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Archived Questions!

July 28, 2010

I remember a message that talked about what papers to save, and for how long, like tax preparations, and what to throw away. Could you reprint?

Here is a basic list of what to keep and how long. If it is not on the list it would then be up to your discretion. I live by if in doubt throw it out .

Keep :
Birth certificates
Adoption papers
Custody agreements
Death certificates
Deeds to property
Divorce papers
List of previous employers
Loans that have been paid off (canceled notes or other evidence)
Marriage certificates
Passports
Photographic or video record of house and household contents
Record of any governmental employment (e.g., armed forces)
Income tax returns (supporting documentation may be destroyed after six years)
Tax forms and supporting records relating to non-deductible IRA contributions
Tax forms and supporting records relating to sale of a home

Keep for a while:
Bank statements—six years
Brokers’ confirmation slips for purchases—until security is sold
Canceled checks—six years
Contracts—seven years after expiration
Credit card statements—six years
Receipts for home improvements that can be added to tax basis of home—
six years after home is sold in a transaction that is not a “rollover” transaction
Insurance papers (all types of insurance)—four years after expiration
Mortgage records—three years after paid off
Owners’ manuals for appliances—until item is discarded
Receipts for major warranted purchases—until item is discarded or sold
Records supporting income tax returns and deductions (W-2s, 1099s, receipts)—six years
Warranties and extended service agreements—until expiration

Throw Away (Shred)
Owners’ manuals and warranties for appliances and cars you no longer own
Receipts for credit card purchases if not major or related to a tax deduction

Tom

July 28, 2010

I have two cars. One is a 200 Mitsubishi Mirage., mileage 58,000. My son had an accident and it needs a new hood, fender, front bumper and painting. The air bags deployed and one seat belt won't work.

I inherited a 1994 T-Bird mileage 103, that is in fairly good shape, looks good and runs well.

One thought is to let my son have the Mitsubishi and me keep the T-Bird (it's a V-8) but there's considerable cost involved in fixing up the Mitsubishi and the T-Bird had quite a few problems when the prior owner used it.

Should I do the above or get rid of both cars and start over with a new "used" car?

I am conflicted as to what I should do and would appreciate a male point of view on this. I need a dependable vehicle and my son also needs a car.

Thank you.

Robert Here -

The 94 T-Bird had problems with head gaskets, transmissions, and brakes. Plus it got poor gas mileage. That was when it was new. 16 years and counting, the list of problems will only get longer. If somebody will give you money for it, I would say take the money. You may remember a Ford slogan of a few years ago: "Have you driven a Ford lately?" They used that because they weren't particularly proud of some of the cars they used to make, and thought (correctly) that their newer models were a lot better. I would put the 94 in the "used to make" category. If you keep it, it will give you problems, and some of those problems will adversely affect its dependability.

The Mitsu is a harder call. Ignoring the wreck issue, this car has a good reputation for reliability, and with it being six years younger, and half the mileage of the T-Bird, it looks like the car to keep. But there is the wreck issue. If it only needed hood, fender, and bumper work, but not radiator or A/C condenser replacement, it wasn't that bad of a wreck. I would say, have the front and rear alignment checked, and if it is within specs (or can be adjusted to be within specs), have it repaired and drive it. Understand, though, that any ten year old car will need maintenance. The old standard, which probably needs to be revised upward a little, was $600 a year. Unthinking people call that being "nickel-and-dimed," but compare that with a car payment, and you see why used cars are not bad investments.

If the Mitsu cannot be aligned without using shims or special kits, that would mean the wreck was worse than I think it was, and you should probably get rid of it.

July 26, 2010

Hey Tom,

We have a new dishwasher, a Kenmore Model 587.14012406a, mechanical dial, built in. The water is not draining properly (hardly at all), and I checked the owner's manual which basically said to ensure there were not kinks in the drain hose. There aren't as it was working fine up until now. I suspect a food clog, and have tried pouring hotter than usual water in the unit in case it was a meltable grease clog. To no avail. I have siphoned out the water from the unit, there doesn't appear to be a way to open up the drain out area from inside the unit, am I supposed to go under the unit and unclamp the hose?

Thank you very much...

You probably need to clean the drain screen. You can access it from the top by taking off the the bottom spinner arm. I have attached a diagram of your model.

Tom

July 26, 2010

My 100 pound Monster dog destroyed my carpet yesterday. I came home to find she had not only destroyed one of my plants and strewn the dirt from the pot throughout my house, she also got into a canister of baking cocoa and ground/licked it into the carpet. Is there anything that you know of to help remove cocoa from carpeting?

And yes, I know chocolate is toxic to dogs, but she is okay. In fact, I don't think anything can kill her, because I know I almost tried last night!

Thanks for your help

Robert Here -

Credit the University of Illinois extension service for this one: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/stain/staindetail.cfm?ID=79