This week saw lots of awesome updates in our shop, the 4th round of Brit Kits, and filled our kitchen (and our bellies!) with cauliflower in every way shape and form. But now it’s Friday and it’s time to get just a little bit silly as we head into the weekend. We hope you enjoy this week’s edition of the BritList.
1. Jenga Side Table: This table works as a table and as a cupboard, and operates like Jenga. Pull shelves out if you want to set a drink down, or push in to store books and what not. So cool.
Beertone
You know we love Pantone (in fact a couple of us happened upon a Pantone-themed bar in SF just last week!) so we were tickled to see Beertone, a beer color reference guide. Definitely a great gift for the beer-lovers in your life.
3. Britain’s Most Memorable 2012 Moments in Lego: From Gangnam Style to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, this captures the 10 most memorable moments of 2012 according to 18 year old Brit, Harry Bossert.
4. A Wearable LED Television: This incredible vest, created by David Forbes, contains 14,400 green, red, and blue LEDs that together make 4,667 pixels, also known as a 160 by 120 pixel TV. Incredible.
5. Mid-Century Modern Litter Box: Got a spare $599 to spend on your cat? And a weakness for mid-century modern design?
6. A Whale of an iPhone Case: You can call this case Ishmael.
Travel Restband
That’s right. As if the SkyRest Travel Pillow wasn’t enough, now there’s the Relax ALLY Travel Restband. You essentially strap your head to your seat so that your head doesn’t fall forward and wake you up. It’s kind of awesome but mostly ridiculous.
8. Chemistry-Inspired Tea Set: So this is beautiful and we love the old school chemistry-looking stuff, but what about that kettle?
9. Survival Seed Vault: This 2-pound vault contains enough seeds to plant a full acre garden filled with peppers, beans, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, cabbage, beets, broccoli, squash, spinach, and more. Worth buying whether you think the apocalypse is on its way or not. Also a great gift for new homeowners.
10. Galactic Cupcake: And finally, the infinity cupcake gif. Happy Friday!
Your relationship with your finances is one of the most important relationships you'll ever have, and you can't avoid it. That said, for many of us, the pandemic only added to our financial stress. If you find yourself feeling frazzled, just remember that financial insecurity isn't a net-worth issue — it's a mindset issue. And, we happen to have plenty of advice on how to turn your money mindset around so you can take charge of your funds once and for all.
To start, feeling secure begins with a strong foundation, and there's no better time than now to get started stacking the bricks. It's easy to get swept up in the January "new year, new me" mentality, but really? Any time is the right time to get yourself in order. You don't need to wait for a new year, a new moon, the right moment, or a sign from above. You don't even have to start on the first day of the month — you just need to start.
Introducing NerdWallet: A Safe and Reliable Money App
To help with that, we've put together a list of the just-right-for-you ways that NerdWallet can help you monitor your financial outlook. Haven't heard of them yet? NerdWallet is a personal finance company that helps consumers make smarter financial decisions. Their website and app let you compare different financial products, find articles and tools to make financial decisions with confidence, and keep tabs on your finances (hey there, credit score, I see you!) all in one place. Plus, NerdWallet has over 75,000 glowing reviews in the App Store (and a 4.8 star rating) if you want to read up on any more testimonials.
Tim Chen, NerdWallet's CEO and co-founder, started this financial journey in 2009 after his sister needed help finding a credit card. Even with an economics degree and a Wall Street background, it took awhile for Tim to find the right recommendation (so don't feel too bad when it takes you a while, too). Their mission is to bring clarity to all of life's financial decisions.
So it's safe to say that NerdWallet is a pretty good sherpa for your journey, too.
Get the most from your money
Did you know that the money you park in a savings account can lose value? Harsh, but true. If your money isn't earning interest that's on pace with inflation it will actually be worth less to you in the future. And if the bank charges fees? Forget about it. Make sure you're earning the interest you deserve and come out on top. NerdWallet has researched dozens of financial institutions to help consumers find the best options. The hard work has already been done for you, so you can just select the account that works best for you and your nest egg.
Keep an eye on everything, securely
Once everything is set up, tracking and managing your finances is what will keep the money machine running smoothly. You can create an account either through the site or the app and link your bank accounts, then keep tabs on all your finances in one place. Get a clear picture of your saving and spending, get insights into how to master your money, and even build your credit score all in one place.
Get extra credit points
Do you have the best credit card for your lifestyle? Some cards give cash back on every purchase, ones with travel perks, and ones that charge way less interest than you're paying now. NerdWallet takes the guesswork out of choosing the right credit card with simple side-by-side comparisons of different credit cards so that you feel confident choosing the right one. Whatever you want to do, NerdWallet can help you find the best credit card to get it done.
Know your options for settling down
Mortgage rates are pretty low and it looks like they're going to stay that way for awhile, so buying a home might be the move sooner than you think. But there's so much more to a mortgage than just the interest rate! To help you choose a mortgage lender, NerdWallet has in-depth reviews on multiple lenders in a mixture of categories so you get the home loan with the mortgage rate, term, and fees that's right for you.
Settle an old score
NerdWallet helps you monitor your credit score for free and helps you see how little things (like raising the limit on your credit card or paying your bills on time) can increase your score. NerdWallet partners with TransUnion® to provide your VantageScore® 3.0, based on information in your TransUnion® credit report. Your score and credit report information are updated weekly. But that's not even close to all:
- They provide you with tips from experts on how you could build or optimize your credit score
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When it comes to managing your money, safe and reliable is where it's at. Establishing a healthy relationship with your finances begins when you take control and practice habits that build wealth. Signing up just takes a few minutes. Set your intentions to build a solid financial foundation, it will only strengthen your relationship with your finances. And don't be afraid to get a little nerdy while you're at it.
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