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Rage Against The Screen: 10 Must-See Movies That’ll Make Your Blood Boil | Wealth of Geeks

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Are you looking for angry, vengeful movies filled with wrath? You’re not alone. Someone recently asked for films of rage, clarifying any movies corresponding with anger. Here are the best answers from film fanatics.

1. John Wick (2014)

Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

John Wick is the epitome of rage and stars Keanu Reeves in the titular role. Wick is a retired assassin who loses his wife to a terminal illness.

However, to help him cope with the grief, she arranged for the cutest beagle puppy, Daisy, to be delivered. Initially, he’s put off but caves into loving the puppy.

Then, one day at a gas station, he interacts with three Russian gangsters at the pump. They want to buy his car, but Wick declines their offer.

That night, they break into his home, render him unconscious and steal his car. So naturally, John Wick takes a break from retirement to hunt them down and exact his vengeance on anyone who stands in his way.

2. Carrie (1976)

carrie-sissy-spacek-prom
Image Credit: United Artists.

Based on Stephen King‘s novel of the same name, Carrie is a supernatural horror following the story of Carrie White (Sissy Spacek).

Carrie is a timid telekinetic teenager with a psychotically religious mother (Piper Laurie) who is known around town for her extremism. As a result, Carrie is constantly harassed and bullied by the popular kids at school, and even by little kids in her neighborhood.

After a group of girls taunts her in the locker room, the gym teacher (Betty Buckley) imposes after-school detention with her on the field. One girl, Chris (Nancy Allen), exacts revenge on Carrie with her boyfriend, Billy (John Travolta). It ultimately leads to a tragic prank that brings the full wrath of Carrie’s powers down on the school on prom night. 

3. Taken (2008)

Taken
Image Credit: 20th Century Fox.

Taken is a French English-language action-thriller following Former Green Beret and retired CIA officer Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) and his 17-year-old daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace).

Bryan knows the world and has reservations about safety issues with her traveling. So Kim lies to her dad for approval to take a trip to Paris with her friend Amanda (Katie Cassidy).

At the airport, he learns that the trip isn’t a trip to Paris but touring Europe while following U2 on tour. Nonetheless, Bryan lets her get on the plane.

Later he receives a phone call from her. Men have broken into the place they’re staying and are taking her. Naturally, this prompts Bryan to hop on a plane and hunt down the Albanian sex traffickers who have kidnapped his daughter and her friend.

4. Falling Down (1993)

falling-down-michael-douglas
Image Credit: Warner Bros.

Falling Down is an action film starring Michael Douglas as William Foster, an unemployed former defense engineer tired of going through the motions of life. After being stuck in a hot traffic jam, he abandons his vehicle and begins hiking across Los Angelos to his ex-wife’s home for his daughter’s birthday.

He’s not allowed to show up, and she informs the police he is on his way. Meanwhile, he starts on a path of destruction that captures the attention of a Los Angeles Police Department sergeant (Robert Duvall) on the day of his retirement.

From being stopped in the park by unsuspecting gang members to being unable to get breakfast at a fast food joint, Foster has a terrible day that causes him to become increasingly violent.

5. American History X (1998)

american-history-x
Image Credit: New Line Cinema.

American History X is a crime drama following two brothers, Derek (Edward Norton) and Danny (Edward Furlong), who are part of the white power skinhead and neo-Nazi movements. Derek catches a couple of Black guys trying to steal his car and murders one of them.

After serving three years in prison for involuntary manslaughter, he gets out and attempts to keep Danny from further indoctrination of this sickness and hate. However, Danny has spent the last three years going farther down the path, proving more difficult than anticipated. 

6. Promising Young Woman (2020)

Promising Young Woman
Image Credit: Focus Features.

Promising Young Woman is a black comedy tragedy thriller following Cassie (Carey Mulligan), a thirty-something woman who struggles to heal from her friend Nina’s sexual assault and subsequent suicide. Cassie lives with her parents after dropping out of medical school and spends nights pretending to be wasted drunk at clubs.

So that if they attempt to take advantage of her, she can reveal her sobriety and teach them a lesson. Cassie discovers the classmate who assaulted Nina, Al (Chris Lowell), is getting married. So she plots her revenge on him and anyone who dismissed Nina’s assault and carries them out full of rage. 

7. Man on Fire (2004)

Man on Fire
Image Credit: 20th Century Fox.

Man on Fire is an action thriller following a former CIA SAD/SOG officer, John Creasy (Denzel Washington), taking a bodyguard position with Samuel Ramos (Marc Anthony) to protect his nine-year-old daughter Pita (Dakota Fanning).

Pita needs a bodyguard to ensure her kidnapping insurance policy goes into effect. Creasy takes the job but has enormous guilt and struggles with alcoholism.

Nonetheless, he and Pita bond while helping her become a confident swimmer. After Pita is kidnapped, Creasy goes on a vengeful rampage hunting her down. The film also stars Christopher Walken and Radha Mitchell.

8. Unhinged (2020)

Unhinged
Image Credit: Solstice Studios.

Unhinged is an action thriller following the worse case of road rage that a single mom, Rachel (Caren Pistorius), inadvertently triggers by honking at a mentally-ill man and murderer (Russell Crowe) in rush-hour traffic.

After they exchange words, she notices that he is following her and her young son Kyle (Gabriel Bateman). What she believed to be an incident of road rage quickly escalated into a sinister act of revenge on her and her loved ones.

9. Law Abiding Citizen (2009)

law-abiding-citizen
Image Credit: Overture Films.

Law Abiding Citizen is a vigilante action thriller following Clyde Shelton (Gerard Butler) and Prosecuting attorney Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx).

After being forced to watch a man kill his wife and daughter in a home invasion, Clyde is angry that Nick makes a deal with the killer because the evidence was mishandled, and he doesn’t want to risk lowering his high-conviction rate.

Ten years later, Clyde exacts his revenge on the men who killed his family, and everyone involved with the case he feels supports the corrupt criminal justice system.

10. A Man Apart (2003)

A Man Apart
Image Credit: New Line Cinema.

A Man Apart is a vigilante action following former criminals turned U.S. DEA agents Sean Vetter (Vin Diesel) and Demetrius Hicks (Larenz Tate), now working on the California and Mexico border.

However, after arresting a drug lord, Memo, the mysterious Diablo moves in and orders an assassination for Vetter, but it is botched, and his wife dies instead. Vetter takes the law into his own hands and works with Hicks and Memo to hunt down each cartel member to unleash his rage. 

This thread inspired this article.

This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.


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The 23 Coolest RPG and DnD Dice Sets for Tabletop Gaming

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Dungeon Masters and Adventurers alike all know that one of the most essential parts of playing Dungeons & Dragons is having the perfect set of DnD dice. Whether you’re a new player looking to snag your inaugural set or an avid collector, you’re bound to find your perfect fit in this mega list of RPG and DnD Dice sets.

A pioneer of the role-playing game (RPG) industry, the world of Dungeons & Dragons has massively expanded over the years. You can now immerse yourself in any number of fantasy novels, engaging board games, and video games.

And for a game traditionally played in-person around a table, when the pandemic pulled the plug on social gatherings, DnD refused to lie down. Instead, the brand’s cult-like following flocked to online chat rooms and pushed sales up by 33%.

However, tapping into your childlike imagination to play an in-person game of DnD will never go out of style. And to play in person, a set of DnD dice is a must-have.

DnD Dice Basics

Commonly abbreviated as DnD or D&D, the iconic game Dungeons and Dragons invites players into a storytelling adventure. Adventurers (a group of people playing DnD together) tell a collaborative story guiding your heroes through quests for treasure, battles with deadly foes, daring rescues, courtly intrigue, etc.

One of the best parts of playing role-playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons is the ability to customize and personalize every detail of your character and having the perfect dice set that personifies your character.

Your entire game and character can be unique to you and your campaign – a campaign is multiple games strung together to complete a whole adventure.

Tabletop dice games have gained popularity in recent years, amassing a large fan base. You may have already guessed, but one thing most dice games have in common is…dice. Avid players already know the importance of having a set of dice that is unique to you. If you’re new to the RPG universe, buckle up; you’re about to get a crash course in DnD dice.

What Are RPG Dice?

Role-playing dice are different types of dice than the standard set you’re used to seeing in traditional board games. For RPG games, players use a polyhedral dice set. These are three-dimensional dice with multiple planes, also called faces.

These cool dice come in various shapes and sizes. Some resemble a regular cube die. Some of them look like the die from Scatergories with a more significant number of sides, and some are shaped like equilateral triangles with triangular faces. In addition, you’ll notice RPG dice usually have numbers on them instead of pips (dots) you’re used to seeing.

Typically, official D&D dice sets will be 7-piece sets that include the following dice:

  • D4 – 4-sided die (1)
  • D6 – 6-sided die (1)
  • D8 – 8-sided die (1)
  • D10 – 10-sided die (2)
  • D12 – 12-sided die (1)
  • D20 – 20-sided die (1)

When prompted by their Dungeon Master (DM), players use the dice to make skill or ability checks, which determine their successes and failures throughout the dice game.

The Coolest RPG and DnD Dice Sets

Some of the most incredible RPG dice sets are made by Misty Mountain Gaming, a veteran-owned and operated dice company, that opened its doors in 2018. Located in the Southeastern United States, they offer the largest selection of metal and gemstone dice and a wide range of leather dice accessories made and manufactured exclusively by veterans.

They pride themselves on their extensive range of high-quality, diverse dice products of all different types made with farm-raised, all-natural, cruelty-free materials.

Misty Mountain Gaming offers a wide selection of RPG dice sets for Dungeons and Dragons players. Whether you prefer rolling acrylic, metal, or even stone sets of D&D dice, your opponents will have some serious dice envy when you show up to your tabletop RPG games with one of these beautiful dice sets.

Not only does Misty Mountain make the coolest D&D dice, but they stand behind their products for life. They offer a 30-day money-back guarantee if you don’t love your purchase and they’re the only dice company that offers a lifetime warranty on all dice sets. In addition, they offer free shipping to the US and Canada for any orders over $15.

Using a high-quality dice set will surely improve your dice rolls and elevate your gaming sessions.

Gemstone Dice Sets

Designed from semi-precious stones, gemstone DnD dice sets are a great addition to any dice collection. These gorgeous stone sets are stand-alone pieces of art that are made to be seen. The different gemstones are so exquisite you can even display them on a shelf or in a wooden dice vault between those DnD sessions.

1. Ruby Ziosite Stone Dice

The Ruby Ziosite Stone dice are a crystalized mix of green and gold pigmentation accented with bright gold engraving. The inner warrior in you will love getting this set in their hands; it looks as if they were carved out of the elven lands of Lord of the Rings.

Ruby Ziosite is believed to increase inner and outer development, awaken the true self, encourage joyful engagement with life, and increase the life force. The Ruby offers the energy of happiness, appreciation, abundance, vitality, and growth. At the same time, the Ziosite helps alleviate grief, anger, despair, and defeat. Together, they form a powerful healing stone known to activate the body’s natural defenses and healing mechanisms.

