Welcome to the 33rd edition of the Carnival of Financial Independence, a selection of the best articles related to Financial Independence this week. If you would like to be included next week, please submit your post via Blogger Carnivals. If you would like to host for a future edition, you can contact me.
The guidelines are:
You can submit a post that was published during the last month
The posts have to relate to reaching financial independence, and fit within the following categories: Savings and Simple living, Travel and Lifestyle, Wealth and Passive income, Real Estate and Investing, or Self employment.
Submit by Wednesday night for the Saturday edition
Please mention the carnival in your roundups if you have been featured!
Sahara desert, Morocco
Travel and Lifestyle
Ted Jenkin @ Your Smart Money Moves writes $5 Or Less Cheap Eats Lunches In Atlanta
Lauren @ L Bee and the Money Tree writes How to Manage Money (Virtually) – Learn how to manage money the virtual way with this cool infographic!
Little House @ Little House in the Valley writes How to Live in an Expensive City without Going Broke – I’m offering some real-life solutions for staying in the expensive city. So let’s look at what you actually have control over:
Holly @ Club Thrifty writes Breaking Obamacare News: It Still Sucks – Breaking Obamacare News: The plan still sucks. Read why I think the Affordable Care Act is destined to fail in this post.
Little House @ Little House in the Valley writes Décor on the Cheap: How to Get the Best Out of Furniture for the Home – Home buyers need to check, cross-reference and properly search if they want furniture that isn’t prohibitively expensive. Here, I share two golden nuggets of advice to help you find the best value-for-not-so-much-money furniture!
Lazy Man @ Lazy Man and Money writes Devil’s Advocate: Buy a New Car, Not a Used One – Conventional wisdom says buying a used car i the better financial move, but I disagree. Here’s why.
Justin @ Root of Good writes Auto Costs on the Cheap – Justin at Root of Good reveals helpful hints that allow his family to keep auto costs very low. Justin walks his kids to school instead of driving them, and does simple maintenance tasks himself.
Marissa @ Thirty Six Months writes Hanging Out with Friends: Do it on a Budget – I like going for drinks with friends. There, I said it. I tend to work 15 hours a day, and want to spend time unwinding with people I care about after work. I also happen to do that a few times a week.
Chuck @ The Tortoise Banker writes Enjoy Life – Folks interested in extreme savings techniques and early retirement strategies should look to this post for some very important reminders on why it’s important to LIVE life, not EXIST!
Justin @ Digit Fox writes A Collection of Some of the Best Apps for your Smart Phone – There are apps for grocery lists, games, calendars, notes, news and practically anything else you can think of. (Seriously, there is an app for practically everything!) Here are our favorites
Alexa @ Defeat Our Debt writes Are These 3 Things Preventing You From Becoming Debt Free? | Defeat Our Debt – The journey to paying off debt can often be a long one. Depending on the amount of debt you have it could take months, or even years, to pay it back. And, paying off debt comes with its fair share of struggles.
Sam @ The New Business Blog writes TOMS- Creating Magic with Shoes – TOMS may appear to be just another trendy footwear company like so many on the market today. But TOMS recently gave away their 10 million pair of shoes to a needy child.
Danielle @ Saving Without a Budget writes How to (possibly) cut your Cellphone Bill in Half – In most cases if you have a contract with one of the top 4 cellular carriers, as well as a data plan and one of the newest smartphones, you’re probably paying over $100 a month for your services and, in many cases, closer to $150.
Oscar @ Money is the Root writes Find out which of the 4 Money Mindsets You Have – Even though 90% of Americans have some type of personal finance planning, very few have a truly clear, well-rounded approach to reaching their financial goals.
Crystal @ Budgeting in the Fun Stuff writes How I lost 40 lbs And Improved My Finances – The following is a guest post from Stuart Laing of Daily Money Bucket. This is how he lost 40 pounds and improved his finances.
Hank @ Money Q&A writes 5 Ways To Save Money On Your Next Vacation – Whether you are planning a vacation on the slopes or in the sun, you’ll want to get a great deal. There are several ways how to save money on your next vacation.
