Free Money Finance March Madness, Sweet 16, Posts 1-4

Here's the third round 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. I've also listed a keyword(s) after each post title to make it easy to vote (as a made-up example, you can just comment: Game 1 - Saving; Game 2 - Investing, etc.) Be sure to comment which one you like the best out of each set of two. Here we go:

GAME 1

• Snowflaking:  A Primer (Snowflaking) - Snowflaking is a concept that many people actually employ but few people can name. It involves systematically and purposely saving and earning small amounts of "extra" money to reduce debt or increase savings. Doing this in a purposeful manner can make a huge difference in your financial health.  This post outlines what snowflaking is and how to get started implementing it in your own life.  It has worked wonders for me!

VERSUS

• Little Steps: 100 Great Tips For Saving Money For Those Just Getting Started (100) - It's just good advice - and a lot of it.  There's something on this list that anyone can apply in their own life to save a little extra money - and sometimes that can make all the difference.

GAME 2

• I want to be rich like you (Rich) - My teenage cousin thought that because of the things I had – house, car, electronic gadgets – that I had to be rich. I had to explain to him what debt was and how appearances from the outside can be deceiving.

VERSUS

• It hit me like a ton of bricks (Bricks) - I've always been a spender by nature.  One sentence I read on The Simple Dollar hit me over the head with reality, though.  By picking apart that one sentence, I realized that keeping my long-term goals in mind while making short-term spending decisions would make for a more secure future.  Increasing your net worth begins with your attitude about spending.

Comments

[plonkee]

1. Snowflaking
2. Rich

[kentuckyliz]

snowflaking
rich

[Beth]

Game 1 - Snowflaking
Game 2 - Rich

[Jessica]

Oh no... It's been easish making choices so far, but now you're pitting two of my Favorite articles against each other...

I'm going to go with Snowflaking, but for the record I want to say that 100 things was a GREAT article that I printed out and sat down with and took a look at how I was doing with my money. (sorry Trent)

Bricks... (but see, in a round about way I'm still voting for the Simple Dollar... Great personal reflection on this one Lynnae, you made this simple statement really hit home for me as well)

[paidtwice]

Snowflaking ;)
Bricks

[Emily]

Snowflaking
Rich

[Lynnae @ Being Frugal.net]

Snowflaking
Bricks

[Lynnae @ Being Frugal.net]

Snowflaking
Bricks

[Lynnae @ Being Frugal.net]

Sorry about the extra comment. I'm really not trying to stack the votes. :) The comments timed out on me.

[Equinox]

Little Steps
I Want To Be Rich

[SingleGuyMoney]

Snowflaking
Rich

[My Dollar Plan]

Snowflaking
Rich

[thejapchap]

100 (What a read!)
&
Bricks

[That One Caveman]

Snowflaking
Rich

[Livingalmostlarge]

Snowflaking
Bricks

[Melissa]

100 - these are my two favorite posts too! TOUGH choice.
Rich

[Jeffrey]

Game 1: 100
Game 2: Rich

[mbhunter]

All four are great posts!

If forced to choose, though:

1) 100
2) Bricks

[JenMarie]

1. Snowflaking
2. Rich

[bluntmoney]

100
Rich

[Matt]

1. Snowflaking
2. Rich

[CBaker]

100
Rich

[Patrick]

Snowflaking
Rick

[Super Saver]

Snowflaking
Rich

[david]

snowflaking
bricks

[MoneyBlogga]

All 4 of them are excellent posts. I'm voting based on where I am right now: (a) Just starting out with frugality and cutting back, and (b) Trying to prevent/educate my dependents from following in my hugely wasteful footsteps

100
Rich

[otherdeb]

Game 1 - Little Steps
Game 2 - Bricks

[Christy]

Snowflaking
Rich

[Small Cents]

snowflaking
bricks

[Alison]

Game 1: Snowflaking
Game 2: Bricks

[Funny about Money]

Snowflaking
Rich

Too bad we can't vote for them all! Excellent posts, all four of them. Snowflaking, IMHO, really is a seminal article, one that many people refer back to. It deserves recognition for the originality and usefulness of the idea.

[Odnal]

Snowflaking
Bricks

[Finance Girl]

Snowflaking
Bricks

[Kathy@brazoscowgirl]

Snowflaking
Bricks

[Lee]

Snowflaking
Bricks

[Marsha]

1. Snowflaking
2. Bricks

[Amanda @ Me vs Debt]

Snowflaking
Rich

[Future Millionaire]

1. 100
2. Rich

[CyanSquirrel]

1. 100
2. Bricks

[Ken]

Game 1 - Snowflaking
Game 2 - Rich

[FMF]

This round of voting is over. The winners are:

1 - Snowflaking
2 - Rich

[Penny Nickel]

100
Bricks