Welcome to the 32nd edition of the Carnival of Financial Camaraderie and you would think I can finally spell “camaraderie” correctly on the first try by now…
But here is the first appearance of the carnival on Young and Thrifty, next week it will be hosted by One Smart Dollar so keep on submitting!
Enjoy and have a great weekend!
Budgeting
Dr Dean presents Food Fraud: What The Heck Is That? posted at The Millionaire Nurse Blog, saying, Food accounts for 30% of most budgets. With the increasing number of imported foods that make it to the grocery shelves and our tables, food substitutions and dilutions are on the rise. Get the facts.
Nick presents How much house is too much posted at Step Away from the Mall, saying, Buying a house is never a simple process… Here’s my thinking about how to buy just enough house for my family.
Daisy presents Letting Go Of Ideals posted at Add Vodka, saying, I find that in the PF blogosphere, there is a lot of intertwining with self improvement blogs and I think that by tracking our spending, budgeting, investing, and working toward financial goals leaks into other parts of our lives as well.
Mike Collins presents Rising Gas Prices Don’t Just Hurt At The Pump posted at Wealthy Turtle, saying, Rising gas prices make us pay more at the pump, but they also affect us in ways you’ve never considered.
Business
MMD presents The Value of What You Know posted at MyMoneyDesign, saying, Is it possible that are an expert about something that may be worth something to someone else? Perhaps your hobby or knowledge could lead to something that someone else would pay big bucks for. Let’s look at a few examples.
Nick presents How much house is too much posted at Step Away from the Mall, saying, Buying a house is never a simple process… Here’s my thinking about how to buy just enough house for my family.
Career
Grand Per Month presents Make a $1000 Per Month with Your Passion posted at Grand Per Month, saying, Do you have a passion in life? What is it that you think about when you wake up in the morning? Is it running? Golf? Teaching? Whatever the case may be, I’m fairly certain that your passion and your work are nothing alike. Sometimes, it just happens that way, but what if you could make a change? What if you could start living your passion and actually earning money for it? You might not believe me, but it’s entirely possible for almost every passion.
PITR presents The Power of Re-Investing Profit posted at Passive Income To Retire.
Adam presents The Reality of Self-Employment posted at Magical Penny, saying, I didn’t intend to become an entrepreneur growing up, but here’s how I made it happen.
Robert presents My Monthly Income Stream Report – April 2012 posted at My Multiple Incomes, saying, The biggest thing I learned this month is to STOP paying attention to what Google is doing and focus on my content and what I can control.
Maria presents Money for all seasons II: income, spending and age profiles and received wisdom posted at The Money Principle, saying In brief, I see the expectations of pitfalls in different -seasons- are the following.
Steve presents Stability and Desperation posted at Brip Blap, saying, Many of the employees around me are in total terror of a single week without a paycheck. Their expenses continue without pause and their income stops at the drop of a hat. What all of these people fail to realize is that the instability they feel in uncertain times like these arises from their own lifestyle, and not from the government or the corporations or “the economy.”
Credit
Mike presents Best Cash Back Credit Cards posted at Rewards Cards Canada, saying, For people like me, collecting travel rewards is not the best value for my spending habits and lifestyle. I like to put cold-hard cash back in my wallet every month to help supplement my everyday spending. Here are the best cash back credit cards:
Glen Craig presents How Will Your Student Loans Affect Your Credit Score? posted at Free From Broke , saying, Many don’t think about the long-term affects of student debt when they go to school, especially not how it affects their credit score.
John presents Addicted to Debt posted at Married with Debt, saying, We dont really think of debt as an addiction. Its not as though you have a burning desire to get debt if you dont have it. You dont hear about the car owner who recently made their last payment and started to crave making those monthly payments again.
Mike presents Watch Out: Pitfalls of Credit Card Rewards Programs posted at Rewards Cards USA, saying, It’s important to understand that there are pitfalls associated with rewards programs. Participating in a rewards program, if you aren’t careful, can actually turn into a real problem, leaving you in debt – and without the rewards points you thought you had.
Paul Vachon presents The Effect of FICO Credit Scores on Wealth Creation posted at The Frugal Toad, saying, We all know that a good credit score can result in a better interest rate on loans but you may be surprised to learn that a bad credit score can affect you in ways you might not have thought about. In addition to paying higher interest rates, a poor credit score can result in higher insurance premiums, denial for employment, or having to pay a security deposit when leasing an apartment or opening a utility account.
