Figure out Your Financing Before Heading to the Dealership
Car salesmen are in business to make money. They seek to sell you the vehicle that makes them the most money possible. Sure, they want you to be happy, or rather excited about your purchase, but with their paycheck dependent on completing the sale, their focus is going to be on getting you to spend more money.
Read full storyIs it Time to Re-Evaluate Your Budget?
You've established a budget, set goals for yourself, and you're tracking your expenses each month to hold yourself accountable. You've got this personal finance thing figured out.
Read full storyMy Uber Driver Told Me to Start Day Trading, Even if You Don't Know Anything About the Stock Market
When I climbed into the backseat of my Uber, mask uncomfortably affixed to my face, I buckled my seatbelt and relaxed in for what I expected to be a short ride with perhaps some idle chit chat about the weather or traffic. Instead, I got a 15-minute Investing 101 course.
Read full storyCan Bad Credit Cost You a Job?
Do you have poor credit? Have you been turned down for a job? You may think these two things are not related, but they actually are. Your credit report can have a huge impact on your employability.
Read full storyHouse Hunting Can Hurt Your Wallet
Searching for your dream home doesn’t cost anything, right? Wrong. When house hunting, you know you are embarking on an expensive endeavor. The costs of owning and maintaining a home. All the little nickel and dime fees you will encounter when making the purchase. But the actual process for finding the perfect home that’s free, right?
Read full storyAddison Oktoberfest - Keeping Event Goers Safe
Addison recently held their annual Oktoberfest from 09/16 through 09/19. As Covid is still a serious concern, the event was presented as being socially distanced and safe. The Addison Oktoberfest is a celebration of all things german: food, music, games, and of course beer.
Read full storyTerrible Taco Tuesday Experience - Rusty Taco
I am a huge fan of tacos. I love tacos. Every Tuesday is Taco Tuesday at my house. Usually, I make my own tacos. Every week the tacos might be a little different, but they are always tasty.
Read full storyIs Choctaw Casino Durant Catering to Non-Smoking Patrons?
With the Covid outbreak last year, many casinos had to shutter their doors for several months at a time, and when they reopened, things had changed. Gone were the days of crowded buffets, packed concerts, celebratory high-fives, and hugs when you hit the big one. Instead, social distancing became the new norm. Restaurants now feature limited seating, concerts are only just now beginning to come back, and even drink stations are no longer self-serve. But there is one change that many casinos have made or are experimenting with, that has largely gone unnoticed; banning smoking.
Read full storyPaying Off A Loan Can Temporarily Hurt Your Credit Score
You pinched pennies, stuck to your budget, and finally paid off your car loan. There’s no better feeling than the freedom that comes with knowing that you now own that vehicle free and clear; the title in your hand smelling like fresh ink. As the exhilaration starts to wear off you sit down at your computer to check your credit report and ensure your previous loan now shows paid off. Congratulations, it does show paid off, but your credit score just dropped by 53 points! Wait, what? Why?
Read full storyCan You Profit from Playing the Lottery?
Gambling is never a great financial strategy, but the allure of a large jackpot is hard to resist. Winning a jackpot in the hundreds of millions could mean early retirement. Cue the visions of jet-setting around the world in first-class, lounging on private beaches, and eating at the most decadent restaurants.
Read full storyWe Shouldn't Depend on Stimulus Checks
What happened to rainy day funds, emergency savings, or even the old tried and true stuffing cash under your mattress? It is a little talked about fact when it comes to the COVID-related stimulus payments, but we really shouldn’t have needed or depended on them. Why? Because it is recommended that all Americans have enough cash stashed away to pay all household bills for a minimum of 3 months of financial hardship.
Read full storyMask Wearing on Uber Rides in Dallas
The state of Dallas's mask mandate seems constantly up in the air what with the fight between Jenkins and Abbott. There are many stores around Dallas that are still requiring patrons to wear masks before they enter. I recently stayed at a Residence Inn in Addison for instance that required masks to be worn at check-in and when in common areas. But just as many businesses have rolled back their mask requirements. Some only require their own employees to wear masks. And others don't have a single mask in sight.
Read full storyHow the Hot Housing Market Can Hurt Sellers Too
Selling a house in a hot marketTierra Mallorca/Unsplash. It is no secret that the housing market across the U.S. is hot right now. Like the surface of the sun hot. And large metropolitan areas like DFW are really feeling the squeeze. Houses are getting snapped up quicker than black Friday deals on TVs. And few if any new homes are being built, at least not any within an hour commute of the metroplex.
Read full storyHow the Cruise Lines Support the World Economy
Cruises leaving for goodBy Alonso Reyes on Unsplash. The cruise industry has suffered a huge blow due to the COVID-19 crisis. All cruises around the world were canceled with a resume sailing date that kept getting pushed further and further back. Because of this, their stock prices tanked and many cruise lines frantically sought to raise capital in any and every way possible while simultaneously trying to figure out how to refund angry customers for their canceled cruises. Lump in the bad publicity they initially received with the seeming ineffectiveness of their onboard cleaning and quarantine practices, and it all spells out a recipe for bankruptcy or worse for the cruise industry as a whole.
Read full storyReopening Las Vegas: Gambling Minus Social Interaction
Gambling in post-Covid Las VegasPhoto by Kaysha on Unsplash. As Las Vegas has begun reopening, many have flocked to party Sin City. But the tourism numbers for the summer of 2021 are still well below pre-Covide levels. This is because, for much of the population, Vegas has an image issue. People fear the crowds and the potential spread of contagion.
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