This Is Common Cents

Each year for the first 18 years of my life I received generous presents from my family and friends on my birthday, which I am incredibly thankful for. But for my 19th, I’ve decided to do something a little bit unconventional, and give my birthday away to those who are in greater need than I. [...]

American politicians are without a doubt the most criticized group of individuals in the world. Not a day goes by without scandals breaking loose or media stories mocking a legislator’s opinion. The President and other top politicians are bashed more often and by more people than even our society’s many celebrity failures. Add that to [...]

A few years ago, NBA star Lebron James faced a decision. Basketball fans know that it wasn’t just any decision, it was THE decision. Where would he go to play basketball when his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers expired? Would he stay in Cleveland, his hometown, where he had built up fame and the support [...]

Just over eight weeks ago, I started something that I have very much enjoyed. Essentially, it was a fitness challenge to get into the best shape possible in eight weeks. The goals were to burn fat and build muscle, and I went about it by keeping to a strict diet and exercise program. You can [...]

If there is one thing that big corporations would really like to have, it would be mind control. They would be able to tell all us helpless consumers to buy their products in excess. They would make us spend every last dime we earned on products we by and large wouldn’t need, and they would [...]

I am a huge fan of physical fitness. So much so, that I am currently seven weeks into a rather intense fitness challenge, and will be starting another one almost immediately afterwards. I also have previously shown how being in good health is the number one way to save money in the long run. And [...]

For many, the American dream involves a corporate job. The idea of working for a massive company and getting payed a solid salary are what many young people strive for, and why they choose to go through school. After all, what isn’t to love about the potential for a six-figure salary from one of the [...]

Well I have some exciting news to announce today! I have set up a new free ebook for my exclusive email newsletter, and this one is incredibly valuable! Entitled “Killing the Big 4”, this ebook is all about how to cut your monthly spending on four of the biggest categories for most families: housing, utilities, [...]

One of the disadvantages of living in Idaho is the massive swings in climate this part of the country experiences throughout the year. Summers are hot, with days over 100 degrees not uncommon. Winters, on the other hand, bring freezing temperatures for several straight months. Of course, these drastic temperature changes bring about the need [...]

When you are applying for jobs, you will write a resume. For most people, a resume will follow a simple format and contain some stereotypical information. Education, work experience, and volunteer work are the norms. And while I’ve already shown you how to write a killer resume, the content within your resume is far more [...]

A few weeks ago I read the book “The Millionaire Next Door”. This book talks all about how the average millionaire in America, despite the stereotype, is actually a frugal person who built his or her wealth over time, and doesn’t spend gratuitously. To be honest, this didn’t entirely surprise me, nor did many of [...]

Self employment is something many people dream of. Thoughts of setting your own schedule and landing huge clients tend to get people excited about the possibility of becoming an entrepreneur. There are some definite benefits of being in that type of work situation, but there are also some huge negatives. When deciding on a career [...]

We live in a world of automation and outsourcing. Our culture tells us that we need to eat precooked food, buy pre assembled products, and let others work for us. How many people these days change their own motor oil or paint their own homes? Not as many as their once were, that’s for sure. [...]

“That candy bar is only a dollar! I can totally afford that! After all, I spend hundreds of dollars per month on groceries anyway, this will probably save me money!” Such is the thought process behind many a person’s decisions when it comes to buying food. This small item is inexpensive, so it has to [...]

I use Pandora pretty extensively when I’m working. It plays me all the latest music for free, and all I have to do is suffer through the advertisements. Normally I hate the ads, but the other day one came on that made me laugh, and even inspired me to write an entire blog post. It [...]