We're now down to the Elite 8 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 1
- 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
- 100 Money Saving Tips for the Holiday Gifting Bonanza Post (Bonanza) - Don't let the title fool you, these money saving tips are applicable at any time of the year, they just seemed especially useful so that you could save money to buy your friends and family more gifts! They are categorized by what aspect of your life they apply to (from eating & drinking to your home) and come with pretty pictures to boot! You are guaranteed to find at least one or two (or twenty) tips that you didn't know before or you will get your money back!
GAME 2
- 29 Steps I Took to Leave the Workforce at Age 29 (29) - I quit my corporate job in 2008 to spend more time with my kids and do some writing on the side. It was the best decision of my life! Here's the financial road map that made it possible without scaling back on our spending.
VERSUS
- The Pursuit of Financial "Happyness" (Pursuit) - It doesn't matter if you're a financial ninja: personal finance just isn't about the money. If you don't know why you're trying to amass money in the first place, then every dollar you save is just another dollar you waste.
appreciate and 29. Being someone who is not 29 yet that story motivates me.
Posted by: the weakonomist | March 26, 2009 at 07:23 AM
Bonanza and 29
Posted by: jim | March 26, 2009 at 08:27 AM
Bonanza
29
Posted by: nickel | March 26, 2009 at 08:34 AM
Appreciate
Pursuit
Posted by: Anitra | March 26, 2009 at 08:36 AM
Appreciate
29
Posted by: Nate | March 26, 2009 at 09:37 AM
Bonanza
29
Posted by: Madison | March 26, 2009 at 09:51 AM
Appreciate
29
Posted by: Frugal Dad | March 26, 2009 at 09:55 AM
Bonanza
29
Posted by: Sun | March 26, 2009 at 09:56 AM
Bonanza
29
word.
Posted by: J. Money | March 26, 2009 at 10:07 AM
bonanza
pursuit
Posted by: Pam | March 26, 2009 at 12:04 PM
Appreciate
Pursuit
Posted by: Cody | March 26, 2009 at 12:07 PM
Appreciate
Pursuit
Posted by: Luke | March 26, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Appreciate
29
Posted by: Bible Money Matters | March 26, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Pursuit
Posted by: Irene | March 26, 2009 at 12:22 PM
Appreciate
Pursuit
Posted by: N | March 26, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Pursuit
Posted by: John | March 26, 2009 at 12:34 PM
Pursuit
Posted by: Heather | March 26, 2009 at 12:44 PM
Pursuit
Posted by: Hollie | March 26, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Bonanza
29
Posted by: Lazy Man and Money | March 26, 2009 at 12:58 PM
Pursuit
Posted by: Garrett | March 26, 2009 at 01:03 PM
Pusuit
Posted by: AVoter | March 26, 2009 at 01:05 PM
Appreciate
29
Posted by: Corporate Barbarian | March 26, 2009 at 01:55 PM
Pursuit
Posted by: April | March 26, 2009 at 03:07 PM
Game 1: appreciate
Game 2: pursuit
Posted by: Tim Edelblut | March 26, 2009 at 03:12 PM
Bonanza
Pursuit
Posted by: Laura | March 26, 2009 at 03:32 PM
Appreciate
29
Posted by: pfreader | March 26, 2009 at 03:36 PM
Pursuit
Posted by: Summitwarrior | March 26, 2009 at 04:03 PM
Pursuit
Posted by: Kaitlyn | March 26, 2009 at 04:12 PM
Pursuit
Posted by: Jason | March 26, 2009 at 04:53 PM
Game 1:Bonanza (very tough decision)
Game 2:29
Posted by: Green Panda | March 26, 2009 at 05:22 PM
Pursuit
Posted by: Jennie | March 26, 2009 at 05:42 PM
Appreciate
29
Posted by: Steve | March 26, 2009 at 07:20 PM
Pursuit
Posted by: Rebecca | March 26, 2009 at 07:46 PM
Appreciate
29
Posted by: Glblguy | March 26, 2009 at 08:02 PM
Appreciate
29
Posted by: Four Pillars | March 26, 2009 at 08:06 PM
Pursuit.
Posted by: Whitney | March 26, 2009 at 08:06 PM
Appreciate
29
Posted by: Jenn Dean | March 26, 2009 at 08:08 PM
Game 1: Appreciate
Game 2: Pursuit
Posted by: Philip Barron | March 26, 2009 at 08:19 PM
Game 1: Appreciate
Game 2: 29
Posted by: Nate @ Debt-free Scholar | March 26, 2009 at 08:35 PM
Game 1: Appreciate
Posted by: Shelley D | March 26, 2009 at 08:40 PM
Game one: Appreciate
Game two: Pursuit
Posted by: Shawna | March 26, 2009 at 08:48 PM
Appreciate
29
Posted by: ambrosia | March 26, 2009 at 08:54 PM
game 1 Appreciate
game 2 29
Posted by: lj | March 26, 2009 at 08:55 PM
Bonanza! Pursuit!
Posted by: Emma | March 26, 2009 at 09:41 PM
Appreciate
29
Posted by: Lynnae | March 26, 2009 at 10:02 PM
pursuit
Posted by: sarah | March 26, 2009 at 10:31 PM
Game 1 - Appreciate
Posted by: Do You Dave Ramsey? | March 26, 2009 at 10:41 PM
pursuit
Posted by: jj | March 26, 2009 at 11:07 PM
Appreciate
29
Posted by: Canadian Finance | March 27, 2009 at 12:12 AM
Appreciate
Pursuit
Posted by: Allison | March 27, 2009 at 01:22 AM