Articles on Life Hacks

Google Phone (G1) Review

I read as many reviews as I could get my hands on before heading out on release day to sign up. Most reviewers agree that the OS is great, but it's not as fancy or impressive as th

When will the bailouts stop? A summary of 2008 stimulus packages and bailouts in the United States

2008 will probably go down in history as the year of bailouts, crashes, and meltdowns. Here is a quick run down of all the laws and bills congress pushed through with lightning spe

Looking On The Bright Side: How to Find A Silver Lining In The Current Financial Crisis

While this might be the biggest economic disaster of our generation, it might not be the big bad wolf that we all think it is. Quite the contrary, this little financial lesson migh

My Poverty-Fighting Superheroes

You never know -- your mild-mannered neighbor, co-worker, or long-time buddy may be a hero in the battle against poverty. He might prepare meals for the homeless; she might tutor a

The Upside of an Economic Downturn?

Some studies have found that indicators of a healthy population actually go up when the economy goes south.

That Age-Old Conundrum: Time vs. Money

It's your time and your money. But if you don't choose how you're going to think about them, you might end up frustrated and unsatisfied with the life you live. Here are some commo

Book Review: Personal Development for Smart People: The Conscious Pursuit of Personal Growth

Some books draw you in with mystery and suspense. Others keep you hooked with drama or intrigue. And then there are some that just manage to really hit home and make you say "Ah-ha

Please Pass the October Surprise

I've always believed that mastery of vocabulary is at least halfway to mastery of the subject. Words are power--the kind of power commonly wielded by eggheads with pocket protector

How to Financially Educate Your Children

Here are a few ways you can help your children create a healthy relationship with money.

Life Without Television

I haven't owned a television in over 7 years. I haven't lived in a house with a set in over 5 years. I spend my days largely television-free, and I actually like it.

When Good Cakes Go Bad: A Cheat Sheet for the Uninspired

I’m no cake professional. I can barely manage a Betty Crocker boxed mix with the fluffy frosting from a can. I appreciate all the hard work that goes into a professional piece (b

Make Your Own Self-tanning Lotion and 5 Other Fabulous DIY Tips from the Web

Surprisingly simple, and totally affordable, this roundup of quick and easy recipes, tips, and hacks are sure to inspire. Create your own self-tanning lotion, never waste rice aga

How a $700 billion bailout became a $800 billion "rescue plan"

You might have thought that the $700 billion bailout bill seemed a bit excessive. You'll be relieved to hear that the bill that the President will sign tonight is worth a mere $800

Download the 451-page bailout proposal

Well folks, I hope you have plenty of time on your hands. The initial 3-page document that Bush and Paulson put forward has grown somewhat. It's hardly surprising, considering how

Supermarket Shopping for Savers: 6 Ways to Avoid Their Tricky Traps

Going to the supermarket and sticking to a list is an exercise in discipline and requires fortitude and resilience of epic proportions. Employing tips like “don’t shop when you’re

How Baking Soda Took My Bathroom from “Yuck” to Yes!

Thinking of jumping on the “all-natural” cleaning bandwagon? Leary of the results? Addicted to your own brand-name cleaning habit? Take a look at these startling before and afte

Why do Facebook Ads not take me seriously?

Facebook and other social networking sites know an awful lot about you from what you say when you first sign up. As a single woman over 30 years of age, I got tired of Facebook ads

In times like these, separate the want from the need.

I remember saying to my dad, a long, long time ago, that I really needed a whole bunch of He-Man action figures for Christmas. Oh, and Battlecat, too. My dad looked at me, a hopefu

Now It's Easier than Ever to Cut the Cable

If you're a hard-core sports fan, you're pretty much stuck paying for cable every month. For the rest of us, a raft of technological and entertainment offerings -- including digita

Shadow Government Statistics - Is the government manipulating numbers to make the economy look better than it really is?

About a year ago I wrote an article about the Consumer Price Index that made some friends say that I am a conspiracy theorist, but apparently I am not alone in believing that the g