Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 2, Posts 25-32

We're half way through the second round (while the second part of the first round is still being voted on) of Free Money Finance March Madness (if you wonder what's going on in these posts, see my article announcing March Madness and/or click on my March Madness category link and scroll down to read all the posts involved in this subject.) I've listed each "game" (one post versus another) in segments along with the wording provided by the author when the post was submitted. Be sure to comment which one you like the best out of each set of two as commenters have the chance to win a free book. Here we go:

GAME 13

• 12 Mistakes to Avoid With Your Retirement Savings Plan - While most people take part in some sort of retirement savings that doesn't mean everything is just fine. There are twelve common mistakes that people make that can actually hinder their results. This list outlines the most common mistakes that everyone should avoid.

VERSUS

• My Greatest Investment - After reviewing my finances yesterday, I asked myself what is my greatest investment thus far? I’m only in my mid twenties, but I’ve invested in mutual funds, stocks, real estate, businesses, bonds, almost every investment imaginable. I remember at 14 years old, I invested in a company called AMD, which I later sold for a nice profit. However, in terms of consistency, ROI, and sheer volume, my greatest investment by far has been my career.

GAME 14

• I Do Not Use Credit Cards - This post was picked up by Lifehacker.com.  It sparked an amazing debate.  If you've ever wondered if you could live without credit cards, the answer is, "YES!".

VERSUS

• Solving Customer Service Problems - This is a post that I'm really quite proud of. Helpful and to the point. If you're tired of getting walked on by companies with which you do business, then this post is for you.

GAME 15

• How to Beat the 10% Compounding Myth - In a sister article to this, I debunk the idea that investing in the stock market will make you 10% over the long haul. After inflation, investing fees, and taxes, it could be as low as 3.5%. This article discusses a way to beat that percentage using Prosper.com. Judging risk on Prosper is something that's very difficult to impossible, so it's hard to say whether this idea stands up to the test. I note especially because Prosper's Director of Communications reached out to me and put it in Prosper's In the Blogs section of their website.  They also contacted me about a NY Times and International Herald interview which fell through when I didn't want to give up my anonymity.

VERSUS

• Why Dave Ramsey's "Drive Free" Theory May Be Flawed - When financial gurus speak, most people usually follow them blindly. Sometimes, for our own benefit, it is essential that we dissect their ideas to see if they really make sense. In this spirit, this post attempts to critically analyze Dave Ramsey's Drive Free theory on practical grounds.

GAME 16

• Reasons why you should not save for retirement - I think this post hits home with a lot of people and hopefully opens up their eyes that just because you can come up with an excuse does not mean that you should just go ahead and throw away your retirement dreams.  Well all have our problems\issues\dilemmas as to why we haven't started saving for retirement, but there really is No excuse for not starting right this very second.

VERSUS

• Walking In A Winter Wonderland for $1,300 - This is my favorite article in my entire blog, the reason being that it is the only one where I have featured some photos of my family (albeit cleverly disguised) and where I share a truly happy moment with them, with everyone else.  I love this post because if anything else, it's one place I recorded a wonderful memory of my extended family for posterity even as it uncovered some lessons in frugality.

Comments

[LivingAlmostLarge]

13. 12 mistakes to avoid with your retirement
14. Solving customer service problems
15. Dave Ramsey's drive free theory is wrong
16. Reasons to not save for retirement

[Jo]

13) 12 Mistakes
14) Customer Service (Good, detailed advice)
15) Flaws of "drive Free"
16) Winter Wonderland (Sounds great to me!!)

[fb]

13. My Greatest Investment
14. Solving customer service problems
15. Dave Ramsey's drive free theory is wrong
16. Reasons to not save for retirement

[ChrisJ]

13- 12 Mistakes to Avoid With Your Retirement Savings Plan
14- I Do Not Use Credit Cards
15- Why Dave Ramsey's "Drive Free" Theory May Be Flawed
16- Walking In A Winter Wonderland for $1,300

[Super Saver]

13. 12 Mistakes
14. Credit Cards
15. Drive Free
16. Retirement

[Nick]

13. 12 Mistakes to Avoid With Your Retirement Savings Plan
14. Solving Customer Service Problems
15. How to Beat the 10% Compounding Myth
16. Walking In A Winter Wonderland for $1,300

[Jeremy]

13. 12 Mistakes to Avoid
14. Customer Service
15. Drive Free
16. Retirement

[Dan Melson]

My votes
13: 12 Mistakes to Avoid With Your Retirement Savings Plan
14: Solving Customer Service Problems
15: Why Dave Ramsey's "Drive Free" Theory May Be Flawed

[Pete]

12 mistakes
Customer service
David Ramsey
Retirement

[FMF]

Voting on this competition is now closed. It's pretty clear who the winners are at this point.