Best Short Anime for Newcomers to Binge | Wealth of Geeks

The world of anime series is so large and full of different flavors that it’s sometimes hard to figure out where to start. To help new fans wade through the overwhelming waters of so many series, Wealth of Geeks offers new fans a selection of some of the best short anime.

I’ve compiled a list of fifteen of the best anime series that only ran one season. Whether they are six or twenty-six episodes, none of these series take more than a day to watch and are an excellent way for those interested in anime to dip their toes in.

I’ve done my best to include a variety of shows, from action classics to newer melodramas. There should be something here for everyone, so without further ado, let’s get into the fifteen best short anime series to binge.

FLCL

Image Credit: Gainax Production I.G

FLCL, sometimes pronounced “Fooly Cooly,” is a six-episode sci-fi, action, comedy, coming-of-age series that centers on twelve-year-old Naota Nandaba as his uninteresting life is turned upside down by the arrival of the Vespa-riding, bass guitar-wielding Haruko Haruhara.

Haruko is an alien, and when she strikes Naota on the head with her bass, the wound turns into a portal that allows robots to enter their lives.

And lucky that they do, because soon enough, Naota needs the help of these robots to save the world.

A Six-episode Sci-Fi, Action, Comedy, Coming-of-Age Series

FLCL Fooly Cooly Gainax Production I.G 2
Image Credit: Gainax Production I.G

FLCL never shies away from its ridiculous premise and instead leans into it, delivering one of the most over-the-top and joyous anime series you can watch. And to top it off, the show is also deeply invested in music and has an iconic soundtrack.

Cowboy Bebop

Cowboy Bebop Sunrise
Image Credit: Sunrise

Cowboy Bebop is one of the most beloved anime shows ever made, and it’s easy to see why. The twenty-six-episode series follows interplanetary bounty hunters Spike and Jet as they fly through the galaxy looking for bounties. Throughout the series, they are joined by the beautiful and always scheming Faye Valentine, child hacker Ed, and the biologically engineered hyper-intelligent corgi Ein.

Interplanetary Bounty Hunters

Cowboy Bebop Sunrise 2
Image Credit: Sunrise

Cowboy Bebop is a great 1990s and anime series because it mixes episodic and serialized stories over its twenty-six episodes. The series has several standalone episodes focusing on our heroes hunting down a bounty. It also offers ongoing stories about each lead’s past and their reckonings with those pasts.

Neon Genesis Evangelion

Neon Genesis Evangelion
Image Credit: Gainax

Like Cowboy Bebop, Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the most celebrated anime of all time. But unlike Cowboy Bebop, Eva (as fans often call it) is a much more complex show to summarize or even understand.

The twenty-six-episode series starts as a standard mecha anime story about a teenager being forced to pilot a mecha in a battle for global safety but slowly transforms into something much more introspective.

About a Teenager Being Forced to Pilot a Mecha

Neon Genesis Evangelion Gainax 2
Image Credit: Gainax

It’s an iconic show beloved by millions for its emotionally powerful way of engaging with themes of identity, relationships, and mental illness while eschewing more traditional storytelling. But that’s not to say that the series doesn’t include the requisite action sequences that make mecha anime such a draw. In fact, Eva has several of the best mecha action scenes ever created in anime.

Kill la Kill

Kill la Kill
Image Credit: Gainax

Kill la Kill may not be the most introductory anime to watch, but it is one of the most well-received anime. The twenty-four-episode series follows Ryuko Matoi as she enrolls in a strictly hierarchical academy searching for her father’s murderer. Armed with a sentient article of clothing that allows her to transform into a more powerful (and closer to nude) version of herself, Ryuko fights her way through the school’s social ladder.

A Search for Her Father’s Murderer

Kill la Kill ‎Gainax 2
Image Credit: Gainax

Kill la Kill is one of the most eye-popping action anime ever made, and it’s not just because of the sometimes absurd levels of fan service. Trigger, the studio that produced Kill la Kill, is known for their frenetic, almost hyperactive, but still clear action scenes, and this show is the best example of their style thus far.

Rilakkuma and Kaoru

Rilakkuma and Kaoru Dwarf Studio
Image Credit: Dwarf Studio

It may be a bit of a surprise to see a stop-motion show rather than two-dimensional on a list of anime. Still, Rilakkuma and Kaoru is undoubtedly an animated series from Japan that carries many of the hallmarks (expressive faces, cute characters) that make anime what it is. The series follows human Kaoru and her three non-human roommates, who experience small adventures like going to local festivals and weathering storms.

Through it all, the series offers adorable and beautiful images made from the stop-motion world and characters. There is also a surprising emotional heft as Kaoru reflects on her life and choices.

Follows Human Kaoru and Her Three Non-human Roommates

Rilakkuma and Kaoru Dwarf Studio 2
Image Credit: Dwarf Studio

It’s a beautiful addition to the slice-of-life subgenre of anime and is easy to watch in multiple very short sittings or as a single sitting, as each of the thirteen episodes only runs twelve minutes. Those interested in more of this wonderfully cozy world can watch the sequel series Rilakkuma’s Theme Park Adventure, which only runs eight twelve-minute episodes.

Keep Your Hands off Eizouken

Keep Your Hands off Eizouken Warner Bros
Image Credit: Warner Bros

Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken is directed by beloved anime director Masaki Yuasa, a major name for his series and his films, including 2022’s Inu-Oh, which push the boundaries of what animation can do. Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken is a perfect fit for Yuasa’s creativity, as the show is about anime creation.

About Anime Creation

Keep Your Hands off Eizouken Warner Bros 2
Image Credit: Warner Bros

The twelve-episode series centers on three girls determined to create the “ultimate world.” Background artist and lead protagonist Midori is obsessed with creating the perfect setting. Sayaka is most interested in making (and saving) money from their venture and acts as producer, while character artist Tsubame creates beautifully fluid animations within Midori’s worlds.

It’s a series that makes the most of its medium by allowing the animated world around the characters to change and reflect their creations in exciting and breathtaking ways.

Violet Evergarden

Violet Evergarden Kyoto Animation
Image Credit: Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation is known for its stunningly beautiful animation, and Violet Evergarden is no exception. The thirteen-episode series starts with a bang that offers some of the most precise action in anime, as we meet super soldier Violet during a war.

Violet was raised from birth to be an effective soldier, but when Violet loses her arms, she can no longer fight, and when the war ends, she must find a new way to live.

A Super Soldier Loses Her Arms and Can No Longer Fight

Violet Evergarden Kyoto Animation 2
Image Credit: Kyoto Animation

She becomes an “Auto Memory Doll,” someone who transcribes the emotions someone wants to communicate but struggles to name. The show follows Violet as she meets new clients and helps them while also learning more about emotions herself. It’s a sometimes melodramatic series that leans hard on its premise to draw out some big emotions and certainly succeeds.

Hellsing & Hellsing Ultimate

Hellsing Hellsing Ultimate Geneon Entertainment
Image Credit: Geneon Entertainment

Undeniably a bit of a cheat to include two series as one entry on a list of series, but Hellsing and Hellsing Ultimate are both adaptations of the manga of the same name by Kouta Hirano, and both fit the bill for “short.” Hellsing is a thirteen-episode TV series, while Hellsing Ultimate is a ten-episode OVA series with episodes that range from 42 to 68 minutes.

Defending England From Supernatural Threats

Hellsing Hellsing Ultimate Geneon Entertainment 2
Image Credit: Geneon Entertainment

Both follow the titular Hellsing organization and the vampire Alucard who defend England from supernatural threats, with Hellsing taking some more liberties with the source material than Hellsing Ultimate. Each series are full of astounding levels of anime action horror gore without ever shorting the audience on either action or horror in their own right.

Anohana

Anohana A 1 Pictures
Image Credit: A-1 Pictures

For those more interested in giving their tear ducts a workout with some powerful melodrama than their heart rate a workout with pulse-pounding action, Anohana is the place to start. The eleven-episode series follows a group of high schoolers who were close friends in middle school but drifted apart after the death of one of the children in the friend group.

The Ghost of His Lost Friend

Anohana A 1 Pictures 2
Image Credit: A-1 Pictures

Years later, protagonist Jinta barely interacts with the outside world but is pushed to reconnect when the ghost of his lost friend appears next to him one day. Anohana is a melancholy and bittersweet show that will make viewers cry at least once over its short runtime.

Samurai Champloo

Samurai Champloo Manglobe
Image Credit: Manglobe

From Shinichirō Watanabe, director of Cowboy Bebop, comes another absolute classic of single-season anime: Samurai Champloo. Samurai Champloo is a period piece instead of a planet-hopping sci-fi adventure, but like the earlier series, it has a nice balance of episodic and serialized stories.

The twenty-six-episode show follows a pair of samurai saved from execution by a tea waitress who then enlists their help finding another samurai.

Follows a Pair of Samurai Who Are Saved From Execution

Samurai Champloo Manglobe 2
Image Credit: Manglobe

Samurai Champloo is perhaps most well known for its anachronisms, especially with music, as the series’ score is all instrumental hip-hop. But music isn’t the only area where the show plays with time; one of the most beloved episodes in the series is about baseball, that’s right, baseball in Edo period Japan.

Berserk (1997)

Berserk Nippon TV
Image Credit: Nippon TV

Perhaps one of the most infamous anime for its extreme violence, including sexual violence, Berserk is also one of the most celebrated anime of all time for its character development and complex plotlines. The twenty-five-episode dark fantasy series follows protagonist Guts as he serves in a mercenary group called “Band of the Hawk.”

A Dark Fantasy Series Infamous for Its Extreme Violence

Berserk Nippon TV 2
Image Credit: Nippon TV

The series follows the group’s adventures, internal conflicts, and eventual dissolution with care for each lead’s emotions and motivations. Berserk delivers on its name, but it’s more than just a blood and guts fest. It’s a show that offers as much thoughtful consideration to its characters’ inner lives as its visceral action scenes.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Puella Magi Madoka Magica Shaft Animation Studio
Image Credit: Shaft Animation Studio

“Magical Girl” is a significant subgenre of anime, usually centering (as you can guess) on a group of magical girls who go on a variety of adventures. Most of the best series in this subgenre, including Sailor Moon and Revolutionary Girl Utena, are longer-running series than what we’re considering here, but that’s where Puella Magi Madoka Magica comes in.

A Group of Magical Girls Who Go on a Variety of Adventures

Puella Magi Madoka Magica Shaft Animation Studio 2
Image Credit: Shaft Animation Studio

The twelve-episode series follows the titular Madoka, a regular middle school girl, as she discovers a world of magic that exists parallel to ours. Madoka and a friend are offered contracts by a magical creature that offers to grant them any wish if they agree to gain powers and fight witches.

It’s a surprisingly dark series as Madoka and her friend soon learn that the life of a magical girl isn’t one of light and joy but one full of violence and pain. Puella Magi Madoka Magica is sort of a subversion of the magical girl genre, but it’s also one of the best series that subgenre has to offer.

Tamako Market

Tamako Market Kyoto Animation
Image Credit: Kyoto Animation

Like Masaki Yuasa and Shinichirō Watanabe, Naoko Yamada is a creative superstar in the anime world. Yamada’s work with Kyoto Animation is some of the most beautiful anime ever made, both visually and emotionally, and Tamako Market is no different.

