The retirement age for North Carolinians depends on who you ask. Some say it’s 62, which is when you can start collecting Social Security benefits. Others go by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidelines: 65 years old for people born before 1960 and 67 for those born after. Regardless of the age you plan on…
Americans held $17.1 trillion in debt in 2023, a 4.4% increase from the year prior. While over 11 trillion of that amount is in the form of a mortgage, which is largely viewed as a good kind of debt, the average credit card debt Americans hold increased by 17.4%. Experts at Experian believe credit card…
Many of us hold stereotypes about other countries, whether we realize it or not. The same is often true of foreigners’ perceptions of the United States. During my over a decade of international travel, I’ve met non-Americans who’ve shared their unknowingly skewed views of the U.S. with me. I’ve also talked with travelers who’ve heard…
Many of us know someone who constantly talks about the “good old days.” The problem? From an objective, societal viewpoint, past decades weren’t always better. Nostalgia plays a huge role in why South Carolinians—and Americans as a whole—think the good old days were better. Psychologists describe nostalgia as a natural process and something that can…
Many Texans assume the United States leads the world in overweight individuals. However, the U.S. is outpaced by ten other countries when it comes to obesity rates. Our World in Data published an interactive map based on NCD Risk Factor Collaboration’s data on body mass index (BMI) and overweight trends across 195 countries. The results…
Tip guilt. Tip fatigue. Tipflation. All of these words are relatively new to American vocabulary, and yet far too many of us can relate to them. That said, tipping restaurant staff isn’t customary in all parts of the world. In some countries, it’s even viewed as rude and disrespectful. So, if you’re planning an international…
British and American accents are clearly different, but it’s not just the accents that set them apart. Many expressions that Texans use are unfamiliar to Brits, and the opposite is also true. We gathered some of the many phrases Texans—and Americans as a whole—use that drive Brits crazy. Has your British friend ever caught you…
Ready to stroll down memory lane? For South Carolinians who experienced the 1950s and 1960s, these forgotten treasures from an era that deserves recognition will bring back fond memories. 1: Read All About It Sure, they still print newspapers, but they were much more prominent in the ’50s and ’60s. To get a job, many…
In 1974, tipping was a feel-good gesture. Fast forward to 2025, and many Illinoisans—and Americans as a whole—feel pressured to leave higher tips than ever before for services that have already become pricier due to inflation. Americans know they pay high tips. But how do our tipping practices compare to other countries in the world?…
Call me biased, but as an ’80s kid, I feel that younger generations are seriously missing out on good music. From pop anthems to rock ballads, these are some of the top songs that shaped the 1980s in Nebraska and across the U.S. Billie Jean by Michael Jackson When Michael Jackson released “Billie Jean” in…
