Welcome to this week’s edition of the Carnival of Financial Planning. The carnival is a rotating spotlight of posts in the PF blogosphere. To participate in the carnival, submit a post via the carnival submission form at Blogger Carnivals.
BUDGETING AND ECONOMICS
Miss T. @ Prairie Eco Thrifter writes The Worst Financial Decisions I’ve Seen – Here are 6 decisions I have seen people close to me make, that turned out to be v-e-r-y wrong.
Mr.CBB @ Canadian Budget Binder writes Tic Toc That’s The Sound Of Your Debt Clock – Debt isn’t all bad but recognizing that any money owed is debt and it’s a debt that needs to be paid back.
Vanessa @ Vanessa’s Money writes Tassimo/Keurig Machines are an Incredible Rip-off – It boggles my mind that people still have Tassimo/Keurig machines. I’ve done the math to show just how much more you’re paying for the (perceived) convenience of a one-cup serving coffee machine
Vanessa @ Cash Cow Couple writes 25 Ways To Save Money on Groceries – Read this post if you want to dominate your monthly grocery bill.
Brock Kernin @ Clever Dude writes I Got a Raise! What Should I Do With It? – I was informed this week that I got a salary increase…what’s the smartest thing to do with it?
Harry Campbell @ Your PF Pro writes Why I Sort Of Hired a Wedding Planner – Even though I’m only working four hours a day, I’ve still been spending a lot of my free time planning for our wedding next summer. Since my fiancee is busy with school, I’ve become the ‘unofficial’ wedding planner and let me tell you, it’s a lot of work. We ended up picking a venue that requires you to bring in all your own vendors so there’s even more to do than normal. It’s our responsibility to coordinate everything from tables and chairs to a full kitchen and flooring for
Harry Campbell @ The Four Hour Work Day writes When Does Where You Went to College Stop Mattering? – We all know that there’s a high correlation between going to college and making more money, becoming more successful, etc. But is there anything special that’s being taught at these elite universities that isn’t being taught at your average state school? I started thinking about this a lot during college because I had some of the worst professors you could imagine. I’m sure they were doing some brilliant research but they couldn’t teach worth a damn.
Daniel @ Make Money Make Cents writes Pay your Bills to Save Money? Yes, you can – By implementing these tips you will actually save money while paying your bills and also save yourself quite a bit of time and stress as well.
Oscar @ Money is the Root writes Do You Need Professional Money Help? Some Signs that say Yes – One of the most important things than that you can do for your financial health is realize when you need help and, even more, actually get help if you need it.
Jay @ Daily Fuel Economy Tip writes How to Choose the Right Gas Credit Card – One of the biggest expenses for most working adults is the cost of gas for their cars. With gas at a national average of $3.60 most people are looking for any way possible to save a few bucks when they fill up.
Jay @ Daily Fuel Economy Tip writes How to Choose the Right Gas Credit Card – One of the biggest expenses for most working adults is the cost of gas for their cars. With gas at a national average of $3.60 most people are looking for any way possible to save a few bucks when they fill up.
Danielle @ Saving Without a Budget writes Financially Organize your Life in 10 Easy Steps – Even with all of the smart phone financial apps available, there are still millions of people who organize and file their financial paperwork in shoeboxes that they store in the back of the closet.
Matt @ Budget Snob writes Rules to Protect your Passwords from being Hacked – Did you know that almost 75% of Americans have, at one point or another and a life, been the victims of an Internet crime?
Jack @ Money Saving Ethics writes Money Saving Tips for Holiday Travel – The Holidays are once again right around the corner and, if you are considering traveling during this festive time of year, you will find that prices are generally much higher.
Amy @ Money Mishaps writes Airline Fees That Might Actually Be Worth Paying For – While most people are loathe to pay anything extra when traveling by plane, especially considering that it is so darned expensive already, there are actually a few extras that might be worth paying for.
Lenny @ Best Money Saving Blog writes Should you Retire at 65? – In reality, 65 is probably too young an age to retire these days.