Devoted to The Life of a Teen Protagonist, Her Family, and Her Friends

Tamako Market Kyoto Animation 2
Image Credit: Kyoto Animation

Originally developed as the third season of the longer-running K-On! series, Tamako Market became its own twelve-episode series devoted to the life of teen protagonist Tamako Kitashirakawa, her family, who runs a mochi shop, and her friends who frequent the shop. It’s a simple slice-of-life show that doesn’t offer anything groundbreaking narratively but is simply a cozy delight.

Paranoia Agent

Paranoia Agent Madhouse
Image Credit: Madhouse

Paranoia Agent is the only series that writer/director Satoshi Kon created before his untimely death in 2010. Kon was, and remains, one of the most extraordinary minds in anime, with each of the four feature films he made between 1997 and 2006 considered classics of the genre.

Paranoia Agent is a thirteen-episode series Kon created from unused ideas in his films, allowing him to be more flexible with his ideas and the narrative.

Centers on a Series of Attacks by a Boy Using a Bent Golden Bat

Paranoia Agent Madhouse 2
Image Credit: Madhouse

The thirteen-episode show centers on a series of attacks by a boy known only as “Lil Slugger,” who uses a bent golden bat as a weapon. When the police first hear of the attacks, they are suspicious of their veracity, but as the attacks become an epidemic, the show begins to ask more significant questions than simply “who” and “why.”

It’s a mystery show that’s more interested in posing thought-provoking questions than satisfying answers.

Serial Experiments Lain

Serial Experiments Lain Triangle Staff
Image Credit: Triangle Staff

Science fiction is a staple genre in anime. Sci-fi is a significant part of anime, from space adventures like Cowboy Bebop to the entire mecha subgenre of shows like Neon Genesis Evangelion. But some shows are harder sci-fi than others, and Serial Experiments Lain is one of the greatest hard sci-fi shows ever made in any medium.

Follows a Teenage Girl After She Receives an Email From a Classmate Who Recently Died by Suicide

Serial Experiments Lain Triangle Staff 2
Image Credit: Triangle Staff

The thirteen-episode show follows teenage girl Lain after she receives an email from a classmate, Chisa, who recently died by suicide. Chisa’s email says that she has not died but has given up her body to live in “the Wired,” a communication network that’s essentially the internet.

The show is incredibly unnerving and often surreal, but it’s also remarkably prescient and a must-watch for hard sci-fi fans looking to get into anime.

Elfen Lied

Elfen Lied ARMS Corporation
Image Credit: ARMS Corporation

Like Kill la Kill, Elfen Lied isn’t the most accessible anime, but it is very anime. The thirteen-episode show has one of the most exhilarating opening scenes of any show, live-action or animated, ever made. A naked teenage girl with psychic powers escapes from a lab and telekinetically rips everyone in her path to bloody pieces.

But Elfen Lied isn’t only an edgy show full of blood and nudity; it’s also often incredibly sweet, sometimes even sentimental.

A Naked Teenage Girl With Psychic Powers Escapes From a Lab

Elfen Lied ARMS Corporation 2
Image Credit: ARMS Corporation

And it’s that juxtaposition of tones that makes the show so fascinating. It can switch back and forth from shockingly violent and even cruel to scenes we’d expect from children’s entertainment. Of course, it’s a divisive show with just as many detractors as fans, but there’s no denying it’s incredibly entertaining.

Parasyte -The Maxim-

Parasyte the maxim Nippon TV
Image Credit: Nippon TV

Parasyte -the maxim- is very clear about its major influence: John Carpenter’s The Thing. The twenty-four-episode series takes place in a world where aliens that act as parasites have begun to invade Earth. These parasites usually take over the entire body and brain of their hosts. They can transform into horrific (or beautiful, depending on your point of view) forms reminiscent of the titular Thing’s transformations in Carpenter’s film.

Aliens That Act as Parasites Have Begun To Invade Earth

Parasyte the maxim Nippon TV 2
Image Credit: Nippon TV

But when high school student Shinichi Izumi is attacked by one of these aliens, it’s unable to take over his brain. Instead, it takes up residence in his right hand. The two then bond as they fight for survival in this world increasingly overrun by aliens that want all of humanity dead. It’s a visually striking show with a surprising amount of heart as Shinichi and the alien in his hand develop a genuine affection for one another.

Another

Another NA ‎Anime Network
Image Credit: NA ‎Anime Network

Another is a mystery horror anime heavily inspired by the wave of J-horror films of the late 1990s and early 2000s and may be a great entry point to anime for any fans of those films looking to explore the animated side of Japanese entertainment. The twelve-episode series centers on fifteen-year-old Koichi as he transfers into a new school and meets the mysterious Mei just as a series of deaths surround their classmates.

Fifteen-year-Old Koichi Transfers Into a New School With a Series of Deaths

Another NA ‎Anime Network 2
Image Credit: NA ‎Anime Network

The show follows Koichi and Mei as they attempt to discover what is causing the deaths and hopefully save their classmates from what seems to be a curse. It’s a show that includes some horrific violence but is more interested in the dread these inexplicable deaths create for both the characters and the viewer.

SK8 The Infinity

SK8 The Infinity Bones
Image Credit: Bones

As you can likely guess from the name, SK8 the Infinity is a show about skating. The twelve-episode show follows devoted skater Reki as he introduces new transfer student Langa to the world of intense underground skate races known as “S.” The races occur late at night in an abandoned mine and are the center of a thriving subculture.

Follows a Devoted Skater and The Intense Underground Skate Races

SK8 The Infinity Bones 2
Image Credit: Bones

Langa is immediately taken with S and adapts his snowboarding skills (he moved from Canada) to skateboarding to become one of the most competitive racers in the sport. SK8 the Infinity is a lighthearted show that offers unique skating sequences and is an excellent place for fans of sports shows to start their anime journey.

Nichijou

Nichijou Kyoto Animation
Image Credit: Kyoto Animation

Nichijou is a simple slice-of-life comedy anime that follows several characters’ lives in a small town where extraordinary things happen every so often. It’s a world where salmon fall from the sky, cats talk, and a professor creates a robot that wants to be a human. But the show isn’t interested in any particular narrative so much as simply spending time with these characters.

Vignettes of Each of The Characters’ Lives and Their Antics

Nichijou Kyoto Animation 2
Image Credit: Kyoto Animation

The twenty-six-episode series comprises vignettes of each character’s lives and the antics they get up to in the town. The show’s character design and jokes are quintessential anime with big eyes and even bigger jokes about mundane things like dropping a piece of food. It’s a show perfect for destressing and laughing at without worrying about anything like plot.

This post was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.


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13 Best Kim Novak Films | Wealth of Geeks

As one of the last remaining classic-era actresses, Kim Novak retired from acting in 1991 and has since worked on her paintings. Even though her film content is far behind her, the key roles she embodied have a lasting impact on cinema today.

Let’s take a look at her best 13 films.

1. Vertigo (1958)

Image Credit: Paramount Pictures.

Rotten Tomatoes: 93%

IMDb: 8.3

Often considered one of Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpieces, Vertigo presents a magnetic mystery, and at its center is Kim Novak in a dual role as Madeline and Judy. James Stewart stars opposite her and is brilliant and disturbing in his portrayal of his character Scottie and how obsession takes him over.

One of Alfred Hitchcock’s Masterpieces

Vertigo 1 Paramount MSN
Image Credit: Paramount Pictures.

An old acquaintance hires Scottie to follow his wife, Madeline, who he believes might be possessed by one of her ancestors because of her behavior. As Scottie gets closer to Madeline, he falls in love with her and loses his mind when he believes she’s dead. Soon, he meets Judy, who resembles Madeline, so he gives her a makeover to look just like her. This film keeps you guessing until the end with the plot twists, and both Novak and Stewart deliver superb performances.

2. The Man With The Golden Arm (1955)

The Man With The Golden Arm Carlyle Productions
Image Credit: Carlyle Productions

Rotten Tomatoes: 81%

IMDb: 7.3

Undoubtedly, The Man with the Golden Arm showcases one of Frank Sinatra’s best performances. Just the withdrawal sequence alone proves what a talent he had. Kim Novak stars opposite him as Molly shows her ability to convey heightened emotions.

One of Frank Sinatra’s Best Performances

The Man With The Golden Arm Carlyle Productions 2
Image Credit: Carlyle Productions

The film revolves around a former drug addict who was rehabilitated and released from prison. Frankie (Sinatra) vows to make a better life for himself and his wife, who uses a wheelchair (or so we think). He blames himself for her accident, so he stays with her even though he loves Molly (Novak). When he needs to kick the habit again, it’s Molly who he seeks out to help him survive it, which lets Novak give an emotionally charged performance.

3. Pushover (1954)

Pushover 1954 Columbia Pictures
Image Credit: Columbia Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes: 86%

IMDb: 7.1

Pushover was Kim Novak’s first major film role, and she was the leading lady opposite Fred MacMurray. With only two uncredited film roles before this, it is impressive she could pull off playing a woman with much more life experience than her 21 years.

First Major Film Role

Pushover 1954 Columbia Pictures 2
Image Credit: Columbia Pictures

This film noir crime film features both a robbery and a torrid affair. Novak stars as Lona, the girlfriend of a robber involved in a $210,000 heist. A team of cops stakes out her apartment, and soon, one of them (MacMurray) begins an affair with her. She considers him a pushover and attempts to convince him to kill her boyfriend so they can run away together.

4. Pal Joey (1957)

Pal Joey 1957 Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes: 80%

IMDb: 6.6

Frank Sinatra was fully into his fedora-wearing suave persona when he starred in Pal Joey. It also reunited him with Kim Novak and built a love triangle with the addition of Rita Hayworth. Novak turns in an excellent performance as the one woman who doesn’t immediately fall under Joey’s spell.

An Excellent Performance

Pal Joey 1957 Columbia Pictures 2
Columbia Pictures

The film follows Joey as he starts a new job with a bunch of chorus girls. He works through them efficiently, all except Linda (Novak), who resists his charms for much longer. When a wealthy widow (Hayworth) is interested in him, he uses her to get his own nightclub. Unfortunately, she falls in love with him, but he leaves her when he realizes he loves Linda.

5. Bell, Book and Candle (1958)

Bell Book and Candle 1958 Columbia Pictures 2
Image Credit: Columbia Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes: 73%

IMDb: 6.8

In their second film of the year, Kim Novak and James Stewart reunited for the romantic comedy Bell, Book and Candle. Even though the film revolves around a family of witches, it primarily features Christmas and a love story.

Reunited With James Stewart for This Romantic Comedy

Bell Book and Candle 1958 Columbia Pictures
Image Credit: Columbia Pictures

Gillian (Novak) is intrigued by her new neighbor Shep (Stewart) but doesn’t pursue him until she learns he is engaged to her old college nemesis. She decides to use a spell to lure him away from her but falls in love with him, which jeopardizes her entire way of life. This film shows how dynamic Novak and Stewart’s chemistry is. They presented a convincing love story and got along well in real life.

6. Kiss Me, Stupid (1964)

Kiss Me Stupid
Image Credit: The Mirisch Corporation

Rotten Tomatoes: 71%

IMDb: 6.9

In a film where Dean Martin essentially plays himself, and Kim Novak steps into a role originally meant for Marilyn Monroe, we have a unique offering in Kiss Me, Stupid. It is a comedy mostly about mistaken identity and deceit.

