cloud-nuke: how we reduced our AWS bill by ~85%

https://blog.gruntwork.io/cloud-nuke-how-we-reduced-our-aws-bill-by-85-f3aced4e5876
interesting, if heavy-handed tool that nukes ec2 instances you aren't using. 

AWS costs every programmer should know

https://david-codes.hatanian.com/2019/06/09/aws-costs-every-programmer-should-now.html
breakdown of basic ec2 costs

Why the Guardian is using encrypted EC2 root volumes on AWS

https://amp.theguardian.com/info/2018/mar/12/why-the-guardian-is-using-encrypted-ec2-root-volumes-on-aws
Using encrypted EC2 root volumes: harder than you'd think it would be.

Using AWS EC2 instance store vs EBS for MySQL: how to increase performance and decrease cost

https://www.percona.com/blog/2018/08/20/using-aws-ec2-instance-store-vs-ebs-for-mysql-how-to-increase-performance-and-decrease-cost/
How to speed up MySQL on AWS, but there's some downsides.

The Road to Perfect AWS Reserved Instance Planning & Management in a Nutshell

https://www.botmetric.com/blog/road-perfect-aws-reserved-instance-planning-management-nutshell/
HowTo on purchasing reserved EC2 instances on AWS.