Add Ruby Ziosite Stone Dice to Your Collection

2. Red Tiger Eye Stone Dice

Red Tiger's Eye Stone DND dice set

As if it were built in the fires of Mordor, the sleek Red Tiger Eye Stone Dice set is sure to grab your attention with its dark mystery. The stone is darkened with red hues, adorned with gold engraving, and boasts a polished finish. Unfortunately, pictures don’t do them justice – you have to see them yourself to truly appreciate their beauty and quality.

Red Tiger’s Eye is also known as “Dragon’s Eye.” It is a stimulating stone that will inspire and motivate you in all aspects of life while also bearing calming properties that keep you relaxed and centered amid chaos. Red Tiger’s Eye is also commonly referred to as the “Survival Stone” as it’s known to protect your integrity and promote self-love.

Add Red Tiger Eye Stone Dice to Your Collection

3. Peace Jade Stone Dice

Peace Jade dnd dice set

Giving a nod to ancient Greece, these Peace Jade Stone Dice are stunning. These grey dice boast multiple tones of grey and white marble and gold numbers making this eye-catching set worthy of Zeus himself.

Contrary to its name, Peace Jade is not actually a Jade stone. In actuality, this it’s a mixture of white Quartz, green Serpentine, and lavender Stitchtite. The name “Peace Jade” is derived from the belief it encourages tranquility, serenity, and peace.

Add Peace Jade Stone Dice to Your Collection

4. Blue Turquoise Stone Dice

Blue Turquoise dnd dice set

The deep, bright coloring and the black ingrained numbers of the Blue Turquoise Dice truly make them a statement piece that stands out from the competition.

Turquoise is perhaps the oldest stone in man’s history. Turquoise protects you and your possessions against theft, loss, or attack during travel. In addition to preventing accidents (especially falls), it is also known to guard your pet. Known as an efficient healing and strengthening stone, Turquoise is said to help with exhaustion, depression, and panic attacks. In addition, it provides solace for the body’s spirit and well-being.

Add Blue Turquoise Stone Dice to Your Collection

5. Purple Fluorite Stone Dice

Purple Flourite dnd dice set

As if it came straight from King Triton’s underwater castle, this Purple Flourite Stone Dice Set provides beautiful natural tones of purples, greens, and blues. In addition to the stunning color palette, this set is engraved with a complimentary gold font that pops against the aquatic hues.

Fluorite is the “genius stone” and enhances memory, concentration, perception, and spiritual awareness.

Add Purple Flourite Stone Dice to Your Collection

6. Amethyst Stone Dice

Amethyst stone dnd dice set

If you are a fan of royal purple tones, this set of Amethyst Stone Dice is worth a second glance. The Amethyst stone has lovely, deep hues of purple mixed with lighter crystal tones. In addition, this set is adorned with gold engraved numbers that seemingly jump off the dice.

Often referred to as the “all-purpose” stone, Amethyst is a jack-of-all-trades in the crystal world, relieving stress and anxiety and helping with sleep issues.

Add Amethyst Stone Dice to Your Collection

7. Lapis Stone Dice

Lapis stone dnd dice set

If Van Gogh’s Starry Night were a dice set, it would be the Lapis Stone Dice.

The stone is predominately a deep royal blue with intricate details of greys, greens, and browns. The golden numbers appear bright against the dark blue background and enhance the appearance of tiny gold flecks in the stone.

Lapis Lazuli, or Lapis for short, is a stone of protection that releases stress, encourages self-awareness, allows self-expression, reveals inner truth, and brings harmony and deep self-knowledge. Also known to inspire confidence, it can aid in expressing feelings and emotions and bonding relationships.

Add Lapis Stone Dice to Your Collection

8. White Howlite Stone Dice

White Howlite stone dnd dice set

If you love the look of antique Roman white marble, this is the DnD dice set for you. Made from White Howlite stone, these fantastic dice are all white with black lines running throughout resembling cracks. White dice accentuated with gold engraving, this set is fit for a Roman Emporer.

White Howlite was named after the 19th-century mineralogist Henry How who discovered it in Nova Scotia. Often called the “stone of awareness,” it will give you the support you need to attract wealth, luck, abundance, and prosperity. Plus, it will provide you with wisdom and enlightenment helping you connect to higher realms and remove the truth-blocking veils in your life.

Add White Howlite Stone Dice to Your Collection

9. Malachite Stone Dice

Malachite stone dice set

This Malachite Stone Dice Set looks as if they belong in the Emerald City in the Wizard of Oz. This stone is comprised of stunning emerald greens layered like sand, pairing perfectly with its carved gold numbering.

Malachite is another stone meant to protect you by absorbing negative energies and pollutants from the atmosphere and the body. Malachite is toxic and should be used only in its polished form – don’t worry, the dice are 100% safe.

Also a stone of transformation, Malachite encourages change and emotional risk-taking. It reveals what is blocking your spiritual growth, draws out deep feelings and psychosomatic causes, and allows you to break unwanted ties and outworn patterns.

Add Malachite Stone Dice to Your Collection

10. Opalite Stone Dice

Opalite gemstone dnd dice set

The Opalite stone has a gorgeous, rainbow-Esque coating that makes your dice shine. The Opalite Dice Set is a creamy pearl color with an iridescent appearance similar to the inside of certain shells. The golden numbers pair perfectly to give the dice a magical feel.

Opalite is a soft and subtle yet dynamic human-made glass resin composed primarily of the mineral dolomite fused with metal to produce a pearly appearance.

Opalite is a stone of personal power known to increase self-esteem and improve one’s sense of self-worth. Known as a merchant stone useful for business success, Opalite helps manifest material affluence and monetary wealth.

Add Opalite Stone Dice to Your Collection

11. Rose Quartz Stone Dice

Rose quartz gemstone d&d dice set

This DnD dice set is a stark contrast to many of the previous sets on this list; the Rose Quartz Dice Set stuns with its light ballet pink tone and gold engraving. Look no further if you’ve ever wanted to impress with some pink dice at your tabletop games.

Rose quartz is known as the stone of universal love. Restoring trust and harmony in relationships and encouraging unconditional love, Rose Quartz purifies and opens the heart at all levels to promote self-love, friendship, deep inner healing, and feelings of peace.

Rose Quartz is a calming, reassuring crystal, excellent for use in trauma or crisis, including the emotional upheaval of a mid-life crisis. It strengthens empathy and sensitivity and aids in accepting the necessary change. It is also an excellent stone for comforting grief.

Add Rose Quartz Stone Dice to Your Collection

12. Green Turquoise Stone Dice

Green Turquoise dnd dice set

Most often seen in jewelry, the green Turquoise stone is a beautiful light shade of Turquoise with coppery-gold engraved numbers and light gold “cracks” running throughout.

For thousands of years, Turquoise has spanned all cultures. It is prized as a symbol of wisdom, nobility, and the power of immortality. Turquoise was sacred in its adornment and for power, luck, and protection among the Ancient Egyptians, Persians and Chinese, Aztecs and Incas of South America, and Native North Americans.

Turquoise is a stone of self-forgiveness and self-acceptance and releases regret. It is also an efficient healer, providing solace for the spirit and well-being of the body. Holding or wearing Turquoise can even help restore depleted vitality as it benefits the overall mood and emotion by inducing peace and serenity.

Add Green Turquoise Stone Dice to Your Collection

13. Blue Sandstone Stone Dice

Blue Sandstone stone dnd dice set

The Blue Sandstone is an intense dark blue adorned with white star-like flecks and golden engraved numbers, perfectly resembling a clear night sky.

Blue Sandstone is a human-made stone whose sparkle comes from flecks of copper. Use Blue Sandstone to make a wish as it is said to be the stone of confidence, ambition, motivation, and drive.

Add Blue Sandstone Stone Dice to Your Collection

14. Crystal Quartz Stone Dice

Crystal quartz stone dice set

This simple, clear Crystal Quartz Stone Dice set is anything but plain. Each lovely set has unique details, making it an ethereal backdrop to the gold engraved numbers.

Known as “master healing crystals,” Quartz crystals are reported to heal any condition needed. They are soothing, cleansing stones with positive benefits for psychic and physical conditions alike. When you use quartz crystals to heal your psychic body and aura, you will feel more optimistic, energetic, and interested in the world around you.

Add Crystal Quartz Stone Dice to Your Collection

15. Black Obsidian Stone Dice

Black Obsidian stone dice set

The Black Obsidian Stone Dice Set is polished black with striking bright red numbers. This stunning set of black dice is an excellent match for your favorite evil characters and villains.

Black Obsidian is opaque volcanic glass sometimes referred to as the “wizard stone” as it has long been used in magical practices. As a protective stone, it’s often worn to guard against negativity, demanding people, hostile entities, and geopathic stress. Likewise, obsidian protects the wearer from hostility, negativity, psychic ‘vampires,’ and unwelcome spiritual entities.

Add Black Obsidian Stone Dice to Your Collection

Metal Dice Sets

If gemstone dice sets aren’t your thing, you’re in luck. Misty Mountain is also famous for its wide assortment of stunning metal dice. These solid metal game dice are as unique as the DnD players who possess them, you’ll be sure to find your perfect match.

With a large selection of options and categories to choose from, these metal dice sets are intricately detailed and appear to be straight out of the Middle Ages.

16. Battle Worn Gold Metal Dice

Battle worn gold metal dice dnd set

Looking for a battle-worn design with a touch of steampunk? This is the set for you!

These Gold Metal Dice set are marked with easy-to-read numbers encased by gears and a grid-like etched detail on all surfaces. The rustic gold color amplifies the antique touches making this set fit perfectly into a medieval DnD campaign.

Add Battle Worn Gold Metal Dice to Your Collection

17. Cleric’s Domain Aqua and Bronze Metal Dice

Cleric's domain aqua and copper metal RPG dice

Charge into battle with these heavy metal weapons. The Cleric’s Domain Aqua and Bronze Metal Dice are molded with zinc alloy metal and carefully poured to ensure no air bubbles are trapped in the mold. This process guarantees a perfectly weighted die for rolling.

The bright Turquoise and shiny Copper are the perfect color combination and accentuate the engraved numbers. Show off these exquisite dice at your next DnD session.

Add Aqua and Bronze Metal Dice to Your Collection

18. Charlemagne’s Court Metal Dice

Paladine's Crusade Charlemagne's Court dnd dice set

This set of dice combines bright colors and attention to detail for an elevated style The numbers have a unique scripting design that adds to the intricate detail of the dice. These are not your average set of dice – they are much larger and heavier than your average set of metal dice. Measuring 26mm and 1.7oz (single D20), these dice are 12% larger.

The unique gold scripting is surrounded by a royal blue and accented with a fiery red enamel. Each piece is then encased in a beautiful bright gold. So grab your sword and shield because this set is ready for battle.