Bargain Babe @ BargainBabe.com writes 5 Ways to Cut the Cost of Raising Kids – A few weeks ago, MSN had an interesting article on how to cut the cost of raising kids in half. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the cost of raising a child in 2013…
SBB @ Simple Budget Blog writes Worst-Case Scenario: Budgeting for a Natural Disaster – You never know when you’re going to be hit by a natural disaster, so it’s imperative to prepare.
Michelle @ The Shop My Closet Project writes Cash money, dollar, dollar bills – Go grab your wallet or purse before reading this post. Great, you’re back. Now, I want you to look into your wallet/purse whatever. You know, the thing that you put your cash and credit cards in, ok now count your money. Ignore the credit cards. They’re not real! Interested?
Tushar @ Finance TUBE writes Simplify Your LIfe in 3 Easy Steps – There so much talk about simplifying but it’s not often how people expect to do it. We know this simplifying is good for us and help us to be lighter and breathe a little easier. So to get motivated there are three easy steps to get motivated for once and for all.
Daisy @ Suburban Finance writes How to Set a Christmas Budget – Ever wonder how to set a Christmas budget? You should be budgeting for Christmas as soon as possible to prepare.
Cat Alford @ Budget Blonde writes Trick or Treat Halloween Giveaway – 3 Chances to Win Cash – The hubs and I LOVE Halloween. Okay, maybe it’s just me. But, I used to decorate like crazy for it when I was living in the States (check out this one time I decorated with fake eyeballs – ewwww) Also, I really wanted to get married on Halloween.
Brent @ PersonalFinance-Tips writes Tips For How To Manage Your Medical Bills – It is usually very simple to keep track of some bills associated with certain payments, such as electricity and water bills in your living expenses. For instance, it means that you owe your electric energy provider $50 when you receive an electricity bill for $50.
Wealth and Passive Income
TTMK @ Tie the Money Knot writes When Riding Off Into the Retirement Sunset, Don’t Go Off the Cliff! – Planning for retirement can be a smart way to get to financial freedom. However, we must be aware of potential pitfalls. This article shares 3 factors to consider.
Kyle @ The Penny Hoarder writes What Annuity Options Are Available Post-Retirement? – Retirement is something many of us will look forward to. Saying goodbye to the world of work, the daily grind and having to get up at 7am every weekday morning are just reward for decade after decade of turning up to our jobs on time, putting a good shift in and contributing to the economy…
CAPI @ Creating a Passive Income writes Key to Earn Passive Income from Blogging: SEO – I’ve been blogging for over two years now and I’ve come to learn what it does and does not take to earn passive income from blogging. Many people have bragged about earning passive income from blogging, but the truth is that they work their tails off to earn that income – and it never stops.
Graham @ Moneystepper writes Free Competitions – How Much Can You Earn? – Free competitions are everywhere online. But is it worth entering these free online competitions or is there a better way to spend your time?
Cat Alford @ Budget Blonde writes Would You Sell An Organ To Pay Off Debt? – Would You Sell An Organ To Pay Off Debt? What about donating your eggs? I don’t think I would, but I want to hear from you!
Tushar @ Start Investing Money writes Will the Twitter IPO Turn Out to Be a Cautionary Tale? – The clock is ticking and the time is approaching when Twitter’s initial public offering finally goes live. Plenty of people will be eager to see what happens to the share price when Twitter goes public and is properly valued for the first time.
Hadley @ Epic Finances writes Disney Announces New Release Dates for 2 Pixar Films but Should Hit Their Quarterly Earnings – If you are a holder of Disney stock, their decision to push back the release dates of 2 of their Pixar films might have come as a surprise to you as, to analysts, it certainly was. It is also causing many to revise their earnings estimate for one of the world’s media giants.
Jason @ The Money Makers writes New 100 Dollar Bill – What Changed? – The new $100 dollar bill was introduced to the world recently and Benjamin Franklin, the iconic figure who has traditionally graced the C note for decades, would, as a garish and innovative guy himself, completely approve.
