KnowYard Community

Anyone else feel like their electric bill is a second mortgage?

July bill just hit: $387. For a 1,600 sq ft house. Thermostat set to 76.

DFW tech scene overview 2026: Who's here, who's hiring, and what's growing

DFW is quietly one of the biggest tech hubs in the country. Here's the landscape.

• Texas Instruments (Dallas) — HQ. Semiconductor giant. 30,000+ DFW employees. Source: ti.com
• AT&T (Downtown Dallas) — HQ. Telecom + media. Source: att.com
• Capital One (Plano) — major tech hub, not just banking. 5,000+ tech workers. Source: capitalonecareers.com

HEB vs Kroger vs Walmart: where do you actually shop?

I know HEB is the correct answer on the internet. But I want to know what people actually do week to week.

Best Texas road trip you've ever taken?

Looking to plan something for a long weekend. Done the usual stuff close to home but want to go further out.

"You know you're from DFW when..." — the definitive thread

Add yours. I'll start.

• You measure distance in minutes, never miles. "It's about 25 minutes from here."
• You've sat in the Buc-ee's parking lot and questioned all your life choices
• You have strong opinions about which Whataburger location is the best one

Honest dating app breakdown for DFW: Hinge vs Bumble vs Tinder in 2026

I've used all three extensively in Dallas-Fort Worth. Here's the real breakdown.

• Best for serious dating in DFW. The algorithm actually learns your preferences.
• DFW-specific: Heavy SMU/UTD crowd if you're 22-28. More established professionals 28+.
• Prompts let you show personality. The "most spontaneous thing I've done" prompt is overused. Be creative.

Car insurance comparison in DFW: What I actually pay and what you should too

DFW car insurance is expensive because we have expensive accidents. Here's the real data.

• GEICO: $142/month
• State Farm: $156/month
• Progressive: $131/month

I genuinely don't understand how people survive summer here

This is my first full summer in Texas. It's been over 100 degrees for 12 straight days. My car steering wheel could brand cattle. I burned my hand on the seatbelt buckle.

Rent went up $400 and they didn't fix a single thing

Lease renewal came in. $400 more per month. Same unit. Same busted dishwasher I reported 6 months ago. Same stain on the ceiling from the upstairs leak they "fixed" twice.

DFW power outage/storm preparation: Lessons from 2021 and beyond

February 2021 taught DFW a brutal lesson. Don't get caught unprepared again.

• 1 gallon per person per day, minimum 5-day supply
• Fill bathtub before expected storms (for flushing if pipes burst)
• Keep extra water for pets

Is Texas getting too expensive or are we just not keeping up?

Groceries are up. Rent is up. Insurance is up. Gas somehow went down and then right back up.

Best gym that isn't Planet Fitness?

Planet Fitness is fine for what it is but I've outgrown it. No squat racks, no deadlift platforms, the lunk alarm is embarrassing, and the gym is packed from 5-8pm every weekday.

A Fort Worth painter has work in the Smithsonian AND the Whitney and nobody in DFW seems to care

Sedrick Huckaby lives and works in Fort Worth. His paintings are in the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Whitney Museum of American Art. Those are two of the most important art institutions in the country.

How do you tell a good karate school from a belt factory?

Looking at karate schools for my daughter in the Richardson/Plano area and I can't tell the legit ones from the belt mills. Some of them promise black belt in 2 years for a 6-year-old which seems... wrong.

What Texas stereotype is actually 100% true?

I've been here long enough to know which stereotypes are BS and which ones are dead on. The big trucks one? Absolutely real. Every third vehicle on the highway is an F-150 or bigger.

What's one thing you wish you knew before moving to Texas?

Been here about a year now. There were things I expected — the heat, the big trucks, the BBQ obsession. All true.

HOA sent me a violation for my trash can being visible. I'm done.

Got a letter from my HOA. Violation: "trash receptacle visible from the street." My trash can was next to my garage. Not in the yard. Not on the sidewalk. NEXT TO MY GARAGE on the side of my house.

Best breakfast tacos near me -- GO

I need a solid breakfast taco spot. Not a sit-down brunch place charging $16 for two tacos on a fancy plate. I want a no-frills spot where the tortillas are fresh, the salsa has actual heat, and I can eat for under $10.

Texas drivers... let's talk about it

I've driven in a lot of states. Texas is on another level.

Dallas weather in one week: All four seasons speed run

Monday: 82 degrees and sunny. Wore shorts and flip flops.

Best sweet tea in town?

I'm on a mission to find the best sweet tea around here. Not the bottled stuff. Not the lightly sweetened "is there even sugar in this" version. I want proper Texas sweet tea where you can feel the sugar dissolving your teeth.

What's a local restaurant that's been around forever and still slaps?

Every city has those spots that have been open for 20-30+ years. No rebranding, no Instagram presence, same menu since the Reagan administration. And somehow they're still packed every weekend.

Is Buc-ee's actually good or just a tourist trap?

Every time I stop at Buc-ee's I spend $60 on stuff I don't need. The beef jerky wall is mesmerizing. The bathrooms are immaculate. The brisket sandwich is solid.

Belt testing next week and I'm nervous for no reason

I'm testing for my green belt in karate next Saturday. I've been training for 14 months, I know the material, my instructor says I'm ready.

Property tax protest -- did anyone actually get theirs lowered?

First time protesting my property tax appraisal this year. The county raised my value by $35K which makes zero sense because nothing about my house or neighborhood has changed.