Add Charlamagne’s Court Metal Dice to Your Collection

19. Elder Runes Copper and Black Metal Dice

Elder Runes copper + black metal dnd dice set

Straight from the iron mines under the Misty Mountains, these Copper and black metal dice are dark, mysterious, and will call on your inner villain. The colors play nicely off one another. Together with the glossy enamel coating, this set is quite eye-catching.

Add Elder Runes Copper and Black Metal Dice to Your Collection

20. Cloudy Skies Enamel Coated Metal Dice Set

Elder Runes Cloudy Skies dnd dice set

Bold and beautiful, this set is worthy of a roll by Rinoa’s hand. These dice contain a mix of bright blue and white, resembling a beautiful cloudy sky. Encased with a copper-colored metal lining and matching numbers, the dice are finished with a resin coating.

Add Cloudy Skies Metal Dice to Your Collection

Resin and Acrylic Dice

Misty Mountain’s high-quality resin and acrylic dice are vacuum-sealed during the casting process to alleviate air bubbles. In addition, they have a lifetime warranty, so you can trust you’ll never get stuck playing without them.

21. Pheasant’s Flower Resin Dice Set

Pheasant's Flower acrylic dnd dice set

Beautifully crafted for flower lovers, this clear resin dice set encases individual bulbs of reddish-copper flowers with lavender and contrasted with bright white hand-painted numbers.

The Pheasant’s Flower dice are resin cast and carefully poured into individual molds and tiny red flowers and lavender are carefully placed inside the resin before curing. After curing, each individual die is sanded and polished to perfection.

Add Pheasant’s Flower Resin Dice to Your Collection

22. Deep Space Galaxy Collection Acrylic Dice Set

Deep Space Galaxy Collection Acrylic dnd dice set

When playing with these Deep Space Acrylic Dice, be prepared for an intergalactic battle of epic proportions.

Part of the Galaxy Collection, this set is acrylic cast and carefully poured into individual molds. Before curing, very fine glitter is carefully stirred with acrylic. After curing, each individual die is sanded and polished, and numbers are painted by hand. This will be a fantastic set to blast across the table at your next D&D game.

Add Deep Space Galaxy Acrylic Dice to Your Collection

Bone Dice

After years of development and refinement, Misty Mountain has perfected its proprietary process to produce solid-layered, handmade bone dice. Resembling wood dice, these unique sets are made using cruelty-free and sustainably sourced materials guaranteeing each set be one-of-a-kind!

Built to make you feel like a warrior, Ragnar’s Bone Dice sets encompass everything you could ever want in a DnD dice set. These sets will awaken your medieval senses; they are unique, timeless, and stunning.

How Are the Bone Dice Made?

The solid layered bone dice sets are crafted using a natural tissue component. “The oils on your hands will organically absorb into the dice over time, gathering more luster and warmth as they age, even becoming a part of you!” – Misty Mountain Gaming.

23. Ragnar’s Bone Dice

Ragnar's Bone dnd Dice set

The numbers are engraved and are large for easy reading, with 6’s and 9’s clearly marked. Each die is quality inspected by hand before being packaged and includes a lifetime warranty.

All Misty Mountain Gaming bone dice sets are unique, handcrafted items. Therefore, you should expect minor color, size, shape, and numeral placement variations.

Add Ragnar’s Bone Dice to Your Collection

Dice Accessories

Not only does Misty Mountain have incredible dice selections, but they also offer other unique products for a wide variety of customers and die-hard dice fans alike.

Dice Trays

If you’re hesitant to toss your brand new dice across the table, Misty Mountain’s dice trays will give your dice a soft surface to land on your next game night.  Uniquely shaped and crafted with tooled leather that pulls apart via snaps, these leather dice trays are indeed a conversation piece.

Dice Bags

When you need a safe place to store your D&D dice set, these DnD dice bags have it all. They can hold complete sets and have enough variety in their bags that you can select one that speaks to you. From embroidery to dragon scales, Misty Mountain’s Dragon Eye bags will bring out the inner Dragonborn in you.

Books

Misty Mountain also carries a large selection of fantasy books.  If you’re someone who never wants the game to end, grab yourself a book and continue your adventure.

Ready to Uplevel Your DnD Game?

These are the 23 best DnD dice sets we’ve found. Any of these sets would make an excellent gift for veteran DnD players or new players – you can never go wrong with a good dice set.

Whether you are new to DnD and RPG games and need your first dice set to get started or are you’re an avid dice collector of dice and like set for each character, the possibilities are endless!

Whether it be Dragons and Knights, or Fairies and Elves, your perfect dice set is just waiting for your to make your first roll.


Scarlett Rose is a professional cosplayer, actress, voice actor, published model, and mother of rabbits. When she is not crafting armor or building costumes, she can be found playing the latest video game or enjoying a retro classic.


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25 Ways To Cut Costs on a Road Trip | Wealth of Geeks

Post By Money Making ,

An impromptu road trip can sound exciting and spontaneous. But if you’re wondering how to save money on a road trip, a little bit of planning can go a long way.

While a road trip can be a low-cost way to travel, keeping expenses in check often means deciding where you want to go, the vehicle you’ll take, where you’ll be stopping on the road trip, and your overall budget.

Here are some easy ideas for road-tripping on the cheap.

1. Choosing a Fuel-efficient Car

If you choose cars to take, go with one that is large enough to be comfortable and gives you the best gas mileage.

You can use FuelEconomy.gov’s Trip Calculator to determine which car will cost you the least in gas. This tool helps estimate fuel consumption and its cost for a particular route using a specific car.

2. Driving at or Below the Speed Limit

This cautionary measure can help you save money in two ways. For one, you’ll be less likely to get pulled over and slapped with an expensive speeding ticket.

For another, observing the speed limit can actually reduce your gas consumption. In fact, you can save 17 cents a gallon on highways for every five miles per hour you slow down.

3. Packing Your Car Wisely

You can also cut your gas costs by placing items inside the car or trunk rather than piling them on your roof. This move can increase your fuel economy by as much as eight percent in city driving and up to 25 percent on highways by reducing drag.

If you’re out of room in the car, using a rear-mounted cargo box or tray instead of a roof rack can improve your fuel economy by up to 12 percent.

4. Setting a Road Trip Budget

When you start talking about the road trip, you may want to roughly map out where you want to go, how long it’ll take to get there, and if you’ll need hotels or motels. From there, you can calculate the approximate cost of gas (FuelEconomy.gov can help), tolls (try Tollsmart ), food, and fun.

Once you’ve established an overall budget for the trip, you start creating a travel fund.

5. Bringing Your Own Food and Supplies.

Packing a cooler with water bottles, drinks, hand-held snacks, and sandwiches before leaving home is a proven frugal traveler trick. You can save a sizable chunk of cash by not having to buy drinks and snacks at rest stops, vending machines, and drive-throughs.

You’ll also have a quick solution the next time someone in the car wants to pull over because they’re hungry.

6. Signing Up for an Electronic Toll Account

Depending on which state(s) you are traveling through, you may save a fair amount of money on tolls by getting your car’s region-appropriate quick pass (or transponder). For example, drivers with EZ-Pass in New York can save about 30 percent on tolls.

7. Avoiding Tolls Altogether

When your road trip isn’t on any set schedule, you may want to take the scenic route and completely avoid tolls. You can do this by setting your GPS app to “avoid tolls.”

If you’re in a location with pricey bridges and highways, your savings could really add up. However, you should ensure that avoiding tolls doesn’t take you so far out of your way that you’re spending much more on gas.

8. Looking For Hotels That Offer Free Breakfasts

If you’re comparing two hotels in a similar price and quality range, one way to save on road trip expenses is to choose the hotel with a free breakfast.

Not only will you probably get a large, filling meal, but you might even be able to take a piece of fruit or cereal box as a snack for later on in the trip.

9. Packing Reusable Water Bottles for Everyone

You’ll no doubt get thirsty while driving and sightseeing, and buying water or drinks can put a major dent in your road trip budget.

Ensuring everyone in the car has a large reusable water bottle (or two) to fill up at rest stops and restaurants can help you avoid spending money on drinks and create less plastic waste.

10. Buying a National Park Pass

If you’re going to be road-tripping across the U.S. and visiting a few National Parks, consider getting an America the Beautiful pass.

The pass (which costs $80 per year and $20 for seniors) covers entrance, standard amenities, and day-use fees for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle (up to 4 adults) at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.

11. Hitting the Grocery Store

Once you’ve run out of your cooler meals and snacks, consider re-stock up at a local grocery store while en route, so you don’t have to resort to rest stops and fast food for the rest of your trip.

This is also a good strategy if you stay at a hotel for a few nights. Making good use of a hotel kitchenette and fridge can help you avoid eating out for every meal.

12. Pre-booking Your Hotels

Spontaneity is great, but if you’re looking to save money on accommodations, it can be wiser to book ahead of time and stick to your plan. You can often secure a better rate by booking in advance (and online) than by showing up without a reservation or booking last minute.

13. Looking Beyond Hotels

Your first thought when looking for roadside accommodation may be cheap hotels or motels. But you sometimes find a better deal (or a nicer option for the same price) using a home rental site, such as Airbnb, VRBO, HomeAway, or FlipKey, especially if you’re staying for more than one night.

You could explore the CouchSurfing Travel app or let friends on Facebook or social media know you will be traveling to their area to see if they have a recommendation on where to stay for a good price.

14. Planning to Visit Free Attractions

Part of the fun of a road trip is to enjoy the journey and scenery while en route to your final destination.

As you travel (or before you go), research free attractions, such as a hike, walk on a beach, or a free museum, on your route for times when you need to stretch and take a driving break.

You can also look for festivals and local events by checking out the online events calendar for the towns you’ll visit that day.

15. Planning Gas Stops in Advance

Getting stuck in a big city with a tank close to empty can be costly. To avoid overpriced gas, use a gas app like Gas Guru or Gas Buddy, which can help you compare prices and find affordable gas anywhere.

16. Setting a Daily Spending Limit

You can use your overall budget to get a rough idea of how much you can spend on the road trip each day. This can help you avoid blowing through your whole travel fund before the end of the trip.

A spending plan can also let you know when you can splurge a bit and when you’ll have to reign it in with a meal, activity, or lodging. You may also want to set aside some of your budget for the unexpected, such as the car getting a flat and needing to be towed or discovering the cheap hotel you planned to stay in is a total dump.

17. Entertaining the Kids on the Cheap

Kids tend to get bored, tired, and antsy on a road trip. To avoid giving in to impulse toy purchases, you may want to bring along their favorite toys and pick up various new ones at the dollar store before you leave.

Good choices include coloring books and games they can play in the car that won’t create a mess. Consider borrowing audiobooks or DVDs from the library to give yourself an hour or so of quiet.

18. Searching Online for Local Coupons and Passes

It can be worthwhile to research online coupons and discount codes for local attractions and restaurants at some of your scheduled stops.

Consider checking Groupon or LivingSocial for deals and steals. Sometimes booking online ahead of time saves you money, and it’ll give you a reason to try to reach a specific destination by a certain day.

