Turns out that the Malibu sun is pretty strong in the middle of a summer day. Who knew? Oh wait. Almost everyone. Most people know that the sun can cause nasty burns and unsightly wrinkles (later though, much later). Even with this knowledge, tanning beds and natural sunshine abound. Metal reflectors may not get busted out by the pool, but over-exposure is rampant. Cheap tips to save a lot later? We got 'em.

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.

Most of us have heard statistics about HPV, HIV, gonorrhea, pregnancy (!) ... the list goes on and on. Let us break it down for you: sex is fun, but you can't afford to expose yourself to major risks. The LA Times just reported about the growing proclivity of those in early adulthood to have more partners. Protect yourself as much as possible. Let's face it, STDs and unintended conception are just not that much fun, and can lead to unwanted expenses.

Earlier this week the power went out in my apartment. Seems there was some confusion at the DWP about the last tenant not paying his bills and they cut the power without warning. This could happen to you. Here's what you can do to prepare yourself in the event of losing power. If you're poor and haven't paid your bills, or if there's an outage or catastrophe, or if the DWP screws up, you'll be all set.

Being a bum can be pretty stressful. While your employed friends moan about long hours and stuffy offices, your shoulders cramp up just thinking about trying to pay next month's rent. Don't underestimate the effect that constant stress can have on your mental and physical health. Since you probably can't afford an hour long deep tissue session, try these simple techniques to relax.