A Role Originally Meant for Marilyn Monroe

Kiss Me Stupid The Mirisch Corporation
Image Credit: The Mirisch Corporation

When famous singer Dino (Martin) has his car break down, it turns out it was actually disabled by a song team hoping to sell him on their songs. They entertain him with Polly (Novak), who pretends to be one of their wives. Novak is brash and hilarious in her role.

7. Strangers When We Meet (1960)

Strangers When We Meet 1960 Bryna Productions
Image Credit: Bryna Productions

Rotten Tomatoes: 60%

IMDb: 7.1

Because Kim Novak was involved with the director Richard Quine while filming this picture, she had a lot of freedom and would make suggestions to different crew members. When she did it to her leading man Kirk Douglas, he took offense, and their off-camera relationship suffered. Despite this, they could still produce a bunch of chemistry on-screen.

On-screen Chemistry

Strangers When We Meet 1960 Bryna Productions 2
Image Credit: Bryna Productions

The premise involves a married man named Larry (Douglas) and a married woman named Maggie (Novak) who become involved in an affair while unhappy in their marriages. Soon their nosy neighbor discovers what they’re doing.

8. Picnic (1955)

Picnic 1955 Columbia Pictures
Image Credit: Columbia Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes: 50%

IMDb: 7.0

Picnic is worth watching for the sensual dance sequence with Kim Novak and William Holden alone. Not wanting to dance, Holden was paid a premium for it and allowed to be drunk while filming. Novak didn’t need such an incentive, and she performed the sexy dance convincingly on her own.

A Sexy Dance by Novak

Picnic 1955 Columbia Pictures 2
Image Credit: Columbia Pictures

The story revolves around a handsome stranger (Holden) who arrives in town during the Labor Day picnic. He soon falls in love with Madge (Novak), even though he is his friend Alan’s girlfriend, which causes all sorts of drama in the small Kansas town.

9. Middle of The Night (1959)

Middle of The Night 1959 Columbia Pictures
Image Credit: Columbia Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes: N/A

IMDb: 7.2

In one of her favorite roles, Kim Novak stars as Betty, a recently divorced 24-year-old whose 56-year-old boss (Fredric March) is interested in her. This film is an interesting look at a May-December romance.

An Interesting Look at a May-December Romance

Middle of The Night 1959 Columbia Pictures 2
Image Credit: Columbia Pictures

Despite her initial reluctance, Betty agrees to have dinner with her widower boss Jerry. Even though they both have insecurities about themselves and the relationship, they decide to get married, but Betty’s ex soon comes back into the picture.

10. The Eddy Duchin Story (1956)

The Eddy Duchin Story 1956 Columbia Pictures
Image Credit: Columbia Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes: N/A

IMDb: 6.8

This biographical film takes some liberties with the life of bandleader Eddy Duchin but does get the big things right. Tyrone Power plays Duchin, while Kim Novak plays Marjorie. The two of them have a passionate but ultimately doomed relationship.

An Intriguing Story About a Lesser-known Bandleader

The Eddy Duchin Story 1956 Columbia Pictures 2
Image Credit: Columbia Pictures

The film shows Duchin going to New York City to become a famous pianist, although he had just graduated from pharmacy school. Marjorie helps him get his shot on stage, and the two end up in a tumultuous relationship. The movie is an intriguing story about a lesser-known bandleader of the 1930s and 1940s.

11. The Notorious Landlady (1962)

The Notorious Landlady 1962 Columbia Pictures
Image Credit: Columbia Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes: N/A

IMDb: 6.7

Reunited for the third time with Jack Lemmon (the others being Phffft and when he played her brother in Bell, Book and Candle), they play love interests here. Novak even designed her clothing for this film, where she plays his landlady.

Enjoyable Comedy

The Notorious Landlady 1962 Columbia Pictures 2
Image Credit: Columbia Pictures

When junior diplomat Bill Gridley (Lemmon) arrives in London, he rents part of Carly’s (Novak) house and falls in love with her. However, he doesn’t know that the police suspect her of murdering her husband. She falls for him but is worried about the effect of the bad publicity on him. The comedy is enjoyable and a testament to both of their comedic timing.

12. Phffft (1954)

Phffft 1954 Columbia Pictures
Image Credit: Columbia Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes: N/A

IMDb: 6.6

As one of Kim Novak’s earliest roles, she has a supporting role in Phfft. The title refers to the sound a marriage breaking up makes. The main couple is played by Judy Holliday and Jack Lemmon, which makes for a movie with some good laughs.

A Fun Partner for Jack Lemmon

Phffft 1954 Columbia Pictures 2
Image Credit: Columbia Pictures

Nina (Holliday) and Robert (Lemmon) star as a recently divorced couple who begin to date other people (Jack Carson and Kim Novak). They keep running into each other, and divorced life is not like what they thought it would be. Novak is gorgeous here as always and presents a fun partner for Lemmon.

13. Jeanne Eagels (1957)

Jeanne Eagels 1957 Columbia Pictures
Image Credit: Columbia Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes: N/A

IMDb: 6.2

In another biographical picture, Kim Novak stars as Jeanne Eagels, but much of the film is fiction and not a great representation of Eagels’ real life. Despite that, it is an entertaining film that shows Novak’s range yet again.

An Entertaining Film

Jeanne Eagels 1957 Columbia Pictures 2
Image Credit: Columbia Pictures

To gain the fame she craves, Jeanne joins a carnival to try to get there. Sal (Jeff Chandler) is the owner who falls for her but is appalled when Jeanne steals another actress’s play for herself, determined to do anything it takes to be successful.

This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.


Kristen Winiarski has worked as a professional writer for 15 years, studying classic TV shows and films to further her expertise and understanding about how they have evolved. This passion led her to start her own classic movie blog before branching out into the professional entertainment writing world.


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22 Best Leonardo DiCaprio Movies | Wealth of Geeks

Leonardo DiCaprio is undoubtedly one of the living legends of Hollywood, starting in TV commercials and quickly blossoming into one of the most sought-after and gifted talents in Hollywood. With a three-decade-long career, he has worked with some all-time great directors, from Tarantino and Ridley to Spielberg and Scorsese.

Leonardo earned his first Academy Award nomination at just nineteen, marking the start of an illustrious career that would put the star in the limelight. DiCaprio picks his projects meticulously, works with the best, and spawns a masterpiece every time. Choosing and ranking his best movies was arduous – but we did it, anyway! These are our top picks, ranked from worst to best.

1. The Beach (2000)

Image Credit: Twentieth Century Fox

Danny Boyle has made a few movies that were not outstanding, and The Beach is an example of one of his projects that went off the rails. Based on a book by Alex Garland, the movie is about a group of western travelers looking for a new paradise in Southeast Asia. Unfortunately, it haphazardly goes from an adventure and tourism stint to a struggle for survival.

A Group of Western Travelers Look for Paradise in Southeast Asia

The Beach 2000 Twentieth Century Fox 2
Image Credit: Twentieth Century Fox

The movie struggles at several points, especially in the third act. But DiCaprio, coming off his success with the Titanic, brings life to the film and makes it worthwhile.

2. The Man in The Iron Mask (1998)

The Man in the Iron Mask 1998 Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Image Credit: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

No matter how great an actor is, there’s only so much they can do without a good script, and The Man in the Iron Mask was lacking in the screenplay and with such a hollow plot. In an almost Disney-esque parody of a movie, DiCaprio plays a twin as both protagonist and antagonist. It follows the story of King Louis XIV and the plot to replace him with his secret twin brother.

Plays a Twin as Both Protagonist and Antagonist

The Man in the Iron Mask 1998 Metro Goldwyn Mayer 2
Image Credit: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

While the movie had mixed feedback and criticism from fans, it garnered substantial success. Perhaps the star-studded cast, which included Jeremy Irons and John Malkovich, was a high contributing factor. But Leonardo, hot off his heels from the Titanic success, was one of the best parts of the project.

3. This Boy’s Life (1993)

This Boys Life 1993 Warner Bros
Image Credit: Warner Bros

One of the earliest displays of DiCaprio’s immense range of potential is in this adaptation of Tobias Wolff’s memoir. It tells the story of Toby (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his mother as they survive the cruel machinations of Dwight (Robert De Niro), Toby’s stepfather. The young DiCaprio met with the seasoned De Niro, Toby matching his stepfather’s rage, intensity, and cruelty.

A Young Man Looking To Protect His Mother

This Boys Life 1993 Warner Bros 2
Image Credit: Warner Bros

The movie sees DiCaprio grow right on the screen from a naïve boy to a young man looking to protect his mother by all means. DiCaprio became one of Hollywood’s most sought-after talents due to his character’s complexity and ability to shine next to De Niro.

4. Gangs of New York (2002)

Gangs of New York 2002 Touchstone Pictures
Image Credit: Touchstone Pictures

This marks the first time Leonardo DiCaprio worked with hit-making director Martin Scorsese. The movie boasts an impressive cast, from Daniel Day-Lewis, who got into the role after working with actual butchers, to Cameron Diaz and Liam Neeson.

A Young Man Looking For Vengeance for His Father

Gangs of New York 2002 Touchstone Pictures 2
Image Credit: Touchstone

Leo plays Amsterdam, a young man looking for vengeance for his father, who was killed by Bill “The Butcher.” Jenny Everdeane (Cameron Diaz) and Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio) shine in their roles as their young romance blooms—the bloody epic borders on themes of religious fervor and sociopolitical battles for control over New York.

5. Romeo + Juliet (1996)

Romeo Juliet 1996 20th Century Fox 2
Image Credit: 20th Century Fox

Before Jack and Rose, there was Romeo and Juliet. DiCaprio stars in the adaptation of the Shakespearian piece, set in modern times. Working alongside Claire Danes, the movie tells the classic story of young love on a fuse. It’s giddy, ripe with emotion, tension, and parents’ frustrations trying to pull back on the insatiable love of Romeo (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Juliet (Claire Danes).

Aside from the natural chemistry between actors, the film represents a generation that took literature paramount with phenomenal dialogue.

The Classic Story of Young Love on a Fuse

Romeo Juliet 1996 20th Century
Image Credit: 20th Century Fox

DiCaprio, the soft-spoken heartthrob, expertly runs through his lines, leaving viewers caught in the same infatuation he feels for his lover. The movie’s selling point, and what set the stage for Titanic that would come only a year later, is the unstoppable romance between the star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet.

6. J. Edgar (2011)

J. Edgar 2011 Imagine Entertainment
Image Credit: Imagine Entertainment

J. Edgar had the potential to be a great and memorable movie. The biopic centers on the story of the corrupt FBI director who started the fingerprinting database. He spied on everyone he wanted and used his power to hide his relationship with Clyde Tolson (Armie Hammer). As a typical movie by Clint Eastwood, it took the same winding and downright boring route as most of his projects.

The Corrupt FBI Director

J. Edgar 2011 Imagine Entertainment 2
Image Credit: Imagine Entertainment

While they are usually historically correct, this movie stifles DiCaprio as an actor, as he’s forced to transform from the cherub-faced pretty boy to an aging J. Edgar Hoover. Although the film is lacking, those who worked with Edgar would say that Leonardo’s performance was so realistic it felt like they were watching the real thing.

7. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood 2019 Columbia Pictures
Image Credit: Columbia Pictures

DiCaprio yelling at himself in his trailer after messing up some of his lines lives rent-free in our heads as one of the star’s funniest and best bits of acting. The movie follows Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), as DiCaprio is a Hollywood star past his prime with a struggling career.

A Hollywood Star Past His Prime

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood 2019 Columbia Pictures 2
Image Credit: Columbia Pictures

From the musical score, background marquees, and radio music to cars and even the 35mm film on which they shot it, the movie captures the Golden Age of Hollywood.

8. Revolutionary Road (2008)

Revolutionary Road 2008 Dreamworks
Image Credit: Dreamworks

The novel by Richard Yates brings back the titanic pair of DiCaprio and Kate Winslet once again, only that they aren’t swooning madly over each other. Instead, they’re adults who realize that the world isn’t as they expected it to be, and more than anything else, they want more from it. Both characters, Frank and April Wheeler, soon realize that their dream jobs and lifestyle are beyond their grasp.

Shows How Complex Everyday Life Can Be

Revolutionary Road 2008 Dreamworks 2
Image Credit: Dreamworks

They struggle with their failing marriage and their jobs, extramarital relationships, and childbirth. It’s a simple movie showing just how complex everyday life can be. The performance by DiCaprio and Kate earns them an Academy nomination for Best Actor and Actress, and there is no question about it, as their acting is absolutely stellar. The movie proves that their Titanic performance was only the tip of the iceberg.

9. Body of Lies (2008)

Body of Lies 2008 Warner Bros
Image Credit: Warner Bros

While striving to be a social commentary on the relations between the US and the Middle East, Body of Lies manages an underlying and thought-provoking message but mainly comes across as bland. The B-list movie follows Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio) as a CIA operative trying to track down and eliminate a terrorist organization in the middle east. Meanwhile, he gets a little too close to his love interest, Golshifteh Farahani, who plays Aisha.

A CIA Operative Trying To Eliminate a Terrorist Organization

Body of Lies 2008 Warner Bros 2
Image Credit: Warner Bros

DiCaprio and his boss, Russell Crowe (Ed Hoffman), do their best to make the espionage thriller quite the spectacle, with great action sequences and dialogue. But that it’s just another thriller with no authentic voice of its own makes it a pretty forgettable venture.

10. The Aviator (2004)

The Aviator 2004 Miramax Films
Image Credit: Miramax Films

Only a couple of talents in Hollywood can step into the psyche of the different characters they play with vastly varying mental states, and DiCaprio is one of them. In The Aviator, he portrays the mental state of Howard Hughes, a man plagued by his own passion for innovation and success. In addition, he mirrors Hughes’ compulsive personality disorder, which pushes him to self-destruction.

Portrays The Mental State of Howard Hughes

The Aviator 2004 Miramax Films 2
Image Credit: Miramax Films

While he is a larger-than-life billionaire in his second movie with Martin Scorsese, DiCaprio brings a different swagger to his role in this, which is grossly underrated. The biopic intricately shows the life of Hughes, his various business ventures, and his eventual fall into insanity.

11. Don’t Look Up (2021)

Dont Look Up 2021 Hyperobject Industries
Image Credit: Hyperobject Industries

Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio star as scientists discover a comet heading straight for earth. The satirical social commentary hits hard on several issues and proves incredibly self-aware. It tackles themes like societies’ dependence on technology, politics, climate change, and woke culture.

A Scientist Who Discover a Comet Heading Straight for Earth

Dont Look Up 2021 Hyperobject Industries 2
Image Credit: Hyperobject Industries

While it received mixed reviews, it remains a splendid watch. Everyone does spectacular work in the movie. Leo’s facial expressions and incoherent babble share what it’s like to be a man burdened with knowledge.

12. Shutter Island (2010)

Shutter Island 2010 Paramount Pictures
Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

The haunting horror/mystery by Martin Scorsese shows an older, more emotional, and fragile Leonardo DiCaprio. The movie takes a U.S. Marshal and his partner, Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo), to a remote facility, where they investigate the disappearance of a missing patient. Things quickly take a turn as Scorsese leads the viewers through the twists and turns of the movie, following the paranoid man until he realizes things are not as they seem.

Investigates The Disappearance of a Missing Patient

Shutter Island 2010 Paramount Pictures 2
Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

From cryptic codes to conspiracy theories, mixed with Leonardo and Ruffalo’s antics, the film is a twistedly creepy and perplexing piece of art. However, while the movie’s convenience gives away the end truth to an eagle-eyed viewer, it does not make it less entertaining.

13. Blood Diamond (2006)

Blood Diamond 2006 Warner Bros
Image Credit: Warner Bros

Selling the white savior narrative is quite the task. Still, Leonardo masterfully executed it and, by the end of the movie, could convey the emotions and struggles of Sierra Leone during their civil war. As a smuggler, DiCaprio (Danny Archer) plays the antihero who only cares about money. Archer is the action hero, running through war-torn villages to save the family of Solomon Vardy (Djimon Hounsou).

The Antihero Who Only Cares About Money

Blood Diamond 2006 Warner Bros 2
Image Credit: Warner Bros

The movie showcases the tragedies of war, child soldiers, the illegal diamond trade, and many corrupt practices that plagued the era. DiCaprio’s performance earned him an Academy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild nominations.

14. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)

Whats Eating Gilbert Grape 1993 Paramount Pictures
Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

Here, Leonardo DiCaprio plays a mentally challenged sibling, which earned him his first Oscar nod at nineteen. Depp was the name that drew you to the movie. Still, DiCaprio’s authentic, empathic, and heart-splitting method of acting captured viewers’ hearts long after watching.

A Young Man Who Has To Take Care of His Family

Whats Eating Gilbert Grape 1993 Paramount Pictures 2
Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

The movie follows the story of Gilbert Grape, a young man who has to care for his family in a small town in Iowa. The coming-of-age story takes us through the wringer as Gilbert (Depp) finds love, deals with his family, and struggles with his business. While Depp was the main attraction, Leonardo got his Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the movie.

15. Django Unchained (2012)

Django Unchained 2012 Columbia Pictures
Image Credit: Columbia Pictures

DiCaprio never fails to shine. Even when surrounded by other high-profile stars like Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Waltz, and Jamie Foxx, he delivers a stellar performance. DiCaprio embodied the role of a racist plantation owner in a movie directed by Quentin Tarantino, delivering his lines with detestable charm and charisma. He’s so deep into the character that he accidentally cuts himself during filming without noticing. And when he does, he continues acting, paying no mind to it – a scene that adds to a phenomenal work.

A Racist Plantation Owner

Django Unchained 2012 Columbia Pictures 2
Image Credit: Columbia Pictures

Although not based on a true story, true events on black exploitation and slavery inspired American western film. It received a long list of accolades for its originality and screenplay.

16. The Departed (2006)

The Departed 2006 Warner Bros
Image Credit: Warner Bros

It’s not the first time Leonardo stars in a movie that shows the intricacies of a cat-and-mouse chase. The Departed sees DiCaprio playing a grumbly, desperate, and repulsive officer looking to infiltrate the mob. Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) shows how demanding and stressful the ploy of being an undercover cop could be.

A Desperate and Repulsive Officer Looking To Infiltrate The Mob

The Departed 2006 Warner Bros 2
Image Credit: Warner Bros

Scorsese’s Good Fellas will always stand as one of his best works. Still, the betrayals, scandals, twists, and emotional stakes make The Departed a strong candidate for the same position. The movie has no premise of a happy ever after because there’s no telling what comes next, keeping spectators at the edge of their seats until the end.

17. The Great Gatsby (2013)

The Great Gatsby 2013 Warner Bros
Image Credit: Warner Bros

Tobey’s narration of the life and exploits of his friend and the myth Jay Gatsby, with his calm, almost sultry voice, allows the scenes their free flow and keeps the pace. Gatsby is a man of lavish parties, expensive suits, and a billionaire lifestyle that seems tailored for none other than Leonardo.

An Insecure Billionaire Looking To Win Love

The Great Gatsby 2013 Warner Bros 2
Image Credit: Warner Bros

In this superb tale, DiCaprio plays an insecure billionaire looking to win the love of Daisy while working alongside his friend, Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire). But not all love stories end in paradise, as with the tragic unfolding of Gatsby’s fate. The Great Gatsby also depicts man’s innate selfishness. Yet, despite his lavish parties and benevolence, his best friend, Nick Carraway, is the only one who sticks by him.

18. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

The Wolf of Wall Street 2013 Paramount Pictures
Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

“I’ve been a poor man, and I’ve been a rich man. And I choose rich every f–king time.”
In what is considered Leonardo DiCaprio’s best performance, Martin Scorsese’s Wolf of Wall Street is based on a true story. Following the story of Jordan Belfort, a broker turned millionaire fraudster on his way to the top. Leo sells the character, delivering a hilarious yet emotional performance.

A Broker Turned Millionaire Fraudster

The Wolf of Wall Street 2013 Paramount Pictures 2
Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

Margot Robbie, Jonah Hill, Matthew McConaughey, and Leonardo put together three hours of sheer intensity that resonated with even the casual moviegoer. It is the classic story of a nobody to rich man, but a phenomenal cast and the spectacular acting of DiCaprio spun it into a masterpiece.

19. Titanic (1997)

Titanic 1997 Paramount Pictures
Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

Titanic won eleven Academy Awards and was the highest-grossing movie ever made for twelve years straight. It was also the first movie to cross a billion dollars at the box office, paving the way for future films. The twenty-two-year-old DiCaprio’s esoteric smile and youthful exuberance contributed significantly to the film’s success.

One of The Greatest Love Stories Ever Made

Titanic 1997 Paramount Pictures 2
Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

The romance epic follows two young people, Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose (Kate Winslet), from different classes. They meet on the ill-fated ship, Titanic and fall in love.

Titanic holds true to this day as one of the greatest love stories ever made.

20. Inception (2010)

Inception 2010 Warner Bros
Image Credit: Warner Bros

This twisted heist thriller by Christopher Nolan is a prime example of DiCaprio collaborating with ace directors to bring perfection to the cinema.

A Thief Entering The Minds of His Targets

Inception 2010 Warner Bros 2
Image Credit: Warner Bros

Inception follows a straightforward yet hard-to-grasp premise in typical Nolan fashion. Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) works as a thief, entering the minds of his targets to plant ideas and steal information to aid in his work. After a preposition by a business mogul, Cobb teams up with like-minded individuals to execute the one plan that could bring him back home to his family. Inception puts the deviously stunning visuals of Christopher Nolan together with the genius of DiCaprio’s performances as a haunted man hiding from his past.

21. Catch Me if You Can (2002)

Catch Me If You Can 2002 Dreamworks
Image Credit: Dreamworks

Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks star in this exciting movie, as Leonardo plays a real-life fraudster in Frank Abagnale Jr., running circles around the detective. Leonardo plays a pilot, lawyer, doctor, and several other roles, flaunting his range of expertise. The Steven Spielberg hit earned the actor his third nomination for a Golden Globe.

Plays a Real-life Fraudster

Catch Me If You Can 2002 Dreamworks 2
Image Credit: Dreamworks

From the musical score to the aura of impending doom, it’s fun to watch the young DiCaprio talk his way out of the FBI’s grips, outsmarting them repeatedly. Two mice fell into a bucket of cream, and by the end of the movie, you certainly know which one Frank is.

