Someone recently asked the internet what people considered a HUGE waste of money, and everything was fair game, whether it was a necessary purchase, or something a little more frivolous.  Here are 10 highlights: Designer clothing for kids.  They grow too fast, and rarely need to "dress up." Baby toys.  Babies will ignore expensive toys to play with random knick-knacks. Pet toys.  Same.  Spend $50 on a toy, or just give them a cardboard box. Digital games.  You could have a huge library and only really play one game. Laundromats.  Loads can get very pricey, depending on where you live. Cable [...]

During the pandemic, a lot of people spent more time at home, watching YouTube, and avoiding unnecessary contact with strangers.  So it's not surprising that Do-It-Yourself projects have been on the rise. In a new survey, 81% of people who own a home say they've done at least one project since the start of the pandemic . . . and almost half have done more than four. Over 40% say their DIY projects were more challenging and expensive than expected.  And nearly 80% made a "minor" or "major" mistake. Saving money is the main reason people DIY.  But others include:  Having [...]

It's amazing how certain sounds can trigger old memories.  A new poll found it happens to us about twice a week on average.  And 1 in 10 people said every day.  Here are the top 10 sounds that can trigger a happy memory . . . An old song you love.  Especially if you haven't heard it in a long time. Waves crashing on the beach. Birds chirping. A crackling fireplace. Walking on fresh snow. A waterfall. A cat purring. Trees blowing in the wind. The sound of rain. Leaves rustling, because it reminds us of fall. A few more from [...]

Not all careers require a college degree, which is really good when it comes to student loans. A company called SkillPointe has released its first "job score report," which showcases careers requiring two years of training or less. Then they ranked them based on current salaries . . . available job openings . . . future growth . . . and interest among job seekers.  Jobs in construction, technology, healthcare, and public service dominate the Top 25.  Here's the list: Software developer Systems analyst Electrician Police officer Truck driver Carpenter Plumber IT support specialist Nurse Certified nursing assistant Auto mechanic Teacher [...]

I was at a Vikings Season Kick-Off Party on Saturday, which was really cool to have the opportunity to be at. Then the live auction happened. I noticed it wasn't really about the cause, which was kids... nope! It was a measuring test of how much money each person has. The first item went for 26 thousand dollars, at that time I noticed I was not like the rest. No one noticed McDonald's no longer has salads. There’s a good chance that the wood used to build a birdhouse was from a cut-down tree that used to be a different bird’s [...]

This poll confused me, because most people think this summer SUCKED . . . but we also want more of it?  A new survey of 1,500 Americans found 80% of us had a, quote, "bummer summer."  But 48% also wish there was a way to extend it for another two weeks.  (There's actually almost a month of summer left, by the way.)   Here are a few more random stats from the survey. . . 1.  27% said they'd rather have a root canal than relive this past summer.  (???)  37% would rather move in with their parents.  And 9% would rather feel [...]

I don't how valuable this info is since no one's moving to a new state just to save a couple of bucks on pizza.  But I guess it means other stuff is cheaper too . . . Someone came up with a "Pizza Index" that ranks all 50 states according to how expensive the average pizza is.  (They did it by comparing prices on a website called MenuWithPrice.com.) The most expensive is Alaska, where the average cheese pizza costs $9.21.  And the cheapest pizza is in North Dakota, where the average is $6.64. The five cheapest pizza states are:  North Dakota, Rhode Island, [...]

I was at the Winstock music festival over the weekend, give people a reason to dress stupid and they will show you. One man was wearing suspenders and a Premium light box... that's all! Whoever makes the invisible earpieces that superheroes use to talk to each other during those loud super fights must be making a fortune. For as much coffee we consume from places like Caribou and Starbucks... you think they would have a faster drive-through system. Exciting news... if you haven't noticed we have two more roundabouts open in this town. One more and I'm sure we will hold [...]

Do the people in your household settle into the exact same spots when you're at the kitchen table?  Watching TV?  Or just lounging around? In a new survey, two-thirds of Americans say they do have unofficial, "assigned" seating in their homes.  And most of those people say they're very passionate about their "spot."  In fact, 55% would feel "uncomfortable" sitting anywhere else. A lot of that is probably just routine, but 63% say they actually associate "positive memories" with particular areas or pieces of furniture. These numbers are backed up by another recent poll, where 63% of people said that when they [...]

Everyone should have noticed the beautiful weather this weekend. Hopefully you all were able to enjoy it. You ever notice how everyone would love to be able to fly like Superman, because in the movies it's always portrayed like it takes no effort. If it actually took lots of energy and required hours of training Most people probably wouldn't even do it! Living alone with 7 dwarves in a secluded forest is considered "Enchanting" in fairytales, but trashy in real life. I noticed we are now past halfway point of August... what happened to July? This summer has been a blur [...]