Category: Personal Product Reviews

Searching for the best products to enhance your daily life? My personal product reviews have you covered. From must-have gadgets and essential home goods to the latest meal prep and food delivery services, I put a wide range of consumer items to the test with the goal of helping you make informed purchasing decisions and discover the products that will truly improve your lifestyle.

Yale Assure Lock 2 and app
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...
Carvana 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...
slimfit ponts
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...
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...
lineup of 5 different Go Brewing beers
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...
collage of Audible book covers
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...
Goldbelly Perishable sticker on shipping box
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...
Comenteer coffee shipment
Cometeer Review: A Money-Saving Specialty Coffee Source?
My relationship with coffee has really evolved over the years. Like many people my age (presumably), my first experience with drinking coffee with any frequency came thanks to the Starbucks Carmel Macchiato. Yet, when I wasn’t drinking sickly sweet beverages like that, I’d drink my coffee black.  Somewhere along the way, I found myself gravitating...
4 cans of Athletic Brewing beer
Athletic Brewing Non-Alcoholic Beer Subscription Review
For as long as I can remember, I've had an odd aversion to alcohol. I distinctly remember running out of the room crying during the Pleasure Island scene of Pinocchio and the apparently famous Tiny Toon Adventures episode "One Beer" left me scarred for life. Whatever the reason for this, I've never drank and am...
EveryPlate logo
EveryPlate Meal Kit Delivery Review
For the past few years, meal kit delivery services have been all the rage. And although I’ve written about them from time to time, I hadn’t actually tried any first-hand — until I joined EveryPlate about 18 months ago.  Like other services, EveryPlate sends you weekly recipes along with pre-portioned ingredients. But, with me being...
There's a new breed of dog collar
Fi Smart Collar (Series 2) Review: Is it Worth It?
A few months ago, my wife and I expanded our family by adding a dog. And while I've already shared some of the expenses we've incurred since bringing Rigby home, I wanted to go more into detail about one item we purchased for her: a Fi Smart Collar. This is actually something I had my...
perpared meal delivery service steak dinner with apragus and tomatoes
Meal Delivery Services: Pros, Cons, and Comparisons
Sometimes a simple idea can really take off, leading others to put their own twist on it and flood the market. That's pretty much exactly what's happened with meal delivery services — also known as meal kit subscriptions. These plans allow you to select from a list of recipe options each week and then have...
Featured Articles
An Amex Platinum Card Revamp is Coming — And I'm Worried
Earlier this week, Chase confirmed pretty much every rumor that had been swirling for the past couple of months by announcing details on a major refresh for its uber popular Sapphire Reserve card. When this refresh launches next week (or in October for current cardholders), it will bring new credits, a reimagined rewards-earning system, and...
When is the Best Time to Book a Flight?
In just the past few years, the travel industry has changed tremendously. Yet, there’s one aspect that’s remained the same: people are looking to save money. Yes, while we all wish money were no object so that we could plan the trip of our dreams without restrictions, the fact is that booking a flight can...
Not *That* Great: 3 Rewards Credit Card Tricks to Watch Out For
I write a lot about credit cards. That not only includes reviewing the ones I have but also discussing new cards and my thoughts on whether they're worth it. In doing this, I've now come across a few recurring themes that I think highlight how some credit card marketing can oversell what you're actually getting....
Discover is Debuting a Super Practical Quarterly Bonus Category
As I've shared before, the Discover It card was the first card I applied for when I got over my fear of credit and began to embrace the rewards hobby. Because of this, it still holds a special place in my heart and wallet, even if it's not my most-used card anymore. In particular, though,...