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 3
- Do you appreciate what you have? (Appreciate) - Read about what how a simple volunteer event for my son one evening turned out to to have an impact on our whole family. His one hour volunteer effort gave us a completely different perspective on what we have and how fortunate we are. Do you appreciate the things you have? Don't ever forgot, some people have little to nothing.
VERSUS
- People Here Don't Give A Crap What Kind Of Car We Drive (Car) - This post is one of my favorites because it was the final stake in a life I had lived for so long and was working to get away from. Living in LA, buying more than I could afford, and trying to make sure everyone thought I was doing better than I was - it was something I woke up to one day and was forever trying to get out from under...and I feel like I have finally done it.
GAME 4
- Guess What??? We did it! We finally got our wedding pictures! (Wedding) - After 5 months of BEGGING for our wedding pictures with no luck, we created a blog detailing the whole experience for all to see! And guess what? We had those bad boys in hand within 48 hours! It turns out people respond a lot faster when you market their name all over the internet. ;)
VERSUS
- 10 Personal Finance Essentials (Essentials) - Personal finance is about more than just spending less than you earn and staying out of debt. You need a balance of insurance to protect your assets, investments to prepare for retirement, and a plan to take care of your loved ones when you pass away. What follows are 10 personal finance essentials that everyone needs as part of his financial plan.
No vote for game 1.
Essentials for game 2.
Posted by: ObliviousInvestor | January 21, 2009 at 08:55 AM
3 - Appreciate
4 - essentials
Posted by: Jill | January 21, 2009 at 09:11 AM
3. Car
4. Essentials
Posted by: David | January 21, 2009 at 09:27 AM
Car
Essentials
Posted by: jim | January 21, 2009 at 09:28 AM
3 - Appreciate
4 - Essentials
Posted by: Patrick | January 21, 2009 at 09:58 AM
3. Car
4. Wedding
Posted by: Stephen | January 21, 2009 at 10:17 AM
3 - Appreciate
4 - Essentials
Posted by: Pinyo | January 21, 2009 at 10:19 AM
Car
Essentials
Posted by: Emily@remodelingthislife | January 21, 2009 at 10:20 AM
3. Car
4. Wedding
Posted by: Matt SF | January 21, 2009 at 10:45 AM
hard to choose this time!
Game 3: Appreciate
Game 4: Essentials
Posted by: Peter | January 21, 2009 at 10:54 AM
I'll have to only vote for game 3 as i'm in the 4th ;)
Game 3: Car
Posted by: J. Money | January 21, 2009 at 11:00 AM
Game 3: Appreciate
Game 4: Essentials
Posted by: Aron | January 21, 2009 at 11:45 AM
3 - Appreciate
4 - Essentials
Posted by: PT Money | January 21, 2009 at 12:15 PM
game 3: car
game 4: essentials
Posted by: F | January 21, 2009 at 12:34 PM
Game 3 - Appreciate
Game 4 - Wedding - Love the power of word!
Posted by: JBurns | January 21, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Correction: game 3 = appreciate!!!!
Posted by: F | January 21, 2009 at 12:35 PM
3 - Appreciate
4 - Essentials
Posted by: Lar | January 21, 2009 at 12:46 PM
Appreciate
Essentials
They were all so good, I had a hard time deciding.
Posted by: Tarah | January 21, 2009 at 01:15 PM
3. Car
4. Essentials
Posted by: Mrs. Micah | January 21, 2009 at 01:23 PM
Car and essentials.
Posted by: Bob | January 21, 2009 at 02:14 PM
Game 3 - Appreciate
Game 4 - Wedding
Posted by: Christy | January 21, 2009 at 02:33 PM
game 3 Appreciate
game 4 Essentials
Posted by: Mary | January 21, 2009 at 02:46 PM
Car!
Wedding!
Posted by: Emma | January 21, 2009 at 03:15 PM
Game 3 Appreciate
Game 4 Essentials
Posted by: Neal Frankle | January 21, 2009 at 03:21 PM
Game 3: Essentials
Game 4: Wedding
Posted by: | January 21, 2009 at 03:27 PM
Oops....edit to post above, Game 3: APPRECIATE, Game 4: Wedding.
sorry :/
Posted by: | January 21, 2009 at 03:29 PM
Appreciate
Essentials
Posted by: Lynnae | January 21, 2009 at 03:32 PM
Game 3: Car
Game 4: Wedding
Posted by: Eric | January 21, 2009 at 03:39 PM
3 - Appreciate
4 - Essentials
Posted by: Nicki at Domestic Cents | January 21, 2009 at 05:20 PM
Game 3: Car
Game 4: Essentials
Posted by: Kyle | January 21, 2009 at 05:26 PM
Game 3 - Appreciate
Game 4 - Wedding
Posted by: Dana Edwards | January 21, 2009 at 07:25 PM
Game 3 - Appreciate
Game 4 - Essentials
Posted by: Eric N. | January 21, 2009 at 09:14 PM
Game 3-Appreciate
Game 4- Essentials
Posted by: ConnieBrz | January 21, 2009 at 09:44 PM
Game 3 - Appreciate
Game 4 - Essentials
Posted by: SimplyForties | January 21, 2009 at 11:19 PM
Appreciate
Essentials
Posted by: ABC | January 21, 2009 at 11:30 PM
Game 3: Appreciate
Game 4: Essentials
Posted by: Pooja | January 22, 2009 at 01:59 AM
3. Car
4. Essentials
Posted by: Jacqui | January 22, 2009 at 08:27 AM
Car
Essentials
Posted by: My Dollar Plan | January 22, 2009 at 09:36 AM
3 - Appreciate
4 - Wedding
Posted by: Catherine | January 22, 2009 at 10:48 AM
Game 3: Car
Game 4: Essentials
Posted by: Rachel | January 22, 2009 at 11:00 AM
3. Appreciate
4. Essentials
Posted by: Gia | January 22, 2009 at 04:52 PM
Game 3: Appreciate
Game 4: Essentials
Posted by: Green Panda | January 22, 2009 at 06:38 PM
These games are now over. The winners are:
Game 3: Appreciate
Game 4: Essentials
Thanks to everyone for voting. Another set of games is just out this morning -- be sure to vote!
Posted by: FMF | January 23, 2009 at 07:50 AM
Game 1: Appreciate
Game 2: Essentials
Posted by: Alison | January 23, 2009 at 04:03 PM
Game 3: Appreciate
Game 4: Essentials
Posted by: Kathryn | January 24, 2009 at 05:57 PM
3. Car
4. Essentials
Posted by: Hank | January 25, 2009 at 10:49 AM
3.car
4.essentials
Posted by: thomas | January 28, 2009 at 01:20 AM
Game 3 - Appreciate
Game 4 - Essentials
Posted by: FFB | January 29, 2009 at 12:03 PM
Essentials
Car
Posted by: Ben | February 11, 2009 at 01:01 PM