Robert @ The College Investor writes 21 Year Old College Student Turned Million Dollar Business Owner – Today I wanted to share with you the story of Nate Webster as part of the next installment of my Young Millionaire Series. Nate is 21 years old, and is currently the CEO of Warrior Diamond Inc., based in Pennsylvania.
Natalie @ Debt and the Girl writes Finding Your Rock Bottom When It Comes To Your Finances – Plenty of us have experienced a moment that changed our financial perspectives and the same can be said for me as well. I reached a moment like that and it completely changed my outlook on money and finances forever.
Matt @ Budget Snob writes Guard Your Retirement Income with these Comprehensive Tips – One sad fact that all people nearing or already in retirement have to deal with today is that income during retirement is lower than it has ever been in the last 60 years.
Roger the Amateur Financier @ The Amateur Financier writes Why Penny Auctions Suck – A review of penny auctions, looking at why they aren’t a good idea, from the costs to make bids to the disreputable activities some firms use on their consumers.
Real Estate and Investing
Mike @ Personal Finance Journey writes Facts and Fiction about Interest Rate Definitions – 7 Myths and Facts about Interest rates and what do interest rates mean to normal people like us in our everyday lives?
SavingMentor @ How To Save Money writes No Fee Banking Is Totally Worth It – No fee banking has been around for quite a while now in Canada but I still see the majority of people around me using debit cards from one of the big five Canadian banks and I’m always asking myself “why?”.
Jester @ The Ultimate Juggle writes New Family Vehicle – This is how my family juggled the decision of what vehicle to buy for our family. See how my brain processes such decisions.
Don @ MoneySmartGuides writes Home Improvements That Can Boost Your Home’s Efficiency (and Value) – Read about home improvements that make a difference in efficiency! Even little changes can make a big difference
Tushar Mathur @ Everything Finance writes Deciding Whether You Should Rent or Buy a Home? Make Sure to Consider All The Costs – Interest rates are slowly creeping up, and the stale housing market is finally on the upswing.
Wayne @ Young Family Finance writes The ABCs of Home Forfeiture – What you need to know about mortgage returns, short sales, and foreclosures.
IMB @ Investing Money writes Investing in Building Products-Retail-Wholesale – Housing prices are rising, with some increases quite dramatic. Time to invest? Read here for information on investing in building products and retail.
Maria @ The Money Principle writes The single biggest challenge to investors: the three faces of investing – Here I put forward the argument that the single biggest challenge for investors is that investing is at present, more than ever, a gamble.
Paul @ The Frugal Toad @ The Frugal Toad writes What You Need to Know About Reverse Mortgages – Reverse mortgages are becoming more popular as the baby boomer generation ages and gets into retirement. There are some restrictions on reverse mortgages, so the target market is much smaller than a traditional mortgage offering. While these special loans are growing, there are some particular pros and cons that should be considered before applying for a reverse mortgage.
Jon @ Novel Investor writes Does A Target Maturity Bond ETF Fit Your Portfolio? – A target maturity bond ETF offers some unique benefits that your typical bond funds don’t, like having a maturity date on a diversified bond fund.
Michael Kitces @ Nerd’s Eye View writes How The Premium Assistance Tax Credit For Health Insurance Impacts The Marginal Tax Rate – While the new Premium Assistance Tax Credit for health insurance can make coverage a lot more affordable, rising income can quickly phase out the credit, leading to those with only $44,000 of income facing a whopping 33% marginal tax rate!
Sustainable PF @ Sustainable Personal Finance writes Can You Really Make Money Investing in Collectibles? – My husband loves collectibles. He has bought nearly every action figure associated with the Lord of the Rings movies. One of his justifications for spending on collectibles is that it is sort of an investment.
Barbara Friedberg @ Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance writes 8 Steps to Creating A Diversified Asset Classes Portfolio – How to create a diversified asset classes portfolio. Part 2 of what is Best Investing Method Series. Understand diversified asset classes investing with indexes.
Christopher @ This That and The MBA writes Using Online Tools to Manage a Household Budget – If household expenses seem to pile up each month out of nowhere and you find yourself struggling to make ends meet, it’s time to create a budget. Many consumers used to rely on financial planners and other professionals in order to get their finances in order, but today’s array of free online tools can save you money.