19. Saving on Alcohol

Sipping a cold beer or glass of wine at a local bar at the end of your long drive might be the perfect way to unwind.

But alcohol costs can quickly add up on a road trip vacation. Consider buying a few local beers or a small bottle of wine that’s native to that area to enjoy in your hotel room. You’ll save money on tipping too.

20. Volunteering at a Festival

Yes, you read that correctly. Some festivals and special events offer discounts or free admission to volunteers. You can look up events taking place in the town you’ll be visiting and reach out to the event organizer to see if they need help.

21. Signing Up for a AAA Membership

An auto club like AAA can save you time, money, and hassle should you run into car trouble during your trip. What’s more, a membership (often around $4 to $7 a month) gives you access to discounts at hotels, restaurants, and many retailers nationwide.

22. Traveling During the Off-season

Visiting National Parks when the kids are back in school can help save money on lodging and activities. If you’re planning a road trip to a destination like Disney World or Disneyland, you may find better deals if it’s not during spring break or other school breaks.

You can often save money by visiting warm weather locations during “shoulder seasons.” This is the period between a destination’s low and high tourism seasons when hotels’ prices tend to be lower and crowds tend to be smaller at popular attractions.

23. Doing Some Camping

Outdoorsy road trippers might enjoy setting up a tent at a free or low-cost public campsite (You can find out more on the Bureau of Land Management site.)

This can save you a lot of money on hotel costs, provided you don’t go out and buy a lot of expensive camping equipment.

If you don’t have any camping gear, you may want to consider renting equipment from an outdoor specialty store or asking a friend who regularly goes camping if you can borrow their equipment.

24. Eating Out for Lunch Instead of Dinner

If there are special restaurants you want to try without breaking the bank, consider going there for lunch. You might get a slightly smaller portion than you would if you ordered it off the dinner menu, but the price will likely be more affordable.

25. Taking Advantage of Loyalty Programs

Booking with the same hotel chain as often as possible and signing up for their member loyalty (or “points”) program may net you a free night after a few stays.

Travel booking services like Expedia, Travelocity, or Hotels.com may offer discounted rates and free nights for loyal customers.

The Takeaway

A car trip might sound much more affordable than traveling by plane. However, gas, food, and accommodations can add up.

One of the best ways to cut road trip expenses is to plan your trip and research deals, coupons, and discounts ahead of time. Packing wisely and loading up on drinks, snacks, toys, and activities can also help cut costs once you’re on the road.

This article was produced by SoFi and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks. 

 

 


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No Brain Required: 10 Movies to Watch When You Just Need to Switch Off | Wealth of Geeks

Post By Money Making ,

Are you searching for movies that don’t require a lot of mental energy to enjoy? Then, we’ve got you covered. After a college student asked for some films to help them turn their brain off, these were the top-voted recommendations.

1. Big Trouble in Little China (1986)

Image Credit: 20th Century Fox

John Carpenter’s Big Trouble in Little China is a fantasy martial arts action-comedy following a truck driver (Kurt Russell) helping his friend (Dennis Dun) rescue his green-eyed fiancée from dangerous criminals in San Francisco’s Chinatown.

A mysterious underworld lay beneath Chinatown, and they must go there to face an ancient sorcerer (James Hon) requiring a green-eyed woman to release him from a centuries-old curse.

2. Hot Rod (2007)

Hot Rod
Image Credit: Paramount Pictures.

Hot Rod is a comedy following amateur stuntman Rod Kimble (Andy Samberg), who, despite being accident-prone, performs stunts as his way of life.

Unfortunately, his stepfather Frank (Ian McShane) doesn’t respect Rod and continuously mocks him. However, after Frank becomes ill, Rod executes his most significant stunt yet to raise money for his stepfather’s heart surgery. 

3. Young Frankenstein (1974)

young-frankenstein
Image Credit: 20th Century Fox.

Mel Brook’s Young Frankenstein is a comedy horror parody film starring Gene Wilder as the title character, a descendant of the notorious Dr. Victor Frankenstein. Dr. Frederick Frankenstein inherits his grandfather’s castle in Transylvania.

After arriving at the estate, he continues his grandfather’s working experiments with Igor (Marty Feldman), Inga (Teri Garr), and Frau Blücher (Cloris Leachman).

Frankenstein creates a monster (Peter Boyle), and when his fiancée, Elizabeth (Madeline Kahn), arrives, things become complicated quickly. 

4. Dumb and Dumber (1994)

Dumb and Dumber 1994 1
Image Credit: New Line Cinema.

Dumb and Dumber is a buddy comedy and 90s cult classic following dimwitted best friends Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carrey) and Harry Dunne (Jeff Daniels).

Lloyd is a limousine driver who takes Mary (Lauren Holly) to the airport, witnesses her leave a briefcase behind, and chases her down, missing her before she boards her plane to Aspen.

Lloyd doesn’t know that the briefcase is a ransom for Mary’s husband’s kidnappers. So he unwittingly grabs it and convinces Harry to travel to Aspen to return it. They get into hilarious shenanigans while the kidnappers chase them for the ransom money. 

5. Happy Gilmore (1996)

happy gilmore universal pictures MSN
Image Credit: Universal Pictures.

Happy Gilmore is a sports comedy starring Adam Sandler in the title role. Gilmore is an unsuccessful, foul-mouthed ice hockey player with a unique but impressive golf swing. So he starts hustling people at the golf ranges to earn money to save his grandmother’s house from foreclosure.

Chubbs Peterson (Carl Weathers), a former tour star and club pro witnesses the hustle and convinces Gilmore to enter a local tournament that leads to a professional golf tour with the opportunity to make loads of money.

Happy is a hilariously colorful character drawing crowds and driving other professional golfers like Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald) mad.  

6. Rush Hour 2 (2001)

rush-hour
Image Credit: New Line Cinema.

Rush Hour 2 is a buddy cop action comedy and sequel in a trilogy of Rush Hour films. It follows Chief Inspector Lee (Jackie Chan) and LAPD Detective James Carter (Chris Tucker) going to Hong Kong on vacation.

However, after a bombing kills two U.S. customs agents at the American embassy, they are pulled into the murder case. Inspector Lee believes that crime lord Ricky Tan (John Lone) and his gang of Triads are behind it. So they investigate with several hilarious moments. 

7. Captain Ron (1992)

captain-ron
Image Credit: Buena Vista Pictures.

Captain Ron is an underrated comedy starring Kurt Russell in the titular role, a sailor with a checkered past and eccentric personality. After the Harvey family inherits a 60-foot yacht once owned by Clark Gable, the father, Martin (Martin Short), hires Captain Ron to help sail the boat through the Caribbean along with his family.

Captain Ron drives Martin to insanity with shenanigans, including taking them to the wrong island and running into guerillas. It’s a laugh-out-loud film that will help your brain unwind. 

8. Twister (1996)

twister-bill-paxton
Image Credit: Warner Bros.

Twister is an epic disaster film following a group of passionate amateur storm chasers attempting to deploy a tornado research device into the funnel of a twister during a severe outbreak in Oklahoma.

It’s a whirlwind of close calls and actual disasters. Twister stars an ensemble cast: Helen Hunt, Bill Paxton, Jami Gertz, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Alan Ruck, Cary Elwes, Jeremy Davies, and Todd Field.

9. The Faculty (1998)

The Faculty 1996
Image Credit: Miramax Films.

The Faculty is a mindless sci-fi horror movie that is surprisingly good with an all-star cast. It centers around the faculty at Harrington High and the group of students who suspect something is awry because of the staff’s awkward behavior.

Eventually, they realize their school has been invaded by aliens overtaking the population and must work together to survive and save the town.

It stars Josh Hartnett, Shawn Hatosy, Jordana Brewster, Clea DuVall, Laura Harris, Famke Janssen, Elijah Wood, Piper Laurie, Bebe Neuwirth, Robert Patrick, Usher Raymond, and Jon Stewart. 

10. Office Space (1999)

office-space
Image Credit: 20th Century Fox.

Office Space is a comedy satirizing the work-life of Initech, a typical 1990s software company, and the staff. Peter Gibbons (Ron Livingston), Samir Nagheenanajar (Ajay Naidu), and Michael Bolton (David Herman) are frustrated programmers concerned about losing their jobs when big-wigs show up to help downsize the company.

So they concoct a plan to skim fractions of pennies from the company with a computer virus. However, it goes awry, and hilarity ensues. It also stars Jennifer Aniston, Gary Cole, Stephen Root, and John C. McGinley.

This thread inspired this article.

This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks. 


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The Second Time’s Not Always the Charm: 12 Movie Franchises with Disappointing Sequels | Wealth of Geeks

Post By Money Making ,

Recently a Redditor confessed, “Watching the Mission: Impossible franchise, I can say the second movie is a bit of a step back in quality from the first. I still enjoy it but in a stylized ‘gun-fu’ way. However, the rest of the franchise is pretty solid.”

They continued, “It seems weird for a franchise to have the first sequel (second movie) completely outshined by every other film in the same franchise. I’m sure there are other examples. What are they?” Reddit responded to deliver this list. 

1. Highlander II: The Quickening (1991)

Image Credit: InterStar

Typh1osion- admitted, “Highlander II: The Quickening might be one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen.” Furtherthanfurther asked, “But are the other Highlander movies better or just another low point?”

KRYPTO-86 agreed but added, “Highlander: Endgame is my guilty pleasure sequel. Donnie Yen is excellent, and the fight scenes in Endgame were a lot of fun. Bruce Payne as Jacob Kell is just an enjoyable, fun villain too.”

2. Cars 2 (2011)

cars-2
Image Credit: Walt Disney Studios
Motion Pictures

Bootzilla_Rembrant stated, “Disney Pixar‘s Cars and Cars 3 are hardly masterpieces, but Cars 2 is utter garbage.” Low-Cantaloupe9426 added, “Cars 3 should have been the Cars sequel. Cars 2 should have been a Mater spinoff movie.”

Another user replied, “Cars 2 – why don’t we have some cars get murdered?” Sburban_Player agreed, “I can’t believe they had that dude get tortured to death in a Pixar movie.”

3. Thor: The Dark World (2013)

thor dark world e1658084719405
Courtesy of Marvel Studios.

Redditor Bluebirdgm agreed, “Thor: The Dark World is the least memorable MCU movie EVER to me. And I know it for only two things: the absolute waste of Christopher Eccleston’s talent and how it was an early attempt to tie the MCU to Agents of SHIELD.”

Several people quickly argued that Thor: Love and Thunder was the worst film in the Thor franchise. However, more agreed with ajorjoe23: “I know people aren’t crazy about Thor: Love and Thunder, but Thor: The Dark World is infinitely more boring.”

Finally, a user suggested, “The Thor franchise made an excellent recovery after part two sucked so bad.”

4. John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)

john-wick-chapter-two
Image Credit: Lionsgate

Redditor Trylobyte answered, “I thought John Wick: Chapter 2 was the weakest.