Hadley @ Epic Finances writes Five Steps to Help you Understand the Bond Market – One of the hardest things to understand for newcomers to the holy trinity of investing (cash, stocks and bonds) are the basic rules and the relatively intricate nuances that all three hold.
Andrea @ So Over This writes The Cost of Carrying a Baby: 8 Unexpected Expenses of Motherhood – On average, raising a child from birth to age 18 costs about $200,000. If you add college tuition to that number, you can end up paying up more than quarter million dollars to raise a college graduate.
Lily @ Paying Debt Down writes Top Tips for Negotiating your Finances – Getting a great deal on your rent, negotiating with your boss for your salary or purchasing a new car are all negotiations that most people go through at one point or another in their life.
Bob @ Dwindling Debt writes Great Tips for Cutting Expenses in Retirement – The average retired person already knows how to live on a fixed income, especially if they have been retired for a number of years.
Katie @ IRA Basics writes What Happens to Debt When You Die? – Now we do not want to sound morbid but it is a fact of life that none of us are getting any younger and one day we will meet our maker. But what happens if we meet an untimely end while we have still got debts outstanding?
Sam @ The New Business Blog writes Online Marketing Tips for the Entrepreneur – We put together a list of some excellent online marketing tips that every entrepreneur can use to build client lists, attract visitors to their websites and increase profits.
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.
Marissa @ Thirty Six Months writes How Often Do You Google Yourself? – We ALL do it. I know I have Google Alerts set up for my name, my company, and this blog. You should, too.
Buck @ Buck Inspire writes Jump Starting the Juvenile Industry with Jina Park of PLUSH – Ever since Baby Buck was born, I have been hitting as many baby shows as I possibly can. One of my favorites is Jina Park’s PLUSH show.
Monica @ Monica On Money writes How To Negotiate Lower Prices On Anything – Sometimes asking for lower prices is not that easy and can even be a little intimidating. Keep reading to learn how to negotiate lower prices on anything!
Holly @ Club Thrifty writes 6 Unexpected Ways to Save – These days, everyone is looking for a way to cut back on the purchases they make every day. Check out this list of unexpected ways to save:
Barbara Friedberg @ Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance writes What are Index Funds and Asset Classes Investing? – There are too many index funds available and the choices can be mind boggling. I want to help simplify your investments. You only need a couple of mutual funds in your investment portfolio.
Larry @ KrantCents writes Are You an Overachiever or Underperformer? – Are you a overachiever or underperformer? I used to work in a high tech environment where everyone was an overachiever.
Natalie @ Debt and the Girl writes Being an Anonymous Blogger and Compromising with Myself – I am the type of private person that likes to blog for an undisclosed amount readers and discuss personal details of my life.
Alexa @ Single Moms Income writes How to Make Money From Twitter By Building a Large Following – Twitter is a great social network for you to interact with friends, families, and even celebrities. It can also be a place for you to earn a little extra cash, as long as you have a large following.
Alexa @ Defeat Our Debt writes How to Pay Off Debt & Increase Your Income the Fun Way – In order to speed up your debt repayment you will have to locate extra funds to throw toward it. You can either continue down the path you’re on or earn extra money.
Graham @ Moneystepper writes Best time to invest in the stock market? – Best time to invest in the stock market?
Jason @ The Money Makers writes Olivia Wilde is Having a Baby: What are the first-month expenses? – Olivia Wilde recently announced her pregnancy with fiance Jason Sudeikis. With forty percent of moms saying that having a baby is more expensive than they initially assumed, it is important to look at the overall costs in the first month for plenty of preparation and financial planning.
Sustainable PF @ Sustainable Personal Finance writes The Importance of Saving Early – When my husband and I first married, we were poor and in debt. It was a difficult place to be, and, even as we made inroads and improved our finances, we still felt pinched. As a result, we decided that we could not afford to set aside money for the future.
Adam Kamerer @ Stop Worrying About Money writes The Single Most Important Thing To Do In A Financial Crisis – A financial crisis can strike completely without warning. When a financial emergency happens, here’s the single most important thing you can do get your feet under you.
FI Pilgrim @ FI Journey writes FI 101: Chart Progress To Stay Motivated – In this post I will give you a rundown of how I chart progress towards financial independence, to motivate myself to drive income up and expenses down.
