Paul Michael's blog

10 Things You Should Never Buy at the Dollar Store (and 10 You Should)

You can get a lot of stuff you need at the dollar store at unbeatable prices — just as long as you know what products are real bargains, and which ones really aren't.

What to Buy, and Avoid Buying, in January

Believe it or not, January is a great time to find deals on winter wear. Read on to learn what else is on sale (and what isn't) as another new year begins.

9 Ways to Get Exactly What You Want From Customer Service

Use these Jedi mind tricks to get the best possible results from customer service reps.

14 Unexpected Uses for Sugar

You can do a lot more with a sack of sugar than sweeten your tea and bake some cookies. Read on to learn 14 other ways sugar can enrich your life.

15 Unexpected Uses for Peanut Butter

You love it on sandwiches. After you get to know it better, you'll also love peanut butter in your hair, on your windshield, and in your ice cream cones.

5 Cars That Thieves Don't Touch (and 5 Simple Anti-Theft Tricks)

Do you drive one of the least-stolen cars in America? Read this to find out.

15 Great DIY Gifts for Geeks

Whether your geek is into comics, Star Wars, Lego, or steampunk, you can make a cool, thoughtful gift they'll love once for being DIY and twice for being nerdcore.

10 Mantras That Will Transform Your Life

Whether you're reaching for a new goal, acquiring a new skill, or turning over a new leaf, a mantra can help you stay on track. Read on to find one that works for you.

10 Great Reasons to Drink Beer

One or two reasons to drink beer are generally enough. Here are eight or nine more to remind you that beer is good (in moderation).

10 Foods That Can Help You Sleep

Don't let your late to bed late to rise sleeping habits slow you down. Nibble (or sip) these sleep inducing foods to fall asleep faster — and stay that way until morning.

10 Hard Truths About Getting Hired That You Don't Want to Believe

Want to get the job? All you need to do is make sure you're a good-looking, six-foot tall man who already has a job. Learn more.

20 Free (or Really Cheap) Ways to Relieve Stress

The kids, the spouse, the boss, the car, the job, the news — the stress! Take the edge off and be the better you with these frugal ways to chill.

10 Fun Ways to Leave Your Job

Depending on the circumstances, leaving your job may be the best thing that's ever happened, or the worst. Either way, make the most of it!

10 More Scams Everyone Should Know About

Scamsters have refined classics like "Help I Need Gas" and developed new cons for the Internet age. Here are 10 to watch out for.

The Top 10 DIY Jobs Homeowners Should Avoid

If you're thinking about tackling a big DIY project, you may want to think again. Screw one of these projects up, and it could ruin your home's value — or worse.

10 Crazy Frugality Schemes That Just Might Work

Ready to take your frugal living beyond the everyday? Try one of these cost cutting strategies that push the boundaries of normalcy.

8 Vile Craigslist Scams to Watch Out For

Although 99% of the ads on Craigslist are legit, some are designed to scam you. Recognize these eight common Craigslist scams and avoid becoming a mark.

17 Things Car Salesmen Don't Want You to Know

Car salesmen have a lot of tricks up their sleeves to help separate you from your money. Learn what to watch out for.

10 Surprising Marketing Tricks You Should Be Aware Of

From unhealthy "health" products to designer diamonds and more, discover 10 sneaky marketing tricks to avoid.

25 Products You Think You Need, but Really Don’t

Marketers spend a lot of effort convincing us that our wants are needs. From aftershave to baby walkers, here are 25 things you can easily do without.