Most of us spend more money than normal during this time of year, not less. I am certainly no exception, as my Christmas shopping has certainly not been completely free or even much of a success in the bargain hunting department this year. But there are ways to get a few free odds and ends, save a few dollars here and there, or start working on next year’s goal without spending as much as you thought you would spend.

Teaching as an adjunct can be a valuable part of an artist’s career. The work can be a bit longer-term and steadier than other gigs, the pay can be a bit more consistent, and it provides the continuous new experiences and new acquaintances and perspectives vital to an artist’s work. As with any project, all offers of a term teaching as an adjunct vary in quality. It can be hard to tell whether an offer is one you should accept from the start, but there are a few red flags to watch out for.

Teaching is often suggested to artists or other content creators needing to make more money without getting a second job or side work. If that work involves teaching adults, students eighteen and older, it typically takes the form of “adjunct” or part-time, term-by-term teaching for colleges and universities. Taking on classes by the term can be a great supplement to the income of an artist or other content creator, but it is important to keep things in perspective.

Previous articles about copying Ryan Trahan’s penny challenge method of raising cash have always included strong warnings from me about only using this for fun or for fundraisers from which any amount of cash raised would constitute a successful outcome.

The first penny challenge of 2025 left me with a new haircut and color, some new makeup and fragrance, and more importantly, a few key takeaways on coupons, cash back, bonus cash, and other “get things free to you” efforts. Here they are, applicable for whatever you’re looking to save some money on in 2025 and beyond.

How did the first Utica-based penny challenge of 2025 end?

How is that penny I started with three weeks ago doing?

Week two of the three week penny challenge involved more learning about the promise and pitfalls of certain cash generating methods than actual money generating, but I did come out slightly ahead. Here is what happened this past week:

Ever wished you could shop without using your own money or using up benefits you need to budget? Follow me over the next three weeks and learn to do just that.

Tragedies connected to the website “Character Ai” have been in the news for several weeks. In one case, a young man took his own life because he allegedly believed that would allow him to be with his “girlfriend,” a character he created on the site that turned into an obsession. Another case involves a character allegedly encouraging someone to kill their parents.

Wynn Hospital has never been a popular place, even before it existed. Many local residents expressed disagreement with the idea of building a whole new hospital downtown instead of improving the two existing hospitals. There were even protest signs and at least one activist group on facebook.

As the school year begins, you, a spouse or partner attending college, or your child or teen, may begin hearing a lot about setting goals, particularly SMART goals. This method of setting goals is both a description of the type of goal people are encouraged to set and an acronym for the criteria used to create and evaluate the goals before launching into the work needed to achieve them.