Adam @ Money Rebound writes Having a Low Cost Kid’s Party – Money is not everything especially when it comes to arranging fun parties for your kids.
Grayson Bell @ On Better Terms writes Does Debt Define You? – Getting out of debt is a challenge, and can come with a heavy mental load. Are you getting your debt under control, or are you letting it control you?
Christopher @ This That and The MBA writes Easy Household Budget Strategies – The way you’re paid can determine how you budget your money each month. If you’re paid on a weekly basis, you can calculate your budget based on four paychecks a month. That means you’ll have four extra checks throughout the year to help with extra expenses.
Dollar @ Easy Extra Dollar writes Affiliate Marketing – Earning Money Through Work From Home – Working from home or home-based work is one of the most popular ways in making money since loads of opportunities are also offer to those who are willing to spend their time in performing the tasks required by the clients. One of the very well-known online jobs that people are engaging now is the affiliate marketing.
Andrew @ The Motive Blog writes States Where Only the Rich Can Afford to Own a Car – In some states, consumers pay well in excess of $3000 per year to drive and maintain their vehicles…not including lease or finance payments! That’s a lot for a depreciating asset! Find out which states are most expensive, and why.
Brian Fourman @ Luke1428 writes ATTN Men: A Woman Values Security. Get It For Her! – Financial security is something highly valued by women. When I realized this about my wife, it changed my view of money management.
CAREER AND INCOME
Suba @ Broke Professionals writes Don’t Live Life for the Taxman – Taxes can really take a bite if you do well and have high income. It may be tempting to live life by the IRS’s rules to lessen the bite.
Kyle @ The Penny Hoarder writes Financial Considerations for Anyone Who Wants to Have Children – According to CNN, the average cost to raise a child born in 2012 is $241,080. For the sake of clarity, this number applies primarily to middle-income, American couples, and could be much higher or lower, depending on where you live.
Michelle @ Diversified Finances writes How To Become A Full-Time Freelancer Part 1 – I have only been freelancing full-time for a couple of weeks, but I have been building it up for a couple of years and have been working on it for over 40 hours a week for quite some time. I feel very prepared for my freelancing future.
Edgar @ Degrees and Debt @ Degrees and Debt writes Jobs for college students on and off campus – The best jobs you can have while working your way through college, both on campus and off campus
MakintheBacon @ MakintheBacon writes She Ain’t Nothin But a Gold Digga and She Admits It – Having other people finance your dreams whether it be through crowdfunding or rich guys
Adam @ Money Bulldog writes 5 Business ideas for kids – Who says you’d have to be accomplished to get started on a business?
Ben @ The Wealth Gospel writes If You Can’t Ditch Your Job, at Least Get Paid More to Do It – Being an employee sucks sometimes. But if you can’t ditch your job, you can at least try to get paid more for doing it.
Robert @ Entrepreneurship Life writes Getting over the Headache of SEO – If you’re at least a somewhat established blogger (and have an e-mail address posted on your website)–you’re probably like me and get at least five e-mails a week offering help with SEO, or Search Engine Optimization. Most (if not all) of them are scams. SEO isn’t all that scary.
John @ Frugal Rules writes Taking the Plunge: When Good Comes From Bad – Whenever you run your own business you need to be prepared for sudden changes and how they can impact your business. As we experienced recently, not all bad changes turn out to be bad in the long run. In fact, those bad things can help you achieve greater success in running your own business and growing your wealth.
DEBT AND CREDIT
JP @ My Family Finances writes 10 Tips for Choosing the Best Home Loan – Not all home loans are created equally, and some mortgages are more beneficial than others. When purchasing or refinancing a house, consider these tips on selecting the home loan that works best for you.
Bargain Babe @ BargainBabe.com writes What Should I Do About This College Debt? – What Should I Do About This College Debt? offers tips on saving money every day.
Tushar @ Earn More and Save writes How to Make an Extra $1,000 Per Year (Even If You’re Strapped for Time) – What would you do with an extra $1,000? You could use it for Christmas shopping, pay down debt, beef up your emergency fund, or take a fun trip.
