Category: Useful Tips

Remembering the Great Depression (With Someone Who Lived Through It)

We’ve written a quite a bit about the Great Depression. I think one of the reasons for this is because we’ve had family members who lived through it. Another big reason is there are many lessons that we can learn from that period. From how they saved money, farmed and survived it. While some economists …

10 Secrets to Shopping Costco, BJ’s, and Sam’s Club

This article was written about 6 years ago, but still has a lot of relevant information for shopping these warehouse stores. We’ve updated some of the information to give you the best chance at saving more money. Shopping wholesale warehouses can be fun, but you can easily go overboard. Don’t walk out of Costco, Sam’s Club, or BJ’s …

Brand Name vs. No-name Brand: A Price Comparison

I like Yoplait yogurt. I really like Yoplait yogurt, actually. In fact, no other yogurt will do. Dannon? Sorry, not for me. Generic brands? Not a chance. As I was scarfing down a Yoplait Strawberry Kiwi yogurt (easily the best flavor), I wondered how much my commitment to Yoplait is costing me. After examining my …

6 Tips for a Successful Interview

Years ago, I had an interview with a new company after I was looking for new opportunities. I had to brush up on my rusty interviewing skills. I love interviews too. It gives me a good idea of where I am at in the market place (both salary and skill level). Another reason is it …

Veteran’s Day

I was able to watch some of the History Channel’s “Vietnam in HD” special that first aired several years ago. It was a riveting documentary with amazing combat footage showing what the men (and women) faced during this long and difficult conflict. It had been the first time in modern warfare where battles were won …

Ting Revisted – 3 Year Review

Reviewing is a key component to success. I constantly encourage my ninth grade Algebra students to review their work. Coaches are always reviewing game film to learn from the previous game. I would submit to you that reviewing financial decisions is an important aspect of living wisely in the area of finances. When I make …

What Happened to Treats?

A couple times a month, my parents held a “popcorn party” night where my brother and I would get to watch a movie on the brand-new VHS player, eat homemade popcorn and indulge in our favorite beverage: RC Cola. I remember those nights fondly and was grateful for the times we got to “have fun” …

How to Easily (and Cheaply) Clean Your Soffit Vents

Last fall we got a notice from our homeowner association we needed to ensure our soffit vents were cleaned out before the first snow arrived. They relayed to us, blocked soffit vents are one of the leading causes of ice dams forming on the roof. Eek! Here’s an article I wrote about how poor insulation …

6 Cheap and Easy Home Improvements That Make a Big Difference

When we moved into our 1982-built townhome a couple years ago, there were some major design “no-no’s” going on. I loved the ’80’s as much as the next fella – but there are certainly some things that should have been left there! Among them are shag carpet, floral patterned couches and gold-colored anything (Gag me …