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 -- you will help determine the winner! Criteria for the best article is somewhat subjective, but you can use these factors as a guide: 1) practicality of the post 2) how interesting/provocative/unique it is, 3) the "personal-ness" of it and 4) its impact on net worth.
Here are today's games:
GAME 11
- Supercharging the Debt Snowball (Supercharging) - If you're paying off debts there are two schools of thought - one that you should pay off the highest interest rate first, and one that you should pay the lowest balance off first. Highest interest first saves money, but lowest balance is more motivating. What if you could combine the two, getting the benefits of both? Why not supercharge the debt snowball.
VERSUS
- Got myself into a bargain bind (Bind) - Being a bargain hunter occasionally gets us cheapskates into trouble. Here is the story of my run-in with Checks Unlimited. I want your vote!
GAME 12
- Spend Less than You Earn - the Wrong Way to Think (Wrong) - The wrong way to think: "spend less than you earn." If you have been reading about personal finance for any length of time, I'm sure you've come across this advice before. It is not bad advice. If you are struggling to get out of debt, or prepare yourself for retirement at age 65 or later, it is fine advice. For most people this may be the best advice that they ever receive. However, it is the wrong way to think if you want to be rich. The right way to think is this: earn more than you spend.
VERSUS
- Am I a Socialist (Socialist) - Most of my post I write with my brain, this one was from my hart. Although the post only received one comment last year on my old site that only family and friends were reading, I got a few phone calls. Someone stated, “I know who you are voting for” and this was during the primaries. I also got, “I can't believe you think that” and others who agreed and said it is about time it happen. Whatever your opinion this post got peopled fired up.
Game 11:Supercharging
Game 12:Wrong
Posted by: Green Panda | January 30, 2009 at 08:23 AM
Game 11: supercharging
Game 12: wrong
Posted by: ObliviousInvestor | January 30, 2009 at 08:23 AM
Supercharging
Wrong
Posted by: Rachel | January 30, 2009 at 10:26 AM
Game 11: Bind
Game 12: Wrong
Posted by: Anonymous | January 30, 2009 at 10:28 AM
Game 11: Supercharging
Game 12: Wrong
Posted by: Aron | January 30, 2009 at 11:29 AM
Game 11: Bind
Game 12: Wrong
Posted by: Matt SF | January 30, 2009 at 11:57 AM
supercharging
wrong
Posted by: paidtwice | January 30, 2009 at 12:03 PM
Game 11: Bind
Game 12: Wrong
Posted by: pluto | January 30, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Game 11: Bind
Posted by: Mags | January 30, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Supercharging
Wrong
Posted by: Shaun Connell | January 30, 2009 at 12:49 PM
Game 11: Supercharging
Game 12: Socialist
Posted by: plonkee | January 30, 2009 at 12:58 PM
game 11: bind
game 12: socialist
Posted by: Mr. Spaz | January 30, 2009 at 01:00 PM
Supercharging
Wrong
Posted by: Lynnae | January 30, 2009 at 01:04 PM
Game 11:Supercharging
Game 12:Wrong
Posted by: Patrick | January 30, 2009 at 01:10 PM
11: Supercharging
12: Wrong
Posted by: Mrs. Micah | January 30, 2009 at 01:19 PM
Game 11: supercharging
Game 12: wrong
Posted by: christy | January 30, 2009 at 01:48 PM
game 11:bind
great discussion!
Posted by: | January 30, 2009 at 01:56 PM
game 11:bind
game 12:wrong
Posted by: | January 30, 2009 at 01:57 PM
game 11:bind
game 12: socialist
Posted by: ellen | January 30, 2009 at 01:58 PM
Game 11: Bind
Game 12: Wrong
Posted by: Earl | January 30, 2009 at 02:27 PM
game 11....I'm for 'bind"
game 12......wrong
Posted by: bill | January 30, 2009 at 02:32 PM
Game 11: Bind
Game 12: Socialist
Posted by: Tonie | January 30, 2009 at 02:34 PM
Game 11: Bind
Posted by: | January 30, 2009 at 02:38 PM
I'm voting for Bind!!! Great article
Posted by: jaime | January 30, 2009 at 02:42 PM
Game 11: Bind all the way
Posted by: Polly | January 30, 2009 at 02:50 PM
Game 11: Bind
Game 12: Socialist
Posted by: amy | January 30, 2009 at 03:04 PM
Bind all the way
Posted by: | January 30, 2009 at 03:11 PM
Game 11: Bind
Posted by: | January 30, 2009 at 03:28 PM
Game 11: Supercharging
Game 12: Wrong
Posted by: Peter | January 30, 2009 at 03:40 PM
bind
Posted by: | January 30, 2009 at 04:00 PM
Bind
Posted by: cindy | January 30, 2009 at 04:08 PM
Game 11: Bind
Game 12: Wrong
Posted by: | January 30, 2009 at 04:20 PM
Game 11: Supercharging
Game 12: Wrong
Posted by: David | January 30, 2009 at 04:21 PM
Game 11: Supercharging
Game 12: Wrong
Posted by: Empty Cabin Media | January 30, 2009 at 04:47 PM
game 11:bind
Posted by: | January 30, 2009 at 04:58 PM
Game 11: bind
Posted by: | January 30, 2009 at 05:08 PM
Supercharging
Wrong
Posted by: | January 30, 2009 at 05:17 PM
Game 11: Bind
Posted by: Diane | January 30, 2009 at 05:51 PM
game 11: bind
Posted by: | January 30, 2009 at 06:33 PM
Bind
Posted by: eileen | January 30, 2009 at 06:39 PM
supercharging
socialist
Posted by: F | January 30, 2009 at 07:03 PM
Game 11: Bind
Posted by: JG | January 30, 2009 at 08:35 PM
game 11:bind
game 12: wrong
Posted by: | January 30, 2009 at 10:30 PM
game 11: bind
game 12: wrong
Posted by: | January 30, 2009 at 10:34 PM
bind game 11
wrong, game 12
Posted by: | January 30, 2009 at 10:34 PM
Game 11: Bind
Posted by: | January 31, 2009 at 12:05 AM
Game 11: Bind
Posted by: Aicha | January 31, 2009 at 12:19 AM
game 11 bind
Posted by: sonny | January 31, 2009 at 12:32 AM
game 11: bind
game 12: wrong
Posted by: | January 31, 2009 at 01:03 AM
supercharging
bind
Posted by: thomas | January 31, 2009 at 02:08 AM