Ryan presents Understand and Avoiding Student Loan Debt at Retirement Age posted at Early Retirement Investments, saying, Understand and Avoiding Student Loan Debt at Retirement Age and Why this is a great idea.
KT presents Do You Take an Honest Look at How You Spend Your Money? posted at Personal Finance Journey, saying, When you see your friends buying nice things such as a new car or a second home, do you automatically think that they have gone deep into debt for the purchase or do you secretly envy them and think they must have come into some money? Do you think, some people have all the luck
Education
Jon the Saver presents Do Your Kids a Favor and Open a 529 Plan posted at Free Money Wisdom, saying, Did you you can benefit from a 529 college savings plan if you open one? you can avoid taxes and shelter your money for future expenses!
Miss T. presents My Story on How to Successfully Take Courses While Still Working Full-Time posted at Prairie Eco Thrifter, I want to show that it is possible to go to school while working full time and that by implementing a few tips I have learned, you too can make school and work an option in your life.
Corey presents Why Cars are Destroying Our Society posted at 20s Finances, saying, What kind of car do you drive? Are one of those people that worries about breaking down on the side of the road because your car is older than most high schoolers? Or are you someone who loves the smell of a new car. We all know that smell – it’s not just a sign of its recent production date, but is also about comfort, security, and assurances aka warranties.
Philip presents Cheap Mother’s Day Gifts and Activities posted at PT Money Personal Finance, saying, 10 ideas to help you save money but still show Mom how much you care.
W presents The College Formula posted at Off-Road Finance, saying, A look at how much you should be willing to pay for college.
Financial Advice
Beating Broke presents Money Rules by Jean Chatzky posted at Beating Broke, saying, Chatzky is a pretty big name in the realm of personal finance media, so when I was asked if I wanted to review her latest book, I jumped at the chance. In Money Rules, Chatzky aims to break down personal finance into it’s most simple denominators and give it out in a set of rules.
Mr. Money presents ING Direct Remote Deposits Now Available: Does Your Bank Offer a Remote Deposit App? posted at Smart on Money, saying, Today I thought I’d do a quick look at the ING Direct App and it’s functionality, and then take a look at what other major banks currently offer some sort of remote deposits.
J.P. presents Savings And Debt Debate: Where Should The Money Go? posted at Novel Investor, saying, The savings and debt debate has been ongoing since the first loan was created. With only so much income to spread around, a big decision must be made. Do you use any extra money to pay off debt or add it to savings?
Everything Finance presents So, You Want to Marry Rich posted at Everything Finance, saying, When choosing a partner for the rest of your life, doesn’t money ever come into play? While your partner’s salary or earning potential may not be the only factor in determining your decision to say “I do,” can we at least admit that it is a factor?
Lance presents Five Money Milestones by Age 30 (More Like Your First Real Job) posted at Money Life and More, saying, While browsing the web I came across this video the other day “Five Money Milestones by Age 30?. They suggest the five following milestones:
Build an Emergency Fund (Six Months of Expenses)
Start Planning for Retirement
Manage Your Debt Load
Set a Monthly Budget and Stick to It
Set Yourself Up for Your Future – Start Saving Now!
Echo presents Our Fast Track To Financial Freedom posted at Boomer & Echo, saying, After all our bills are paid, we have an extra $2,000 per month to work with. So we came up with a fast track to financial freedom. Here’s our 40/40/10/10 savings solution:
Frugality
Little House presents Bialetti Espresso Maker Saves Money posted at Little House in the Valley, saying, Over the past 5-years, I’ve been able to bring my every day drink down to the lowest cost possible including using a Starbucks Gold Card to earn free drinks and free additions, like syrup or soy milk. Yet, I hadn’t figured out a way to make my drink at home without spending a fortune on an espresso machine.
That was, until now….
Sean presents Rent, Don’t Buy posted at One Smart Dollar, saying, Do you have a home project that needs to get done, but a $500 tool is standing in your way? Save your money and don’t buy it, just rent.
Liana presents Is the LivingSocial Credit Card Worth Getting? posted at Card Hub, saying, Discounts for already discounted goods and services? That’s what the new Living Social Credit Card is offering. But, is this really a deal for the consumer? Let’s take a look…
Kevin presents How to Save Money on Vacation posted at Thousandaire, saying, Use frequent flyer miles, buy your hotel from groupon, and eat cheap foods if you want to save money on your vacation.
