Whether it's a 30 minute search for parking or a stack of overdue bills, life has a way of throwing you curve balls. Some of these moments require deep introspection and long-term therapy to handle calmly, but we've got a few tricks to help you fake zen. So, the next time you're faced with a "just shoot me (or the guy next to me)" moment, you can channel some RFB om and chill out.

The new movie Inception has sparked a lot of interest in dreams. Dreams can actually help plug you in to a deeper level of clarity about yourself. But sometimes dreams seem like they’re written in code that only the CIA could decipher. They're a lot like poetry in the sense that the language or imagery of dreams can be about metaphor, symbols for your life. Another view of dreams is that there is a type of medicine in the dream experience itself. There are a lot of ways to approach dreams and in my view, there is no right or wrong way. It's all about what works for you. Here are some simple ways to mine some of those riches and have a good time in the process.

Public speaking can be daunting. It may seem impossible to get over those shaking knees and cold sweats, but getting over trepidation can be extremely useful for goals like, say, getting a job. So, here’s your bum tip sheet for speaking up and not having a heart attack in the process.

The school of life usually teaches you a lot, but it’s not always appropriate for cocktail parties or nerd-tastic meet-ups. There’s quite a lot of information out there, so it’s easier to focus on one area at a time. Thus, if you want to hang with the English professors or just sound like the most well-educated kid on the block (and community college just didn’t quite prepare you), check out these ways to expand your knowledge base.

Life can be expensive. Every bum has those months where just a bit (or a whole lot) more cash goes out than comes in. Lately, it might even have happened somewhat regularly. Oops. It may seem easy to get through those times by swiping the old plastic, but be very aware of how much action that magnetic strip is getting. Spending a hundred dollars on a credit card is an easy feat. Sometimes, charging things can be a saving grace or just not a big deal. Other times it can be a disaster. Of course, you want your plastic to be fantastic. Do you know what you're doing?

Everyone you know is taking these great big vacations to exotic locales and you're feeling left out because you don't get paid days off. We know how you feel. Conveniently, we have one of America's treasures right here: Joshua Tree. It's close, it's cheap, and you can come back and tell your friends that you, too, went on vacation. And when you tell them where you went they'll be jealous. For real, they'll be jealous. And isn't that real point of vacations? Read on for the skinny on visiting Joshua Tree.

You may have slept in late this morning, but did you stop to wonder why? What is this whole Independence Day celebration about? Sure, throwing out "1776" and "Constitution" and "former British colony" may win you some points at a cocktail party, but what is America (and specifically the United States) all about? Here are our selections for a quick brush up on the roots of the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Nothing says 4th of July like barbeques, parades, and, of course, fireworks! LA has a plethora of options and so many are free! Consider this your cheat sheet on where to celebrate your love for the red, white, and blue.

Most people have experienced it at one point or another. The slow, painful realization that you have absolutely nothing to say and a whopper of a deadline coming up. Ah! Attack of writer's block! What's a bum to do to get those juices flowing? Staring at a computer screen for endless hours hasn’t helped yet, so here're a few suggestions:

Nowadays there are a staggering number of applicants for most open positions (thank you, bad economy). Don't let this fact deter you from applying, but make sure to give it your all if you're spotted in the crowd. People apply from all sorts of places and recruiters are short on time, so if you're fortunate enough to have your resume make it from the toppling pile or overloaded inbox of a recruiter onto his or her short(er)-list, you may be in for a phone interview. Though this may initially seem less intimidating, be prepared for a number of challenges.

Happy first day of summer. Remember when that meant vacation? Your life may be in a semi-vacation state, but financial stress can make it hard to relax. So get serious about your quest for financial okay-ness. You may have noticed that we haven't written about how to get a job lately. That's because it's hard. Who knew that sending your resume to a bunch of people could be so draining? You need a game plan. It probably won't be that inspiring to search job boards or do a bunch of networking. In fact, it will probably be the opposite of fun. But to get your dream job (or just any job), you have to break through your own barriers.

The World Cup may already have started, and you may care more about what the Lakers do tonight, but don't dismiss this soccer bonanza. Most Americans focus more on basketball and the kind of football with a pigskin, but this original foot/ball game is adored by the rest of the world. And why not? There's running, yelling, scoring, and shirt removing all the time. Since you probably have the kind of mid-day free time elusive to others, grab a beer at 7 or 11am and settle in for some international action.

Vitamin C might or might not be right about the whole "friends forever" thing, but graduation itself certainly can be a fun time. Grad school, technical school, or high school, there's plenty to celebrate at any age. Don't let the terrible job market worry you just yet. The future is a-comin' plenty fast, so take a moment or two to self-congratulate and do a few silly things just for yourself or a friend.

Don't let June gloom get you down. Soon you'll be baking under the hot summer sun with other sun worshipers. All that tanning does make a bum hungry, so make sure to plan ahead for feeding your crew. Barbeques are the hallmark of the season, so get your coals out and get ready for sheer tastiness.

I was very excited when Rent.Food.Broke. contacted me about writing an article for them about saving money on groceries. I know Rent.Food.Broke focuses on staying under a $10 limit. Well, I spend about $10 a week on groceries for each per person in my family. Yep, that's right, just $50 a week for my family of five. This includes all our food, diapers, toiletries and paper goods. If you'd like, you can check out my most recent shopping trip.

Memorial Day has officially come and gone and summer is on the brink of being here. In LA that means you exchange your Uggs for flip flops and expect to sport the swimwear. In most towns, bums would be exempt from the "gotta look good at the pool," but this is a tough town with high expectations. We're not dieters, exercisers, or sports buffs, but we do like to feel good (or close) when we strut our stuff. We aren't shooting for six packs (except of free beer), just a few ways to combine saving money with looking hot.

Yeah, yeah, so we took off Memorial Day. We know we're a bunch of bums! Even so, we weren't going to leave you waiting 'til Thursday for your RFB fix; here goes:

We love us some cute animals, but we like 'em on the BBQ too. Lately, it seems like a lot of our friends are saying no to our meatfest invitations and opting for the portabello burger. Now, these aren't your average tree-hugging, peace protesters (not that there's anything wrong with activism), so why the trend? We had to ask: What gives?

Our name is RentFoodBroke because we usually manage to feed ourselves before seeing a $0 balance in ye old checking account. We know that some months are tight. Like way too tight to keep on the lights and eat. It happens, it sucks, but don't starve. If you can't mooch off friends and family, take matters into your own hands by tapping into local resources. There's help available if you run out of food money and pride doesn't fill ye old belly. Bill Withers, Al Green, and The Temptations all said it "sometimes in our lives we all need somebody to lean on," and they're famous so it must be true.

We always recommend cooking at home or hitting up a small local joint with entrees under ten bucks, but we know there are special occasions when you end up splurging. If you have a special event coming up, budget for it in advance by putting a couple bucks aside every week. It may not seem like much in the moment, but it can add up to some serious cash. When you've got your funding, choose wisely and use a couple of our tricks to make the most of your funds. LA is a major city and, luckily for you, that means some major deals.

Sometimes "I'm Sorry Officer" isn't enough. I was talking to this guy not too long ago and he was telling me about his $350+ in parking fines and how he was picking up extra hours at work to make it up. $350!! That's not small change. In some places, you could get ticketed and then towed immediately, putting you out a wad of cash and out of a car. Tickets can happen to anyone, but there are steps you can take to minimize the likelihood of it happening to you, and save yourself money and headaches in the process.