Money Tips Network

A long while ago, I wrote about the idea of good debt and bad debt:

There are several fairly similar definitions of each kind of debt, but generally they either revolve around the terms of the debt (low interest rate debts – usually below 7% or so – would be “good debt”) or the purpose of the debt. For example, debt taken on that allows you to purchase an asset that retains value (such as a house or an education) is often considered “good debt” while debt that is used to purchase things that rapidly decrease in value or have no tangible value at all (like credit card debt) is considered “bad debt.”

My take? I think the idea that there is debt that is inherently “good” and there is debt that is inherently “bad” is wrong. It’s fairly simple to find example where a debt that is “good” in one situation is “bad” in another.

Pop quiz: What's a naturally shelf-stable, impressively inexpensive ingredient that most of us have in bulk on our pantry shelves? The answer? Rice! Whether white, brown, purple, wild, basmati, jasmine, or you name it, rice is a filling side dish when served plain with many of our favorite meals. Spiced up, you might find yourself using rice for many more recipes than you ever imagined — even whole dinners. (See also: Best Rice Cookers)

This article is by staff writer Kristin Wong.

We get a lot of pitches at Get Rich Slowly. Despite the underlying marketing agenda, sometimes these pitches contain useful information that is worth sharing. Case in point, Pep Boys emailed us a whole array of free services they offer. My ears perked up for a few reasons:

• I was impressed with just how many services they offer.
• It made me wonder about other places that offer free car maintenance services.
• A Pep Boys shop just opened downstairs from my building (selfish, sorry).

Not every city has a Pep Boys store, I know. But there are a handful of other places that offer free services too. At any rate, I thought I’d find out more and put together a list.

Tire repair & rotation

We're deep into the days of Seasonal Affective Disorder, more commonly known as SAD. The lack of sunlight causes our levels of serotonin, a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) that impacts our mood; and melatonin, a hormone that impacts our mood and sleep patterns; to drop. This causes depression, a drop in energy, and general irritability. Luckily, there are plenty of natural ways to alter the biochemistry of our brains to boost our mood. (See also: 29 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Happier)

When I read this piece from MSN Money it made me think of one word: yikes!

Here's the part that made me squirm:

At the height of his corporate career, Tom Palome was pulling in a salary in the low six-figures and flying first class on business trips to Europe.

Today, the 77-year-old former vice president of marketing for Oral-B juggles two part-time jobs: one as a $10-an-hour food demonstrator at Sam’s Club, the other flipping burgers and serving drinks at a golf club grill for slightly more than minimum wage.

This story has all the makings of something viral. It fits right in with our fascination with people doing things that normal Americans wouldn’t even consider doing. We gawk at reality television shows and follow the stories about their stars, like the recent news about the couple from the “Real Housewives of New Jersey” show who recently pleaded guilty to fraud. This story has the added element of millennial-shaming. We like stories when a young individual upholds the generally-held stereotype of entitlement.

I love sharing stories from people who are working through financial issues, have made significant financial progress in their lives, or just need a bit of advice. And FMF readers like these as well, as evidenced by the comments I receive on these posts.

If you'd like to tell your story or get some advice, there are many ways to do so including:

It might not feel like it in some areas of the country, but Spring is almost here! The change of season means that many of us are gearing up for a big household to-do: Spring cleaning. Why don't we help each other make this chore less of a chore?

What is your favorite cleaning tip? What tools do you use to make Spring cleaning go faster, cheaper, or more green? How do you make it more enjoyable?

Tell us your favorite cleaning tip and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — here's how you can win!

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some fantastic articles on ideas to make money on the weekend, tactics to avoid wasting food, and money-saving tax tips for parents.

Top 5 Articles

37 Easy Ideas To Make Money On The Weekend — To make money on the weekend, tutor students and recycle. [And Then We Saved]

Seven Tactics to Avoid Wasting Food — Avoid wasting food by using a grocery list and meal plan. [The Simple Dollar]