The American Dream Is a Financial Nightmare

The year was 2001, I was 21-years-old, with one semester of college left. I wasn’t taking school very serious anymore, so me and my roommate we were going through cases of Natural Light beer every week. While I was having fun celebrating the last days of fraternity life, I was also looking forward to the next stage of my life – a nine to five job I had accepted in Madison, Wisconsin.

After graduation I made the move from Illinois, settling into a run-down...

KEEP READING

By Chris Reining / 40 Comments

How to Use the British Airways Visa for Free Trips to Exotic Places

The first time I flew on an airplane I was in my 20s. I had never really left the Midwest so I went everywhere: Japan, Africa, Europe, South America, India. I wanted to experience as much as possible on these trips – I’d probably never be back – so I meticulously planned jam-packed itineraries.

The downside to traveling this way is when you get back and have to go back to work you’re completely exhausted. The whole point...

KEEP READING

By Chris Reining / 6 Comments

3 Ways to Hack Your Financial Happiness

Last week I went out on a school night. I almost didn’t because it was 10:30 at night and I hadn’t left my house yet and my bedtime was in 30 minutes. But I got the motivation to put on my Converse and head over to where Zion I, a skilled hip hop group from Oakland, California, were going to play.

After the show my buddy and I decided to have a nightcap. It was 1:00 in...

KEEP READING

By Chris Reining / 2 Comments