Dividend Growth Investor @ Dividend Growth Investor writes Do not despise the days of small beginnings – The most important thing for investors is to actually get started investing, even if they have low initial amounts to put to work. This would help them benefit from power of long term compounding, and would allow them to reach their financial goals.
John @ Frugal Rules writes Reasons Why You Should Start Investing for the Long Run – Many people want to go for the quick buck when it comes to investing. However, a long term approach in generally best if you’re looking to build wealth and grow a decent retirement portfolio that will last.
Irfan @ Everything About Investment writes Investments For An Aging America – Back at the end of the Second World War, troops returned home in massive numbers and, as is always the case with young men and women, started to settle down to have families. The result was the baby boom, a period of time between 1946 and 1964 which saw the average marriage age drop nearly 2 years, and family sizes increase by approximately 25%. That population bulge is still working its way through the American economy, as the first wave of baby boomers start to retire.
Don @ Money Reasons writes Was the Removal the Uptick Rule Stupid? – The “Uptick Rule” was removed back in 2007 and within a few months we had the great recession… I thought removing the uptick rule was wrong then and I still do… read why!
Luke @ Learn Bonds writes How Will the Affordable Care Act Impact Municipal Bonds? – The Affordable Care Act has caused tension with investors, but may not actually change how municipal bonds have historically spiked during financial crisis.
Jack @ Money Saving Ethics writes Home Renovations that can actually Lower your Home’s Value – If there is one thing that financial advisors tell their customers on a regular basis, it is that home renovations can increase the value of their home and help them to get more money when it is time to sell. But this may not be true.
Katie @ IRA Basics writes What Does Business Capitalisation Mean? – A phrase often seen in business-related publication is that of business capital or business capitalisation. What does that mean?
Amy @ Money Mishaps writes The Top 5 Biggest Home buying Mistakes 1st Time Buyers Make – When they bought their first home in North Dakota in 2004, Shane Ede and his new wife were completely unprepared financially. However, since they did not have an experienced mortgage professional helping them and there was no prequalification process necessary in order to purchase, the Edes were able to buy a nice little 3 bedroom home.
Lenny @ Best Money Saving Blog writes Investments That Aren’t Really A Very Good Investment – Everyone wants to make as much money as possible with as little effort. That is not always possible of course and, when it comes to financial planning, you need to be aware that all investments are definitely not created equal.
Self employment and Career
Tushar @ Earn More and Save writes How to Make Money Selling Stock Photos – Do you love being behind the camera? Do you know how to edit photos? Do you want to make some extra money? Of course you do! That’s why selling stock photos could be the perfect fit.
FI Pilgrim @ FI Journey writes FI 101: How To Become Financially Independent – Are you curious about how to become financially independent? In this article I lay out the basics (including a graph) so you can see how it works.
Larry @ KrantCents writes Teach Your College Student the Wonders of Good Credit – Teaching your college-age child about the realities of credit is challenging. Is it important they learn about the good, the bad and the ugly features of credit? Absolutely.
Mr. Frenzy @ Frenzied Finances writes For Your Bookshelf: 5 Financial Reads that Could Help You – An individual is able to educate their self through books, for your bookshelf: there are 5 financial read that could help you.
Matt Becker @ Mom and Dad Money writes Beware the Source of Your Financial Advice – When it comes to financial advice, there’s so much BS out there and it makes me sick. When it comes down to it, you’re the only one who truly has your best interests at heart. There are people who can help you make your goals a reality, but you have to understand that there are likely even more who are much more interested in simply taking your money and running. And the financial services industry is one of the worst in this respect. Educate yourself and thoroughly evaluate any prospective ad
ETZ25 @ Entertainment Timez writes Megamind – A Lesson Of Personal Development – Instead of good versus evil, the movie Megamind is really about personal development and becoming a beneficial member of society. Funny!
Jacob @ AllPersonalFinance writes Reasons to Hire a Bookkeeper, Accountant… or Both! – In those heady early days of starting your own business, you probably thought you could get away with working 18 hour days, 7 days per week, indefinitely. You were drunk on the notion of success lurking just around the corner and who needs sleep anyway?
