This month invites us to pause in gratitude … and not just with turkey and trimmings! November opens opportunities to show appreciation for our veterans, the world around us, and the strangers who cross our paths.

What’s more thrilling: Watching scary movies all month long, or dressing up for the big event? Trick question … it’s both! So pick a movie, and we’ll predict the costume you’ll be wearing tonight. (Caution: Results may be eerily inaccurate.)

This sweet Halloween treat is sure to be a crowd pleaser, because instead of including some candy, it includes ALL the candy … or at least as many kinds as you dare. Finally, you get to channel your inner Willy Wonka! Do you want crunch? Chocolate? Salty pretzel bits? Caramel? Or just throw everything into your candy cauldron and let the magic happen? You may need to make several batches to decide … or to appease the candy-craving ghouls in your kitchen.

Is your credit card debt creeping up on you like a ghost in the night? A high balance — and the stress of not being able to pay it off — can feel downright terrifying. But if you're a homeowner, there's a potential lifeline: your home equity.

Should you tap your home equity to banish high-interest debt? Maybe. But first you need to understand the benefits and risks involved.