Don @ MoneySmartGuides writes How to Get Out of Debt – Do you want to know how to get out of debt? I was in debt and was able to overcome it. Here is a detailed plan for you to help you overcome your debt.
Taylor @ The Keystone Blog writes Can You Finance a Car under your Business Name? – Financing your next vehicle through your business may sound like a great idea, but there is a lot of additional documentation involved.
Taylor @ The Keystone Blog writes What is Yo-Yo Financing and How Can You Avoid it? – Yo-yo financing, also known as spot delivery, is an increasingly prevalent scam that targets car-buyers. The CFPB has issued many warnings on the subject, but the practice is legal, meaning you need to know how to protect yourself.
Jon Haver @ Pay My Student Loans writes How to pick a college to minimize your debt burden – When it comes to choosing a university, we all want to make the best decision in regarding our bottom dollar. The best thing about attending school in this day and age is the large variety of options that are available.
Jerry @ Repaid.org writes 5 Frequently Overlooked Ways to Pay Off Debt – Pay down your debt! You can magically find the cash to do so, right? Maybe in cloud cuckoo land, but here on Earth it isn’t that easy. Here are a few commonly overlooked ways to coax the cash you need from your budget.
Jerry @ The Motive Blog writes How to Identify Predatory Auto Loans? – Right now, the CFPB is taking on a variety of predatory lending practices. While legislative changes may be a good ways off, you can learn the red flags that your dealer is engaging in predatory tactics.
Jon @ Increase Credit Limit writes How To Increase Your Credit Limit – Even if you might know that you should increase your credit limit, that information will do you no good unless you know how to get it done. So, here are some tips for how you can increase your credit limit.
INVESTING AND SAVING
Ted Jenkin @ Your Smart Money Moves writes Local Library: You Pay for This! – Some of my clients always ask, Cristina, what do you do in your free time? Well, one of the things I do in my free time is read.
Debt Guru @ Debt Free Blog writes Apartment Hunting: 5 Tips To Find Your Next Apartment for Cheap – Looking for an apartment? It can be pricey, but not impossible. Read for tips and tricks will help you find your next apartment for a decent price.
SBB @ Simple Budget Blog writes Boo-budgeting: Getting Your Budget Ready for Halloween – Boo! Halloween’s coming up! Advice to make your Halloween budget less scary than those coming to your house to trick or treat.
Lauren @ L Bee and the Money Tree writes Extreme Budgeting for Debt Reduction – Budgeting for debt reduction is hard, because it is often so extreme! There are often times things you feel you cannot live without, but think again.
Eva Baker @ TeensGotCents writes iPad Air Review – The Best Buy With Mike – Just how thin can Apple make their iPads? Pretty thin with their new iPad Air. Mike takes a closer look at the new iPad products and their improvements.
Roger the Amateur Financier @ The Amateur Financier writes Net Worth Update: November 2013 – A net worth update for the start of November 2013, covering where my finances stand, including investments, savings, and debts, including credit card debts.
Luke @ Learn Bonds writes Avoid This Risk Tolerance Mistake – Investors are not always honest with themselves about their risk tolerance. Here is how to avoid that mistake and set your investing on the right path.
IMB @ Investing Money writes Determining How Much Money You Need to Retire – Figuring out how much money you need in order to retire may seem pretty difficult, as there are a lot of variables that may be hard to answer, but the answer may not actually be as tricky as it seems. Consider the following factors to get an idea of just how much you will need to retire.
Hank @ Money Q&A writes How Macro Economic Issues Affect Middle Class Americans – In this episode of the Money Q&A podcast, “Your Money: Your Choices”, I interview Frank Trotter, the President of Everbank Direct, and we talk about how macro economic issues affect everyday middle class Americans.
Mike @ Personal Finance Journey writes 5 Unique Money Saving tips When Dining Out – Simple and unique ways to help you save money when dining out with friends family or on your own.
SavingMentor @ How To Save Money writes Never Pay To Upgrade Your Computer’s Memory – At some point during the life of a computer, there almost always comes a time when it would benefit the owner to install more memory. If you find your computer is getting sluggish when you have quite a few programs running, then you are probably a good candidate for increased RAM (random access memory).
