When you pick health insurance through work in the US, HMO plans are usually much cheaper than PPO plans. That’s why a lot of people end up on the basic, cheapest HMO plan their company offers. I’m one of them. The problem shows up the moment you actually get hurt or sick. Try to book
How I See a Doctor Fast at Urgent Care with HMO Insurance (Go 1 Hour Before Closing) Read More »
I’m heading to Korea this time. I figured I might need to drive at least a little while I’m there, so I decided to get an International Driving Permit ahead of time, and honestly, it was so simple it caught me a bit off guard. In case it helps anyone who needs one, here’s how
Getting an International Driving Permit in the U.S.: $20 and 10 Minutes at AAA Read More »
Pumpkin patches aren’t around all year, right? They pop up for a little while from late October to early November and then disappear, so by the time you finally decide to go, they’re often already booked up or the season is over. Last year I missed one because I was too late, so this year
Pumpkin Patch Season Is Short, So I Rounded Them Up Early: OC & LA List Read More »
In California, you can request a newborn’s birth certificate at the state level or at the county level. It’s called a Vital Record or Birth Certificate, and you can apply at the designated state or county offices, or online. Just know that the online route includes a step where you have to get a document
How to Request a Newborn’s Birth Certificate in California Read More »
Our water heater had been leaking a little for a while, so I finally decided to replace the tank. I bought one at Home Depot for $738: 40 gallons, 6-year warranty, natural gas, no self-cleaning feature. It was seriously heavy. I barely got it into my RAV4 with the seats folded down, and I think
Replacing a Water Heater Yourself in the U.S. (DIY) Read More »
Disneyland is the big landmark of Orange County, but there’s also Knott’s Berry Farm. It’s a theme park everyone in Southern California knows, and since it’s in Buena Park, where a lot of Korean Americans live, most Korean families around here have probably been at least once or twice. If you have young kids, you
Knott’s Berry Farm in California: A Year of Unlimited Food with All Season Dining Read More »
I was driving with the kids in the back when someone rear-ended me, just a small fender bender. In the moment I was so startled I almost yelled, but when I looked, it was minor: the license plate screws had just been pushed slightly into my bumper. I did think about climbing out holding the
I Got Into a Car Accident in America… Lessons I Learned About Insurance Read More »
Living in America, you end up fixing most things yourself. After ten-plus years of raising kids and running a household, you slowly get better at things like mowing the front lawn, hanging curtains, and fixing leaky faucets. One thing leads to another and you end up doing a bit of electrical work now and then,
A Quick Primer on Electricity Read More »
We go through a ton of batteries. Probably everyone does, every single day. As the kids grow up, there are game controllers, RC cars, and these days even some LEGO sets that need batteries. I used to just buy a few dozen at a time at Costco, but I really started to feel like we
A Quick Primer on Batteries Read More »
