Take care with fire pits
Fire pits can make for cozy fall and winter evenings, but you should be aware of the dangers. In 2021, nearly 6,000 people went to the emergency room with…
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.
Extreme penalties apply to some DUI situations
You are at a Christmas party with friends and family. The kids all got presents. It was fun. Time to go home. But if you had a few drinks, it’s not time…
Buying stocks on Robinhood for fun (and maybe profit)
Those who don’t mind dropping some cash on lottery tickets (someone has to win!) end up with a nice stack of useless paper. But hey, if you don’t mind…
A financial recipe for happiness in life and love
People who effectively manage their money are happier, have better marriages, and even sleep better, studies show. For young people with starting…
How to avoid impulse spending
When money is tight and prices are rising, nothing can destroy your budget quicker than an expensive impulse buy. Like suddenly you must have that new…
Billionaires bet against death
Bryan Johnson’s X (formerly Twitter) profile reads “Bryan Johnson /dd.” The “dd” is short for “don’t die,” and it’s Johnson’s ultimate goal — to escape…
Performance reviews — the right way
Annual performance reviews are time-consuming and often stressful for everyone involved. Employees might find the experience intensely anxiety-provoking,…
Credit card interest rates remain high despite Fed rate cuts
Credit card interest rates aren’t the highest they’ve ever been — but it’s close. According to USA Today, the average credit card rate is 20.51 percent,…
Ask the Expert: Getting the best mortgage interest rate
I know that the higher your credit score, the lower your mortgage interest rate will be. Is there a formula for calculating an interest rate? There is no…
How to win the home sale beauty contest
Listing your home for sale is like entering a beauty pageant. The contestants — your rivals for the crown — are all the other homes for sale in the…