SFB @ Simple Finance Blog writes Benefits Of Shopping At Farmers Market – It is a sad reality that we live in an era of additives and preservatives in most of our food, in addition to consuming certain foods that are genetically modified.
Cat Alford @ Budget Blonde writes The Hubs Wins A Money “Discussion” – I’ve written about marriage and money before, but I’ve never really discussed an incident where the hubs and I disagreed on how money should be handled.
Don @ Money Reasons writes The Beauty Of Robotics and Technology – In this article is my vision of what robotics and technology could do for us in the not too distant future.
Wayne @ Young Family Finance writes Preparing to Start a Young Family – It’s important to budget – especially when adding to your home. The financial checklist you need when you’re about to start a young family.
Tushar @ Start Investing Money writes Visualisation analytics and the new portfolio – The concept of data visualisation may seem like the ‘buzz’ trend right now but there is good reason why so many are latching on to this technique, not just in finance but across every industry.
Mrs. Accountability @ Out of Debt Again writes Could You Make It on Food Stamps? – So my question is could you make it on food stamps? Read my take!
Pauline @ Make Money Your Way writes From having £12 and a suit to buying a property in 6 months! – Ben Edgson, the owner of workfromhomeblog.net shared his experience from having £12 and a suit to buying a property in 6 months!
Anton Ivanov @ Dreams Cash True writes Jemstep Review – A Leading Online Portfolio Manager – My Jemstep review looks at how this leading online portfolio manager service can help you create and maintain a great retirement portfolio.
Jacob @ Cash Cow Couple writes Optionshouse Review – Optionshouse has some dynamite pricing as an online brokerage, but the service is far from perfect. Come check out all the details in my review.
Andrew Pohl @ Finance with Reason writes Is There a Reason to Invest Other Than Making Money? – While the main reason to invest may be to make money, you may have other reasons to invest that are clouding your judgment and hindering your success.
Emily @ Evolving Personal Finance writes Important But Uninteresting PF Topics – I don’t write often about investing, debt, or insurance because I find them to be boring, despite their importance. I prefer to research enough to make a good decision and then leave the topic alone!
Robert @ The College Investor writes Carnival of Passive Investing – Halloween Edition – By investing passively in the market, through index funds, ETFs, and mutual funds, you can beat 70% of the professional money managers out there. So, let’s share so knowledge and highlight some great passive investing articles!
Matt Becker @ Mom and Dad Money writes How to Start Investing From Scratch – Part 1 – This is the advice I would give myself if I were starting from scratch, with little money or understanding of investing. If you put your mind to it, you can probably accomplish all of this within the span of a few weeks. Remember that your initial investment returns are relatively unimportant to the long-term outcome, so the most important thing is to get enough of an understanding that you feel comfortable and then to just get started.
John @ Frugal Rules writes Jumping Off a Cliff: Investing in the Twitter IPO – The Twitter IPO is all the talk in the stock market lately. Many people want the opportunity to invest in it. However, when you’re trying to build wealth and grow a retirement portfolio, listening to the herd is not always the best course of action as it could have negative impacts on your growing of wealth.
Dividend Growth Investor @ Dividend Growth Investor writes Dividend Growth Investing Works for Everyone Willing to Put the Time Into It – I believe that dividend investing is a perfectly democratic way to earn passive income. In order to be successful, it does not matter what your age, gender, or nationality truly is. You do not have to play office politics, or focus on things that do not interest you. You do need to put in some work into it however, in order to learn how to screen for stocks, analyze companies, and build diversified portfolios over time.
Pauline @ Make Money Your Way writes From having £12 and a suit to buying a property in 6 months! – Ben Edgson, the owner of workfromhomeblog.net shared his experience from having £12 and a suit to buying a property in 6 months!
Pauline @ Reach Financial Independence writes Til “Debt” Do Us Part: Are You Financially Ready to Get Married? – David Moran of Finance for Your Future helps you to determine if you are financially ready to get married.
