Category: Saving Money

view from outside YMCA in Springfield
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...
online banking
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...
large house with sign in front yard
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,...
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...
a woman's hand pressing a phone screen
Should You Buy, Lease, or Finance Your Next Smartphone?
Remember a few years ago when you thought that friend of yours who always had the latest model iPhone was crazy for spending that much? That’s changed in recent years as carriers and others now allow you to essentially lease your device. Taking a page from the auto industry, you have the option to make...
MacBook Pro
Buying a MacBook Pro in 2023: The Challenges and Tips for Saving
In 2004, I began my freshman year of college. During my first week, I realized that I needed a laptop that I could use to take notes in class, do homework on, and make dorm life more bearable in between. When I went to the school bookstore, I learned that all they sold were Apple...
apartment buildings
4 Ways to Save Money on Rent — Without Moving
For months, one of the biggest stories in the country — let alone finance stories — has been the rate of inflation. Due to a number of factors, Americans have seen everything from their grocery bills to their gas pump totals rise. Similarly, many renters have experienced hikes on their monthly payments. Heck, my rent...
working on a laptop
6 Tips for Saving Money When Buying Electronics
There's no doubt that technology and electronics play a bigger role in our lives now more than ever before. Because of this, many of us find ourselves in the market for new tech on a fairly frequent basis. Whether it's a new phone, computer, tablet, camera, smartwatch, drone, or whatever else, we all know the...
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Is it Worth Opening a Credit Card Just For the Bonus?
Over the past several years, my interest in credit card rewards has grown tremendously. As this has happened, I've also backtracked on a couple of positions I held earlier on. A key example of this evolution is how I went from thinking I'd never want a credit card that charged an annual fee to applying...
American Express logo
The Lucrative Amex Offers I've Used So Far ($800+)
It’s now been about a year and a half since I took the plunge and decided to apply for the Platinum Card from American Express. Since then, I’ve been making use of plenty of the card’s perks, from the included credits to the hotel status and airport lounge access — in addition to some of...
moving boxes
The Hassles of Moving: What We Did Right and What I'd Change Next Time
It's now been six full years since my wife and I moved to Springfield, Missouri — a place neither of us had been to before we decided to relocate. In that time, we've lived in just one apartment, which also happened to be the only apartment we viewed during our exploratory visit to SGF in...
Moving boxes in empty room
Packing and Tossing: Decluttering as We Prepare to Move
A couple of weeks ago, I shared that my wife and I would be moving to a new apartment next month. While this move marks an upgrade for us, it's also a downsize as we'll be going to a one-bedroom unit from our current two-bedroom floorplan. Because of this, as we've been getting an early...
Featured Articles
4 Daily Games I Play That Somehow Make Me Feel Smart
Remember a few years ago when Wordle took the world by storm? Well, after that, it seemed that several other daily games popped up as well. Over time, the lineup of games I actually bother to play daily has evolved — but there are a few that I keep returning to. That's probably because, even...
Hotel Vandivort Review: Springfield, Missouri's Four Diamond Boutique Hotel
When it comes to my Travel Tuesday hotel review series, I often wonder what travels might be featured in my latest installment. That's when it hit me that: instead of looking to other cities for adventure, I could feature a property found right here in Springfield, Missouri.  Hotel Vandivort is a unique boutique hotel we’d...
I'm 40 and Finally Figured Out How to Properly Shave My Face
For a good portion of my mid to late 20s, I made my living pretending to be in high school for television. As it turns out, part of the reason why I could pass for younger is that I can't grow a beard to save my life. Unfortunately, this lack of growth also means that,...
Travel Tuesday: Anker MagGo UFO 3-in-1 Charger Review - Travel With Fewer Cables
Updated on May 5, 2026 To me, one of the most annoying parts of traveling in 2026 is ensuring that I pack chargers for all of the various devices I plan on bringing with me. That's why, in the past, I've been a fan of Rolling Square's InCharge multi-purpose cables that have built-in adapters. But,...