Magicgoathead agreed, “Two was my least favorite, I believe… but I enjoyed the hell out of all of them, so maybe I need a rewatch to be more critical. The first one is probably the best cause of the story. After that, the only reason I think three might be better than two is the knife store fight.”

They continued, “I have no idea why, but out of the entire trilogy, that fight is the one I remember the most. Three probably gave away more info about the criminal underground scene and such, but the action was top-notch, and I have a trash brain, and that’s why I watch those movies.”

5. Ocean’s Twelve (2004)

oceans-12-brad-pitt
Image Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

One user answered, “I didn’t care about Oceans 12. The only thing I liked about that movie was that laser breakdance scene.”

Another Redditor agreed, “Ocean’s 12 is the perfect answer. Ocean’s 12 was an excuse for that cast to have fun in Italy on someone else’s dime. Ocean’s 13 was to make up for Ocean’s 12.”

6. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)

star-wars-II-attack-of-the-clones
Image Credit: 20th Century Fox

SettingVegetable9090 volunteered, “Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones in the prequel trilogy.” Another user said, “The fun of the prequels is that everyone has their own opinion of which is the worst one, and no one can be wrong either.”

DYGTD added, “It’s weird because Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace offends the senses with every scene, but Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones is just so dull. I could watch it a hundred times and not be able to give even a cursory plot summary.”

Finally, Mubadger summarized, “Nothing happens for 2 hours, then Yoda has a lightsaber fight.”

7. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)

fantastic-beasts
Image Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Dear-Bandicoot7087 exclaimed, “FANTASTIC BEASTS! I can’t believe no one else has mentioned this yet! The first movie was good. The second one, Crimes of Grindelwald, was one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen. And the third, Secrets of Dumbledore, was a vast improvement. It was shocking how utterly terrible the second film in the franchise was.”

They continued, “It had a hopelessly convoluted script, a nonsensical story, too many irrelevant side characters, and a dozen subplots that served no purpose other than to confuse the viewer. Johnny Depp was a cartoonish and absurd Grindelwald. He had to wear an earpiece throughout filming because he refused to learn his lines—a dumpster fire of a movie.”

8. The Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)

The Exorcist II
Image Credit: Warner Bros.

TalkingHead77 nominated “The Exorcist II: The Heretic. Though I think it’s a little underrated. It has a strong and surprising advocate in the form of Martin Scorsese.”

Redditor Matlockga added, “Exorcist II is terrible, but the third one somehow delivers.” Finally, a user stated, “The third one is based on the author’s novel sequel to The Exorcist, Legion (1983), and directed by the author.”

9. State of the Union (2005)

The Best Movies on HBO Max
Image Courtesy of Prostock-studio and Shutterstock

RegHater76 stated, “The sequel with Ice Cube was horrible, and it’s not exactly like this and Return of Xander Cage were masterpieces.”

Another user replied, “Should have been a one-off. It wasn’t a masterpiece but a perfectly entertaining action movie. Two and three were straight garbage.”

Finally, ih8meandu added, “Vin Diesel’s become a franchise movie star. Since 2000, he’s only been in four or five movies that weren’t Fast and the Furious, MCU as Groot, Riddick, or movies.”

10. Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

star-trek-into-the-darkness
Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

HellaWavy suggested, “Out of the Star Trek Kelvin Timeline movies, I’d say that Into Darkness is the weakest entry for several reasons. It feels bloated and like a watered-down version of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.”

User bluebird added, “I preferred Beyond over Into Darkness. It felt like the Kelvin Trek was finally free from having to live up to the old Shatner stuff.”

11. Die Hard 2 (1990)

die-hard-2
Image Credit: 20th Century Fox

Many Redditors shared the sentiment that we don’t count Die Hard 5 as part of the franchise. Even four was a stretch for some. One user said, “If you don’t count the weird, pretty much direct to DVD Die Hard 5, the 2nd Die Hard is terrible compared to the first, third and fourth.” 

Another Redditor answered, “Die Hard 2 is the only movie in the series I consider bad.”

Finally, Punchable_Hair agreed, “Die Hard is the Christmas classic that we all know and love. Die Hard 3 has an excellent revenge plot and Samuel L. Jackson. But Die Hard 2 is just a re-make of Die Hard set at an airport, and the bad guy is Oliver North. Not a bad action movie, but not as compelling as the other two (and for this discussion, there are only two others).”

12. A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985)

Image from the movie Nightmare on Elm Street
Image Credit: New Line Cinema.

Redditor bejipo nominated “A Nightmare on Elm Street. I love these movies for how wacky they are, and for me, the second one is the dullest and the one I always skip.”

Another user agreed, “Nightmare on Elm Street 2, the third installment of Dream Warriors, is far superior in my mind.”

Finally, Baalthulhu said, “A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge. As bad as Dream Child or Freddy’s Dead might be, nothing is as terrible as Freddy’s Revenge.”

Honorable Mentions: Caddyshack II, Jurassic Park: The Lost World, and Dumb and Dumberer. We hope you enjoyed this Reddit pick list of film franchises with terrible second movies. Check out these horror film franchises that started out great but got much worse!

This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.


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10 Best Cities for Young Professionals | Wealth of Geeks

Post By Money Making ,

Are you a young professional looking for a city with the best work opportunities, vibrant culture, and the most suitable environment to help you make it professionally and personally?

Look no further! We’ve gathered data on all the top cities and created an essential list of where young professionals should start their careers. After crunching the data, here are the ten best cities for young professionals.

So if you’re ready to embark on a new adventure far from home or want to know what options are available nearby – buckle up; It’s time to explore the best places to live to start your career.

10 Best Cities for Young Professionals

1. Austin, Texas

Austin is very popular with people from a younger age group because it has lots of job opportunities and great nightlife.

With a low unemployment rate, getting a job here is reasonably easy, making it one of the fastest-growing cities.

In terms of rent, costs are higher than average, meaning there isn’t a lot of affordable housing. However, residents enjoy higher-than-average salaries, meaning that young professionals can get a good start and should have enough money to get by. For many people, the economics balance out.

It also offers excellent weather with plenty of sunshine, which residents love. In terms of activities, there’s a lot to do, with many bars, parks, comedy clubs, and more. Finally, people who live in Austin love that the city is walkable, making it easy to get from place to place.

2. Madison, Wisconsin

People of all ages, not just young professionals, move to Madison as it’s the cheapest place to live on this list. It has many bars, restaurants, parks, coffee shops, and more. It’s often said to be one of the best midsize cities in the country.

As for employment, Madison has a diverse job market with employers in healthcare, manufacturing, technology, and bioscience.

Furthermore, there’s a lot of beautiful outdoor scenery, and activities like fishing, boating, and swimming are popular. Relax with your friends alongside a lake, or check out some great summer festivals.

You’ll also enjoy excellent bike routes, meaning you don’t need a car to get around this place – which can be ideal for the younger demographics.

Because people fall in love with this town, many settle down and raise a family here.

3. Minneapolis, Minnesota

Another Midwest city, Minneapolis, is one of those cities that has it all. It’s great for students, offering some world-class educational institutes, but it’s also perfect for professionals, whether you’re already employed or looking to start your career.

There are parks, bars, restaurants, and so much more. This city ranks as one of the U.S.’s best cities for quality of life, and although its cost of living is a little higher than Madison, WI, it is still cheaper than most other cities.

Median home prices are roughly $300,000, over $100,000 less than the national average, so those looking to own a home or rent an apartment can find affordable housing.

Finally, the city has sports teams in all four major sports, which is a bonus for any sports lover.

4. Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville could be the answer for those prioritizing affordability but still looking to live somewhere nice. The economics can undoubtedly work in your favor, at least for now. This is because Nashville is becoming a popular place to move to, and as a result, the cost of living is increasing, especially in terms of housing.

Music lovers are the heart of the city, as it is arguably the live music capital of the United States. That means there are many great bars, and you can see some truly amazing bands. You may come into contact with some famous figures here. Some people call it the “Country Music Capital of the World,” – so don’t underestimate how important music is here.

There are also good restaurants and breweries, meaning you can enjoy going out regularly if your income allows.

Location is another significant factor in the popularity of Nashville. You have large cities within driving distance and the Smokey Mountains, which offer all the outdoor adventure one could hope for.

Regarding jobs, tourism and music top the list, but finance, healthcare, higher education, and automobile manufacturing are also popular. The final benefit for young professionals is that Tennessee has no state income tax, which is a blessing if you move from a higher tax state like California.

5. Portland, Oregon

Portland is among the best if you want to go somewhere with a young, vibrant atmosphere. It has excellent public transportation and offers its residents good food, access to fantastic nightlife, and a friendly community feeling.

If you’re wondering about the rent, it’s important to be aware that Portland also has relatively high housing costs, and many other living costs are high, making it one of the most expensive cities on the list.

Because of this, it’s not an ideal place if you’re on a budget, but if you’re a young professional with a good job, it’s one of the top cities for you. Some people even say it’s one of the best places on the West Coast.

If you’re trying to kickstart a career in tech, this could be the perfect place for you. People of all ages move to Portland, and data suggests that it also attracts wealthy investors.

Aside from job opportunities, the biggest drawback to Portland is the crime rate. Violent and property crimes are both high in the city, causing some young people to have second thoughts about moving here.

6. Seattle, Washington

Seattle is also among the best metropolitan areas for young professionals, with a wealth of employment opportunities both now and in the future. Estimates have future job growth for Seattle to be higher than the national average.

Industries that call Seattle home include health services, technology, construction, health sciences, and logistics.

The city also boasts a vibrant social scene, including restaurants, great coffee shops, and outdoor activities.

It’s nicknamed the Emerald City because of its unique evergreen forests. If you love outdoor recreation and want access to outdoor spaces, this is the place for you. A bonus is the coastline of Puget Sound for water lovers.

The main drawback to the area is the relatively high cost of living and expensive rent. In an ideal world, you will have a job lined up before moving to Seattle.

7. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Regarding the best cities, Pittsburgh is an under-the-radar town that few people think of. While Pittsburgh suffered when steel mills shut down, the city has become one of the best places to live.

The city offers affordable housing and job opportunities in various industries, including healthcare, finance, energy, robotics, and artificial intelligence. Most people don’t realize Pittsburgh ranks eighth with the most Fortune 500 companies headquartered here.

There are many colleges and universities in close proximity to downtown, giving Pittsburgh a college-town feel. If you head out to Carson Street, you will see this for yourself, as the South Side has a vibrant nightlife.

8. Denver, Colorado

Next on the list is the Mile High City, Denver. Hands down, Denver’s most significant advantage over other cities is outdoor adventure. High in the mountains allows young professionals looking to unwind many options, including a simple hike, mountain biking, skiing, and more.

Most people come to Denver for the outdoors and stay for job opportunities. Speaking of which, top industries in the area include aerospace, biotech, electronics, and renewable energy.

