PSA: I thought those 'credit builder' loans were a total scam for years.

My score jumped 40 points after I finished a $500 one through my local credit union in January. Anyone have a similar experience with a specific product?

A homeowner in Phoenix called my cable runs 'spaghetti art' and I had to admit he was right

I was finishing a big install, thought my work was clean, but the guy just pointed at the bundle coming into his media closet and said 'looks like spaghetti art, man.' That hit hard. I was so focused on getting signal to every room that I stopped caring about the bundle at the source. Now, I always bring a pack of Velcro one-wraps and spend an extra ten minutes at the end of every job just cleaning that main trunk. I even started carrying a label maker for the patch panel. It doesn't change the signal, but man, it changes how people see your work. Anyone else get called out on something simple that you just got lazy about?

Tried to shoot the Milky Way from my backyard in Phoenix and got a surprise

I set up my camera for a 30 second exposure last month, expecting just stars. The shot caught a bright meteor trail right through the frame that I didn't even see with my eyes. Anyone have tips for planning shots when you're hoping to catch something like that?

Spent $400 on a resume writing service. Some friends say it's a smart investment, others call it a total waste. What's your take?

Tried writing down a story my dad told me about his first car... and he corrected half of it when he read it.

Spent $12 on a dream notebook and it fixed my sleep

I kept having this dream where I could only move if I paid a tax in bottle caps. It felt so real and important. So I bought a cheap notebook from the drugstore and put it by my bed. Now when I wake up, I write down the dream rules before I forget. It cost maybe $12 total with the pen. After doing this for two weeks, I started noticing patterns, like my brain always makes me solve a puzzle to use a door. Has anyone else tried writing this stuff down? What weird dream currency do you have?

My daughter asking to float concrete shifted my view on teaching the trade

I noticed more kids are showing interest in concrete work lately. When my daughter wanted to try floating on a patio job, I had to slow down and explain each step. She picked it up faster than I thought, but keeping her focused was tough. Your mileage may vary, but involving family can really change how you work.

Showerthought: My aunt's 'special occasion' cooking is ruining our regular dinners.

She acts like every meal needs a fancy cut of meat or imported cheese. We eat just fine with chicken thighs and block cheddar, and it keeps the week affordable.

I used to think butchery was all about muscle, but a sharp pain in my wrist from forcing cuts made me switch to lighter, sharper blades.

Found out my cafe composts their coffee grounds now

I mean, it's a neat way to cut down waste, maybe it's just me.