James W.

Local Rotary scholarships are the lowest-hanging fruit. Small applicant pool, good money. Ask your school counselor for the nearest Rotary club contact.

freeCodeCamp is legit and completely free. I spent 6 months on it before my bootcamp and it gave me a massive head start.

Friday afternoon is the move. Saturday is packed. Sunday afternoon is also good — some artists reduce prices on the last day rather than ship unsold work home.

Scat Jazz Lounge in Fort Worth is an experience. Underground, intimate, real jazz. It feels like you stepped into 1950s New York.

This is why I check this community. Real conversations about what's happening in Houston.

Cedar Ridge Preserve is the closest thing to trail running in DFW. Actual hills! Actual rocks! After months of flat pavement, it feels like you're in another state.

verifying instructor credentials is easier than people think. BJJ lineage trees are public. if your instructor claims to be a black belt, you can trace who gave it to them and whether that person is legitimate. ibjjf.com has a registry. if they arent on it, ask why

Kent & Co in Fort Worth is doing natural wine RIGHT. If you're into natural/biodynamic wines, this is the spot.

The sprawl is hard to explain until you experience it. My coworker lives in Frisco. I live in Arlington. We both "live in DFW" but we're 55 miles apart.

Old South Pancake House in Fort Worth is a must if you've never been. The German pancake is unforgettable.

Sharing this with my neighbors. They need to see this.

Interesting perspective. I see it differently from the Fort Worth side.

The homestead exemption is now $100K off school taxes after the 2023 amendment. If you own a home and haven't filed for homestead, you're leaving thousands on the table.

Been thinking about this all week. Good to see it getting traction here.

Mi Cocina mambo taxis are $14 now. FOURTEEN DOLLARS for a frozen margarita. This city is losing its mind.

6.4% rates mean a $385K house at 20% down is $1,930/month P&I alone. Add $706 taxes and $200 insurance = $2,836/month. You need $95K+ household income.

Attend the board meetings. Most problems happen because 5 people on the board make decisions for 500 homeowners and nobody shows up to challenge them.

The Wild Detectives in Bishop Arts is the most unique bar concept in DFW. Buying a book while drinking wine at 10pm is my ideal evening.

TXTransfer.org is the most important tool nobody tells you about. Verify EVERY course transfers before you take it. I lost 6 credit hours because I didn't check.

The overtime calculation tip is important. My employer was calculating OT on base pay only, ignoring my shift differential. That's an FLSA violation. Filed with DOL and got 2 years of back pay.

SB 1264 saved me from a $9,000 surprise anesthesiologist bill at a Baylor ER. I only owed my in-network copay.

From a fellow Portland transplant: you will miss public transit, rain, and mountains. You will gain incredible food diversity, lower cost of living (even now), and genuinely friendly people. It evens out. Give it 12 months.

Dallas Arboretum Cool Thursdays is technically $15 but you get full garden access + concert. Bring a picnic, a bottle of wine, and watch the sunset. Worth it.

Kayak rental on the weekends at Paddle Point is a great intro to the lake. Calm water in the morning, beautiful views, good workout. $30 for an hour is reasonable.

UTD financial aid office told me directly: "We can't give you any institutional aid without FAFSA on file." Even merit scholarship recipients need it.