Melanie Allen, Author at Partners in Fire

a woman buying vegetables at a Farmer's Market.

These 12 Once Cheap Options Skyrocketed in Cost Once Discovered by Rich People

When you’re poor, you do what you must to get by. Poor people throughout the ages developed innovative solutions to their poverty, using scraps to … Read more

A salesman has his eyes squinted as if he's trying to pull a fast one, and his hands are near his chest with his fingertips slighlty touching.

Snake Oil Didn’t Vanish – It Morphed! Here are the Modern Day Equivalents

Snake Oil Salesmen of Yore tricked countless unsuspected customers into buying useless products. Though the wares have changed, the tactic remains. Here are some of … Read more

A tourist holding a map while exploring the square of a pretty city.

Travel Like a Pro: Avoid these Common Pitfalls When Exploring Europe

Europe holds a mystical appeal for a lot of Americans. Schools teach us European culture and history, while many of our families originated someplace on … Read more

A woman wistfully stares out the window as she sits at her computer to work.

Unlimited Paid Time Off: Amazing Benefit or Massive Scam?

As companies battle to attract and retain top-tier talent, they develop new benefits to entice workers to join their teams. One of the newer benefits … Read more

A mother hold her son near the radiator trying to keep warm.

Underpaid and Undervalued: The Value of Women’s Domestic Labor

Unpaid labor is work even though no one pays for it. Worldwide, women still do the bulk of the unpaid labor, spending their valuable hours … Read more

Man on the couch in pajamas wrapped in a blanked on the phone.

“I’m Tired of Being Punished for Getting Sick” Workers Lament US Sick Leave Policies

The COVID pandemic did nothing to change the US’s policies surrounding sick leave. Despite the abrupt education we received about infectious diseases, the US still … Read more

An annoyed looking woman sits across from a man at a coffee date.

Women Share Worst First Date Red Flags They’ve Ever Experienced

People are typically on their best behavior for the first few dates, but some women shared their experiences, proving that’s not the case. First Date … Read more

The Village is Gone Because it Was Built on Women’s Unpaid Labor

It takes a village to raise a child, and today’s parents constantly lament the disappearance of their village. Modern parents have no one to turn … Read more

Two women at the office in the dark highlighting the long working hours.

When Performing To Standard Isn’t Good Enough

Average used to be acceptable. Society understood that some people would exceed all expectations and shine brightly while a few others would scrape the bottom … Read more

Woman daydreaming while at a work computer.

Workers Share Their Top Reasons for Quiet Quitting

Quiet Quitting is more than a buzzword. Millions of people have given up on the idea that hard work brings success. Instead, they do the … Read more