Welcome to the 73rd edition of the Lifestyle Carnival! Submit your blog article to the next edition using our carnival submission form at Blogger Carnivals.
TRAVEL
Michelle @ Budgeting For Travel writes Washington D.C. – Lots of Pictures! – In 2012, I went to D.C. for work, and extended the trip by a couple of days so that we could see everything. Luckily Wes was able to join me. D.C. was a lot of fun and we were able to do everything pretty cheap. We used public transportation for everything, which was interesting since we are from St. Louis and are horrible and total newbies when it comes to public transportation and knowing where we are.
Michelle @ Making Sense of Cents writes Fun Things to do in St. Louis – FinCon Fun! – As some of you might know, the 2013 Financial Blogger Conference starts on October 17 (one month to go!). I am very excited, and it will be my first time meeting other bloggers, which still makes me sad that it’s been this long.
Joe Saul-Sehy @ www.stackingbenjamins.com writes THE LEGEND OF CRASH CHERYL TAKES FLIGHT – Angry bird, is this a free app or real life game play? This article talks about the unexpected situation that a bird can cause during a family road trip.
Marissa @ Finance Triggers writes Cheap Places To Travel This Fall – With summer winding to an end, there is no better time to take advantage of cheap travel rates. Hotels, airlines, and other players in the travel industry are feeling the post-Summer slump and are looking for ways to encourage travel. Here are a few venues to explore when looking for some extra savings on your fall travels.
TTMK @ Tie the Money Knot writes Would You Turn Down a Free Flight? – A free flight might seem like a no-brainer, but one couple turned it down and I can see why! This post discusses the story and rationale.
Pauline @ Reach Financial Independence writes House for rent near Flores Guatemala – We have a house for rent near Flores, Guatemala, sleeps 6, we also rent by the room from $20 per night.
FASHION
Ray @ Squirrelers writes Have You Ever Bought Second-Hand Clothes? – Saving money is a good thing, and many people like to buy clothes on sale. What about getting even greater discounts by purchasing pre-worn?
HEALTH
Alexis @ FITnancials writes Shakeology – My Opinion – This program only takes 25 minutes of your day, for 5 days a week. It’s pretty amazing! I have so much extra free time, and this program is going to get me to where I want to be. Along with doing this program, I have been eating healthier as well. I have a structured plan that I follow. When my plan is structured and strict, I am able to follow it easier.
Mollie @ Success Manual writes Eat like an Olympian – eating to keep in Shape
Justin @ Root Of Good writes Sabbatical, Mid Career Break, or Retired? – If you are a normal human being, you dream of taking a break from the drudgery of work. More free time. More sun filled vacations. More sleeping in on rainy mornings. More lounging on the back porch buried in a book.
Jon Haver @ Pay My Student Loans writes When Do College Graduates Need Life Insurance? – When it comes to life insurance, there are two different types of policies available. A term life policy is one that is put into place for a specific amount of time. Although the premiums are typically lower than those of a whole life policy, there is no cash-out advantage; it is only payable upon the death of the policy holder.
Edgar @ Degrees and Debt writes 7 Financial Tips for College Freshmen – Tips for College Freshmen regarding their finances!
Jerry @ Repaid.org writes Things to KNow about October Obamacare Entrollment – On October 1st, people will be able to buy health insurance through their state’s online resource. There are a few things that you may want to know before you pay a visit.
LaTisha @ Young Finances writes Will I Have to Buy Health Insurance? - The Affordable Health Care for America Act was signed into law on March 23, 2010. The Supreme Court ruled that Obamacare is constitutional.
ENTERTAINMENT
Jeremy @ Modest Money writes Tempted To Join The Smart Phone Masses – Smart pnones and their related expenses maybe pricey, but they also offer the penultimate form of entertainment on the go. Perhaps its time to ditch my dumb phones after all!
John S @ Frugal Rules writes Why We’re Not Cutting the Cord on Cable TV – A popular trend for the past few years is to cut the cable cord. If you’re in debt, that makes perfect sense. Read my story as to why we’re not cutting the cord anytime soon.
