Managing Money

  • A Quick Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch Review – Is it Worth the Cost?

    A Quick Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch Review – Is it Worth the Cost?

    In the fall of 2023, when it became clear that we were nearing our first home purchase, I highlighted three purchases we were making as soon as we closed on the house. One of those items was locks — including the possibility of purchasing a smart lock. Well, sure enough, we decided to purchase the…

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  • I Cancelled a Subscription I Wasn’t Using — So Why Am I Sad?

    I Cancelled a Subscription I Wasn’t Using — So Why Am I Sad?

    Last month, I recommended that those seeking to accomplish a resolution in 2025 should look into canceling some of their subscriptions. In that post, I admitted that one big expense I was looking to cut but hadn’t yet had the courage to was my YMCA membership. Well, friends, I can now say that I’ve managed…

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  • Carvana Review: My Experience Buying a Used Car Online (And From a Vending Machine)

    Carvana Review: My Experience Buying a Used Car Online (And From a Vending Machine)

    Would you ever buy a car online without even getting so much as a test drive? To some, such a proposition sounds crazy — but that’s exactly what my wife and I did five years ago. After exploring options, securing financing, and arranging a trade-in via Carvana’s website, we drove up to Kansas City to…

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  • Dressing Like an Adult: Comparing Pants Instagram Sold Me

    Dressing Like an Adult: Comparing Pants Instagram Sold Me

    For most of my life, the bottom half of my body has been covered almost exclusively in denim. Specifically, except for the years when I had to wear a suit to work, I’d be seen in long jeans as I rarely ever wear shorts (although I did cave and wear some in Florida a couple…

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  • Save Money on Bank Fees with These Online-Only Banks

    Save Money on Bank Fees with These Online-Only Banks

    It’s no secret that many Americans have a complicated relationship with banks. In many ways, they may just seem like a necessary evil people put up with for convenience’s sake. As a result, consumers tend to grin and bear it with the various fees they’re charged on a monthly basis. However, when we talk about…

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  • Dry January Brew Guide: The Best (and Worst) NA Beers I’ve Had

    Dry January Brew Guide: The Best (and Worst) NA Beers I’ve Had

    Even as someone who doesn’t drink, I’ve long been interested in the craft beer scene. Specifically, I was fascinated by how many different styles of beer there were and how each could be tweaked or redefined by various brewers. Meanwhile, as far as I knew, non-alcoholic beers were akin to decaf coffee — a pale…

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  • Go Brewing Non-Alcoholic Beer Subscription Review: The Pros and Cons

    Go Brewing Non-Alcoholic Beer Subscription Review: The Pros and Cons

    A few months ago, while visiting my wife’s family in Ohio, I came across Go Brewing in the non-alcoholic beer section of a local grocery store. Upon trying their Not Just Another Story Double IPA (Now known as simply “The Story Double IPA”), I was blown away. When I got home, I looked to see…

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  • The Essential Guide to Saving Money When You Move

    The Essential Guide to Saving Money When You Move

    Are you thinking about moving because of a new job or just need a change in scenery? Depending on where you live, relocation could save a bundle in the long run. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of tasks as well as upfront expenses required in order to make a move happen. With that in mind,…

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  • Downsizing Your Life: How to Do It and Why You Might Want To

    Downsizing Your Life: How to Do It and Why You Might Want To

    After what may have seemed like an extremely long winter for some, spring is finally arriving. With the blooming flowers, warmer temperatures, and adjusted clocks, many are also gearing up for a tradition known as spring cleaning. While the habit of reorganizing yourself and decluttering your closets is great, what if you took things a…

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  • Audible Premium Plus Review: What it Offers and is it Worth it?

    Audible Premium Plus Review: What it Offers and is it Worth it?

    A few years ago, after hearing commercials for the service for years, I finally decided to try out an Audible subscription. Granted, I had purchased individual audiobooks from the platform in the past but hadn’t considered the membership. Cut to today and I’ve used Audible Premium Plus to download dozens of titles — including several…

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  • Goldbelly Review: Is it Worth the Cost?

    Goldbelly Review: Is it Worth the Cost?

    If you ask anyone that knows me, they’ll tell you that I am no foodie. Heck, I don’t even like the word “foodie.” Yet, even with how basic I am when it comes to food, I still know when something is good and especially know when something is special. That’s why for some time now…

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  • Breaking Down the Costs of Buying a House (With Real Numbers!)

    Breaking Down the Costs of Buying a House (With Real Numbers!)

    As of this week, my wife and I have officially (and fully) moved into our new house. Although the process was extremely quick once we got started, boy was there a lot that went into it. In turn, I learned a ton along the way — which is why I’ve been sharing a series of stories…

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Popular Articles
"Smart Brevity" Book Review — Can it Help Improve Your Writing?
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Solis is Launching Yet Another New Global WiFi Hotspot Model
Back in 2019, I purchased my first Solis (then known as Skyroam Solis) international hotspot device. Since then, though, the company has rolled out a number of new models — and that pace has really hastened over the past couple of years. That continued this month as preorders for their new Solis Tag device opened....
The Author Journey: Combating Headwinds
A few months ago, I resolved to finally get cracking on a book idea that had been floating around in my head for some time now. To correspond with this goal, I also decided to launch a monthly blog series taking you through the ups and downs of preparing a manuscript. Well, this particular entry...
Everything You Need to Know About Flying Allegiant Air in 2026
Updated on February 3, 2026 When my wife and I moved to Springfield, Missouri more than a decade ago, one of the selling points (or at least what kept it in the running) was that there was a nearby airport that served a decent number of destinations. Unfortunately, while it is convenient, flying out of...
Travel Tuesday: Crockfords Las Vegas (Resorts World)
You're not going to believe this but, recently, my wife and I spent more time in Las Vegas. Having returned, it's now time to continue my ongoing Las Vegas Content Bonanza™. Today, I'll be taking a look at the Crockfords hotel located at the new Resorts World complex on the Strip. This luxury property happens...
Featured Articles
Amex's Saks Fifth Avenue "Make Good" Offers Are More "Meh"
Back in March, American Express announced that the semi-annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit that had been offered on the Platinum card would be removed on July 1st. As I noted when sharing that news, this wasn't a huge loss as the Saks online shopping experience had gotten noticeably worse over the years, making it harder...
Travel Tuesday: Fitnexa SomniPods 3 Review
A few years ago, I did something kind of crazy: I spent $250 on sleep earbuds that essentially just play white noise. This purchase was mostly fueled by a desire to sleep through thunder-filled, Midwest nights — but I quickly found that the Bose Sleepbuds I purchased were perfect for travel and have been on...
My Wife Just Discovered the Magic of Bank Bonuses
One of the reasons why my wife and I have enjoyed such a successful marriage is that we were quick to get on the same page about money. However, while we agree on how we spend and save our money, when it comes to credit card rewards, my wife's been more apprehensive than me. It's...
The Internet is Going Wild for This Lucrative Offer from Paze
You may not have heard of Paze — but there's a good reason why you'll want to familiarize yourself with it now. This week, the digital wallet (which comes from the same company behind Zelle) launched an offer that could be worth $100 or more. Currently, when customers use Paze to pay at qualifying online...