How to shop for the right soundbar

Watching an action-packed movie at home but playing the audio from your TV’s built-in speaker is like eating a Wagyu steak with a plastic spork. If you want to significantly improve your sound without shelling out for a high-end audio system with multiple speakers, opt for a soundbar. This long, rectangular device is much easier to install than traditional surround sound speakers and sits beneath your TV or mounts on the wall, making it ideal for lower-tech households and spatially-limited living spaces.

Learn more about how to pick the ideal soundbar for your space by reading my latest article for The Costco Connection, available here.

It's cheaper to rent than own in these 10 cities

Affordability issues can be found across goods and services, and Americans have been hit especially hard with rising housing prices in recent years. According to the Urban Institute, the average sales price for a home is $486,000 in the U.S., while the average monthly rent is $1,890. But the real story behind those numbers depends on where you live, how much you make, and how the cost of buying compares to renting.

Eager to learn which American cities are better for renting than buying? Read my latest article on this topic, available here.

Is your young adult covered? Here’s what parents need to know about insurance

Your kid isn’t a kid anymore. Maybe he’s off to college, or she’s boomeranged back home following graduation. Wherever they now live, be aware that your existing homeowners and car insurance policies may not cover your grown child the same way they’ve done in the past.

Welcome to the somewhat muddled middle years, when your offspring is technically an adult and quite possibly independent, but their insurance status remains at least somewhat dependent on you. It’s this “tweener” age that can cause lots of confusion for families and lead to incorrect assumptions.

Learn more about how to ensure you have the right car and home insurance coverage in place to safeguard your growing offspring by reading my latest article for The Zebra, available here.

Cineversary podcast celebrates 70th anniversary of Invasion of the Body Snatchers

In Cineversary podcast episode #99, host ⁠Erik J. Martin⁠ honors Invasion of the Body Snatchers for its 70th anniversary. Joining him this month is Matthew Bernstein, a film professor at Emory University and author of the bookWalter Wanger, Hollywood Independent. Together, they expose those pernicious pod people and explore what makes this sci-fi horror film so rich and resonant seven decades later. 

Matthew Bernstein

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.

Home improvement loan options to consider

Planning a renovation and not sure how to pay for it? From tapping your home equity to taking out a quick personal loan, the right financing depends on your project size, how much equity you have, and how fast you need the funds.

Read my newest article for The Mortgage Reports, in which I break down the six most common home improvement loan types, compare their rates and requirements, and help you figure out which one makes the most sense for your situation.

Old school radio horror stories that come alive in your mind

Decades ago, when radio was the dominant medium, networks would air dramatized tales of horror and mystery that were written by masters of the macabre.

Just in time for Halloween season, I list the greatest old time radio horror episodes of all time in my newest article for The Nostalgia Digest, available here.