Brock Kernin @ Clever Dude writes Save Money By Sharing a Mobile Plan – Sharing a cell phone plan with friends and family? Why not if it will save you money?
Suba @ Broke Professionals writes Save on Entertainment Costs with Cable or Satellite - The price of everything is going up. Child care, groceries, transportation costs; you name it, you are paying more for it now than you have in the past.
Monica @ Monica On Money writes Why You Don’t Need The iPhone 5S - Before I became frugal, I bought the iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, iPad, and Macbook Pro on the day that they were released! BUT, the iPhone 5S is different and you don’t need it.
WEALTH AND RETIREMENT
Daisy @ Suburban Finance writes Advantages of Suburban Living - There are many advantages to living in the suburbs instead of the city.
Ryan @ Cash Money Life writes Could a Splurge Be a Positive Thing? - Sometimes it is OK to splurge and spend a little extra on something fun or frivolous. But it’s important to know when to spend the money, and when not to.Crystal @ Budgeting in the Fun Stuff writes The Art of Choosing Between An Experience And A Possession - So you have extra money – do you buy stuff with it or buy an experience with it? Here is my argument for the experience.
Michelle @ Diversified Finances writes Should I have a backup plan for self-employment? – Our emergency fund is finally fully funded. WHEW! Since I am switching to full-time self-employment, we have been really focused on building it back up. A couple of months ago, I drained our emergency fund completely so that we could pay the ol’ student loans.
GMM @ Grad Money Matters writes Does a home business fit with your desired lifestyle? – Having a home business is a dream for many. However, there seem to be many scammy/spammy home businesses out there, which can negatively impact those who do have a home business. Because of all of these scams, many believe that a home business cannot actually make money and that it is not possible.
Anton Ivanov @ Dreams Cash True writes Combining Finances with Your Significant Other – Why, When and How – Combining finances is an important step to building a healthy relationship. I share my thoughts on why, when and how to merge your finances.
John @ Fearless Dollar writes 6 Tips on How To Be Courageous Getting Out of Debt – Need some courage and some guidance to get out of debt? Getting out of debt isn’t always easy and requires tracking and commitment. It isn’t about living a poor boring life, but a fun responsible one.
Daniel @ Sweating The Big Stuff writes One Way Car Rentals Are Really Cheap – I rented a car from Boston to New York because it was significantly cheaper and more convenient than taking buses and shuttles to all the places I needed to go.
FI Pilgrim @ FI Journey writes How To Create A Strategic Plan For Your Finances – If you have ever been in business, you have probably been exposed to a strategic plan in some form. Here is how to create a strategic plan for yourself!
Adam @ Money Bulldog writes What Is Holding You Back from Setting Up Your Own Business? – How to turn your life around and be a business owner yourself. Defeat life challenges and become your own boss!
Adam @ Money Rebound writes Earn a Bigger Salary without Changing Jobs – Loving your current average-paying job but struggling to pay the bills? Find out how you can earn more without having to leave your dream job.
Matt Becker @ Mom and Dad Money writes Where Should Buying a House Fit in Your Financial Priorities? - There are a lot of positives to buying a house, many of them having nothing to do with money. It’s certainly a worthy goal if it fits into your vision for your ideal life. But don’t assume that owning a home is a signal that you’ve “made it”. There are many other financial stepping stones that will do more to bring you closer to the goals of security and freedom. Keep those at the forefront as you map out your future.
Usiere @ Financial Freedom Inspiration writes Put your financial independence plan on auto pilot – You will not get sustainable results until you take consistent action. It is very easy to give up when we don’t seem to get results. It takes a while for the results we desire to show up, including building a robust stream of passive income apart from the wages from our day job.
Little House @ Little House in the Valley writes Prefab Method Homes – Recently I found Method Homes, a prefab home company that has reasonable priced homes and great designs.
Harry Campbell @ The Four Hour Work Day writes Paycheck to Paycheck is No Way to Live – I’ve been very fortunate in my life never to have lived paycheck to paycheck. Although I attribute a lot of my financial success to myself, I’ll be the first to admit I’ve also gotten lucky. I bought a house at the very bottom of the market, when rates also happened to be at their lowest, simply because that’s when I happened to graduate.
