• The Answer is Not Found in a Store

    Every Thanksgiving, my family used to drive to see my aunt, uncle, and cousins. On the way home from their house, we would always see a long line of people waiting at Best Buy to try to get the best deal on some Christmas presents. These shoppers would typically be in tents or sleeping bags, spending the night at the store in order to be the first there when it opened on Black Friday. Many would give up part of their Thanksgiving and most of the next day to spend it doing Black Friday shopping (and waiting).  Of course, there was a good reason that people were waiting in line.…

  • Christmas is Coming?

    "Twas the night before Christmas …" Well ... not quite ... but as I look around at all of the beautiful decorations in stores and on houses and see the first snow here in Michigan, I know that "Winter is Coming" and Christmas is almost here.

  • How Much Does Your Drive to Work Cost?

    I have a long drive to work. Actually, I have a very long drive. - My drive is so long, that I am the only person in my town who is awake when I leave. - My drive is so long, that I am able to listen to 3 podcasts and an entire book during it. - My drive is so long, that I learned how to fluently speak Japanese during one snowy day last winter. Okay ... perhaps I exaggerate a bit, but I feel like I am driving forever!

  • How to Buy a Car Using Craigslist

    I don’t think of myself as old, but maybe I am because I remember classified ads. You may know of this antiquated way to sell goods and services too. You may even remember browsing through them in the Sunday paper while looking for a used car or an antique table. Like me, you may still browse through them from time to time, although you never really buy anything.