Parking tickets suck. They are just a flat out waste of money. We get them for the silliest reasons- only having a dime, misreading a permit parking sign, or oversleeping on street cleaning day. Since those things happen, you may as well start out ahead by knowing the rules. We’ve scoured the internet and put together a primer so you know to park here, not there.

We love summer activities: pool, beach, just laying like a sea lion in the sun. Such fun will, however, quickly dry out your hair. Chlorine may be protecting your body from nasty bacteria but it is wreaking havoc on your locks. While it would be nice to head to the salon for a deep condition and head massage, it’s just not in the budget. Lucky for us, regular salad ingredients like oil, vinegar, and avocado do great things for hair repair. So invite a friend over (so you still get that head rub) and raid your pantry for budget hair treatments.

Mother's Day is a golden opportunity to let your mom know that you appreciate all the hours she's put in. No need to pretend to have a perfect relationship with the lady who gave you life (and anxiety and huge amounts of love), it's just a chance to say thanks. With that in mind, we've put together some suggestions for making it a special day for your mama even on a teeny budget.

Our generation grew up with a new level of technology and we look at our personal lives and careers in a totally different light than our parents. Some have said we're only seeking instant gratification and aren't willing to settle in for the long haul to grow within a company. I'm not saying we wouldn't love for an awesome run with a series of promotions and even increasing benefits, but, it seems as if we are no longer defining our success by our ability to climb the company ladder. And, who says we're even going to want to work in the same industry 20 years from now?

Losing a friend isn't easy but it's something that unfortunately the RentFoodBroke team had to deal with just this week. Now that the shock is starting to dissipate, and the various other emotions (aka the 5 stages of grief) are taking their ugly but inevitable seat at the table, how do we move on? What's next? Luckily we were able to consult with honorary bums Funeral Director/Mortician Patrik and Psychotherapist Irim. If you ever find yourself here, and we sincerely hope not, here are some tips for getting your good grief on.

This past week, RentFoodBroke lost a friend and conspirator, our original Tech Bum, Ari. Sometimes there are no words to describe the vastness of the loss. You try anyway, just so other people will have an inkling. Right now there is mostly shock. I cannot imagine that I will not be greeted by some irreverent comment or a warm hug when I knock on his door. That we will not eat our way through another neighborhood. That he will not patiently point out that I'm doing something dumb. Or that we will not linger over another hookah while trying to figure out our lives.

The other morning someone sent over a job opportunity for a production / administrative assistant at a prominent adult entertainment company. Before passing it on to people, it got me thinking: do I potentially want to be responsible for launching someone's career in porn? Going from my own experience, I started thinking about the pros and cons of working in porn.

There's beauty in being eco-friendly and economical at the same time. And we're not just saying that because of Earth Day. Take a good look at your cleaning products and prepare to say goodbye to expensive specialty cleaners. It's time to repurpose some basic kitchen goods into super cleaners.

Greetings RentFoodBroke readers! The 5th annual Record Store Day is right around the corner and takes place on Saturday, April 21. For all you music lovers, a few local music shops around town will be offering some great sales, freebies, and free in-store performances. There will also be a boatload of special vinyl editions of tracks released just for Record Store Day, which run the gamut from indie rock darlings (Deerhoof/Of Montreal, Foster the People, Grouplove, Animal Collective, Arcade Fire, Destroyer, Beach House) to rock classics (David Bowie, Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen) and some contemporary pop stars (Katy Perry). Here's the haps:

As I live in a tiny single apartment, my limited space keeps me in check as to how much stuff I’ve managed to amass. If I own it, I see it and really live with it, so I've made a habit of decluttering every three months or so. Nonetheless, those who have tried it know that decluttering can be a big pain in the butt. I find myself in a horde mentality as I try to get rid of my stuff, making lame excuses as to why I need to keep that book on caring for a pet chimp, or those ugly pair of boots I bought 10 years ago and will wear if Elvis comes back from the dead one day and I get my chance to meet him.