Biggest hidden cost - how many years it will take to graduate. If it costs $17k per year but takes you 6 years to get all the classes you need you are spending just as much as a 4 year $25k per year private university, not to mention throwing away 2 years you could be working.

I teach at a private Christian university…

Certainly worth looking at, but they do vary by university. The university that I teach at gives free permits to faculty and students, but most public universities charge hundreds to even over a thousand dollars for students and faculty. That said, the meal plans at a public university are often 100% optional, but at…

I've found over dressed is almost always better than under dressed. I wore a suit to my both of my interviews for my current job (the one with my supervisor and the one with the president of my University) and though I have never worn one to work in the time since then I received zero complaints about me being over…

The wifi card in my laptop died, so I bought a USB one. I sometimes carry it in my pocket, and it went through the washer and dryer. I was about to throw it away, but figured what the heck. I plugged it in and it works like nothing ever happened to it. I couldn't believe it still worked but its still working now, over…

I had an older version of this through college. Loved it. I don't carry as much with me now as I did then, but for the active individual who needs a place for absolutely everything, this is a nice while reasonably priced bag.

They used to come with lousy bags, but the current standard Dell laptop bag is rather nice. Accessible pockets (the top little ones are great), ample space, and comfortable shoulder strap. I keep trying to find a reason to buy a new bag because I feel like I should need something better, but haven't come across one…

Good call. Moving plumbing adds up quickly. If you can just shave a little off a neighboring room by shifting walls the reframing + electrical is a fraction of the price of replumbing.

Our house has a pool and the previous owners had the foresight to do the same (build an exterior door to the bathroom). So much better to go from the pool to the shower/ on a tile floor rather than drip across the hardwood. You loose a little storage space, but it is absolutely worth the trade off.

Out of stock. Now over $20

Out of stock. Now over $20

An even more powerful way is to do this with a group you trust instead of about yourself. Our Bible study every couple years sets aside an evening to go around the room and share what character qualities we admire in each member of the group and what areas we have seen each other grow in. Among friends who trust each…

I just finished my PhD in the last year and can say from experience this is all very sage advice.

That's certainly a better solution (I do the same with LastPass) but many don't use a secure password manager and at least the phone number is safe enough to email yourself.

This is brilliant.

One more thing - keep the cancellation numbers on an email to yourself so you can get them at any internet cafe. You can cancel your card and often get a new one while on vacation - Visa and other companies used to be really good about getting you new cards abroad. They want your business (and fees)…

Great tips. One more - add hooks to your grill for your tools. I recently was helping my Father-in-law pick out a new grill, and we had two. One was great, but had no hooks. One was essentially the same grill, but had 3 hooks for bbq tools to hang on the end for $50 more. I told him to buy the cheap one, and we walked…

Phrasing is important too. I contacted a supervisor by email about an airline issue by email. I explained my situation. I mentioned how I had received good service in the past, and assumed this situation must have been oversight and wanted to give them the opportunity to make it right. Got a response the next day…

They say only "thousands of ebooks" and looking at it there are barely 2000 audiobooks (from audible) available. There are a handful of big name titles (Hunger games, Lord of the Rings, etc.) but it is VERY slim pickings and represents less than 1% of their whole Audible library. I wish it were more, but my 1…

Equally important issue - how fast does it decelerate in a crash. It both has less mass, and a dramatically smaller crumple zone, meaning it will likely decelerate faster exerting significantly higher G forces on the passengers... they don't fit my lifestyle anyway (I have a child) but even if they did I would be…

I was installing a fluorescent light. I needed to move the ladder 2 feet to the side to get a stable platform to wire the other side. I agree, carrying it across the house loaded with all your tools is stupid, but re-adjusting slightly, or even just sliding it to another place in the same room without having to take…

Couldn't agree more.

My drill (its a pretty standard drill, so I doubt its just me) won't fit correctly in that hole in the top rung. It partially fit so I set it down in the hole, moved the ladder, and nearly ended up with a drill bit through my toe when it fell out. Not everyone needs this, but I looked at it and immediately thought,…