22. The Revenant (2015)

The Revenant 2015 New Regency Productions
Image Credit: New Regency Productions

The pretty boy gets his charm stripped from him in the 2015 movie as he takes on the elements head-on. Leonardo faces off against blistering cold, falls off cliffs, and is attacked and mauled by a bear. Leonardo spent time in frozen rivers to prepare for the role and got hypothermia. He also ate raw bison liver to get in character for the gritty part.

Faces The Blistering Cold, a Fall, and a Bear Attack

The Revenant 2015 New Regency Productions 2
Image Credit: New Regency Productions

The Revenant is a visual spectacle packed with emotions that makes you want to be a part of the cast to rip Tom Hardy’s character, Fitzgerald, apart. Finally, after several snubs and a mirage of nominations, Leonardo finally gets an Academy Award for his performance.

This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.


Boloere Seibidor, fondly called B.S. is a Nigerian based writer and poet. Her favorite topics to cover include music, especially Hip-Hop, film, lifestyle, and fashion. She’s been published by Feral Journal, Fantasy Magazine, The Temz Review, and most notably, Wealth of Geeks. She enjoys romantic dinners, movie nights, and touring new sites. When she’s not writing, she’s delving back in time to the underground world of Hip-Hop, watching TikTok, or visiting the cinema.


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The Year of We: Romantic Experiences Remain a Top Priority for Couples Despite Rising Prices | Wealth of Geeks

Even in the midst of economic hardship and inflation, love reigns triumphant. A recent survey indicates that romance is one of the most important factors for travel plans this year, and 4 out of 5 Americans (80%) plan to make more time for affairs of the heart.

Regardless of rising costs, couples are committed to taking that special trip together.

As our ideas of romance continue to evolve, 81% claim that it has changed drastically in the last ten years. What is deemed romantic today? Two-thirds (67%) say a couple’s getaway would be just the ticket. That sentiment is likely to stay, with partners seeing this as their top choice for an intimate gift in 2023.

“The definition of romance varies from couple to couple, but there’s a common thread to a thriving relationship, and that is to be intentional about making the time for connection,” said Marsha-Ann Donaldson-Brown, Sandals Resorts‘ Director of Weddings & Romance.

“The findings from our latest love study are invigorating and compelling, as Americans confirm their commitment to nurturing their relationships in the coming year – which is why we’re celebrating 2023 as the ‘Year of We.’

“Getting away from daily life, free from distractions and stresses, inspires people to focus on what matters most, with the majority of couples agreeing they feel closest to each other while on vacation – and moreover, how this time away energizes the relationship beyond the trip.”

Sharing Experiences is the Ultimate Love Language

The survey reveals a getaway for two was the top choice among both men (67%) and women (66%). Enjoying relaxing spots together, such as watching the sunset (55%), trying new restaurants and shops (52%), and taking adventurous outings (51%) are all considered romantic gifts by most Americans.

That said, a truly memorable vacation will feature all three. Guests who book a stay at a Sandals Resort can experience them all at the leading all-inclusive Caribbean resort brand.

For the most romantic sunsets, Sandals Resorts are positioned on some of the best beaches in the world, from the 7-mile beach of Negril to the private offshore islands at Sandals Royal Bahamian and Sandals Royal Caribbean.

For those couples who feel more amorous over dinner, at Sandals Royal Curaçao, guests can experience Island Inclusive, a cutting-edge dining program off-resort and into the island to support and eat at eight local restaurants across Curaçao.

Why not get your heart pumping with some seriously adventurous outings? In Grenada, couples can scuba dive and experience the island’s underwater sculpture park, a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. In Curaçao, guests in top-level suites will have access to their own personal Mini Cooper to experience the island on their own time, in their own style.

Timeless Luxury Escape in the US

For those couples seeking a timeless romantic experience, The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, CO, is the perfect spot for couples wanting a luxurious escape. Celebrated by Forbes as the longest-running five-star hotel in the US, “The Broadmoor offers the ideal romantic getaway package for couples who want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and spend time in nature,” offers Scott Flexman, VP of Sales at The Broadmoor.

“Couples love that they can try SO many new things outdoors — like fly fishing, golf, or even rock climbing and falconry — while also being able to retreat back to the resort’s comfortable rooms, many restaurants, the spa, and cozy spots for time together. It’s a wonderful mashup of Western adventure with European elegance and Five Star service.”

There may not be a sunset more romantic than atop Cheyenne Mountain at The Broadmoor’s Cloud Camp. You will feel like you are on top of the world with the breathtaking views of Pikes Peak and the rest of the Rocky Mountains.

Guests can indulge in a romantic dinner at the award-winning Penrose Room or gaze longingly at each other over the Chef’s tasting menu at Summit while the Sommelier pours the most exquisite wine pairings.

For a dose of adventure, a horseback ride through acres of trails on scenic Cheyenne Mountain or a round of golf at the championship courses will do the trick. Afterward, couples can relax and be pampered together with a spa treatment at The Broadmoor’s Forbes Five Star Spa.

Making Time for Romance in 2023, Despite Tight Schedules

80% of survey respondents expect to be busier in 2023, with 2 in 3 (66%) acknowledging it is challenging to find the time for romance. Still, the vast majority (80%) are committed to making more time for it in 2023, with 31% strongly agreeing.

For Boomers, finding time for romance isn’t as difficult, with 45% saying it is not challenging, compared to 32% of Gen X, 24% of Millennials, and 25% of Gen Z.

76% of parents say it is challenging to find time for romance. Even in light of this, 88% of parents say they will make more time for romance in 2023, compared with 75% who are not parents.

Vacations Are Key to Connection and Intimacy

A majority of Americans (51%) say the closest they’ve felt to their romantic partner is when they’re on vacation together. When it comes to romantic vacations that deepen connection, Americans prefer a relaxing beach vacation (67%), especially women (72%) and Gen X (74%).

49% view 5 to 7 days as an ideal amount of time for a romantic vacation. Over a week-long romantic vacation, 30% would anticipate being intimate with their partner for 3 or 4 days during the trip, and more than a quarter (26%) anticipate being intimate each day of the trip.

Nearly three-quarters (73%) say intimacy is more satisfying when on a romantic getaway. And that satisfaction doesn’t end when the vacation ends: 80% prioritize intimacy with their partner upon returning home from a romantic trip.

48% of Millennials say romantic vacations impact their intimacy by making them more adventurous, compared to 28% of Gen X and 23% of Boomers.

Americans seek to maximize the value of their hard-earned money by focusing on essential needs over luxuries. Nevertheless, a majority are unwilling to give up meaningful romantic gestures such as presents, trips, and activities that foster relationships and create closeness.

This article was produced by Media Decision and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.


Casandra Karpiak is a travel writer and the co-owner of Savoteur. A Toronto native with Danish roots currently residing in British Columbia, her travel writing has been seen on The Associated Press wire, MSN, CBS, NBC, Entrepreneur, 24/7 Wall St, Times Daily, and many more.

You can follow her travel adventures on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.




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Here Are 14+ Flexible Jobs That Pay $20 an Hour | Wealth of Geeks

Whether you are looking for a career change, a full-time income, or want to earn extra cash, plenty of occupations exist.

This post will explore some of the best jobs that pay $20 an hour or more. For your convenience, we’ve divided this post into the following sections:

You can easily pick the one that best suits your skills and interests. Let’s get started.

Work From Home Jobs That Pay $20 an Hour

1. Freelance Writing

A freelance writer writes articles, blog posts, or other content for a fee. They may work for themselves or contract with companies or individuals to write content.

As a freelance writer, you have the unique opportunity to work from home. You can set your pay rate and work hours too. Many writers earn an hourly rate of $20 an hour and even over $10,000 per month.

Holly Johnson of Earn More Writing earns over $200,000 a year writing for brands and leading publishers online.

You do not need any education certificate or college degree for freelance writing jobs, and you can start with little to no experience. The only requirement you need is to be able to write well.

So, how do you find clients as a content writer?

There are several ways to find clients as freelance writers. You can reach out to any business or brand that needs content (and, trust me, most of them do!)

Job boards are also a great way to find writing jobs. Check out BloggingPro and Problogger.

Whatever method you choose, plenty of work is available for talented writers. If you have a knack for Writing, consider pursuing a career as a freelance writer; you may be surprised at how much you can earn.

2. Bookkeeping

A bookkeeper is responsible for keeping track of a company’s financial records. In short, your job is to record transactions accurately.

Knowing there is a difference between an accountant and a bookkeeper is essential. The primary duty of an accountant is to prepare financial statements. They also prepare tax returns which are different from the job of a bookkeeper.

Bookkeepers are essential to any business, and their services are in high demand. If you have strong accounting skills, previous experience with recordkeeping, and a passion for numbers, consider becoming a bookkeeper.

You can find clients independently (through social media, LinkedIn, or word of mouth, in which case you will be self-employed) or work with bookkeeping companies. Some of these include:

  • Accounting Department
  • Bateman & Co
  • Bookminders

While you do not need a college degree for this job, having one is helpful.

You can earn an excellent annual salary while working from home. Many bookkeepers earn over $80 an hour; some make over $100,000 per year.

3. Transcription

A transcriptionist is a person who listens to audio recordings and types them out. Traditionally, doctors and lawyers hired transcriptionists regularly.

But today, there is a growing demand for transcriptionists who can transcribe recorded meetings, lectures, seminars, and podcasts.

You could work as a transcriptionist with solid typing and listening skills. The pay is usually decent, and you can often set your work schedule.

You can find clients independently or work with a transcription company. Some of these include:

  • Rev.com
  • TranscribeMe
  • Scribie

4. Virtual Assistant

A virtual assistant is a person who provides administrative, clerical, or other support services to clients remotely.

There are over 200 services that you can provide as a virtual assistant. You can manage emails, schedule appointments, make travel arrangements, provide customer service, handle social media management, or be an affiliate manager for a brand.

There are no education requirements, and many VAs only have a high school diploma.

You can earn good money as a virtual assistant, with many earning over $20 an hour – some even make a six-figure income. If you have strong skills in any area and are looking for a flexible way to earn money, consider becoming a virtual assistant.

There are several ways to find clients, such as job boards, independent websites, and social media. You can also find virtual assistant jobs through these companies:

  • Fancy Hands
  • Belay Solutions
  • Wing Assistant

Learn how to become a virtual assistant and schedule your schedule, either part-time or full-time – download this free checklist to get started.

5. Customer Service

A customer service representative handles customer inquiries, complaints, and concerns by phone, email, or chat.

Many companies are now offering work-from-home customer service jobs to reduce overhead costs. You can either work in a call center or stay at home and work. No experience is required for most jobs, though many do require high school graduation.

If you have strong people skills and are looking for a job with flexible hours, paid time off, and paid overtime, consider working as a customer service rep. Some companies even offer bonuses for outstanding workers. You can find these jobs on job boards or company websites like Outplex and SiteStaff.

Another option is FlexJobs. This job board lists all types of occupations, including remote jobs.

Many customer service representatives earn over $15 an hour; some even make over $30. If you’re ready to work overtime, you can get paid for that too!

Local and Gig Economy Jobs That Pay $20 an Hour

6. Odd Jobs

There are several odd jobs that you can do to earn $20 hourly or more. You can deliver food, do yard work, housecleaning, lawn mowing, be a handyman, and do other manual labor.

