I love days like today when I get to open the Everyday Cheapskate mailbag and read all the letters and messages from our growing Debt-Proof Living family and attempt to answer your questions about everything from a supereasy way to make great compost (I'm still working on that one) to just about anything you can imagine to do things better, faster and cheaper.

Dear Mary: Do you have a tip on how to clean my white Pfaltzgraff dishes?

-- Barb, email

Dear Barb: Pfaltzgraff has been making dinnerware for many years and has used earthenware, stoneware, porcelain and bone china at some point in its history.

Most Pfaltzgraff patterns currently in production are made primarily of stoneware and earthenware, with only a few patterns being offered in ironstone and porcelain. The good news is that all Pfaltzgraff dinnerware is microwave and dishwasher safe.

The appearance of gray lines or "scratches" on Pfaltz-graff dinnerware is not a defect -- it is quite common. These marks appear when metal utensils come in contact with the hard glazes used by the manufacturer. You can remove these marks easily using a variety of cleansers. Pfaltzgraff makes its own Pfaltzgraff Stoneware & Porcelain Cleaner, but at $9.99 for 16 ounces it is a little pricey.

Two other products that are safe to use on Pfaltzgraff are Zud and, my personal favorite, Bar Keepers Friend. Simply dip a wet cloth into a small amount of Bar Keepers Friend and apply

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it to the stain or mark. Let it sit for a couple of minutes, then rub gently to remove the mark. Work slowly and do not use a lot of pressure. Wash the dish in warm water using a mild dishwashing soap and dry with a soft, clean cloth.

 

Dear Mary: I set up my free DPL/Mvelopes account and took advantage of the free Jumpstart Coaching session. Now, I think it would be beneficial for my situation to do the monthly coaching plan for $49.95 a month. What do you think about the coaching?

-- Teri, Texas

Dear Teri: I'm happy to hear that you took advantage of that phone call with an Mvelopes coach. It's difficult for me to know with certainty if you will benefit from ongoing coaching sessions.

What I can tell you is I wish I would have had this kind of opportunity years ago when I was going through my own financial recovery. It should not have taken me 13 years to get out of debt. But I didn't really know what I was doing, didn't know how to set up a plan and had no accountability.

I am certain if I'd had one-on-one coaching, my husband and I could have done it in five years. That's huge. Just think how much interest we could have saved.

I refuse to live with regret, but if I could do it again, I would jump at the opportunity to have the help, guidance, confidentiality and friendship of a personal financial coach.

I personally recommend and endorse DPL/Mvelopes, JumpStart and Money4Life Coaching at Mvelopes.com/DebtProofLiving.com.

Do you have a question for Mary? Email her at mary@everyday cheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2099, Cypress, CA 90630.