NATIONAL SAFETY MONTH Safety is a team sport
Nobody knows the hazards of your job better than the people doing it every day. That is why shared responsibility is one of the most powerful tools in…
Author: Rick Good
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader's money, real estate, and business coverage.
The Midwestern millionaire: The guy next door plans his moves
You probably know someone like this. They are not flashy. They pack a lunch. They wait for fruit to go on sale. When their kids ask to stop for fast food,…
What parents (and grandparents) need to know about child tax credits in 2026
If you have children in your household, two federal tax credits could put real money back in your pocket, and both have changed enough in 2026 to be worth…
The SALT deduction: a bigger break for homeowners
If you pay significant state income taxes or property taxes, a change in federal tax law probably made you plenty happy with 2025 taxes and your luck will…
From wallpaper cleaner to toy box legend
In the early 1950s, a Cincinnati company called Rainbow Crafts made a compound designed to strip coal soot from wallpaper. It was a grayish, pliable putty…
Your next cereal spoon might be part of breakfast
Imagine finishing your morning cereal — and eating the spoon. That is not a joke, it is where food utensils and packaging are headed, and faster than…
How your dog may be leading the way for lab-grown meat
In February 2025, a British pet food company called Pets at Home began selling dog treats made with chicken that had never come from a chicken. The…
When Streaming Stops Being The Cheap Option
Cutting the cord was supposed to save money. For many households, it still does, but the math is getting murkier. The average cable bill runs…
Finding The Perfect Spot For Your Birdbath
Placement is everything when it comes to a birdbath. Choose a spot with partial shade, full sun heats the water quickly and encourages algae, while…
Ask the Expert: Rate Locks
I’ve been shopping for a mortgage and my lender mentioned a rate lock. Can you explain what that is, and whether I need one? Great question — and…