Category: Quick Tips

Every Friday I post a new Quick Tip covering a wide range of topics, including ways to save money, travel tips, personal products/services I find interesting, and more.

Amazon shipping box
Amazon Just Killed the Way I've Mooched Free Shipping For Years
I don't remember the last time I paid for shipping on Amazon. When I head to the site to buy something, I just expect it to be shipped for free. In fact, long ago I'd stopped even looking for the Prime shipping logos on listings. Yet, all this time, I had never actually paid for...
American Express Platinum Card shown at a lounge entry
American Express Platinum Refresh Rumors Are Heating Up
The day before Chase unveiled the overhauled version of its flagship Sapphire Reserve premium card, American Express teased that a major update to its iconic Platinum Card was also in the works. Since then, we haven't heard any solid (read: official) updates — but rumors about some possible changes have become more pervasive in the...
woman holding an Anker MagGo UFO 3-in-1 Charger
Anker Has Several of Its Travel-Friendly Products On Sale
Traveling in 2025 often means packing a lot of chargers. I know that whenever I'm getting ready for a trip, I have a long checklist of devices I need to make sure I can power up while I'm away. On top of that, it's always a good idea to have a backup power bank to...
Hank Green in front of investment charts
Time to Think Small? Why Hank Green is Adjusting His Investments
I take my YouTube algorithms very seriously. In fact, if there's a video I want to watch but that I don't want to be served more of after, I'll open the link in Incognito or an alt account (even sacrificing my ad-free Premium privileges in the process). Similarly, if I'm going to check out financial...
Solis Go front and back views
Solis is Offering a Limited-Time Discount on Its Solis Go Bundles
As the summer season starts to wind down, Solis is offering a limited-time discount that's perfect for your last-minute getaway. From now through August 10th, you can save 10% on Solis Go bundles. The Solis Go is one of the brand's newest devices — and also happens to be their most affordable. This pocketable hotspot...
Disney+ Fans — These American Express Cards are For You
In 2025, there is certainly no shortage of streaming services to choose from. And while I have subscriptions to a few, speaking as a Disney fan, my favorite has to be Disney+ (coupled with Hulu). Of course, with the costs of these services adding up, it's always nice when you can claim a discounted or...
Mesa app with mortgage payment redemption
You Can Now Redeem Mesa Points Towards a Mortgage Payment
After weeks of teasing a new point redemption option for the Mesa Homeowners Card, the time has come. Now, Mesa members can cash in their points toward mortgage payments... sort of. More accurately, cardholders can redeem points toward a direct deposit into their linked bank account, with the intention to use that money for their...
Bilt Home Away From Home logo and a couple staring out at the water
Bilt's Launched Its Answer to Amex FHR — But There's a Catch
Earlier this week, I got an email from Bilt announcing a new offering called Home Away from Home. It was kind of a weird name that didn't tell me a whole lot — but, after briefly scanning the message, I quickly determined that it was essentially Bilt's version of the American Express Fine Hotels &...
person standing in front of exploding fireworks
Hey You Kids, Get Off My Lawn!
With last Friday being July 4th, I decided to take a week off from posting. However, I wanted to share a story from that night (or, really, early the next morning). Backing up, last year, we learned that our neighbors loved fireworks. So we were prepared for a few hours of noise and helping our...
Allbirds 4th of July sale logo
Allbirds is Celebrating Independence Day with a 50% Off Sale
One funny thing about summer is how a sunny day can quickly turn into a heavy downpour. This is even more prominent in certain parts of the country where you may be headed on a summer vacation (I'm looking at you, Florida!). So, given that weather reality, it makes perfect sense that Allbirds would be...
two American Express Platinum Cards
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...
a hand and 5 credit cards
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....
Featured Articles
Travel Tuesday: The Club ATL Grab & Go Pantry Lounge Review
Last week, I set off for San Francisco from my home in Springfield, Missouri. But, since I was flying Delta, I of course needed to make a stop in Atlanta before my flight back in the correct direction. Over the years, I've spent plenty of time at ATL, so when something new pops up, I...
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,...