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 15
- The one number to beat if you want to retire early (Number) - Why replacing your salary with passive income from your investments is a better goal than a net worth target. By building up your income portfolio over the years, you'll reduce churn and fees, diversify your asset base, avoid hot sectors, and switch seamlessly from saver to income spender when you're ready to quit work.
VERSUS
- 7 Things Women Wish Men Knew About Money (Wish) - Men and women frequently think differently, especially when it comes to money. And money can be one of the biggest issues in a marriage. If men understood the way women think about money (and vice versa), perhaps money wouldn't be such a sore spot in marriage. Here are a few tips for men, from a woman's perspective.
GAME 16
- A Mother's Struggle Between Work and Kids (Struggle) - We made the tough decision this past Fall that my wife wouldn't go back to work so she could stay home to raise the kids. It's been a real adjustment living off of one income but we're managing it. This is my wife's rationale for making the decision.
VERSUS
- 11 Things To Do Immediately When You Get Laid Off (Immediately) - Getting laid off is a rough experience for anyone, but anger and resentment won't get you anywhere. The best thing to do is to look on the bright side and follow these 11 steps to get back on your feet.
Wish
Struggle
Posted by: FFB | February 04, 2009 at 08:57 AM
Number
Immediately
Posted by: ObliviousInvestor | February 04, 2009 at 09:05 AM
Wish and Immediately
Posted by: Pinyo | February 04, 2009 at 09:10 AM
Wish
Struggle
Posted by: Patrick | February 04, 2009 at 09:11 AM
Wish
Struggle
Posted by: Peter | February 04, 2009 at 09:11 AM
Wish
Struggle
Posted by: Emily | February 04, 2009 at 09:41 AM
Wish
Struggle
Posted by: tom | February 04, 2009 at 09:42 AM
Wish & Struggle
Posted by: Christy Zacharias | February 04, 2009 at 09:50 AM
Wish
Struggle
Posted by: Lynnae | February 04, 2009 at 09:58 AM
Game 15: Number
Game 16: Struggle
Posted by: Aron | February 04, 2009 at 10:06 AM
Wish
(no vote on game 16)
Posted by: | February 04, 2009 at 10:17 AM
(forgot to fill out my name)
Posted by: F | February 04, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Number
Immediately (of course)
Posted by: Kyle | February 04, 2009 at 11:10 AM
Wish
Struggle
Posted by: PT Money | February 04, 2009 at 11:11 AM
Number and Struggle.
Posted by: Bob | February 04, 2009 at 11:29 AM
Wish
Struggle
Posted by: MoneyNing | February 04, 2009 at 11:47 AM
Wish
Struggle
Posted by: Eric | February 04, 2009 at 12:53 PM
Game 15:Wish
Game 16:Immediately
Posted by: Green Panda | February 04, 2009 at 01:03 PM
Number
Struggle
Posted by: Arohan | February 04, 2009 at 01:57 PM
Number
Immediately
Posted by: RBJ | February 04, 2009 at 01:59 PM
Wish
Struggle
Posted by: Jeff@MySuperChargedLife | February 04, 2009 at 02:07 PM
Game 15:Wish
Game 16:Immediately
Posted by: Christy | February 04, 2009 at 02:07 PM
Game 15: Number
Game 16: Struggle
Posted by: Karyl | February 04, 2009 at 02:10 PM
Wish and Struggle
Posted by: Craig | February 04, 2009 at 03:43 PM
Game 15:Number
Game 16:Immediately
Posted by: Ann | February 04, 2009 at 03:56 PM
Hmm, I guess my first vote got lost, let's try this again:
15 = Number!
16 = Immediately!
Posted by: Emma | February 04, 2009 at 04:07 PM
Wish
Struggle
Posted by: Rachel | February 04, 2009 at 04:23 PM
Number
Immediately
Posted by: daringpeach | February 04, 2009 at 05:30 PM
Number
Immediately
Posted by: Lsb | February 04, 2009 at 06:16 PM
Game 15: Number
Game 16: Struggle
Posted by: C.Small | February 04, 2009 at 06:35 PM
Number
Immediately
Posted by: Andrew | February 04, 2009 at 06:48 PM
game 15 number
game 16 immediately
Posted by: owen@goldfishcareguide | February 04, 2009 at 07:36 PM
15: Wish
16: Struggle
Posted by: Empty Cabin Media | February 04, 2009 at 08:32 PM
Wish
Immediately
Posted by: Alison | February 04, 2009 at 09:24 PM
Number
Immediately.
Posted by: Tom | February 04, 2009 at 09:55 PM
Number
Immediately
Posted by: Sally | February 04, 2009 at 10:45 PM
15: Wish
16: Struggle
Posted by: Jeffrey | February 04, 2009 at 10:46 PM
Number
Immediately
Posted by: frazmacaz | February 05, 2009 at 04:35 AM
15: Number
16: Stuggle
Posted by: Ellen J | February 05, 2009 at 05:27 AM
one number and a mother's struggle
Posted by: Greener Pastures | February 05, 2009 at 06:22 AM
15- wish
Posted by: Laura | February 05, 2009 at 06:54 AM
Number
Immediately
Posted by: EmilyB | February 05, 2009 at 06:56 AM
Number
Struggle
Posted by: Stu | February 05, 2009 at 07:09 AM
15: number
Posted by: TD | February 05, 2009 at 07:41 AM
Number
Immediately
Posted by: Elfozzie | February 05, 2009 at 08:25 AM
Number
Immediately
Posted by: Dave | February 05, 2009 at 08:28 AM
Number
Immediately
Posted by: summaecodex | February 05, 2009 at 08:36 AM
Number & Struggle
Posted by: Bob | February 05, 2009 at 09:15 AM
7 Things and Struggle
Posted by: Miranda | February 05, 2009 at 10:53 AM
Number
Immediately
Posted by: rya | February 05, 2009 at 12:15 PM