You can find odd jobs on websites like Craigslist or TaskRabbit. You can also ask your friends, family, or neighbors if they need help with anything.

Odd jobs are an excellent way to start making money and allow you to set your hours per week.

7. Dog Walking

If you love dogs, consider becoming a dog walker. You can earn $20 or more an hour walking dogs in your neighborhood or city.

You can find dog-walking clients on websites like Rover or Wag. You can also ask your friends, family, or neighbors if they need help walking their dogs.

If you love dogs (or pets, in general), you can also look into pet-sitting services and pet care businesses where the pay is much higher.

It is essential to know with these jobs, you are an independent contractor, meaning there are no benefits like health insurance, retirement plans, or vacation time.

8. Babysitting

If you’re looking for a way to make some extra money, babysitting can be a great option.

You can earn $15-20 an hour, and it’s a flexible job you can do at any age. To get started, try babysitting for families in your neighborhood. It will help you gain experience and build a reputation as a reliable babysitter.

Once you’ve got a few clients, you can look for work on websites like Care.com or SitterCity. These websites make it easy to find families who need a babysitter, and you can usually set your hours.

9. Rideshare Driving

If you have a car, you can make money by becoming a rideshare driver. Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft allow you to set your hours and earn money by driving people around town.

To become a rideshare driver, you must be at least 21 years old and have a valid driver’s license and insurance. You will also need to pass a background check.

Rideshare driving is an easy way to earn top dollar, and it’s a flexible job you can do on your schedule.

To avoid driving people around, consider food delivery jobs instead. Uber Eats and DoorDash is excellent options similar to rideshare jobs.

10. Fitness Coaching

Love working out? You can make money as a fitness coach.

You can earn $20 or more per hour teaching yoga, pilates, or spin classes. We recommend contacting your local gym to see if they’re hiring.

Besides that, you can also start online classes and one-on-one sessions with clients.

To become a fitness instructor, you must be certified in the class you want to teach. You can find certification programs near you or online.

Fitness is an upcoming industry, so this could be a great option if you want to make over $20 per hour.

11. Freelance Niche Photography

If you’re a photographer, you can make over $20-100 per hour by offering services to businesses and people in your area.

Start by finding clients on websites like Fiverr or Upwork. You can also contact businesses directly and offer to take photos for their website, social media accounts, or other events.

You will need a good camera and basic photography skills to start. You can also find online courses that can help you improve your skills.

Freelance photography is a fun way to make money on the side. Some of the best niches for photography include:

  • Wedding
  • Baby and Pregnancy
  • Travel
  • Wildlife
  • Product Photography
  • Event Photography

Creative Hustles That Pay $20 an Hour

12. Become a Professional Organizer

You can make good money by becoming a professional organizer if you’re good at organization.

You can earn $25-50 an hour or more as an organizer, helping people declutter their homes and offices.

It would be best to start by creating a website and marketing on Instagram. You can also find clients on websites like TaskRabbit and Craigslist.

If you want to become a brand or a business, start by investing your time in building an online presence and focus on promoting your services (both offline and online).

13. Start Selling Feet Pics

Yes, you can make money by selling pictures of your feet. There is a growing market for foot pics, and you can earn $20 or more per picture you sell. It is a legitimate work-from-home job.

This UFC fighter makes over $500k a year selling pics.

Consider creating an account on websites like FeetFinder, Instafeet, OnlyFans, or LoyalFans. You can read the FeetFinder review here.

To avoid using these platforms, you can also sell feet pics on social media apps like Instagram, Facebook group, and more.

14. Other Kinky Ways To Make Money

If you’re sexually comfortable with it, you can make over $20 an hour in many other ways, from selling pictures to flirting to being a cam model. There are many options out there.

Some include:

Read this detailed guide on kinky ways to make money online. 

Conclusion

Finding a job you love that pays well can feel like searching for the elusive golden goose, but it is possible with some diligence. Unconventional jobs paying $20 an hour prove that your career dreams don’t have to be limited by traditional career routes.

Many employers are looking for innovators and problem solvers, so explore those opportunities and don’t be afraid to take risks. Even if you have student loan debt or any other financial hardships, if you remain focused and patient, you’ll eventually find something that pays a good income.

This post originally appeared on Wealth of Geeks.


Chhavi is a lawyer who quit her job to become a full-time work-from-home blogger. She shares tips and tricks on making money online, side hustles, freelancing, and blogging through her blog, Mrs. Daaku Studio. Besides blogging, she works as a freelance coach and shares her expertise on YouTube and Instagram. When not blogging, she is traveling, sketching, or doing yoga


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10 of The Worst Deceptions in Human History | Wealth of Geeks

Can you think of anything that society was told one day by the people in charge that turned out to be a lie the next? You’ve got company. Recently someone asked, “What has been the most destructive lie in human history?” The internet responded with these top-voted answers.

1. I Will Do It Tomorrow

Photo Credit: Gladskikh Tatiana/Shuttestock.

One user added, “Monday. Diet starts on Monday.” Another quoted Mr. Krabs from Spongebob Squarepants, “But what is today but yesterday’s tomorrow?” Another loosely quoted Benjamin Franklin, “Never put off until tomorrow, what can be done today,” before one joked, “Never put off until tomorrow that which can be put off indefinitely.” Finally, a user said, “I’ll get gas in the morning.”

2. It Is Not Sugar, It Is Fats

Cheerful Caucasian hipster girl enjoying lunch time with comfort food dessert on comfortable blue sofa indoors
Image Credit: GaudiLab and Shutterstock.

One Redditor volunteered the lie, “Sugar isn’t the problem; it’s fats! So let’s make everything fat-free and triple the sugar content!” 

“It’s insane how prosperous the sugar industry is. Nobody talks about it, but the families that owned the most significant shares of the sugar industry made fat stacks from that era. They spent a ton on marketing and bogus research and changed the diet of an entire country (and the world) for the worse, and nobody blinked an eye.”

3. Hong Xiuquan in 1843

Beautiful young woman looking at the phone suprised and excited while drinking cup of coffee at home.
Image Credit: Krakenimages and Shutterstock.

“A specific historical example: In 1843, a man called Hong Xiuquan claimed to be the younger brother of Jesus. It led to him starting the Taiping Rebellion, which caused the deaths of between 20 million and 70 million people,” a user commented.

Another volunteered, “There’s a modern version of this movement in China right now. Instead, they believe Jesus is back as a random Chinese woman with mental issues called Yang Xiangbin.”

4. Oxycontin Is Not Addictive

substance abuse counseling
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

One of the biggest lies we are currently dealing with is that “Oxycontin isn’t addictive.” “I was in a car accident and was given a prescription for Oxycontin. Doc told me, ‘Get off it as soon as you can manage your pain with over-the-counter drugs. ‘I was on it for ten days. Ten. Days. I experienced withdrawal symptoms when I quit,” admitted one user. 

Another volunteered, “Percoset for six weeks, still kind of want one once in a while.” Everyone had similar stories with doctors and injuries. Finally, someone confessed, “Heroin for five years, and it began with oxy from wisdom teeth.” Watch Dopesick on Hulu and The Crime of the Century on HBO Max for more information on this damaging lie. The Pharmacist on Netflix is also a compelling story. 

5. They Are Not Us

shutterstock 1847213869 scaled e1677358585384
Photo Credit: Roman Samborskyi/Shutterstock.

A Redditor elaborated, “Different culture? They are not us. Let’s kill them. Different religion? They are not us. Let’s kill them, too. Different skin? They are not us! Let’s kill some and enslave the rest! Over the millennia, quite a destructive lie indeed. The lie is that we aren’t all humans.”

“It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone’s fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I’m one of Us. I must be.”

“I’ve certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We’re always one of Us. It’s Them that do the bad things.” – Sir Terry Pratchett, Jingo.

6. Disconnection From Our Environment

Family on hiking trip in beautiful mountains.Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, Close to of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Family on hiking trip in beautiful mountains.Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, Close to of Santa Fe, New Mexico
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Over 18,000 people agreed, “One of the most insidious aspects of this, which I think people rebel/get defensive about the most, is that this separation is because we are ‘masters’ of our environment. It feeds into the notion that we can technology our way through every problem. After all, if we are separate from our environment, we aren’t part of nature.”

“In reality, we are fundamentally interconnected to our environment. We delude ourselves into that we aren’t, we separate ourselves from it, and I genuinely feel this damage goes far beyond just physical. I think it harms our social and mental health in profound ways.”

“Suppose you don’t have to care about your environment. Or take any responsibility, or care for the essential parts of our world we are interconnected and rely on. How can we connect with and care for others in deep and meaningful ways?”

7. Nestles Infant Formula

woman with baby
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

One user noted, “Nestle — The Baby Killer Scandal. They deliberately lied to mothers in developing countries to sell their baby formula, telling them that their own milk was nutritionally insufficient and their babies would be unhealthy if they continued to breastfeed them. The result of this marketing campaign was approximately 66,000 infant mortalities.”

8. Smoking During Pregnancy

group of happy pregnant women
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

The 1964 Surgeon General’s report concluded that smoking cigarettes cause death and disease. However, in a 1971 television interview, the president of Philip Morris denied the health risks that pregnant women and their babies face.

He said, ‘It’s true that babies born from women who smoke are smaller, but they are just as healthy as those born to women who do not smoke. Some women would prefer to have smaller babies,’ Wow.”

9. Plastic Is Easily Recyclable

Hefty
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

One Redditor gave the number two-voted response stating, “Plastic is easily recyclable so long as the public does their duty to sort it and bring it to its designated waste area.” Another user replied, “This is, however, true of aluminum! Because it is separated from ore, it costs 90 percent less energy to use recycled aluminum than to separate new metal. Pretty cool.”

10. Lead in Gasoline

Drivers Feeling Pump Pain Should Use Apps and Rewards Programs to Save on Gas
Image Courtesy of Shutterstock.

“The lead in this gasoline is perfectly safe!” was the number one voted response, with over 35,000 people agreeing. “The book Industrial Strength Denial by Barbara Freese does an excellent job retelling the story among other corporate evil doings in history,” added one user. 

Veritasium shared a thirty-minute video about this; I learned so much from it. It’s crazy that people just openly ignored all of the warnings that putting lead in gasoline would be a terrible idea,” shared a second commenter. Finally, another admitted, “Thomas Midgley Jr. may have been the most damaging individual in history, and he did it mostly unwittingly.”

This thread inspired this article.

This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.


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Dungeons and Dragons for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide To Starting Your Adventure | Wealth of Geeks

 Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves comes out in theaters on March 31, with early access showings beginning this weekend. Like us, the boys from Stranger Things know that Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is more than a game or a new movie.

If you’re new to D&D, you might be wondering what all the hype is about. If your curiosity is piqued, here’s some information about this epic role-playing game that will get you rushing home after watching the big screen to start your own D&D club.

What Is D&D?

D&D is a Role-Playing Game (RPG) initially created by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson in the 1970s. It is set in a fantasy world filled with magic and monsters. Warhammer, one of the original games, was devised in 1983. It is an example of a modern miniature wargame.

Warhammer is based on miniature wargames, where players paint toy soldiers, ships, planes, horses, and tanks on a playing field, sometimes decorated with trees and other backdrops. Sound familiar? If you watched Stranger Things on Netflix, this is the exact game the boys were obsessed over.

