Life Hacks

Book Review: Tyranny of Dead Ideas

Matt Miller's new Tyranny of Dead Ideas proves to be an insightful, fun read.

Old calendars never really go out of date.

This little fact was big news to me. I was casually flicking through a magazine at work when something caught my eye; it was buried in the bottom corner of one page and stated that

3 Cheap and Easy Formulas for Homemade Windshield De-Icer (Plus Bonus Tips)

It’s that dreaded time of year. Each trip to town requires a 10-minute pre-start on my car, and the hated task of scraping my windshield. There are several options to help you wi

What will be pulled off the shelves? The impact of the new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act

Recently the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act is making headlines because it required that all products (including clothes) made for children 12 and under be tested for lead

Leave Marley in the Movies: Why Buying a Trendy Pet Makes No Sense

Who doesn’t fall in love with the many animals featured in hit movies of today and years past? You may be hard-pressed to find someone who didn’t want to adopt 101 cute spotted dog

Book Review: Rich Like Them by Ryan D'Agostino

One summer my mother showed me a series of articles in Money magazine by a reporter named Ryan D'Agostino who knocked on the doors of expensive homes to find out how the occupants

Bouncing Back When There's No "Bounce" Left

We all have our ups and downs. We've all faced some pretty depressing odds and come out on top. But sometimes, it feels like you just can't get ahead, no matter how hard you try

Back to Reality: Coming Down after the Holidays

Whatever holidays you celebrate in November, December, and January, they're over now. We spend November and December gearing up, getting ready, anticipating days off from work, tra

The Real Value of Forever Stamps

Considering that I pay most bills online, I don’t use a whole lot of postage stamps these days. When I do, however, it almost always involves me digging through piles of paperwork

The vicious Home Rental Scam – don’t get conned.

It seems like new variations of the Nigerian 419 scam pop up every week. The one that caught my attention recently involved renting a home, and it’s a nasty trick that could take a

The Cost of Full-Time Travel

“How much does it cost to travel full-time as a Professional Hobo?” I am asked this question regularly by readers of my personal website. And while I maintain that the cost of full

Books Get Recalled, Too (The Shocking Truth)

Just when you thought the world of consumer product recalls was largely limited to lead-based toys, laceration hazards, and the phenomenon of exploding laptop batteries, we can now

Book Review: How to Be a Geek Goddess (Win a Copy!)

If you’re a Twitter-fiend, a long-time blogger, or you customize PC’s in your spare time, this book is probably too elementary for you. If there’s a special lady in your life who

How To Host A New Year's Eve Party On A Budget

With the New Year celebration just around the corner from the Christmas shopping season, many people skip hosting a New Year's Eve party due to financial concerns. Find out how you

Last minute tips for quick and easy homemade Holiday cards. .

It happens every year to my family. We think we have all of the Holiday cards done and in the post, and then we get one out of nowhere from someone completely unexpected. If you've

The Best and Worst Places to Stash Cash in Your Home

We all agree that a buck has value, it is also a bit vulnerable when not hidden properly. Forget the $3000 hi-tech safe, and stick with these affordable tricks I picked up. Yo

Get In Gear For The New Year: 5 Tips For Making Resolutions

The New Year is infamous when it comes to resolutions — not because most people manage to turn over a new leaf but because we declare big goals, work towards them for a few months

What can renters do if their landlords are in foreclosure?

Lately many tenants across the United States who faithfully paid their rents on time were surprised to find eviction notices tacked on their doors because their landlords have not

Are poor folks and the middle class on the same side?

Rational people try to buy what they need at the cheapest price they can find. There's a contrary argument, though, that holds that it's "shooting themselves in the foot" for poor

Want a Company to Hear You? Talk to Their “People.”

Sure, you could call a company's customer service line in times of trouble. I've done it in the past with excellent results. I've also run into the occasional “I don't care.” Th

Latest Articles in Life Hacks

How to Protect Yourself From Credit Card Theft

Don't let a scammer get a hold of your credit card number. Here's how to keep your account secure.

How the Sandwich Generation Can Protect Their Retirement

Being part of the sandwich generation isn't easy, and it can take a real toll on your retirement fund. Here's how to protect it.

Should You Pay Your Kids For Good Grades?

Have you ever considered rewarding your kids' good grades with money? Or is that a terrible idea? Let's discuss.

How to Get Your Kid Started With Investing

You don't have to wait until your kid grows up to show them how to invest. The earlier they start, the more they'll have later on!

Ask the Readers: What Do You Do for Fun While You're Stuck at Home?

Tell us what you're doing for fun while you're stuck at home and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Ask the Readers: Do You Volunteer?

Tell us about your volunteer experience and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Ask the Readers: What Are Your Home Organization Hacks?

Tell us about your home organization hacks and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

How to Decide If Pet Insurance Is Worth the Cost

Pet insurance can cost a pretty penny, but it can also save you an arm and a leg.

Ask the Readers: What New Skill Would You Like to Learn?

Tell us about a new skill you would like to learn and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Ask the Readers: What Helps You Relax?

Tell us what helps you relax and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Ask the Readers: What Are Your Goals for 2020?

Tell us about about your goals for 2020 and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

What to Do Now to Prepare for Tax Season

Tax Day may seem far away, but after we celebrate the new year, it'll be here before you know it. Here's what you can do now to get ready.

Ask the Readers: What Are Your Holiday Shortcuts?

Tell us about your holiday shortcuts and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Ask the Readers: How Do You Fight the Winter Blues?

Tell us how you fight the winter blues and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Ask the Readers: What Are You Most Thankful For?

Tell us what you're most thankful for and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

3 Money Arguments That Can Hurt Your Relationships

You should really nip these common money arguments in the bud before they hurt your relationships.

How Pre-Commitment Mechanisms Can Help You Resist Impulse Buys

You might think impulse buys are impossible to resist, but if you train your brain with pre-commitment mechanisms, you can fight those urges and save money in the process.

Ask the Readers: What Do You Do For Self-Care?

Tell us what you do for self-care and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

How to Keep Office Solicitations From Busting Your Budget

Office solicitations are a sneaky budget buster. It's time to stop letting them drain your savings.

Ask the Readers: What's Your Best Experience With Customer Service?

Tell us about your best experience with customer service and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!