Here we go with the first 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 21
- Use the Rule of 72 to Understand Compound Interest (Compound) - Most people generally understand the concept of compound interest, knowing that over time, interest earned will begin to snowball and accumulate more rapidly. Even though it is a relatively simple concept, visualizing how it works can be more difficult. I think Albert Einstein said it best, "Compound interest is the greatest mathematical discovery of all time."
VERSUS
- Your House is a Home, Not an Investment 2 (House) - Many people are in the difficult financial situation today because they purchased their primary residence as an investment and not as a home. Don't make this same mistake.
GAME 22
- Rain Barrels - Recycling and Saving Money (Rain) - Rain barrels are an easy way to conserve water, but many people are unaware that their locality may offer them for purchase. Even if the readers are from somewhere other than the Raleigh, NC area, this article may spark their interest in learning what resources are available in their community. This year, if we are able to save the minimum of $10 off our water bill from March-November (yes, the growing season is really that long here--we already have plants in the ground), we will have saved an additional $16 after recouping the cost of the barrels. In the following years, we'll save at least $90 per year.
VERSUS
- The US Health Care Crisis (Health) - US Health Care is a mess. If you look at it from your college economics text book though, it's not a big surprise. Let's remind ourselves of those basics and use those same tools to think about how we can fix health care in the country. You'll also see why our presidential candidates are barking up the wrong tree and, economically speaking, will probably only make things worse.
GAME 23
- Easy Way to Convert Hourly Wage to Salary (Salary) - This is my most popular post of all time! As part of my Quick Tips category, this post is all about short, easy, and quick tips to improve your finances! Read on to find out a quick way to convert your hourly wage to salary and vice versa!
VERSUS
- 30 Days to Millionaire Money Habits (Habits) - The personal finance habits you have can accelerate or impede your ability to accumulate wealth. This is a short guide on how to create those wealthy money habits and train your mind to unconsciously and automatically accumulate more wealth.
GAME 24
- 5 Easy Ways to Save Money While in College (College) - This post is packed with resources to help the reader save money. From books and food to saving money, this post has the advice that will help all those poor college students out there.
VERSUS
- Think before you buy! A wallet-sized reminder of your priorities (Think) - Being a thoughtful shopper is vital if you're trying to buy less and/or buy in ways that fit your values and priorities. This post links to a ready-made credit/debit card sleeve printed with some great questions to ask yourself before you buy anything-- and is also full of suggestions and inspiration for designing your own list of questions if the existing one isn't right for you. It's an exercise that's all about developing a mental checklist (with a physical reminder) that makes you more intentional and thoughtful about your consumption.
Game 21 - Compound
Game 22 - Health
Game 23 - Habits
Game 24 - College
Posted by: Lily | March 03, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Game 21 - House
Game 22 - Health
Game 23 - Habits
Game 24 - Think
Posted by: Tim | March 03, 2008 at 12:44 PM
21 Compound
22 Health
23 Habits
24 Tie
Posted by: Super Saver | March 03, 2008 at 12:45 PM
Compound
Health
Habits
Think
Posted by: paidtwice | March 03, 2008 at 12:50 PM
41
44
46
47
Posted by: John | March 03, 2008 at 01:14 PM
Game 21 - Compound
Game 22 - Health
Game 23 - Habits
Game 24 - College
Posted by: Jeremy | March 03, 2008 at 02:01 PM
House
Rain
Habits
Think
Posted by: CBaker | March 03, 2008 at 02:29 PM
Game 21 - House
Game 22 - Health
Game 23 - Habits
Game 24 - Think
Posted by: pfodyssey | March 03, 2008 at 03:13 PM
Game 21 - House
Game 22 - Health
Game 23 - Habits
Game 24 - Think
Posted by: Jill | March 03, 2008 at 03:40 PM
Game 21 - House
Game 22 - Health
Game 23 - Habits
Game 24 - College
Posted by: Melissa | March 03, 2008 at 03:50 PM
1. House
2. Health
3. Habits
4. College
Posted by: Matt | March 03, 2008 at 04:13 PM
21. Compound
22. Rain
23. Habits
24. College
Posted by: Ken | March 03, 2008 at 05:13 PM
21:Compound
22:Health
23:Habits
24:College
Posted by: TC | March 03, 2008 at 05:14 PM
21 - Compound
22 - Health
23 - Habits
24 - College
Posted by: Derek | March 03, 2008 at 05:23 PM
21: House
22: Health
23: Habits
24: Think
Posted by: Kyle | March 03, 2008 at 05:49 PM
21 - Compound
22 - Health
23 - Habits
24 - College
Posted by: Elizabeth Baranik | March 03, 2008 at 06:03 PM
21 - Compound
22 - Health
23 - Salary
24 - College
Posted by: Christopher Neetz | March 03, 2008 at 06:11 PM
Game 21 - House
Game 22 - Health
Game 23 - Habits
Game 24 - College
Posted by: Cory Collier | March 03, 2008 at 06:12 PM
Compounds
Health
Habits
Think
Posted by: Amy | March 03, 2008 at 06:12 PM
21 - House
22 - Health
23 - Habits
24 - College
Posted by: Rick | March 03, 2008 at 06:13 PM
vote for game 21 House
22 Health
23 Habits
24 Think
Posted by: Su | March 03, 2008 at 07:58 PM
21 - Compound
22 - Health
23 - Habits
24 - College
Posted by: Millionaire Money Habits | March 03, 2008 at 09:33 PM
Game 21: Compound
Game 22: Rain
Game 23: Habits
Game 24: College
Posted by: Jeffrey | March 03, 2008 at 11:44 PM
21. House
22. Rain
23. Habits
24. Think
Posted by: Helen | March 03, 2008 at 11:45 PM
house
rain
habits
think
Posted by: | March 04, 2008 at 07:36 AM
Game 21 - House
Game 22 - Health
Game 23 - Habits
Game 24 - College
Posted by: rob | March 04, 2008 at 09:37 AM
21: compound
22: rain
23: habits
24: think
Posted by: Susannah | March 04, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Game 21 - House
Game 22 - Rain
Game 23 - Habits
Game 24 - Think
Posted by: Amy | March 04, 2008 at 03:42 PM
21: Compound
22: Rain
23: Habits
24: College
Posted by: Eric | March 04, 2008 at 03:47 PM
Game 21 - House
Game 22 - Health
Game 23 - Habits
Game 24 - Think
Posted by: John S | March 04, 2008 at 05:27 PM
Game 21: Compound
Game 22: Rain
Game 23: Habits
Game 24: Think
Posted by: moneychallenge | March 04, 2008 at 07:56 PM
Game 21 - House
Game 22 - Rain
Game 23 - Habits
Game 24 - Think
Posted by: First Step | March 05, 2008 at 07:50 AM
House
Rain
neither/tie
Think
Posted by: Penny Nickel | March 05, 2008 at 09:21 AM
Game 21 - Compound
Game 22 - Health
Game 23 - Habits
Game 24 - Think
Posted by: Wolfgang | March 05, 2008 at 09:58 AM
Game 21: Compound
Game 22: Rain
Game 23: Habits
Game 24: Think
Posted by: CyanSquirrel | March 05, 2008 at 11:24 AM
21 Compound
22 Health
23 Habits
24 Think
Posted by: PT | March 05, 2008 at 11:27 AM
Voting for this round is now over. Winners are:
21 - Compound
22 - Health
23 - Habits
24 - Think
Posted by: FMF | March 05, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Whooo Hooo... yeah me!
Posted by: Curtis | March 07, 2008 at 11:54 AM