The cost of living is not the lowest, but it is not high either. You can comfortably get by making an average salary.

9. Boston, Massachusetts

Boston is not missed on our list of the best cities for young professionals. It’s a city saturated with history, so if you love museums and learning about the past, this is the place for you.

It isn’t a cheap city, especially regarding rent and housing prices, but young workers generally can afford to live here.

Furthermore, the economy is thriving, and you should find it reasonably easy to earn a good income. Popular industries include healthcare, finance, and insurance.

It’s also a particularly sustainable place to live, and there’s a lot to do in terms of recreation. The weather can be very good in June and July, but be aware that this city sees cold, snowy winters.

Some great activities include the Franklin Park Zoo, the New England Aquarium, and the Boston Public Garden.

10. Washington, D.C.

Our nation’s capital is an excellent area for young professionals, regardless of whether you have a degree in political science. Top industries include education, technology, healthcare, and tourism.

The main drawback to Washington D.C. is the high cost of living, ranking as the fourth most expensive behind New York City, Honolulu, and San Francisco.

As with other places listed with high living costs, it is best to have a job before moving here. If you cannot find something fun to do, know that Philadelphia and NYC are short train rides away.

Finally, Washington has endless amounts of opportunities when it comes to recreation. From museums, parks, national history, and more, you will always enjoy the options to explore.

What Should You Consider Before Moving to a New City

Moving, whether nearby or to the other side of the country, must be well thought out ahead of time.

The most important thing to consider is job opportunities and affordable housing. Without a job, it doesn’t matter how amazing a city is. It will be a nightmare for you.

Along the same lines, you will not be happy if you do not have the income to afford the rent or purchase a home.

Of course, there are other things to take into consideration as well. Knowing about restaurants, the arts, and other entertainment options is critical if you are social.

Knowing yourself is also paramount. If you are from a small town, moving to a metropolitan area with a large population might be too much of a shock to you. The reverse is true as well.

Finally, be sure to look at the prospects of the city. If unemployment rates are increasing or crime rates are skyrocketing, the future might not be as bright as in other areas. Both of these could have an impact on the long-term employment situation.

Other Cities for Young Professionals To Consider

There are many great places to live, and while these ten are great, there are many more. Here are a few locations that didn’t make it onto our list but are worth looking into.

  • Salt Lake City, UT
  •  Des Moines, IA
  • Kansas City, MO
  • Sioux Falls, SD

Final Thoughts

Young professionals, the world is truly your oyster. There is an infinite array of cities across the United States that could be the perfect place to get your career off the ground and potentially turn into your forever home.

Whatever environment you’re hoping to find – from bustling and innovative cities to charming small towns with a vibrant local culture – there is a city for you. It is essential, however, to remember to carefully consider all your options before making any decisions.

The last thing you want to do is make a rash decision and spend money and wasted years in a place that is not the right fit for you or your goals.

This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.


Jon is the founder of MoneySmartGuides, which helps people dig out of debt and start building wealth so they can achieve their dreams. He has over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry and 20 years of investing in the stock market. He has both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Finance and is FINRA Series 65 licensed, and has a Certificate in Financial Planning.


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College Graduates: Build Wealth by Avoiding 11 Common Money Mistakes | Wealth of Geeks

Post By Money Making ,

Congratulations! You graduated from college and landed your first job! It’s an exciting and scary new chapter all rolled into one. You’ll make some serious money for the first time but also be responsible for severe adult bills. Before signing a lease for an apartment or purchasing a new car, avoid the most common money mistakes college graduates make. We have assembled a list of blunders to steer you towards a financially fit future.

1. No Emergency Fund

In this next phase of your life, saving money is essential, specifically for emergencies. When you least expect it, your car may need a repair, expensive dental work, or you may get laid off from your job. These unexpected events happen to all of us, so planning for them is essential.

Commit to building up an emergency fund that can cover your basic living expenses for six months. You can open an interest-bearing savings account like an FDIC-insured money market deposit account (MMDA) just for this purpose. This way, the money is readily accessible and earns little interest.  With this safety net, you won’t have to reach for your credit card and ramp up debt for emergencies. Instead, you’ll have peace of mind that you’ll be ready for these unplanned expenses.

2. No Monthly Budget

Chances are you were living on a meager financial diet at college, where students find frugal ways to get by. Now that you’re living a more independent life, you need to have a budget and keep your spending in control. Don’t eliminate all your ramen noodles until you have a fully-funded emergency fund!

Don’t rush to sign that apartment lease with a breathtaking view without creating a budget first. Determine your necessary expenses like rent, utilities, food, and commuting expenses. These needs come first before you dive head-on into your wants, like a brand-new car. You may be making more money than ever, but your income has to cover your higher cost of living. The temptation to indulge in wants may run high. It’s your money. Yes, but you must be wise to start on a path to wealth.

Review your spending regularly to see how you’re doing and find potential cost reductions. There are free apps like Personal Capital, Mint, and PocketGuard to help you track your daily spending and help you reach your goals.

3. Living Beyond Your Means

Put the brakes on large or repeated impulsive spending. Living beyond your income is a recipe for financial disaster. Your goal is to spend less than you earn so you can save money and invest some of your earnings. While it is easy to justify higher spending, you want some money left in your accounts after your year of hard work. When you strike out alone, you may find your newfound freedom costly.

Resist the urge to buy designer clothing for work, an expensive new car, or go on lavish vacations. Overspending can happen when you feel you deserve a high life and seek instant gratification. Or when your friends are hitting up bars and expensive restaurants every weekend. Don’t fund a costly lifestyle on credit cards when you can’t afford them.

4. Getting Rid of Your Roommate

After graduating college, the last thing you may be thinking about is living with a roommate again. However, your housing costs will be a significant portion of your budget. Are you ready to hand over most of your hard-earned paycheck to your landlord?

Sharing expenses with a roommate you may not see much may provide you with worthwhile savings. Those savings can give you the financial flexibility you may not otherwise have. A roommate may not have been in your plans, but by absorbing all of the costs of rent, utilities, and renter’s insurance, you may be deferring other financial goals that you may have, like paying off your student loans or saving to purchase a place.

5. No Student Loan Repayment Plan

One of your most considerable new responsibilities will be to make regular student loan payments. Don’t put off paying these loans or extend the time further into the future. Go for the standard repayment plan with equal monthly payments for up to ten years.

A grace period usually allows you six months to settle down before payments are due financially. If you live at home or have a roommate, why not make payments immediately?  It’s a good idea to schedule automatic debit payments from your bank account and link your paycheck deposits. By doing so, you may be able to shave a 0.25% interest rate reduction on certain federal loans over your life. That’s saving money!

Having several loans can be complicated. Organize your payments from multiple sources into a spreadsheet. If you have varying due dates, contact the loan servicers to see if you can synchronize payments or spread them out across the month to make it easier. Alternatively, you can automate all your expenses, so you don’t miss a bill.

6. Ignoring Your Company Freebies

What’s in your company goodie bag? Many answers to your financial future are in your benefits package, yet some don’t look close enough. Different types of benefits add meaning to your compensation. As a new employee, you may overlook some essential features trying to make sense of everything.

Beyond the paid vacation, holidays, and sick time, look for perks like flexible work options, paid gym memberships, professional development grants, paid smoking cession offers, or student loan repayment programs that will directly benefit you.

Some of the valuable offerings in your package may need your immediate attention, like an employer-sponsored 401K plan that you may need to opt into for participation. Look for insurance plans, such as health insurance, to know the plan’s details.

7. Turning Down Free Retirement Money

Why would a 22-year-old be thinking about retirement?  After finding out where the restroom is in your new workplace, your employer-sponsored 401K retirement plan is next. Seriously, it’s that important. The best time to start contributing to retirement is now, especially if your company gives you free money for your retirement account. Many employers increase your performance by matching part or all of your contributions.

Automating contributions from every paycheck takes care of it in one step. When you make contributions early, even in small amounts initially, you can fuel your money through compound growth. Compounding is when you earn interest on interest, which magnifies your growth over 40 or more years.

Waiting will cost you tons of money in the long run. If your younger brother starts investing $100 a year at age 25 but waits to support the same amount until age 35, you’ll have less than half in your bank account at age 65. So even though your sibling only contributed $12,000 more over ten years, he’ll have $162,000, and you’ll only have $89,000.

8. Skipping Health Insurance

You’re young and healthy and rarely think about prominent doctor’s bills. Should you break your leg skiing or hurt yourself playing basketball and require surgery, you may be looking at a very high statement if you don’t have health insurance.

If you’re under 26 years old, you can stay on your parent’s health insurance plan. You could get your own plan depending on your employer and employment type. Ensure you check the monthly premiums and deductibles to understand the cost and your new healthcare coverage details truly.

9. Racking up Credit Card Debt

Credit cards can be beneficial but tempt college students and recent graduates beyond your means. Kings fun. However, they can also be financially toxic if you don’t handle their wit. Collecting credit card rewards, airline miles, or cashback is fun. h care.

If you find yourself unable to pay the balance off in full, you should always pay the minimum on time to not dent your credit score with late or missing payments. But if you only pay the minimum amount required, you will build a mountain of high-cost debt you can’t quickly shed.

Say you charge a $1,500 vacation on your credit card with a 19% interest rate.  If you repay the credit card company only the minimum amount each month, you’ll start with a $60 payment. But to pay the whole amount, plus interest, you’ll have to make 106 payments and pay them $889 in total interest. That’s more than half the amount of your vacation extra!

10. Ignoring Your Credit Score

Building a good credit score may not even be on your radar. It can take years and effort to make credit on your own and earn a good score. But having a good credit score is crucial if you want to rent your apartment, purchase a car, or buy a home in the next few years. Be patient about getting your credit to where you would like to be. Good financial habits matter and can help the process along. Monitor your credit report and track your score periodically.

First, you need to build your credit file. Start opening a couple of accounts that report to the primary credit bureaus. Separately, you can become an authorized user on a parent’s credit card so long as they have a solid credit score.

By handling your payments properly, establish your track record as a borrower over time.  Your credit will benefit from paying your bills on time. Don’t carry a credit card balance which can increase costly debt, become a challenge to manage, and may get you turned down for an apartment lease.

11. Delaying Investing

A regret I share with many people is not investing earlier. The best time to start investing is now, even in small increments. When you are young, you have time, so don’t waste it. A long-term investing perspective allows you to ride out the volatility rather than bailing out of the market. Compounding power can fuel our investment returns to higher heights.

Once you have set aside money for emergencies and automated contributions for your retirement account, use some savings to open a brokerage account and buy a low-cost index fund that tracks the market. These funds provide you with essential diversification from the start. With confidence and learning the ropes, you can expand your portfolio as you turn savings into investments. Understand your risks but avoid being reckless.


The cents of money is about financial education, here to teach and inspire you about money, seek new ideas, and to create greater comfort in your world about one of life’s great stresses. Linda wants to use her financial skills honed by her professional experience to help others.


