Welcome to Friday, money nerds. Aren’t you glad it’s the end of the week? I am. I’ve been so kerfuffled this week that I sent out yesterday’s email edition of Apex Money without the correct subject line. All it had was the date! Yikes. Time for a relaxing weekend.
Before I check out, though, let’s look at some recent top money stories from around the interwebs, shall we?
The top infographics of 2019. [Visual Capitalist] — “This year, we published more than 300 posts on Visual Capitalist, getting well over 30 million views along the way. Many of these graphics are visually stunning, but there’s only room for 19 posts on the annual list of our best work. Below, you’ll find the Top Infographics of 2019 list, which contains our most popular infographics, as well as a curation of staff favorites for the year.”
How to save money on your health-care expenses. [Physician on FIRE] — “Healthcare expenses are unavoidable and reports show that more than 25% of adults in the US struggle to pay their medical bills. Unfortunately the cost of healthcare continues to rise which is why it is important to learn more about what you can do to reduce your healthcare expenses. The good news is that there are several ways in which you can save your money and yet receive the care that you require.”
The reason carry-on luggage became such a hassle. [Vox] — “About a decade ago, before the era of inescapable travel fees, a plane ticket used to include at least one free piece of checked luggage. That changed in 2008, when American Airlines introduced a $15 fee for passengers’ first checked bag, two weeks after other major carriers started charging $25 for checking a second bag. Bag fees soon became standard…That has prompted travelers to try and avoid bag fees altogether, by squishing more in their suitcases and carrying them on.”
Is the world’s best butter worth $50 a pound? [Saveur] — “I’m happy to report that the diminutive brick in the plain paper wrapper tasted as breathtaking as I remembered — a vast array of flavors and aromas blended into a seamless whole in the manner of a well-aged burgundy.”
To close things out, my buddy Joe at Retire by 40 has what I think is a hilarious (but fun) article at his site: He graded every Amazon purchase he made in 2019. This sounds like the sort of silly thing I might do. Joe loves his new kitchen faucet. But the Nerf gun face-masks? Not so much.
Okay, enough money talk. Go enjoy your weekend! We’ll see you back here on Monday for more of the best in personal finance.