Due to the popularity of epic fantasy novels like J.R.R Tolkien’s Lord of The Rings, Gygax developed a miniature wargame system set in the Medieval period called Chainmail and then created a game supplement to Chainmail that added fantasy elements like wizards and monsters.

This supplement led to the creation of D&D as the first fantasy tabletop role-play game, which combined fantasy elements and storytelling with the combat rules of miniature wargaming.

How Do You Get Started?

The first thing to remember is that while the game structure has expanded and is incredibly intricate after decades of development, the game itself is relatively easy and forgiving. Refrain from letting the sheer volume of lore and rules discourage you.

The great news is that you have lots of choices. The official publisher of the modern version, Wizards of the Coast, a division of Hasbro, sells a ready-made starter set for beginners, which makes it very easy to play. But you can start without this set. Instead, pick up a couple of items you can play with to learn more about how the game functions.

What Do You Need?

First, you need the official D&D Players Rulebook, which spells out the rules. You can buy it or find information online. The rules are also available for free on the official D&D website. Sections include the basics of creating and customizing a character, gameplay rules, rules of magic, the dungeon master’s (DM) tools, and four appendices.

Two other books are beneficial to gameplay. The DM Guide is mainly for the use of the DM. The Monster Manuel describes the potential monsters you and your group could face while playing and sets out the rules that govern the monsters.

An Epic Group Activity

You will also need a group to play with. One person takes on the role of the DM. This is the person who creates and guides the game plays and the non-player characters (NPCs). They are the authority if there are any questions about the rules or actions. Other players take on the roles of characters in the adventure.

Get a group of friends together. The advantage of joining an already established group is that the players are likely to be experienced and can lend a hand in learning the game. In addition, you can check online forums or discord servers to find D&D groups to join.

Find Players in More Than One Place

You can also find other players in real life at gaming stores, conventions, or even at your local library or school. School clubs like video games or board game clubs are places to find like-minded individuals who might want to start up a D&D game. It’s a great way to introduce yourself to people and maybe even start a club.

Tumbling Dice

Once you have the rule books and a group to game with, each player needs a set of six polyhedral dice. Polyhedral dice have multiple faces.

Dice in D&D are known by the number of faces. A D4 is a four-sided die. A D6 is a six-sided die, and so on. Your D&D dice set should include one D4, one D6, one D8, two D10, and one D20.

But Why?

Rolling these dice will determine the success of attacks, initiative, or the order of player turns during combat. The dice also save throws or your character’s resistance to attacks.

You can buy a set of dice suitable for D&D from specialty dice retailers like Forged Gaming, Awesome Dice, and Skullsplitter Dice. You can even find dice on Amazon. If you start an online account, you can roll digital dice on D&D Beyond’s website.

Create Your Character

You must complete your character before you start to play- it’s the most fun. The chance of the dice determines your character’s ability scores and power levels.

Yes, Math Is Involved

The average desirable score for characters that are not NPCs is between twelve and thirteen. This number is your character’s baseline ability score.

Then you have to roll to get the scores for your character’s six abilities: strength, dexterity, constitution, intelligence, wisdom, and charisma. It is the same procedure as the baseline ability score- roll a six-sided die four times and add the total together after you discard the lowest roll. You record this information on your character sheet or piece of paper.

Don’t Worry

Most of the enjoyment comes from leveling up and gaining experience. The more you play, the more your character will “level up” as your character gains experience points or grows more robust. The more “XP” you acquire with each attack, campaign, or task, the more your character can do or achieve. It’s all part of the excitement.

It’s Your Choice

Once you have the scores, you can choose your character’s class, barbarian, bard, cleric, druid, fighter, monk, paladin, ranger, rogue, sorcerer, wizard and race, human, dwarf, elf, gnome, halflings, half-elf, and half-orc.

You can then record your ability scores and choice, depending on the class and race you choose for your characters. Some characters and races will have built-in modifiers or added points to ability scores based on the character’s class or race. Then you can feel free to describe your character’s personality and determine their appearance, morals, and backstory.

A Gelatinous What?

Of course, if all of this is too much in the beginning, you can use the D&D website’s free creator tool or use it to see how the process works. However, some believe that doing things the old-fashioned way and learning exactly how the process works is the best way to learn the game in depth and become a better player.

One of the critical things about D&D is that it does have tons of information that each player will need to absorb over time. It’s like you are a gelatinous cube, but you are snacking on knowledge instead of digesting people or objects inside. Usually, the best way to learn something is the hands-on method and learning by doing the tasks and playing the game.

Roll a D6

Once you have your character, a group to play with, DM, rulebooks, and dice, what is next? Your DM will be responsible for crafting an adventure for you and your fellow players. But where is the adventure? You might think we’re just sitting at a table, drinking pop, making notes on paper, and rolling dice. Well, roll a D6.

Imagination

The true beauty of role-playing games, especially D&D, is that the fun and adventure are only limited by your ability to imagine worlds that never existed and creatures you’ve never seen. You get to role-play a character, and you can behave in ways that you usually might not.

If you are shy, you could become a bard who sings in front of crowds, has tons of charm and charisma, and is unafraid to perform and speak to people. If you are a person who isn’t ever in charge, you could become a wizard and be the person who always steps out in front of the party as a leader casting powerful spells. You could become the DM and be in charge of everything!

Role Playing Skills

You can learn from D&D in more than one way. While people may consider RPGs like D&D to be nerdy pursuits, and sometimes they are, they are a great way to socialize, make new friends, and enhance your imagination and critical thinking. In addition, you get to charge up your knowledge and ability to lead or work as part of a team.

Free Things Are Cool

As a tie-in to the release of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, the D&D Beyond website is offering a download of the Thieves Gallery based on characters from the film.

The website states, “This exclusive release presents characters from the film, such as Doric, the druid, as NPCs.” This download gives users a digital supplement containing information on the film’s characters. It will allow you to use the supplement as part of the D&D Beyond tools and the D&D Game Compendium. It’s free.

This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.

Featured Image Credit: Paramount.


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A Spoonful of Savings Helps the Medicine Go Down: How to Save Money on Medications | Wealth of Geeks

When you don’t feel well, whether it’s a random headache, a temporary infection, or a chronic illness getting you down, the last thing you want is to spend a bunch of money to feel better. The cost of medicines and prescriptions has been going through the roof, but what choice do you have if you’re in need? Here’s how to save money on medications you need.

Saving Money on Medication

For many, taking medication daily is a way of life.  The good news is that there are several ways to help save money on medications. Unfortunately, depending on the types of medications you take, they can really eat up a big chunk of your budget, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

Here are some tips to help control costs and save money on medications.

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medications

OTC medications are those that you can buy without a prescription. They include pain relievers, allergy medicine, cold & flu remedies, cough treatments, and first aid products.

Because these are non-prescription medications, you don’t have to have a prescription filled by the pharmacist. Most OTC medications are easily accessible to consumers and can help treat symptoms of common ailments quickly, alleviating the need for expensive prescriptions.

Saving Money on OTC Medications

Still, even OTC medications can be expensive, so take time to compare the retail prices among all of the major drug chains and supermarkets in your area. In some instances, the difference in prices may shock you. While prices themselves may be regular, sale prices, loyalty card discounts, coupons, and other discounts can often impact the prices dramatically.

In addition, check online prices as oftentimes prices differ online and in-store. If you find a price discrepancy, you can save money, by asking the store to price match their online prices.

Check With Your Insurance

Depending on your insurance plan, Medicare and Medicaid members (and even others) may receive an allowance to help them save money on OTC products like vitamins, pain relievers, cough and cold medicines, first-aid supplies, and more.

To determine if this allowance is included with your plan, go to the “Coverage and Benefits” section of your plan. Some plans can give you money or credits to spend each quarter, even hundreds of dollars. This can be true even if your supplemental plan has no premium cost to you at all.

Even if you are happy with your current insurance plan, it’s important to review it each year, as changes often occur from year to year.

Read Labels

When buying OTC medicines, always read the labels to determine the active ingredients and how much is included (both dosage and number of pills). This will help you compare prices on various remedies that accomplish the same thing.

Consider Generics

Generics, or store brands, are typically less expensive than their brand-name counterparts with the same active ingredients. Always do the math to determine which product will save you the most (surprisingly, the brand-name medicine with a coupon can cost less than the generic).

Check Expiration Dates

If you have any medication in your medicine cabinet, check the dates before use. You may need to replace it before using it.

Prescription Medications

When the doctor has written you a prescription, whether you have health insurance or not, you are likely to pay more than you would for an OTC medicine. Sometimes it’s a one-time prescription, such as an antibiotic to cure an infection, but other times it is a maintenance medication used for a chronic condition.

Obviously, maintenance medications will have a greater impact your budget, and thus, offers a greater opportunity to save money on medications you purchase repeatedly.

Again, Consider the Generic

Unless your doctor has specified the brand-name medicine only, you may have the opportunity to take a generic drug after the patent for the brand-name drug has expired. These medications are chemically identical, but at a much lower cost.

To find out if there is a generic equivalent for your medication, consult your pharmacist or Drugs@FDA for a catalog of FDA-approved drug products, including their drug labeling.

Check Manufacturers’ Programs

If there is no generic available for your medication, look on the manufacturer’s website (or check RxAssist or NiceRx) to see if there are any assistance or co-pay programs you may qualify for.

For expensive medications, the manufacturer will often contribute to reducing your co-pay, or in the case of government-insured patients, offer a limited amount of medication for free, such as one month’s dosage.

Free Prescription Discount Programs

You have probably seen many ads for discount prescription deals such as GoodRx where you can check to find discount deals on your medications at no cost or fees, with no memberships or commitments.

Savings are used at your pharmacy with a discount card or a coupon that you can get online and save as much as 80% on your prescription. You can even use any of these discounts if you are on a Medicare plan (note they are not used in conjunction with your Medicare plan, but instead of your Medicare plan for a particular prescription.)

The only negative is that if you use your special discount, that cost will not be counted towards your Medicare plan medication expense coverage which affects what is known as the “donut hole.” That’s the time during the year when coverage is less and you have to bear that expense to reach what is known as “catastrophic coverage” which then makes medications very low cost.

Although for most, this will likely not be a concern unless they are chronically ill and spend many thousands on medicines every year.

Saving money with these discounts may be way more valuable to you than escaping the donut hole, which may ultimately not be needed.

Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs

Shark Tank celebrity investor Mark Cuban recently launched a new pharmaceutical drug company that provides affordable medicine to uninsured and underinsured Americans.

The service, called Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company, is continually adding generic medications to its mail-order pharmacy website and currently has over 700 different kinds of prescription medications.

Their mission statement says, “We will provide low-cost, high-quality pharmaceuticals to the consumer…by any means possible,” is music to the ears of anyone struggling to afford their medication.

While generics are not aviailable for every medication, they are adding new ones all the time. Search for your medication, to see the exact price plus shipping costs. They do not accept insurance, you simply pay the cash price shown.

Low-Cost Prescriptions

Check out Walmart’s $4 prescription list and other pharmacies (particularly supermarket chains) where they offer low-cost (and sometimes even no-cost) prescriptions.

Split Pills

Try splitting pills. With certain medications, you can safely split pills in half to save money. How does this save you money? When you take a lower dosage (let’s say 10 mg) of your medication, which is also available in a higher dosage (let’s say 20 mg), there is generally little or even no difference in the price of the two dosages. So buying 20 mg pills and splitting them in half would save you half the cost of your prescription.