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Unforgettable for All The Wrong Reasons: The 10 Cities To Skip Traveling to This Summer | Wealth of Geeks

Post By Money Making ,

Are you searching for fun places to travel to and explore? Traveling is one of the most incredible gifts that you can give yourself.

However, some cities have earned terrible reputations, and travelers warn others to avoid these places. Here are some of the top-voted cities worldwide.

1. Cairo, Egypt

“I lived in Cairo for two years in my 30s,” shared one user. “I genuinely hated it. I was sexually harassed every day. At one point, I had to move houses because the gas man kept banging on my door, shouting that I was a sex worker and should let him in for adult relations.”

Sadly, many people shared similar experiences before another stated, “You should only go to Egypt if you’re friends with some locals who will take care of you and accompany you everywhere. Only then will it be a pleasant experience. Source: I’m Egyptian.”

2. Gary, Indiana – U.S.A.

indiana map

“My wife’s family lives in Indiana. When I visited, we drove by Gary, and I said, ‘Ain’t that where Michael Jackson is from?! We should stop real quick!’ They all looked at me like I was a psychopath and told me how bad it was. I was disappointed, to say the least.”

Many others agreed with the sentiment. However, others expressed it’s better than Redditors make it out to be. One user said, “I’d heard Gary was really bad my whole life. When I finally went there, I didn’t get what people were on about. But I’m from Flint, Michigan, so my gauge for what is and is not a bad area is severely busted. It didn’t feel much different from home.”

3. Mogadishu, Somalia

Mogadishu somalia

There is no better way to sum this up than by sharing the warning attached to traveling to the country. “The U.S. State Department and most Western nations advise that you avoid all travel to Mogadishu for any reason. Continuous activity by the al-Qaida-affiliated terrorist group al-Shabaab has resulted in numerous kidnappings, suicide bombings, and generalized chaos.”

“There is a particular terrorist threat to foreigners in places where large crowds gather and Westerners frequent, including airports, government buildings, hotels, and shopping areas. In 2016, there were 14 documented attacks directed at hotels, restaurants, and the international airport in Mogadishu. Independent travel to Mogadishu will most likely result in your death.”

4. Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Port au Prince Haiti

One person shared, “Port-au-Prince, Haiti. I work with many refugee families who fled from there, and the stories are chilling.” Many people agreed and shared their experiences. However, they all stated that Haitians were the friendliest and most hard-working people they’d ever met despite the terrible conditions.

Another user said, “Great/friendly people, but the state of everything was shocking. Everything was in disrepair. Tons of buildings were still complete rubble from the earthquake in 2010. Raw sewage appeared to be flowing out onto some of the streets. No traffic lights worked, potholes were so large they’d swallow your entire vehicle, and there were multiple power outages daily.”

5. Gallup, New Mexico – U.S.A.

gallup new

“Gallup, New Mexico, according to truck drivers,” one person commented. “Storytime,” said another, “I live in Albuquerque, and I played rugby in high school. We went to Gallup to play precisely one time. We had to walk the field to pick glass and needles out of the dirt. It was awful.” 

“I have an office in Gallup and spend a few days a month there. It’s not a great place to live, but I’ve been to a far worse place in my travels—lots of drugs, drunken vagrants walking the streets, and very little to do,” another explained.

A third commenter said, “That entire strip of New Mexico gives me The Hills Have Eyes vibes.”

6. Kingston, Jamaica

Kingston Jamaica

“Kingston, Jamaica. The saying goes, ‘If you don’t have business in Kingston, you have no business in Kingston.’ However, I have traveled to other parts of Jamaica, and the island is one of the most beautiful places on Earth,” one user commented. “I went to Kingston on a cruise once and tried wandering off from the shopping district the cruise bus took us to so I could see the ‘Real Kingston.’

“I got like one block away, and this shopkeeper came out and physically restrained me from going any further, saying, ‘You better get back to your tour. You go any further, and they’re going to chop you up.’ So my desire to see the real Kingston evaporated immediately after that,” another person shared. 

7. Qatar

Qatar

Someone nominated the entire country of Qatar. Another joked, “My friend got a complimentary visit to Qatar! All he had to do was join the military.” Several others agreed with that sentiment.

Another user said, “They’re hosting the World Cup, and they’ve been advertising like nuts all year. Never seen any Qatar tourism ads before 2022.” Many people expressed their disgust with the treatment of LGBTQIA+ people and were furious that the World Cup would be hosted there.

8. Forks, Washington – U.S.A.

forks washington

Someone joked, “Forks, Washington. The place is full of emo vampires and werewolves,” referencing its connection to the Twilight Saga. “I live relatively close to Forks, honestly, better off just exploring the beautiful parks and beaches around the area. There isn’t much in Forks, and for the most part, one of those old logging towns that isn’t super welcoming to outsiders.”

Many suggested it has heavy drug use. Another person exclaimed, “Honorable mention to Spokane and Newport!” And since I’m from Washington state, you should also avoid Granite Falls and Lakewood by Tacoma.

9. Sundown Towns – U.S.A.

night time moon

One person asked, “I’m sorry, but what’s a sundown town?” Another answered, “An all-white town that wants to stay that way.”

Another added, “The Green Book for negro motorists. It was like a Farmer’s Almanac for sundown towns and what cities to avoid. A seriously messed up time in America, and it is sad it wasn’t that long ago.”

“Steinhatchee, FL. It’s not as pronounced as it used to be. I mean, they don’t have spray paint on the overpass that reads, ‘Do not let the sun go down on your black bum’ anymore, but the sentiment is still known.

10. Ciudad Juárez, Mexico

Ciudad Juarez

“Ciudad Juárez, Mexico,” one person shared. “Bad news down there. A co-worker went down there with his wife-to-be to deal with some immigration issues. But unfortunately, he got cornered by a bad group of guys. They took his new truck, then held him for ransom for five months before finally letting him go.”

Another person warned, “I have been flying in and out of Ciudad Juárez for seven years. You only go into that town on your own if you know the neighborhoods and don’t have anything flashy on you.”

Others argued that it’s like any other place, and that it has trouble spots. But overall, Juárez isn’t as bad as some suggest.

What do you think? Did Reddit get this right, or is someplace significant missing from this list? Check out the ultimate guide to your international traveling check list.

This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.


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Retro Regrets: 12 TV Series That Will Make You Wish You Hadn’t Watched Them | Wealth of Geeks

Post By Money Making ,

Can you think of any television shows you watched that haven’t aged well in today’s world? Recently a Redditor asked, “What TV series have aged like milk?” Redditors responded to deliver this list of soured TV shows.

1. Hill Street Blues (1981)

Image Credit: 20th Television

One Redditor said, ” The first episode of Hill Street Blues has two cops breaking up a domestic disturbance caused by a woman finding her man having relations with her 15-year-old daughter. The man is told not to be terrible, the woman is told to put out more, and the child is told not to be so tempting. Then the cops leave, patting themselves on the back for a well-done job.”

2. How I Met Your Mother (2005)

how i met your mother the playbook
Image Credit: How I Met Your Mother Wiki.

One user said, “I tried to rewatch this a few weeks ago. The laugh track threw me off. I had forgotten it had one. After hearing the first couple of jokes followed by insane laughter, I decided not to rewatch it.”

3. Beauty and the Beast (1987)

The Best Movies on HBO Max
Image Courtesy of Prostock-studio and Shutterstock

One Reddit user said, “Beauty and the Beast Tv show from 1987. My mother LOVED this show back then. Well, I bought her the box set last year. She watched five episodes and couldn’t do it. So I decided to watch it because I miss her. Well, I can see why she couldn’t finish it.”

4. Saved by the Bell (1989)

saved-by-the-bell
Image Credit: NBC Universal

One Redditor said, “I didn’t think much of it until I saw Zach Morris is trash, and it got me to thinking, damn, that kid was a jerk.” Another Reddit user said, “My wife and I recently rewatched this series on Netflix. One thing that bothered us was how often Kelly was dating older guys.”

They elaborated, “At fifteen, she dated a college guy. In the Hawaiian movie (age 17), she dated a lawyer, and at age 19 (in college), she dated her professor. Only the last one had the age difference brought up, and they kept doing a bit even then. It was really a little creepy.”

5. Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008)

the-secret-life-of-the-american-teenager
Image Credit: Disney–ABC Domestic Television

One Redditor posted, “My God, this show was terrible. My wife’s sister was into it, and we watched a lot of it when we were dating. I think they tried to make the banter like Gilmore Girls, but it ended up being the characters repeating their current plots and arcs repeatedly. I don’t remember the characters at all, but the main character was such a horrible person, and the audience is supposed to root for her.”

6. Wife Swap (2004)

wife-swap
Image credit: Zodiak Media/Paramount

One user points out, “It was a reality TV show where they took two polar opposite families, usually with opposing political or religious views, and swapped wives, the first week living by house rules and the second living by the wife’s rules.”

They continued, “Usually, the husband or kids would hate the changes, and the drama would ensue! Families claimed the drama was mostly scripted. Viewers have harassed some families for purely scripted things for the show.”

7. Pretty Little Liars (2010)

Pretty Little Liars
Photo Credit: Warner Bros.

One Reddit user said, “I think even at the time, the teacher dating his 16-year-old student storyline was creepy, but in 2022 it’s honestly unbelievable they ever portrayed in any positive light. Also that her parents didn’t immediately report him to the police.”

8. Black. White. (2006)

black-white-tv-series
Image Credit 20th Century Fox

One user posted, “There was a reality show on Fox called Black. White. They put a White family in blackface and a Black family in whiteface. Just reading about it, it turns out the White family wasn’t even a real family. They were unrelated actors.” 

9. Sex and the City (1998)

The Best Movies on HBO Max
Image Courtesy of Prostock-studio and Shutterstock

One Redditor posted, “When the main character, a sex columnist, has a whole episode about being uncomfortable that her date is bisexual and ultimately can’t accept it. She was supposed to be very open-minded too.” Another user posted, “She was the biggest prude! Samantha should have been the sex columnist. Carrie wrote about her stories anyway, cut out the middle man.”

10. What Not To Wear (2003)

what-not-to-wear
Image Credit: BBC Worldwide Productions

One user said, “Nothing like having your family secretly recording you when you look terrible and then gathering everyone you know to have a style intervention to watch said footage while two strangers pick you apart.”

They continued, “Then they pressure you into throwing away all your clothes (I hope they donated them), giving you enough money to buy four outfits but only on their terms, and also forgetting about your personal preferences and sense of style. You have to dress like a boring adult. And I ate that stuff up.”

11. The Swan (2004)

the-swan
Image Credit: Fremantle Media North America

One Redditor said, “The Swan was two women who are considered ugly ducklings that are participating in a pageant against each other after undergoing a three-month transformative process, aka having heaps of plastic surgery.” Another user posted, “This show was spoiled milk before the first episode was over. I remember people rightfully being disgusted by it, and even then, people knew it was a cultural low point.”

