There is an old saying I like about commerce very much. “We pay the price that we think we deserve to pay.” I used to be very uninformed about how about business work. For one thing, no price is final…
Author: Allen Francis
Year-Round Savings Deals For Active Duty and Veterans
Americans spend an average of $500 on various Memorial Day deals, discounts, and sales. In fact, it seems that Memorial Day, a day to appreciate the fallen members of the military from the past to the present, seems designed to…
Should You Invest In a $5,000 Antique Rug?
One of the few things that drives me crazy is sharing a home with a significant other who insists on redecorating and swapping out furniture every season. I am very set in my ways, am not a fashionista, and cannot…
Making Travel Dollars Last: Mother’s Day Edition – Costa Rica and Hungary
Most people travel to escape life. Yet, what is important is to take a trip every now and then so that the life inside of you never escapes. Or, become dulled or fades away. Travel shouldn’t just be an escape…
Do You Need or Want to Own a Boat?
I have wanted to own a boat ever since I watched Sonny Crockett from the 1980s TV crime drama Miami Vice sail his in style. It’s funny how the pop culture representations of materialistic objects can affect a viewer’s mindset.…
Budget Versions of Luxury Timepieces
One should have style, know how to dress, and to accessorize. I love luxury watches, but they are way above my pay grade. Part of being an adult is always prioritizing need or want. Whether you have a family or…
Americans Can Only Afford to Buy A Home In 30% of the Country
A friend of mine just had his home foreclosed on. He is financially tapped. That home, which cost about $375,000, was just too much for him to handle. Also, he kept missing mortgage payments because he was in so much…
Affordable Family Trip Alternatives to Disney World
I have never been to Disneyland, Disney World, or any other behemoth theme park with the word, “Disney,” in the name. The closest alternative I ever experienced were academic day trips when I was a kid. I never went on…
Obese People Pay 42% More For Medical Care – Cut Back on Fast Food
I love fast food. It is the only addiction that seems to be tolerated in modern society. In all seriousness, I should be a major shareholder of stocks in White Castle considering how much I have patronized them over the…
An Air Ambulance Costs $40K – Preparing For Unexpected Emergencies
About a decade ago, I was diagnosed with a rare form of skin cancer. It’s called dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. Don’t worry if you can’t pronounce it either. It took me two days to learn how to pronounce it. To this day,…
Making Travel Dollars Last Longer – Colombia and Indonesia
I love my job most of all when I am on vacation. That is one of my most favorite quotes about vacations. I like it because it focuses on the fact that vocations and vacations are inexplicably intertwined for most…
You Don’t Need These Non-Essential Products
Americans spent over $14 trillion on consumers goods during the last quarter of 2018. Keep in mind, that was during the final quarter of that year. It goes without saying that quite a few such purchases were perhaps non-essential. Its…
Divorce and Community Property States
A dear friend of mine is getting a divorce. It is a very heart wrenching and sensitive subject to talk about with people who are enduring it. Marriage is supposed to be forever. When you say, “I do,” you make…
The College Admissions Scandal and Protecting Your Child’s Educational Investment
To paraphrase a certain famous phrase: “the system is rigged.” In the United States, there are indeed two separate systems for engaging in life. One is for everyday people and the other is for the wealthy. One need not look…
Do You Really Need a Car? Probably Not
I know people who conflate owning a car with an identity. After all, a car is a status symbol. Some people consider how friends, people they are attracted to, neighbors, and strangers will look at them depending on the type…
Senior Citizen Discount Programs: Getting the Most Out of Your Golden Years
They call them the “Golden Years,” but it’s a sobering thought to consider how getting older can dramatically affect our lives and health. When I was in my teen years and 20s, I just never thought about getting old. Now…
Here’s Why You Don’t Need Debt Consolidation Management
Have you ever gotten into an argument with someone who asked your advice and then got upset when you offered it? I have a friend who is drowning in debt. It is not an unheard-of problem, as many other people…
Do You Need Burial Insurance? It’s Probably a Good Idea
In the U.S., the average cost of a funeral is $7,000. However, that is a conservative estimate, with many costing close to $10,000. Additionally, depending on where you live, the cost of a funeral and burial can be as high as…
What to Look for in a Day Spa or Med Spa
Did you know that the average American employee doesn’t take full advantage of his or her vacation time? All over the world, the stereotype of the laid-back, carefree, and hardly working American is a pervasive norm. It is far from…
Need Some Extra Money? Consider Buying Old Websites and Blogs
In the 20th century, a solid passive income generating endeavor was to buy a vending machine franchise. Starting such a business takes time. You would have to network and make deals with businesses to provide vending machines. If you…