photo by beggs

DEAR SARA: My family and I are supposed to go to Florida for Christmas. We have a friend who is getting married close to the holiday, and the remaining time would be spent with family. My problem is that the airfare will cost almost $1,600! I know we could have gotten it cheaper if I’d booked two months ago, but we just didn’t get our acts together. I’m now feeling guilty about not wanting to pay that much. We will see the same family at our house for Thanksgiving, and the friend we would see only briefly at the wedding. You know how that goes. Do you think the trip is worth it? What would you do? — McPhilips, New York

DEAR MCPHILIPS: No. I wouldn’t go. That’s a lot of money to spend on family you will see at Thanksgiving, and you won’t see your friend much, anyway. I’m not implying money is more important than special occasions and family, but I’d save the money and send my friend a lovely wedding gift. In the future, plan ahead for discounted airfare so you can enjoy time with your friends and family without feeling guilty for paying too much. You’ll all enjoy the visit more.

DEAR SARA: With all the different mops on the market, what do you use to clean your kitchen floor? — Cindy, Arizona

DEAR CINDY: I’ve tried a lot of mops such as sponge, string, microfiber, etc. I prefer to clean my floors on my hands and knees, using a scrub brush and a bucket of floor cleaner. I sweep daily and will damp mop between scrubbings. I’ve discovered cheap mops are simply not worth buying. They either fall apart quickly or take too much effort to use. There are some items you should not skimp on. Although I like traditional rag/string mops, they are too cumbersome for me to use on a regular basis. I thought I would like a string mop with a built-in wringer. I didn’t. If you buy a mop that requires refills, look for one that has reusable, washable cleaning cloths instead of disposable, such as the Method o Mop (www.methodhome.com).

DEAR SARA: I was having great success hanging my laundry to dry in the basement. I got my electric bill down to $22 per month. Now it seems to take two to three days for the clothes to dry, and sometimes they’ll get a musty smell from staying wet for so long. I have been using the dryer for about two weeks now, and I want to stop before it gets to be a habit again. Any advice for getting the clothes to dry quicker when it’s not summer? I tried using a fan, but it didn’t seem to work very well. Plus, using the electricity to run a fan for 12 hours or more eats into the savings of not using the dryer. — Heather, Canada

DEAR HEATHER: Your basement is too humid. Try using a dehumidifier to remove some of the humidity. You can also try a drying rack or retractable line upstairs or simply hang your laundry on hangers on your shower rod. Make sure the clothing has enough air circulation. You will still save money if you partially dry your clothes with your dryer.

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