Suba @ Broke Professionals writes How to Fit Exercise in a Busy Day – We all know we should exercise more, yet most of us have sedentary jobs and home lives.
Rich @ Growing Money Smart writes 529 Plan Tips – Here are my 529 plan tips based on my experience based on what I’m doing for me kids. Learn by not repeating my mistakes and optimize your college strategy.
Jim @ Save College Money writes My Save College Money Strategy – The goal of the “Save College Money” is to save as much college money as possible before actually starting college, but with a twist.
Harry Campbell @ The Four Hour Work Day writes “Build Side Income When You Have a Day Job “ – For those of us that work full time, the nice thing about a day job is the stability. At most companies, you clock out after 8-9 hours and call it a day. I would never work more than 40 hours a week if I wasn’t getting paid for it but that’s just me. And even though I bitch and complain about my old cubicle job all the time, there are much worse jobs on this planet that pay a lot less and require you to work a lot harder. How hard is it to sit behind a desk for 8 hours and browse the int
Glen Craig @ Free From Broke writes 5 Financial Considerations Before You Quit Your Job to Be Your Own Boss – Many dream of running their own business and being their own boss. But you have to make sure you are financially ready to take that leap.
Anton Ivanov @ Dreams Cash True writes My Journey to 100,000 Alexa Rank in Under 6 Months – How I reached 100,000 Alexa rank with my site in under 6 months and what I learned about blogging, online marketing and business growth.
Michelle @ Diversified Finances writes Ways to Make Money Online – With my side business (which will very soon be my main business), mostly everything that I do is online. I can work from the comfort of my home and create a schedule which best works for me and my services.
Sam @ Grad Money Matters writes Building your Client Base as a Freelancer – If you explore the writer profiles on Elance or other websites, you will read about writers that have earned a nice living working with the one-off proposals put out to bid by employers. That’s one way to do well in the freelance writing business but it requires a lot of personal marketing through websites, and the ability to write on many topics knowledgeably without much time for research.
Michelle @ Making Sense of Cents writes Being Defined By Your Job or Career – Something that I have encountered a lot lately is people asking me if I am throwing my life away. They will often ask if I regret going to college. They will ask if I regret obtaining my Finance MBA. They will ask if I regret everything that I’ve done.
Alexa @ Single Moms Income writes On Self Limiting Behavior & Getting Paid What You Deserve – Since I am now getting ready to transition myself into full time freelancing The Psychology of Selling: Increase Your Sales Faster and Easier Than You Ever Thought Possible seemed like a perfect fit.
Buck @ Buck Inspire writes What Does It Cost to Run a Startup? – Starting your own business in the US is not getting any cheaper. But we are not the most expensive place to run a startup. With everyone going mobile, would it make more economic sense to run your business from another country?
Adam @ Money Rebound writes Tips for Finding the Ideal Work-Life Balance – Explaining just how important finding the middle-ground between work and enjoying your life really is.
Harry Campbell @ Your PF Pro writes Is a AAA Membership Worth It? – One of the ways companies like to hit up consumers over and over is by charging monthly or yearly subscription fees. That’s usually why most businesses won’t offer lifetime memberships, instead they opt for subscription type services. That way, you have to keep coming back every year and give them more money. It’s a pretty solid business model but does it make sense for the consumer?
Harry Campbell @ The Four Hour Work Day writes Passion Will Get You to the Top – “When I started my first blog in January of 2012, I had no idea what I was in for. I didn’t do it to make money and I definitely didn’t do it for the accompanying fame{who knew I’d become so famous?! 
}. Instead, the main reason for starting my first personal finance blog was because I sincerely enjoyed talking about money. I liked saving money, I liked earning money and I wanted to have more of it. So why not start a blog that talks about all those things? ”
Simon @ Modest Money writes Getting a Job in the 21st Century: Apps to Get You There – The days of scanning the classified ads for a job are long gone. Today, you have to reach out to companies to find that dream job, but that takes time. Using smart apps can give you an edge on finding that next step for your career.