12. America’s Next Top Model (2003)

MV5BODI2MTg0NDQ3MV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNTkxOTE3MDI@. V1 e1678917936493
Image Credit: America’s Next Top Model.

One Redditor said, “America’s Next Top Model. I remember going nuts over it when it first came out, and now, looking back, that show is rife with gross body image, not to mention literally putting models in blackface for a shoot.”

Another user posted, “Not only that but the number of things that, in hindsight, absolutely cannot have been coincidences — but production doing things to create drama or get a reaction from the girls for juicy TV moments.”

What do you think? Did Reddit get this right, or is something missing from the list? Check out these TV show cancellations that people are still frustrated about today.

This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.


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9 Essential Weapons To Reach Financial Independence

Post By Money Making ,

Financial Independence is a great thing. It means you can choose to do what you want without relying on your job to support your lifestyle. Who would not want that? More and more people are trying to become financially independent.

However, the road to Financial Independence is paved with obstacles. To overcome these obstacles, you will need to use all the weapons that are available to you. Mastering these weapons will make your journey to Financial Independence faster and simpler.

In this post, I will go over the nine most essential weapons available to you to reach Financial Independence. Some of these weapons are essential, while others are more optional. However, you must use a combination of these weapons and master them if you are serious about becoming financially free!

Stay tuned to master your fight for Financial Independence!

Nine Essential Weapons To Reach Fire

1. Frugality

Frugality is your primary weapon

To reach Financial Independence, you need to be frugal. Frugality is one of the best weapons for Financial Independence. This is not a mandatory requirement since you can reach Financial Independence with any level of expenses. However, the lower your yearly costs, the faster you will achieve Financial Independence.

By definition, you will reach Financial Independence once you have accumulated enough net worth to cover your yearly expenses for 25 years. Another possible interpretation is to get enough passive income to cover all your annual costs.

So, if your expenses are lower, your net worth, or passive income goal, will be lower. You will have to accumulate less money before you can reach FI. Spending 10% less each year can save one or two years from your journey to Financial Independence!

There are many things you can do to save money. You can start by stopping eating out too often and cooking yourself. There are many ways to save money on groceries. Many people are paying for things they do not need. You can cut some of your bills if you do not use them as much as you think. Some people are going very far to save money. You need to find your balance of frugality.

One thing that is important to keep in mind is that you will need to keep that level of frugality once you are financially free. If you do not feel comfortable with your current frugality, you should fix it before you retire!

2. Your Main Income

Your primary Income can be extremely sharp!

Frugality, in itself, is not enough. You must save money to increase your net worth and reach Financial Independence. Therefore, your Income is a potent weapon! You should sharpen it as much as possible. Do not let your Income Weapon rust!

The more money you get monthly, the more you can add to your net worth. Therefore, increasing your Income goes a long way toward speeding up your progress.

Reducing your expenses has a lower limit. There is a point under which you cannot cut it further. On the other hand, increasing your primary Income is almost limitless. Some ways to improve your primary Income can be complicated. But there is more potential in increasing your Income than in reducing your expenses.

On the other hand, when you increase your Income, you have to be careful not to become a victim of lifestyle inflation. Do not be tempted to spend more because you are earning. Lifestyle inflation is the reason why a lot of high-income earners are not wealthy!

How to increase your primary Income will vary from job to job. There are many ways to improve your career income. But there are some simple strategies to increase your primary career income. For instance, you should not wait for a raise. You should ask for a raise if you deserve it! If you can do more, do not wait to be asked; ask for more responsibilities! You could also get more education or even change jobs.

Considering your career as a weapon will help you make it stronger. And wielding a more potent weapon will improve your journey toward Financial Independence.

3. Investing

Crush inflation with the Investing Hammer.

If you master the first two weapons, Frugality and High Income, you will save a lot of money monthly. Unfortunately, inflation causes your money to lose value every year.

You need to fight inflation with your Investing! You will need to invest your earned money. Not only will this negate the results of inflation. But this will also make your money work for you. If you invest your money in broad market index funds, you can expect between 5% and 8% returns on average every year. This will mean that your net worth will generate more money! Your money will work for you instead of you working for money!

I have said that having more Income will make you become Financial Independence faster. Investing your money works in the same way! If you invest most of your savings, you will accelerate your progress even further!

Investing is probably the most complicated weapon to master. But it is mighty. However, if you keep to the basics and invest in broad stock market indexes through ETF, anyone can learn it. The simplest way to support this is to use a three-fund portfolio. Stay clear of actively managed investments. Their fees will eat through your returns. By keeping investing simple, you will reap the profits of the entire stock market and minimize your fees!

4. Passive Income

Your Financial Number is based on your yearly expenses. But what if you could get some income in retirement? And what if this Income did not require you to do anything? Passive Income is a mighty weapon to reach Financial Independence faster.

Passive Income can make a huge difference! If you have yearly expenses of 50’000 dollars and a passive income of 10’000 dollars each year, you only have 40’000 dollars left to cover. That means that your FI number will be 10’000 dollars lower! If you use the 4% rule, you will have to save 250’000 dollars less before being financially independent.

Dividends are an easy way to generate some passive income. Most stocks will pay dividends. If you invest through a broad index ETF, you will receive some dividends quarter after quarter. This can be used to grow your Income. And it can also be used to cover your expenses in retirement. The most used passive income stream is tied to the previous weapon, Investing.

Another passive income stream is Real Estate. If you own and rent a house, you will receive some money, month after month. This is not as passive as dividends. But it can generate handsome returns and passive solid Income. Many people are financially independent only through real estate investing.

SomSome companies allow you to invest in real estate projects without having to do any of the heavy liftings yourself.

One example is DiversyFund. It’s a private REIT (real estate investment trust) that allows you to invest in professional real estate projects passively for as little as $500. The thing I love about companies like DiversyFund is that they don’t make money unless the investors make money since they invest and manage the projects themselves.

There are many other ways to generate passive income. Every little bit of passive income that you will have will help you reach Financial Independence faster.

5. Side Hustles

Your side hustles can hit many targets!

Another extremely efficient weapon to reach Financial Independence is to start a side hustle. A side hustle is a small job next to your main career job that will bring some extra income. You can even go one step further and have several side hustles.

Now, this is not for everybody. It would be best if you kept a balance between your life and your job. This means you will have to work more while accumulating your net worth. However, this can make it significantly faster.

Once you are financially independent, every bit of Income will help. Also, side hustles can help you while you are financially free if you continue them. For some people, this is not staying true to the definition of financial Independence since you still rely on this Income. However, the purpose of Financial Independence can be adapted to everybody!

There are many side hustles out there. From the weirdest, sell used panties to something more conventional such as flipping cars. You could tutor kids in your area. You could also drive people around for money. Or, if you are a handy person, you could build and sell things. And if you do not make things, you could buy and sell them for more. Finally, starting and monetizing a blog is a very trendy side hustle.

Everyone is different and will consider some side hustles, but not all of them. Some people will have many side hustles, while others will have none and solely focus on their careers. But it is essential to know that the weapons are available should you need them! Everybody is free to choose their weapons.

6. Patience

Patience is an important weapon. Even if you master all the weapons already mentioned, you will not become Financially Independent in one day! But this is not an easy one for some people.

For most people, reaching Financial Independence will take five to fifteen years. It is crucial to be patient during your journey.

All along the way, you must be careful to continue improving your usage of all the other weapons. And do not get distracted out of your path!

If your only goal is to become financially free in five years, the first years will be challenging to keep motivated. One way to make it easier to wait until the end of the journey is to have small goals along the way. For instance, you can make it your goal to achieve an FI ratio of 10% in the first year. Or reduce your expenses by 10% in the first two years. By having small goals and fighting to reach them, waiting for the primary goal will be easier!

7. Positive Attitude

Use a Positive Attitude as a shield.

Another thing you will need in your journey is a positive attitude. You should use this as a shield! Indeed, you will likely encounter many criticisms once people become aware of what you are trying to achieve. You need to shield yourself from this.

Many people will likely think that what you are trying to achieve is impossible. This is especially true if you are planning to retire very early. Once you tell people you will quit before you are forty, they will, at the very least, be very skeptical. Some people will be interested, of course. But I do not think this is the majority of people.

Moreover, there will also be people telling you that early retirement is bad for the economy; hence, other people depend on this economy. Some people are saying that this will cause a lack of workforce. They are also afraid of the lack of talent in some companies.

I do not share any of these beliefs. However, we should be prepared to hear them and accept them. We should keep a positive attitude against these negative comments.

8. Security

Online security is your armor.

In this age, many of your financial tasks are likely made online. You must ensure that all access to these online services is as secure as possible. Security is an essential defensive weapon. You should view it as your armor!

It is imperative to be serious about security. If your broker account is compromised and you lose a lot of money, this could seriously affect your path to financial freedom. The same is true if someone spends a lot of money on their credit card.

The first thing you should do is to use a long password for each of your online services. And it would be best if you never used the same password twice. And if you can, you need to use two-factor authentication as much as possible. It should be mandatory. More and more online services offer it these days. But too often, it is an option.

Another thing that you need to secure is your phone! You can likely access your financial accounts from your phone. Therefore, you must ensure it! And this is even truer if you use your phone as a two-factor device. You should use a code instead of a pattern as long as you can. And you should make sure your phone locks automatically after some time.

Finally, if you use debit and credit cards, you should make sure to use a different PIN on each card. And block a card as soon as possible if you suspect foul play.

9. Credit Cards

Your credit Cards are like daggers – Small, but you can wield many

Credit Cards are often considered a bad thing by many. And it is true that if they are misused, they can significantly slow down your finances! However, if they are used correctly, they can serve you well.

The most important things are to avoid any credit cards with an annual fee. This will save you money every year. You only need to consider free credit cards.

Then, you will need to take the credit card that will bring the most returns to you. This can be in the form of pure money cashback. Or this can be in the form of coupons that can save money on things you would purchase anyway.

You will probably need a travel card to save on foreign exchange currencies. Most banks will charge between 1.5% and 2.5% on each transaction you do in another currency than yours! You can eliminate all these fees with a travel card. Traveling or purchasing things online in other countries can save you a lot of money.

You must use credit cards correctly. You should never carry a balance on any credit card! You cannot go wrong if you consistently pay your credit card bill in full and choose a free credit card with some cashback!

Your credit cards are smaller weapons, like little daggers. But you can use several of them to make an enormous impact! You will need all the weapons you can get to become financially independent.

Financially Independent Retire Early

These nine weapons are essential tools you should use in your financial freedom journey. You do not have to use all of them, of course. But you should know that they are here for your use. And the more you wield, the faster you can reach Financial Independence!

You should use as many of these weapons as you can. But it would be best if you also learned how to master them. Sometimes, a powerful weapon can overpower several other weaker weapons. And in some cases, you can improve your guns yourself. And since every journey toward Financial Independence differs, you can even make up your weapons!

Not only will this make Financial Independence possible, but it will also allow you to reach your goal faster. You want to make your journey the best possible one.


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