Previous articles about copying Ryan Trahan’s penny challenge method of raising cash have always included strong warnings from me about only using this for fun or for fundraisers from which any amount of cash raised would constitute a successful outcome.

The first penny challenge of 2025 left me with a new haircut and color, some new makeup and fragrance, and more importantly, a few key takeaways on coupons, cash back, bonus cash, and other “get things free to you” efforts. Here they are, applicable for whatever you’re looking to save some money on in 2025 and beyond.

How did the first Utica-based penny challenge of 2025 end?

How is that penny I started with three weeks ago doing?

Week two of the three week penny challenge involved more learning about the promise and pitfalls of certain cash generating methods than actual money generating, but I did come out slightly ahead. Here is what happened this past week:

Ever wished you could shop without using your own money or using up benefits you need to budget? Follow me over the next three weeks and learn to do just that.

Tragedies connected to the website “Character Ai” have been in the news for several weeks. In one case, a young man took his own life because he allegedly believed that would allow him to be with his “girlfriend,” a character he created on the site that turned into an obsession. Another case involves a character allegedly encouraging someone to kill their parents.

Wynn Hospital has never been a popular place, even before it existed. Many local residents expressed disagreement with the idea of building a whole new hospital downtown instead of improving the two existing hospitals. There were even protest signs and at least one activist group on facebook.

As the school year begins, you, a spouse or partner attending college, or your child or teen, may begin hearing a lot about setting goals, particularly SMART goals. This method of setting goals is both a description of the type of goal people are encouraged to set and an acronym for the criteria used to create and evaluate the goals before launching into the work needed to achieve them.