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Upgrade-itis is an affliction common to audiophiles. You have my sympathy. I have been an audiophile for over thirty years and I had it also. Since I just retired I now have to adjust myself to a tight budget and I am now getting off of the upgrade merry-go-round. If you can afford to upgrade, consi...

I used legalzoom to create 2 wills for my wife and myself last year. It was very easy and it looked very similar to the prior wills that a lawyer created. The cost was $82. for the first will and $72 for the second. I was happy with their results. However, for a trust I would probably go to a lawyer...

I used to go to lots of rock concerts when I was young. But as time progressed that music experience became less interesting, more expensive and more of a hassle. Lately, I've been going to a local symphony that does 5 concerts a year for $110. Parking is free, the concertgoers are considerate, and ...

Based on a Consumer Reports review I bought their top recommendation: a Maytag HE washer for over $900. Two years later the control panel and a sensor broke. Replacement cost was $400. The repairman said there was no way of knowing if these replacement parts would last any longer than the originals....

Find out if any cooking schools near you offer a knife skills class. Wusthof offers a hands-on 2 hour class where you will learn about knife types, cutting techniques, knife care, and sharpening. The cost was $55, but at the end we all received a $40 Wusthof Classic paring knife. The class was reall...

I was born and raised in Buffalo, and live in Chicago now. Whenever I go back to visit family and friends I always do the following: 1. Go to the Anchor Bar. They are good wings. 2. On Fridays get a fish fry. Many taverns have great fish frys. Try Fitzgeralds in Hamburg. 3. Get at least 2 or 3 pizza...

I had 29 casement windows replaced about 4 years ago. I wanted high quality, high efficient, no maintenance windows that weathered well in Chicagoland. I got estimates from Marvin and Andersen Renewal. Their windows were of similar quality. I went with Andersen because I liked the look of the look o...

Silver based paper prints do have a unique character. That doesn't make them better than a digital print, only different. At this point in time the expense, difficulty, and time consumed to create a darkroom print is not worth it. Instead, embrace the possibilities that digital provides. A photograp...

Using Angies List I know I have a higher level of trust in the services I buy. If a service provider has many good reviews, then you can be confident that they provide a consistant high level of work. Since you pay to use Angies List, that eliminates a lot of the suspect reviews you find on Yelp.

My only daughter is getting married next month in the Chicago suburbs. I am only paying for the reception. To get an attractive facility with good food will cost me $25K (250 guests @ $100/ea). The groom's parents will be covering everything else for about $10K (rehersal dinner, photographer, flower...

Because we were late in our scheduling, we couldn't get the whole 5 days in one park lodge. So, we got one night in each of 5 different park locations. That turned out to be the best option, by far. We were able to explore the areas near each lodge and then have a short ride back at the end of the d...

We bought a house in 2002 that had a radon level of 4.0 in the basement. (4.0 is considered to be the EPA action level). We paid $1000. to get the remediation done. Afterwards, the level went down to 0.8. The remediation was effective and gave us peace of mind.

I completed the survey in about 10 minutes and I got no offer for the $25. I recall the email specified "qualified" responders. That was the last survey I will do for Vanguard (if it actually was theirs).

I'm looking for info on selecting and buying health insurance. I lost my job in July and have been paying $880/mo for COBRA health and dental for my wife and myself. Getting health insurance from my wife's employer is not an option. Finding employment at age 61 has been difficult, and I'm not sure o...