Steven Zussino presents How To Save On Pet Supplies posted at Grocery Alerts Canada, saying, We aregoing to share some shopping tips to help you save on pet supplies. Our main focus would be on supplies for dogs and cats, with food costs being the particular expense that we are trying to reduce.
John presents Students with Summer Jobs Shouldn’t Forget the Tax Man posted at Wallet Blog, saying, Students – Looking forward to that summer job? Avoid a nasty surprise in the spring. Don’t forget to take taxes into consideration.
Earth and Money presents Planning a Green Frugal Wedding – Venue posted at Earth and Money, saying, When it comes to the venue, you can be both green and frugal without seriously defying standard wedding traditions.
Investing
Investor Junkie presents What Is Technical Analysis? posted at Investor Junkie, saying, Technical analysis is used with many different investments, but we often hear about it most in stocks and in currencies. Technical analysis is especially popular with day traders who look to find the ideal times to enter and exit positions in a way that allows them to earn profits.
Jason presents How to Retire Comfortably: Start With the End in Mind posted at Work Save Live, saying, I hope you enjoy the 4th post of my Understanding Retirement Planning & Investing series! If youve missed the first three posts be sure to check them out! Everything You Need to Know About a Roth IRA & Why to Start One.
Mike Piper presents SIPC: What it Covers and Coverage Limits posted at Oblivious Investor, saying, Despite the important role it plays, many investors know little about the SIPC and the protection it provides.
PK presents What Kind of Investor Are You? posted at Don’t Quit Your Day Job…, saying, Before digging into Google for a one-size-fits-all approach to saving, you should probably familiarize yourself with your own person skill (and emotion!) level when it comes to investing. Because, guess what – we’re all unique!
Squeezer presents Why investing in dividend paying stocks is a smart move. posted at Personal Finance Success, saying, there are several different ways you can grow your passive income. One method includes investing in dividend paying stocks. Dividends are when a company shares its profit with the shareholders.
TRL presents Real Estate Investing Has Risks posted at The Retired Landlord, saying, Investing in real estate has its risks and expenses. Find out what you can do to prevent a negative cash flow.
Hank presents Which Is First: Paying Off Your Debt Or Investing For Retirement? posted at Money Q&A, saying, Should you pay off debt, or should they start a retirement account first? This is a question that has plagued experts forever.
Other
A Blinkin presents It’s The Economy, Stupid! posted at Funancials, saying, With the Presidential election in the U.S. beginning to heat up, it is natural to forget about elections elsewhere in the world. But before our elections start to cause volatility in the Fall, a round of elections in Europe in May could have a very meaningful impact on the marketplace.
MR presents Learning Versus Watching TV As Entertainment posted at Money Reasons, saying, Learning instead of Watching TV can be very rewarding! Why not try to learn something simple and quick and see if you find it rewarding or not?
Suba presents How Playing Monopoly Can Improve Your Financial Knowledge posted at Broke Professionals, saying, How Playing Monopoly Can Improve Your Financial Knowledge is a post from: Broke Professionals if you enjoy it, please visit us and subscribe to the Feed. If you haven’t played Monopoly before, you should download it to your phone or buy the board game. Don’t worry, there’s not much difference.
Eddie presents I Filed My Taxes, I’m Owing and I’m OK With That! posted at Finance Fox, saying, This weekend I got around to completing my taxes, and without much surprise I’m owning the government $1,800 in taxes.
Jeremy Waller presents How to Wreck Your Car, Buy a New Car, Refinance Your Mortgage and Pay off A Credit Card at The Same Time posted at Personal Finance Whiz, saying, What a crazy month it has been. I feel like Ive gone through a financial blender. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, my beloved Jeep was totaled. I was rear-ended by someone going 60 mph. My car didnt stand a chance. State Farm estimated it would cost $10,132.95 to repair. But, the Jeep was This post was originally posted to Personal Finance Whiz.
Wayne presents Buying the Best Car for Your Money posted at Young Family Finance, saying, Buying the best car for your money involves considering quality in addition to the sticker price. Find out if you are getting the best car.
