We Americans love fast food. And most of us also love food that is fast (there’s a difference). Maybe it’s the youngster in us — excited to stop at a chain restaurant to eat foods we know aren’t good for us… yet they taste so good. That’s just human nature, right? Of course, most of
A new year is usually filled with resolutions, and mine often contradict one another. Save more money, but travel to new places. Start a more disciplined workout routine, but take more time to rest. Eat healthier, but also enjoy life’s most delicious pleasures. My goals end up clashing, and I’m left debating who I am
On October 29, the Federal Reserve (Fed) cut interest rates for the second time in 2025, following several cuts in 2024. So how do these lower interest rates impact consumers? First, a quick summary of what the Fed has done and how that affects interest rates. The Federal Reserve controls the federal funds rate, which
As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, the season of gathering has arrived. The year’s grand finale is all about reconnecting with loved ones, sharing warmth, and creating lasting memories. This holiday season, step beyond the usual and find gifts that inspire people to gather, entertain, and make their homes feel
The holidays have a way of slowing time—of softening the edges of everyday life until everything seems wrapped in warmth and light. In Genesee County, that feeling is especially strong. Maybe it’s the snow that drapes itself over the pines and rooftops, or the way familiar places—Flint’s historic downtown, Fenton’s cozy storefronts, Grand Blanc’s glowing
I have always loved the holiday season. My mother went full tilt from Thanksgiving through Christmas, going out of her way to make every moment special and memorable. Since she passed away, I go overboard decorating, crafting, gifting, and cooking — because it makes it feel like she’s still here with me. I remember my
Newly elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has promised to “freeze the rent” in response to the city’s high cost of housing. This is simply another term for rent control — a policy enacted in the early and mid-20th century that prevented rents from rising according to market conditions. Despite its surface-level appeal as
Gift cards seem to be the perfect present for many folks on our Christmas and end-of-year holiday buying lists. Nine in 10 Americans say a physical gift card is an appropriate gift, and we don’t have to worry about choosing the right size or color. We Americans bought $304 billion (with a “b”) worth of
In this season, with food all around us, have you turned to God through Jesus Christ for the only food that truly satisfies? During the holiday season, many people’s calendars fill up with food-centered events — family gatherings around big tables, special cookies or treats passed down through generations, and opportunities to help others enjoy
Home for the holidays. Nostalgia curling around you like steam from a mug, snow-slicked streets, a tree hung with ornaments you once made with glue-sticky fingers, warm cable-knit sweaters, fireside conversations with the people who raised you. But what happens when home for the holidays no longer means any of those things? Your parents sell
We don’t want to wait. We think waiting is a bad thing, an enemy to be eliminated. If I had a choice, I would never choose to wait. We have no time to waste. No one taught me how to be in a hurry or hate waiting in lines. I know how to be impatient.
Traveling is a lot of things. It’s liberating — you are no longer confined by the self and circumstances of your everyday life. It can be affirming and meaningful, revealing parts of yourself you might never encounter in your regular world. Traveling is a break — a moment outside of regular time — giving you,