RISK MANAGEMENT AND INSURANCE
Adam @ The Cheapest Cars To Insure writes What are Insurance Groups? Insurance Groups Explained – There are a few more factors to consider when you’re applying for a car insurance, find out which ones you need to look out for!
REAL ESTATE AND PROPERTY
Minimalist @ Minimalist Finance writes Setting Your Housing Budget – Setting Your Housing Budget has been published on Minimalist FinanceWhen you are thinking of buying a home, there is something daunting about setting your budget, especially as first time home buyers.
Daisy @ Suburban Finance writes The Age-Old Question: Rent or Buy a Home? – Whether to rent or buy a house – which is better, renting or buying?
Brent @ PersonalFinance-Tips writes 3 Savvy Ways Professionals Track Their Finances – In the wake of the dual banking and housing crises of 2008, many professionals found that the outsourcing of financial tracking was not the best road to take for personal financial solvency. However, many professionals simply do not have the time to track their finances 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Crystal @ Married (with Debt) writes It’s Open Enrollment Time – It’s that time of year again, Open Enrollment. It’s that one time a year that I can make changes to my health benefits for the following year.
Lindy @ Minting Nickels writes An Easy Way for Stay at Home Moms to Make Some Extra Money – Stay at home moms fill a vital service for their families.
Jacob @ AllPersonalFinance writes Spend Money on a Removal Company that is worth every Penny – Shifting homes can be quite an ordeal. It is a cumbersome task that requires a lot of supervision but it is impossible to do alone. Imagine packing all the things you own and moving to a new home all by yourself, nightmarish, isn’t it? Perhaps it’s time for a pro?
Corey @ Steadfast Finances writes Ways to Avoid Losing Money when Selling your Home – If you are putting your home on the market, the chances are you want to get the best offer possible for it. The sale process is punctuated with a number of pitfalls that can result in a homeowner losing money on their home. Here are three ways to squeeze as much money as possible out of your house sale.
Tushar Mathur @ Everything Finance writes 5 Ways To Save Money When Traveling – Traveling is costly, but add in all the extra fees and it can get even more expensive. Here are 5 ways to save money when traveling so you can avoid them.
RETIREMENT AND TAXATION
Maria @ The Money Principle writes Should we buy property? – Is investing in property still worth while for the next 5 years?
Crystal @ Budgeting in the Fun Stuff writes Why You Should Hire a Fund Manager For Your Retirement – Have you thought about investing for your retirement? Here is why you should hire a fund manager for your retirement.
Dominique Brown @ YourFinancesSimplified writes 5 Major Myths About Retirement – Many of us put some money away here and there for our retirement, but very few of us truly understand how much we will really have in the future. After inflation, how much will your million dollars really be worth/? If you plan to retire 30 years from now, that million bucks might only The post 5 Major Myths About Retirement appeared first on Your Finances Simplified.
Ryan @ Cash Money Life writes Will You Have to Push Back Your Retirement? – Will you have to push back retirement? Traditional retirement has changed recently with inconsistent investment returns and fewer pension plans.
CAPI @ Creating a Passive Income writes If I Had $1000000: Managing and Investing Large Sums of Money – So you get $1000000 (I wish!) What do you do with it? You have to strategize and invest. Read here for tips on managing large sums of money!
Corey @ 20s Finances writes Retirement Moves to Make in Your 20s – Preparing for retirement while in your twenties is best accomplished by getting on the right path instead of focusing on the details.
Jon @ Novel Investor writes 401k Plan: The Definitive Guide – Everything you need to know about a 401k plan, the rules and limits, so you can take full advantage of this employer provided retirement tool.
Vanessa @ Vanessa’s Money writes The Great TFSA/IRA vs RRSP/401(k) Debate – I answer, once and for all, the great debate over which retirement vehicle is right for you!
Justin @ Root of Good @ Root of Good writes Developing a Retirement Budget – Justin at Root of Good reveals his $32,000 per year retirement budget for a family of five. He explains the process of developing a budget for retirement that is based on your actual spending and what you actually plan to do in retirement (instead of a crazy “80% of pre-retirement income” rule).