According to the card buried deep in my wallet, I've been a "loyal member" of the American Automobile Association (AAA) since 2005. In fact, my AAA Membership is one of the longest relationships of my life, even exceeding the length of my marriage!Early on, AAA's roadside assistance services helped me and my succession of comically beaten-up cars get out of more jams than I can count. However, these days I use roadside assistance infrequently enough to call the wisdom of shelling out $80-plus each year for my little gold AAA card into question.Good thing that $80-plus buys a lot more … [Read more...]
Brian Martucci
26 Best New Bank Account Promotions & Offers – June 2018
It's possible to make $100s just by opening up a bank account. But sorting through the best offers can be tricky.At Money Crashers, we comb through hundreds of deals every month to find you the most lucrative sign-up bonuses – some worth up to $1,000. We also rank the best high-yield checking accounts, cash back credit cards, and more.Don't want to miss out? Here are the best bank promotions for the month of June. Top Bank Account Promotions (June 2018) 1. CIT Bank Premier High Yield Savings Account - 1.55% APY Although the CIT Bank Premier High Yield Savings Account doesn't … [Read more...]
Should You Take a Pay Cut for a Job? – When It Makes Sense
"Working ever-longer hours to bring in more cash might make your life more comfortable, but it isn’t going to make you happy," writes Charlie Sorrel in a provocatively titled Fast Company article, "Science Says You Should Quit Your Demanding, High-Paying Job."Is Sorrel right? The study he cites certainly suggests so. In it, authors Ashley V. Whillans, Aaron C. Weidman, and Elizabeth W. Dunn make a convincing case that employees who prize time over money score higher on measures of subjective well-being.In other words: if more money doesn't buy happiness, more time just might.More … [Read more...]
Is a AAA Membership Worth It? – Cost, Benefits & Alternatives
Do you live without a car? Congratulations. You're among a growing cohort of Americans for whom the term "car trouble" has no personal relevance.For everyone else, car trouble is all too real - and often hits all too close to home. Whether you own a new or used car, you've probably experienced your share of car problems: unexpected breakdowns, unexplained noises, persistent mechanical defects, or accidents caused by unsafe road conditions or human error. These issues are inconvenient, expensive, and potentially hazardous to your personal safety.The good news is that you don't have to … [Read more...]
How to Sell at Farmers Markets as a Business – Vendor Classifications
You love shopping at your local farmers' market like the good millennial you are. There's nothing wrong with supporting local growers and craftspeople who make your home region special.Then again, maybe you're on the wrong side of your weekly farmers' market transaction. Who's to say you're not cut out to sell at your local farmers' market?You don't have to till your own fields every spring or milk your own cows every morning to earn a spot at your local farmers' market. All you need is a reliable source of fresh-grown produce, animal products, or value-added wares. If you have a … [Read more...]
40 Best Things to Do & See in the Black Hills & Badlands of South Dakota
From the endless rolling grasslands of the High Plains of western South Dakota rise two iconic landforms: the Badlands and Black Hills.To be fair, the Black Hills extend into northeastern Wyoming, with the singular Devils Tower looming just beyond. But the bulk of the action is in South Dakota, within 90 minutes' drive of Rapid City. Whether you're embarking on a long-distance road trip across the U.S. or traveling full-time in an RV, it's worth going out of your way to pass through this beautiful part of the United States.My wife and I spent a few days in the Badlands and Black Hills … [Read more...]
How to Raise Chickens at Home & Build a Chicken Coop – Ideas & Costs
Back in 2009, in the depths of the Great Recession, the New York Times picked up on a then-novel trend among uber-frugal urban homeowners."As Americans struggle through a dismal recession, many are trying to safeguard themselves from what they fear will be even worse times ahead. They eat out less often. They take vacations closer to home. They put off buying new cars," wrote reporter William Neumann.He added, drily: "And some raise chickens."The economy has improved markedly since Neumann's rendezvous with Brooklyn's booming poultry scene, but raising chickens at home is hotter … [Read more...]
32 Best Things to Do & See in Bangkok, Thailand – Cheap Activities & Attractions
Located on the flat, swampy, ever-steamy Chao Phraya River delta, not too far north of the Gulf of Thailand, Bangkok is Thailand's capital and largest city.That's actually an understatement: Bangkok is by far Thailand's most important city, and inarguably the economic center of the Southeast Asian subregion encompassing Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. In this part of the world, all roads truly lead to Bangkok.With thousands of glittering glass high-rises and soaring expressways slicing through (and above) its densely packed central core, central Bangkok's long … [Read more...]
20 Essential Computer Maintenance Tips & Checklist for Longer Device Life
America is awash in connected devices.A Pew Research Center survey revealed that 84% of all American households have at least one smartphone. 80% have at least one desktop computer or laptop. 33% of all Americans live in households with three or more smartphones, and 18% are "hyper-connected," with 10 or more electronic devices in the home.In real terms, desktops and laptops are actually less costly to replace today than in 2010, but they're not exactly cheap. According to PC Magazine's analysis of the market for new PCs, you can expect to pay anywhere from about $410 to $2,899 for a … [Read more...]
Drury Gold Key Club® Visa® Card Review
Drury Gold Key Club® Visa® is a hotel rewards credit card issued by Commerce Bank. With no annual fee and a rewards program that favors spending on lodging and amenities at Drury Hotels properties across the United States, it's geared toward frequent Drury guests (and those who could be convinced to convert to the Drury way). New cardholders are automatically enrolled in Drury's Gold Key Club loyalty program at no charge.Drury Gold Key Club Credit Card earns a total of 15 points per $1 spent on all Drury Hotels purchases, including 10 base points available to all Gold Key Club members and … [Read more...]
Disney® Visa® Card Review
The Disney® Visa® Card is a rewards credit card with no annual fee and a modest and somewhat unusual cash back rewards program that favors enthusiastic Disney fans. The card earns unlimited 1% back on all purchases. Rewards accrue as Disney reward dollars, a special loyalty currency with a fixed redemption value of $0.01 per point. Rewards can be redeemed for a wide range of Disney-branded purchases, including merchandise, theme park admission, resort lodging, and more. However, they're not as good as cash, as they can't be redeemed for statement credits, bank account deposits, or credits … [Read more...]
