Thinking about using Brandclub to earn extra cash? After more than a year with the app, I decided it wasn’t worth the hassle. From painfully slow syncing and locked rewards to repetitive surveys and hidden fees, Brandclub left me more frustrated than rewarded. In this post, I break down my experience—including the $72.68 I actually earned—and why I ultimately closed my account so you can decide if it’s worth your time.

A few of my Amazon purchases were duds, but these four were actually worth it. Here's what I’d rebuy and why — plus one I wouldn’t.

The five tech tools I actually use every week to stay organized, manage ADHD, and juggle work, side hustles, and real life without burning out.

For the past couple of years, I’ve casually explored different side hustles to see if I can make some extra money online. I love a good project and having a few extra bucks a month doesn’t hurt, especially as everything gets more expensive. But I do get self-conscious very easily, so I draw the line at anything that makes me feel like I need to perform on a digital stage.

Three months ago, I bit the bullet and walked away from Meta and X. No more Facebook scrolling. No more tweeting into the void. No more Insta posts. My motivation was equal parts needing space and wanting to stop using products from companies that don’t care about their users. What struck me most was this: I wasn’t really using social media to connect anymore.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. I know I am a part of a minority when I say that I don’t like AirPods. Or rather, AirPods don’t like me. Every variation of Apple headphones has personally victimized me by falling off. It doesn’t matter what I'd doing: going for a walk, working out, even…

Like many, I challenged myself to read more in 2025. Last year I read 6 books and a lot of fanfiction. My goal for this year is simple: read one book a month. I don’t think I’ll ever get to the level of those who read hundreds of books a year. I do have to balance reading with a full time job, two pups, and a deep love of sleep.

The author shares their experience of a 30-day blogging challenge, initially aiming for daily posts but feeling overwhelmed. They learned the importance of flexibility and self-discovery, ultimately shifting to a sustainable twice-a-week posting schedule. The journey emphasizes personal growth, finding a niche at their own pace, and maintaining authenticity in writing.

I'm framing my answer in the context of "what do you currently not do because of time or money." If I start thinking of what I would do if I had unlimited funds, the answer would be drastically different. Travel Curate a library Travel Baby Melissa would dream of growing up and landing a job that would take her all over the world.

Day 5 y'all

I’ve been trying to get into the habit of writing. I challenged myself to work through 30 days of blogging prompts that felt meaningful at the time. But right now, it’s hard to focus. My thoughts feel tangled, and my emotions are everywhere. Every time I open my phone, I’m hit with a new reminder of the current state of the United States, and it leaves my heart in pieces.