oklahoma

After graduation, many Oklahoma students enter workforce with mountain of debt
Alexandra Hall, an Oklahoma State University graduate, doesn't regret taking out loans to pay for her degree. But when she went through an exit counseling session and saw “Total Owed: $37,000” flash across her computer screen, she did feel a bit of panic. Read More

Short-term rental gives peace of mind
DEAR BRUCE: I own a condo in California and plan on moving to another state. I'd like to rent out my condo until I can be sure that I will stay at my new location. The mortgage at the new place will be $1,100. The homeowner's fees are $250 and the property tax is $300 a month. I can rent out my condo for $1,500 a... Read More

Reuse coffee cans
Coffee cans are great storage containers. They have a tight-fitting lid, come in different sizes, are portable, and some even have a wide-grip handle. Their durability makes them a smarter choice than glass jars for many storage solutions. The first reader shares one way to reuse coffee cans: Reuse containers:... Read More

Hold the blowtorch! A dessert brulee without fire or fuss
Back in the 1980s, a New York chef traveled to Spain and brought home a British dessert with a French name. That, according to John Mariani, author of "The Dictionary of American Food and Drink," is the backstory on the dessert we know as "creme brulee," the rich, creamy custard served with a hard glaze of... Read More

Blender tests shake things up
A top-notch blender is a versatile kitchen appliance, good for making smoothies and frozen drinks, plus less obvious dishes, such as hummus, churn-free ice cream and even hot soup. Consumer Reports' recent tests of 65 blenders, including conventional stand models and the handheld immersion kind, tapped some... Read More

Buying Life Insurance
My mention of life insurance in a recent columns resulted in questions about life insurance on my Q&A blog at TerrySavage.com. It made me realize that life insurance is no longer being "sold" as it was to our parents' generation. In those days, a life insurance salesman made an appointment that consumed an... Read More

Bounce Back From Bankruptcy
Dear Mary: Please give me some pointers on bouncing back from bankruptcy. Will this have any effect on future employment opportunities? -- Henry, email     Dear Henry: Live on cash. Have only one credit card, and if you use it, pay it in full every month. Refuse all other offers of credit, and take... Read More

Multi-Tasking Oak Bench
Q: This is an enclosed photo of my antique oak organ bench. It was purchased from an antiques store in the 1970s. Music can be stored in the hinged top and it is upholstered in velvet. It is in excellent condition.     I am interested in learning the age and history of my bench.   ... Read More

Early inheritance may end up in wrong hands
DEAR BRUCE: My parents are in their late 80s. Several years ago they started to give me money as part of my inheritance for me to benefit from now instead of when they die. The money, which is nearly $120,000, is in an account in only my name. My marriage has been on shaky ground for the past year and I'm not... Read More

Easy to clean granite counter tops
Dear Sara: About a year ago we remodeled our kitchen and put in a black ground-granite sink. All the cleaners I have used leave a white film on it. Any suggestions? -- Jean, email Dear Jean: Use a microfiber cloth and warm water or Dawn dishwashing liquid mixed with warm water on a sponge or dishcloth. Rinse the... Read More

Sumptuous Italian fare from a British cookbook author
Jamie Oliver, Nigella Lawson, Nigel Slater, Gordon Ramsay -- all are British chefs who have made a splash on this side of the pond. A Brit who has flown under the radar is Tessa Kiros, who writes startlingly beautiful cookbooks chock full of recipes that inspire -- and work. For some reason, Kiros has not quite... Read More

Same generic drug, many prices
If your insurance has ever stopped covering a prescription drug or you don't have coverage at all, you know how quickly costs can mount. Americans spent, on average, $758 out of pocket for medication in 2012, according to a recent Consumer Reports national telephone poll. And in its survey of 1,130 people who... Read More

Talking Tomato Tells Time
Q: I am enclosing a photo of a plastic talking Heinz alarm clock that I bought at auction over 20 years ago. The Heinz tomato figure is wearing a top hat, a monocle, a black tux jacket with grey pants, gloves, black bow tie, spats and is holding a cane, and he has green leaves on his head. It stands about nine... Read More

The War Against Savers
There's no mystery about why the Fed wants to keep interest rates low. They say low interest rates will create economic growth, though there's not much evidence of that in recent years. Sure, low rates have helped the mortgage market, but they haven't triggered a boom in housing. And low rates haven't encouraged... Read More

With Knowledge Comes Savings
Many things that we buy are simply not negotiable. The salesperson at Macy's won't negotiate with you over the price of that newly arrived collection. The supermarket checker won't haggle with you over the price of eggs. But a ring at your local jeweler or produce at the farmer's market? Well, that's a different... Read More