Minimalist @ Minimalist Finance writes Ways to Make Money Online – Making money online is something that is coveted by many, but achieved by fewer. While it is relatively easy to make money online once you get started, it can be difficult to get past the initial phase of not knowing where, or how, to start.
Jordann @ Making Sense of Cents writes Working from Home and Your Budget – This isn’t the first time I’ve worked from home, I actually have done it in two other jobs, so while I know what to expect – it’s still an adjustment. One of the biggest things to change – besides talking to coworkers exclusively through a screen, is my budget. Working from home changes my expenses in ways that I didn’t initially anticipate, and it’s not all savings.
Saving and Simple Living
Corey @ 20s Finances writes How We Are Planning to Save MORE Money – Do you need more money for something? Saving more money takes work, but here are 10 practical steps to help you save MORE money.
Marissa @ Finance Triggers writes Saving Money on Gluten Free Products – Gluten is wreaking havoc on diets these days. Most people think that this is a new trendy diet, and while it is not really a new ailment, but one that has been plaguing people for years.
Adam @ Money Bulldog writes Find a Cheap Hobby and Enjoy Life More – Having a great hobby doesn’t always mean spending money, here are some cheap but fun things to do on your free time.
SFB @ Simple Finance Blog writes How to Manage Your Finances If You Graduate Without a Job – Anyone who has graduated from college has indeed made a great achievement, but along with the excitement comes the anxiety of graduating without a job and not sure what the future holds for them.
Mrs. Accountability @ Out of Debt Again writes One Day We Will Get Out of Debt – We have been struggling to get out of debt again since 2007. In February 2002 I was completely debt-free.
Jon Haver @ Pay My Student Loans writes Romance while you still have student loans – You may have a casual relationship where conversation only occurs on the weekend and during free time or a more active one where you all speak every day. Determining the relationship type is key because for you to pay off student loans, you must have money and certain relationships require you to have cash available.
Eva Baker @ TeensGotCents writes Spent My Entire Emergency Fund… – I may have spent most of my emergency fund on something that was most definitely not an emergency, unless I can count Paparazzi jewelry as an emergency…
Mr.CBB @ Canadian Budget Binder writes Kids Eat Free: Is it a restaurant lure to eat out targeting parents? – When you are looking to go out to eat with the family and find that a restaurant offers free dining for kids make sure you read the guidelines first.. Nothing is ever for free and you might just find your meal covers the cost of the freebies.
Mr. Big Day Coming @ Big Day Coming writes Dieting and Financial Planning Are The Same Thing – The parallels between losing weight and getting your finances in order are immense and they both focus on tracking the numbers and exercising your willpower.
Emily @ Evolving Personal Finance writes What is the Purpose of an Emergency Fund? – It seems that emergency funds are calculated based on either job loss or the prospect of broken bodies or possessions. I calculate our EF using the latter method.
Monica @ Monica On Money writes Feeling Stressed? 22 Halloween Deals for Only $1 – Do not spend more than $1 for these Halloween decorations! If you are planning on throwing a Halloween Party or taking your kids trick-or-treating. check out these Halloween Deals for only $1.
Kayla Albert @ ReadyForZero Blog writes Understanding the Emotional Side of Money – Does thinking about money leave you feeling anxious or even scared? This post shows you how to reconstruct how you feel about money so you can turn a scary relationship with your money into a positive one.
Prairie Eco Thrifter @ Prairie Eco Thrifter writes Living Off the Land: My First Paw Paw – I’m glad I finally beat the critters to our Paw Paws and if my bread turns out yummy, I’ll be picking from the tree and ripening indoors next year so I can get more of this good and good for you fruit.
Brian @ Luke1428 @ Luke1428 writes 5 Purchases I Refuse to Skimp On – I’m all about frugality. Spending less on purchases is one of the best ways to pay off debt and create wealth. However, I just can’t skimp on these five items. Could you?
Thank you for reading, have a great weekend!
Share this on Facebook
Tweet This!
Share this on LinkedIn
Share this on Google+
Add this to Google Bookmarks
Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon
Send via Email
Send this page to Print Friendly
The post Carnival of Financial Independence, 33rd edition appeared first on Reach Financial Independence.