If you split pills, use a pill splitter that is made for doing so, and don’t do it without one, otherwise, you may not divide the dosage properly (some pills are scored to show you exactly where to divide them).

However, not all medications can be safely split, so talk to your doctor or pharmacist to see if this is an option.

Ask for Samples

When you are starting a new medication, always ask the doctor if they have samples available for you to try. It is a waste of money to buy a month’s prescription only to find out after a week that the medicine doesn’t work for you or causes unbearable side effects. By trying the samples first, you don’t need to spend your money until you’re confident that you’ve found the right medication.

Ask for Alternatives

Keep this in mind that pharmaceutical sales reps are always attempting to influence doctors to prescribe their medications to patients. Sometimes this results in doctors prescribing new medications to their patients without being aware of the high cost.

In these cases, ask your doctor if alternatives are available. An older (and cheaper) medication may sufficiently treat your condition without emptying your wallet.

Check for Benefits

Some manufacturers have special programs for to get medication directly from them at a reduced cost for those that qualify. Find their website online and see about these programs if you need help.

Use NeedyMeds to find additional financial assistance programs, or if you’re a senior or disabled, check the Medicare or Social Security websites for help and information.

Final Thoughts

If you find your prescription medication costs overwhelming, make the effort to find ways to save. Never jeoparidze your health by skipping meds or go without.

Prevention is always the best medicine when it comes to your health, so prioritize your health before you need any drugs. But if you do need costly medication follow these tips and enlist the help of your doctor or pharmacist as needed. When you save money on medications, it will help keep you and your budget healthy in the long run.


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Cutting Costs To Plan an Affordable Funeral | Wealth of Geeks

Death is not a topic people like to speak of. It reminds us that our time on Earth is fleeting. When it hits closer to home, and we lose a family member, we may be called upon to make the final arrangements. While it’s never an easy task, it becomes more complicated by mixing in intense emotions, family issues, and finances.

Funerals have become increasingly expensive. Costs are up 28% over the past decade, with the national median topping $6,000 for a funeral with cremation and over $7,000 for a funeral with burial as of 2014, according to the National Funeral Directors Association. In addition, Social Security death benefit payments are only $255.

But there are ways to pay final tribute to your loved one without spending a fortune…by planning an affordable funeral.

Make Decisions With Your Head

First, it’s important to remember the amount of money spent is not a measure of your relationship with the deceased. Don’t let guilt or other emotions sway you into making unnecessary expenditures. It can be difficult to keep your mind right in such circumstances, so you may want to ask a family member or friend to help you.

Next, you’ll want to consider the wishes of the deceased. If they left explicit instructions (something you may want to do for your next of kin) or if their religious beliefs dictate certain customs, you can work with those. Otherwise, the decisions will be left to you and your family. The biggest being whether to have a burial or a cremation. Cremations can be less costly, particularly if you don’t need a cemetery plot, headstone, and interment. But this remains a very personal decision.

If cost is the primary concern, consider immediate burial with a graveside service or direct cremation with a memorial service.

Know Your Rights and Get Assistance

One of the big ways you can save is to join the Funeral Consumers Alliance. This non-profit organization is dedicated to protecting consumers’ rights in the funeral industry and can offer helpful advice on planning a funeral. Local chapters can provide comparison price lists of funeral homes in your area and even discounted rates at some.

The FCA is very helpful in understanding the Funeral Rule, regulation enforced by the Federal Trade Commission to protect the consumer in planning funerals. One of the most important aspects is that while funeral homes may “package” together various services and their costs, you have the right to buy separate services and goods, and should only buy what you choose.

Compare Prices

While it may seem completely normal to comparison shop when you’re buying something, people tend not to do it when shopping for funeral services. However, it can make a huge difference, with some funeral homes costing twice as much as others in the same geographical area.

Because most funeral homes do not include pricing on their websites, it can be a time-consuming and frustrating experience. Check out Parting.com, where they list prices for different services at funeral homes across the country.

Save on The Casket

If you are having a traditional full-service funeral, the most expensive item will typically be the casket. Caskets are made from a variety of materials, and prices vary widely. While the funeral home will likely focus on the higher-end models, be sure to ask about value-priced models or look into a third-party seller.

If you choose to have the visitation/viewing and funeral prior to cremation, you can typically rent a casket from the funeral home for the viewing.

Avoid Embalming

Embalming isn’t required medically or legally. If the funeral home offers refrigeration and the funeral will be held within a day or two, this can save you from the cost of embalming.

Plan the Service

Keep in mind while you may need a funeral home to properly handle the remains, there’s no reason you’re required to have the service with them. Services can be held in a church or temple, at home, at the cemetery, or at another meaningful spot.

If you do hold the funeral there, consider whether you need public visitation/viewing and whether it can be held directly before the funeral rather than on a separate day/time.

If you need to contract with a clergy member to lead the service, there will be an honorarium to pay. You may want to contact several officiants to compare costs.

If you do have the service at the funeral home, another way to keep things affordable is to bring your own accessories. If you look online, you will find plenty of resources to purchase prayer cards, guest or memorial books, and religious items such as yarmulkes.

Publish Obituaries Online

The funeral home will often send the obituary to local newspapers, but you can send these directly to avoid any upcharges. Newspaper obituaries are expensive though, so you may opt for only one newspaper supplemented by an online announcement. Sites like Kudoboard.com allow you to easily create a memorial site, and the basic package is free. In addition, many funeral homes will post the obituary on their own website.

Make it Personal

Flowers, which are common in some traditions, are by no means required. Make the space more personal by including photographs of the deceased with family and friends. You can also create CD’s of music that was dear to the deceased and play that during the gathering time at the service.

In addition to photos and music, you can display personal items from their hobbies or profession. See this NFDA article for more ideas on how to make a special tribute.

Accept Help From Family and Friends

In many traditions, it is customary to have a repast or meal for the mourners. While this can be held at a restaurant or hotel, it can also be done at a church or at home. Family and friends may offer to bring food, and that will allow you to avoid or reduce catering costs.

Consider Alternatives

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the most economical option of all: whole body donation for medical research. Depending on the organization, there may be no transportation costs, and cremation is included.

Services can be held prior to donation or without the body present, and the cremains are typically returned to the family upon request. This isn’t the right option for everyone but it is certainly a choice that lowers final costs while serving a greater purpose.

Dealing with the death of a loved one is never easy, but spending a fortune on their final arrangements only  benefits only funeral home. Spending less on funeral arrangements means more of your loved one’s money goes to what’s really important: helping the family.

This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.


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Becoming a Vegetarian Has Many Benefits and May Save You Money

Sure, sure, we know eating lots of veggies and fruit is important for good health. But let’s be honest here; living in the good old U.S.A, eating meat is the primary way that we dine, and the majority of people are raised that way.

Perhaps you remember the old commercials…“Beef, it’s what’s for dinner.” Hamburgers and hot dogs are our favorite summer foods, and red meat is our primary preferred way to dine, right?! Not necessarily.

Vegetarianism is growing particularly among non-whites, and there may be some good reasons for everyone to at least consider it. One of them is that becoming a vegetarian can actually save you money!

How Many Vegetarians are in the U.S.?

The number of Americans who are vegetarians is not especially large, particularly among older whites.

According to a Gallup Poll from 2018, non-white Americans (9%) are three times as likely as white Americans (3%) to describe themselves as vegetarian. And younger Americans are more likely than older ones to follow a plant-based diet.

People Make the Vegetarian Switch for Different Reasons

There are lots of reasons to try eating a vegetarian diet. Some people just don’t want to harm animals, while others simply want to live a healthier lifestyle. For some, it’s a cultural tradition; for others, a taste preference. Some feel that eating this way puts less strain on the environment.

But when we consider how hard the past couple of years have been financially and the ridiculous rise in the cost of food (particularly meat prices), there now appears to be another good reason to switch: saving money.

Is it More Expensive to Eat a Vegetarian Diet?

Becoming a vegetarian is often thought to be an expensive lifestyle choice, but that is a common misconception. Not only are vegetarians often healthier, but their wallets are healthier and happier too. That sounds pretty good about now, doesn’t it?

The simple answer is that vegetarians save money because they simply don’t eat meat, the most expensive component of the American diet.

What is a Vegetarian Anyway?

Many often confuse the terms vegetarian and vegan. While neither of them eats meat, vegans do not consume any animal products whatsoever – no eggs, no dairy, no fish oils. Vegans also refrain from eating things like honey, gelatin, collagen, and even white sugar, as well as using animal products in other parts of their lives, such as wearing leather.

The term ‘vegetarian’ is officially defined as someone who does not eat meat but may be flexible in terms of eating eggs, milk, cheese, and other products that may be derived from animals. There are actually eight different kinds of vegetarians that vary in their eating habits.

The bottom line is that there is room to customize your choices here.

The Cost of Eating Meat

The price of beef, pork, and chicken are at all-time highs. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs increased 11.9%, with the index for beef rising 20.1% and the index for pork rising 14.1%, its largest 12-month increase since the period ending December 1990.

The average American consumes a lot of meat, around 144 pounds each year. Can you just imagine saving more than 10% each time you shop for groceries just by cutting back on or eliminating meat? It is easy to see that cutting back on or eliminating meats from your diet will greatly impact your food budget.

Fear of Change

The thing that most people fear about becoming a vegetarian (in any form) is that they won’t get enough sustenance on such a diet. But that isn’t true.

A common grocery list for a vegetarian consists of things like beans, rice, nuts, oats, and an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables. But you don’t always have to spend tons of money on the most expensive produce items.

Most importantly, fresh fruits and veggies vary in price from week to week, so smart shopping can reduce costs even further. But the best part is that they are full of essential nutrients that you need.

If you’re still reluctant to make the switch, try incorporating more plant-based dishes into your diet while still eating meat for some meals. You may be surprised at how easy it is.

The Best Ways to Save

The best way to save money on a vegetarian diet is to buy produce when it is in season. ‘In season’ means abundance and abundance drives prices lower.

Another way to save money is to avoid food waste by eating or freezing all of the food you buy at the grocery store.

Americans, in particular, waste tons and tons of fresh food, so buy only what you need and use it up. An easy way to do this is to meal prep in advance for the week.

Another option is to get a CSA farm share (community-supported agriculture). You purchase a share from a farmer and receive a box of seasonal produce each week during the farming season.

Planning and executing a vegetarian diet will cut your food bill, improve your health, and help you combat inflation.

Final Thoughts

Consider how you can control your food costs better by making a huge life change.

Assuming a couple consumes a pound of meat combined per meal and eats meat just five days a week and makes the switch to the same amount of beans or some other low-cost vegetable, grain, or legume as a substitute, they could potentially save several thousand dollars a year.

Just making that switch away from meat to a vegetarian meal plan just three or four times a week would save you money, perhaps $1,500 or more a year. And even better, you can be a “cheap” vegetarian. Buy on sale and implement other tips to save money on groceries.

Making this change when you live with others is a big decision, so it’s something you need to talk about before any changes are made. It can be difficult – even impossible – when one person wants to eat a vegetarian or vegan diet, and the other prefers a meat diet.

If you’re in a financial pinch, saving money alone may be a strong enough reason to switch. When you add in all of the other benefits, there doesn’t seem to be many negatives!

This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.


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