High-tech toys

At Amax Group USA, work time is play time. That’s because the tight-knit team at this Houston-based company specializes in making 21st-century toys that bring out the action-craving kid in all of us, whether you’re seven or 70. The company’s newest offering, the Lumisphere, which features over 100 LED lights, slow-motion or fast-motion catch capabilities, 360-degree maneuvers, and two unique play modes where you can perform gravity-defying tricks and stunts. 

Learn more about this innovative company and the Lumisphere by reading my latest Costco Connection article, available here.

How the recent Fed rate cut affects you

The Federal Reserve met Sept. 18 and cut interest rates for the first time since 2020 – to the tune of 50 basis points (0.5 percentage points). Truth is, a Fed rate cut is good financial news for many but bad news for others.

Curious to learn who will benefit and who won't from a Federal Reserve rate cut? Read my newest US News and World Report article (which has now been seen by more than 20,000 people) by clicking here: 

Save more dollars at the grocery store with these tips

Sticker shock experienced by consumers at grocery stores, warehouse clubs, and food marts has been unavoidable since the pandemic. We all need to eat, but the price tag on groceries has put extra pressure on our pocketbooks for a few years now.

Here’s what the data show: According to the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2022, the typical American household spends $475.25 per month on groceries. This amounts to an annual grocery expenditure of $5,703. I don’t know about you, but these figures actually sound way lower than what many families, including mine, actually pay at checkout.

Want to spend less on groceries? Read my latest Money Saving Mastery column on this topic by clicking here.

Spooky season is upon us

Fall is right around the corner, making now the ideal time to start thinking Halloween. 

This year, I'm celebrating a decade representing a seasonal client with a monstrous following: Midnight Terror Haunted House in the Chicagoland area, which celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2024. My task is to promote and publicize the haunt to the media. These efforts have resulted in terror-ific coverage in the Chicago Tribune, Fox News, NBC and other outlets.

This year's campaign spotlight's lots of fresh news about Midnight Terror, which can be gleaned by clicking here.

Cineversary podcast honors The Shawshank Redemption on its 30th birthday

In Cineversary podcast episode #74, host Erik Martin commemorates the 30th anniversary of the most crowd-pleasing picture of the past three decades and the greatest prison movie ever: The Shawshank Redemption. Partnering with him on this installment is Mark Dawidziak, author of The Shawshank Redemption Revealed: How One Story Keeps Hope Alive.

Mark Dawidziak

Together, they chisel away at this impressive cinematic edifice and examine why this film remains so beloved, how it has stood the test of time, resonant themes viewers appreciate, and more.

To listen to this episode, click here or click the "play" button on the embedded streaming player below. Or, you can stream, download, or subscribe to Cineversary wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Learn more about the Cineversary podcast at www.cineversary.com and email show comments or suggestions to cineversarypodcast@gmail.com.

Maximize those car insurance discounts and save more

Inflation and rising costs have taken a toll on consumers in recent years. One area where Americans are especially feeling the pinch is the cost of car insurance, with premiums increasing 18.6% from July 2023 to July 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But you can lower the cost of coverage by taking advantage of auto insurance discounts, many of which go unclaimed or underutilized by policyholders. Good driver discounts, low-mileage discounts, multi-policy discounts, and other programs can save 10% or more on your policy.

Learn more by reading my very first article for brand new client Fox Money, available here.