YFS presents Top 11 Reasons You Should Use Yodlee MoneyCenter posted at Your Finances Simplified, saying, You should keep track of your finances. It is as easy as that. Whether you decide to use a pen and paper, a spreadsheet, or an online account aggregator, you should have an idea of how much you are spending and on what.
SFB presents Are Mortgage Points Worth It? posted at Simple Finance Blog, saying, Breaking down the numbers to see if mortgage points to secure a lower interest rate on your home loan is really worth it.
Jeffrey presents Hitting a Financial Knowledge Peak and What Really Matters posted at Money Spruce, saying, Ive spent the past 2 years absorbing all the personal finance knowledge that I possibly can. Books, blogs, webinars, conferences, and more Ive read a ton on a wide range of topics. I dont know everything, but I still feel like Ive hit a knowledge peak.
Sustainable PF presents Recession Gardening to Save Money posted at Sustainable Personal Finance, saying, I recently discovered a practice that I’d never heard of before – recession gardening.
Steve presents 5 Smart Things to do With Your Money posted at Money Infant, saying, The following was written as a guest post for MI: Learning to make your money work for you is a good idea for anyone who has suffered from the economy in
krantcents presents The 3 N’s of Success posted at KrantCents, saying, The 3 N’s of Success is the fourteenth in a series of articles to help you reach your goal.
Jen presents I Hate Housecleaning…But I Love Earning Opportunities posted at Master the Art of Saving, saying, Im not one of those people who enjoy cleaning; I absolutely hate housecleaning. No way that sticking to my routine was worth passing up an earning opportunity.
Kyle presents How to Make $24/Hour Teaching English Classes Online posted at The Penny Hoarder, saying, If you know how to speak a language, you qualify for this freelance job. There’s a world full of people that are trying to learn how to speak English.
Aloysa presents Curb Your Spending with Pinterest posted at My Broken Coin, saying, Yes, you’ve read it right and no, I have not lost my mind. I believe that you can curb your spending with Pinterest. If you’ve been reading this blog for some time now, you know then that I am a shopper and a spender.
Amanda L Grossman presents Sifting Through Energy Company Offers in a World of Deregulation: Part 1 posted at Frugal Confessions, saying, Two weeks ago while shopping for electricity I gave up. By giving up, I mean that after finding out I would be charged a $9.9
PPlan presents Seven Deadly Sins and how they lead to Financial Disaster posted at Provident Plan, saying, Learn how the seven deadly sins offer financial guidance.
Don presents Is Tipping Out of Control? posted at MoneySmartGuides, saying, Growing up, I would see my parents tip the waiter or waitress at the restaurant where we ate. I would see my Dad tip the barber for cutting our hair. Other than that, there wasnt much tipping done.
SB presents Saving Money or Earning Money Where to Put your Priority? posted at One Cent at a Time, saying, The problem comes when you are choosing one over the other or, giving priority to one over the other, due to limited time and resources. A guide to help you make informed decision.
Daniel presents Things I’d Buy If I Were Rich posted at Sweating the Big Stuff, saying, It’s fun to daydream about what we’d do with more money than we could ever need. Here’s my list of items I’d like to have if I were in that situation.
Ben Feldman presents Know Your Options: The 5 Different Ways to Get Out of Debt posted at ReadyForZero Blog, saying, We want to help you understand the five major ways that Americans get out of debt. There are many unreliable and even predatory companies out there that will take advantage of you if you’re not careful, so you must do your research and understand how these options work and decide which get-out-of-debt method is right for you.
Nick presents Did You Forget About Paying Off Your Debt During Tax Season? posted at My Dollar Plan, saying, So, it’s finally over. You’ve completed your 1040 (or tax software or an account has, at least!), paid your tax, or requested your refund. Now what? Well, I don’t know about you, but I for one have neglected a few things while I was working on my taxes. Those daily tasks that help keep me working on lowering my debt is one of them.
Savings
Ray @ Financial Highway presents Mother’s Day Gift Ideas posted at Financial Highway, saying, Mother’s day is around the corner and I hope you are not leaving the gift shopping for the last minute. If you find yourself in the same last minute situation you were last year on mother’s day, these gift ideas may just save mother’s day for you.
Raj presents The Basics of Money Management – Save, Invest and Repeat posted at eMoneyLog, saying, The article covers the basics of money management – saving, investing and repeating the process. The emphasis is on repeating as many people save and invest initially but do not repeat and do not accumulate wealth.
