We're now into round two 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 7
- 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.
VERSUS
- Back to basics: Start doing the little money-saving things again (Basics) - Feeling the pinch? This recession is going to be a long one, so it's time to exchange a little time for a lot of money.
GAME 8
- 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
- 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.
Pursuit
Number
Posted by: Eric | March 04, 2009 at 07:27 AM
basics
number
Posted by: Neal Frankle | March 04, 2009 at 08:40 AM
Basics
Struggle
Posted by: FFB | March 04, 2009 at 08:54 AM
Basics
Struggle
Posted by: Bible Money Matters | March 04, 2009 at 09:05 AM
Basics
Struggle
Posted by: Emily@remodelingthislife | March 04, 2009 at 09:13 AM
Game 7: Pursuit
Game 8: Number
Posted by: Aron | March 04, 2009 at 09:47 AM
Pursuit
Struggle
Posted by: Caitlin | March 04, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Pursuit
Number
Posted by: Amy | March 04, 2009 at 10:35 AM
pursuit!
struggle
Posted by: yvonne | March 04, 2009 at 10:37 AM
pursuit
Posted by: Ike | March 04, 2009 at 10:38 AM
pursuit
Posted by: samantha | March 04, 2009 at 10:41 AM
pursuit
Posted by: joe | March 04, 2009 at 10:51 AM
Pursuit
Posted by: Jonathan | March 04, 2009 at 11:13 AM
Pursuit
Struggle
Posted by: Cody | March 04, 2009 at 11:23 AM
pursuit
number
Posted by: John | March 04, 2009 at 11:28 AM
Pursuit
Numbers
Posted by: Will | March 04, 2009 at 11:44 AM
pursuit
Posted by: laura | March 04, 2009 at 11:52 AM
Pursuit
Struggle
Posted by: PT Money | March 04, 2009 at 12:06 PM
pursuit
Posted by: | March 04, 2009 at 12:14 PM
Pursuit
Posted by: Garrett | March 04, 2009 at 12:34 PM
pursuit
Posted by: Mike | March 04, 2009 at 12:38 PM
Pursuit
Number
Posted by: JayJay | March 04, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Pursuit
Number
Posted by: Coulter | March 04, 2009 at 01:11 PM
Pursuit!
Number!
Posted by: guinness416 | March 04, 2009 at 01:12 PM
Basics
Struggle
Posted by: Arohan | March 04, 2009 at 01:47 PM
Pursuit
Struggle
Posted by: otherdeb | March 04, 2009 at 02:24 PM
pursuit
Posted by: | March 04, 2009 at 02:35 PM
Struggle
Pursuit
Posted by: Miranda Marquit | March 04, 2009 at 02:48 PM
Pursuit
Struggle
Posted by: Kacie | March 04, 2009 at 03:25 PM
Basics
Struggle
Posted by: Kim McGrigg | March 04, 2009 at 03:58 PM
Pursuit
Posted by: Jim | March 04, 2009 at 05:10 PM
Pursuit
Number
Posted by: Greg S | March 04, 2009 at 05:25 PM
Struggle
Posted by: Assaf | March 04, 2009 at 05:46 PM
Pursuit
Posted by: | March 04, 2009 at 06:02 PM
Pursuit
Posted by: Spencer Ruport | March 04, 2009 at 06:18 PM
Struggle
Posted by: Bill | March 04, 2009 at 06:35 PM
Pursuit
Number
Posted by: David | March 04, 2009 at 08:46 PM
Pursuit
Number
Posted by: ObliviousInvestor | March 04, 2009 at 08:51 PM
Pursuit
Posted by: Jason | March 04, 2009 at 09:05 PM
Pursuit
Number
Posted by: Matt SF | March 04, 2009 at 09:37 PM
Struggle
Posted by: Alicia | March 05, 2009 at 12:00 AM
Pursuit
Struggle
Posted by: HarryW | March 05, 2009 at 12:46 AM
Basics
Posted by: Mike | March 05, 2009 at 01:12 AM
Basics
Posted by: Mike | March 05, 2009 at 01:12 AM
Pursuit
Posted by: David | March 05, 2009 at 01:20 AM
Pursuit
Struggle
Posted by: vilkri | March 05, 2009 at 05:31 AM
Basics
Number
Posted by: Emily | March 05, 2009 at 06:40 AM
basics
number
Posted by: daringpeach | March 05, 2009 at 07:59 AM
Pursuit
Number
Posted by: Frazmac | March 05, 2009 at 08:29 AM
Pursuit
Number
Posted by: Toby | March 05, 2009 at 09:16 AM