Vanessa @ Vanessa’s Money writes Want to graduate debt-free? Move to Quebec! – Start thinking of outside of the box tips to lower tuition and graduate debt-free!
krantcents @ KrantCents writes Financially Preparing for Future Goals - Life is expensive and meeting various financial demands often calls for early preparation. Maybe you’re planning an upcoming vacation. Or perhaps you want to save for your kid’s college education or plan your retirement. Regardless of your life goals, here are tips to prepare your finances.
Jessica Moorhouse @ Mo’ Money Mo’ Houses writes For Love & Money Friday – Financial Topics Every Couple Should Discuss – In order to get our finances all organized, my husband and I have decided to get together every Friday to discuss a new money topic. Here are just a few topics we’ve planned on discussing in the coming weeks.
Minimalist @ Minimalist Finance writes Ways to Make More Money Without Having to Work More - Ways to Make More Money Without Having to Work More has been published on Minimalist FinanceWe’ve previously described methods of making money, and they are all great suggestions. Every day, people are making money above and beyond their income from their day jobs, and it’s providing families with a sense of security.
Mr. Frenzy @ Frenzied Finances writes Go Green to Save Green: Tips for a New Lifestyle - Going green can often bring dollar signs to the average American’s eyes. Read here for tips and advice on going green, and learn how it can save you money!
Danielle @ Saving Without a Budget writes Is your 401(k) Plan Going to Be Enough? - The fact that many employers have matching programs that match the funds that a person puts into their 401(k) yearly is one of the big reasons that many people like them as well as the fact that the money deposited into 401(k) accounts is protected from taxes.
Matt @ Budget Snob writes Best Tips for Increasing your Social Security Checks Part 2 - Social security might not be around by the time you retire. But if they are, here’s how to make sure those checks are as big as possible
Jack @ Money Saving Ethics writes What exactly is Compound Interest? - Want to know just how fantastic compound interest is? Albert Einstein called compound interest “the greatest mathematical discovery of all time.”
Lenny @ Best Money Saving Blog writes How to Lower Your Taxes in Retirement - Reaching retirement means that many of your once normal expenses will be gone. Things like the cost to commute to work, dry cleaning for your dress shirts or dresses as well as many other work-related expenses will no longer be on your monthly list of bills to pay. One thing that won’t go away however is your tax bill.
Sam @ The New Business Blog writes Entrepreneurial Tips from Successful Entrepreneurs - According to the statistics from the Small Business Administration only 1 out of 3 new businesses will survive until the 10 year mark.
HOBBIES
John @ Fearless Men writes How To Make Her Feel Special – Every Day – A women needs to know she’s loved and appreciated every day. Learn how to make her feel special. We can all do it.
Christopher @ This That and The MBA writes What Makes Opera Amazing? – With just a rough idea of what’s going on, you can be swept along by the swell of melody. But don’t worry; you can also know what’s being sung as well! In recent decades most opera productions have incorporated subtitles into their performances, either at in-seat monitors or projected discretely above the stage.
Cat Alford @ Budget Blonde writes 5 Money Saving Tips for DIY and Design Projects - Want some money saving tips for DIY and design projects? Well, look no further than today’s post! I really miss doing DIY projects!
Tony @ We Only Do This Once writes A New Blog and a Grammy? - It’s been a busy month for me, so I am sorry I haven’t posted regularly. I have been involved in some projects that you may be interested in, though, and I hope you will spread the word about them.
Mike @ Personal Finance Journey writes Good financial reasons to volunteer your time - How volunteering your time can help your financial journey along in leaps and bounds. Do you volunteer anything?
GOOD EATS
KK @ Student Debt Survivor writes Please Seat Us in the Happy Hour Section – Half price drinks taste so much sweeter. Sitting in the bar might save you, just ask your hostess before you sit down.
Kay @ Green Money Stream writes My Deprived Kid Doesn’t Know What Fishsticks Are - Sometimes friends tease us about out lifestyle choices. Like the fact that I don’t feed my kid popular “kid food” (like fishsticks). So is my kid deprived?
Photo courtesy of jenmellor4
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