Free Money Finance

Free Money Finance March Madness Wrap Up

Well, we have a champion. After a couple months, several games, and many, many votes (thanks to all of you who participated) the winner of this year's Free Money Finance March Madness tournament for best personal finance post of 2008 is (along with the detail about his post):

• 10 Things I Have Learned About Money - Since I started writing about personal finance  a year ago I've really come to realize a lot of things about money. Some of them are basic, but some of them are life changing.  Here is a rundown of the top 10 things I've learned about money in the past year.

It was a great battle all the way to the end (with almost 200 votes cast in the semi-finals and almost 160 votes in the final). And it was a close win. The championship was determined by a mere two votes.

Second place went to:

• Do you appreciate what you have? - 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.

And the other two in the Final Four included:

• The Pursuit of Financial "Happyness" - 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.

• The College Student Debt Machine:  A National Disgrace - This post exposes the shameful and often ignored failure of colleges and universities to control their own budgets.  Concurrently, these same colleges freely encourage their students to use student loans to finance the ever increasing costs to attend.  With no one held accountable, young adults graduate with crushing debt that takes years to repay.

If you haven't read all of these pieces I'd suggest you take the time to do so. They are all excellent.

As most of you know, there was a financial side to the competition as I promised to donate to the charities selected by the Final Four posts. As such I'll be making donations for the following amounts to the following charities:

• $500 -- Second Harvest Heartland Food Bank
• $250 -- American Diabetes Association
• $100 -- CharityWater.org
• $100 -- Saddle Up

If any of you are so inclined, I'd encourage you to check out these fine charities and make a donation yourself.

Thanks to all who made March Madness a great success and congratulations to the winner, the Final Four, and all the participants. Hope to see you all back for more of the same next year. ;-)

Be Sure to Vote!

Just a reminder that the final two posts are now competing for the Free Money Finance March Madness Championship. If you haven't voted yet, click on the preceeding link and cast your vote. The competition will end first thing tomorrow morning, so hurry!!!

Free Money Finance March Madness, Championship

We're now down to the Championship game 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.)

To vote, simply leave a comment below with either "appreciate" or "learned" as your vote (one person, one vote). 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.

Voting will end around 7 am on Tuesday and a winner will be named shortly thereafter.

Here are the two posts up for the championship:

• 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

• 10 Things I Have Learned About Money (Learned) - Since I started writing about personal finance  a year ago I've really come to realize a lot of things about money. Some of them are basic, but some of them are life changing.  Here is a rundown of the top 10 things I've learned about money in the past year.

Heated Race -- Get Your Vote In

There is a heated race in the Final Four of my March Madness tournament. If you haven't voted yet, click the link on this post and submit your votes. There's not much time left -- winners will be announced first thing tomorrow morning -- so hurry!

Free Money Finance March Madness, Final Four

We're now down to the Final Four 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

• 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.

GAME 2

• 10 Things I Have Learned About Money (Learned) - Since I started writing about personal finance  a year ago I've really come to realize a lot of things about money. Some of them are basic, but some of them are life changing.  Here is a rundown of the top 10 things I've learned about money in the past year.

VERSUS

• The College Student Debt Machine:  A National Disgrace (Disgrace) - This post exposes the shameful and often ignored failure of colleges and universities to control their own budgets.  Concurrently, these same colleges freely encourage their students to use student loans to finance the ever increasing costs to attend.  With no one held accountable, young adults graduate with crushing debt that takes years to repay.

Free Money Finance March Madness, Elite 8, Posts 5-8

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 3

• 10 Things I Have Learned About Money (Learned) - Since I started writing about personal finance  a year ago I've really come to realize a lot of things about money. Some of them are basic, but some of them are life changing.  Here is a rundown of the top 10 things I've learned about money in the past year.

VERSUS

• Why you can't trust real estate agents when buying a house (Trust) - I really liked this post because it was a lot of fun to write and I know it probably helped a few people rethink their relationship with their real estate agent.

GAME 4

• A Story About Banks; They Are Not In The Real Estate Business (Banks) - This is the story of two men who had their dreams: one wanted to make money from his own farm and the other wanted to make money from the others through lending. By reading this story, you will understand how banks got into so much troubles.

VERSUS

• The College Student Debt Machine:  A National Disgrace (Disgrace) - This post exposes the shameful and often ignored failure of colleges and universities to control their own budgets.  Concurrently, these same colleges freely encourage their students to use student loans to finance the ever increasing costs to attend.  With no one held accountable, young adults graduate with crushing debt that takes years to repay.

Free Money Finance March Madness, Elite 8, Posts 1-4

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.

Free Money Finance March Madness, Sweet 16, Posts 13-16

We're now down to the Sweet 16 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

• A Story About Banks; They Are Not In The Real Estate Business (Banks) - This is the story of two men who had their dreams: one wanted to make money from his own farm and the other wanted to make money from the others through lending. By reading this story, you will understand how banks got into so much troubles.

VERSUS

• What the Volitile Market Tells Us About Ourselves (Market) - I think this is a great blog - even I have to say so myself. I like it because it provides a realistic assessment of the economic situation at the time which is not pie in the sky or chicken little and it hopefully helped readers get their feet on the ground and realize that their emotions were the greatest financial obstacle they face.

GAME 8

• Tips for College Graduate (Graduate) - So many college graduates are unaware of how important it is to begin a financial life with the right foundation.  I offer ten key, finance, tips for the recent college grad.

VERSUS

• The College Student Debt Machine:  A National Disgrace (Disgrace) - This post exposes the shameful and often ignored failure of colleges and universities to control their own budgets.  Concurrently, these same colleges freely encourage their students to use student loans to finance the ever increasing costs to attend.  With no one held accountable, young adults graduate with crushing debt that takes years to repay.

Free Money Finance March Madness, Sweet 16, Posts 9-12

We're now down to the Sweet 16 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 5

• 10 Things I Have Learned About Money (Learned) - Since I started writing about personal finance  a year ago I've really come to realize a lot of things about money. Some of them are basic, but some of them are life changing.  Here is a rundown of the top 10 things I've learned about money in the past year.

VERSUS

• What's The Point Of A Phonebook Anymore?  How Do I Stop Getting One Every 3 Months? (Phonebook) - Who told the phone book company I actually wanted this?  What percentage of the population even uses it anymore?  Mine goes from my doorstep to my recycle bin as soon as I see 1 of the 5 that come every few months.

GAME 6

• Lost Money: How Money Drains Add Up To $175,000 In 10 Years (Lost) - This article gives us some numbers behind the "latte factor" -- how much money are we really frittering away on things we don't really need?  I found the information here the kind of thing that has inspired me to improve my saving and spending patterns, enough to make me cut down our household budget by 25% last year!  I hope this proves helpful to you as well.

VERSUS

• Why you can't trust real estate agents when buying a house (Trust) - I really liked this post because it was a lot of fun to write and I know it probably helped a few people rethink their relationship with their real estate agent.

Free Money Finance March Madness, Sweet 16, Posts 5-8

We're now down to the Sweet 16 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

• 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

• 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.

GAME 4

• 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

• 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.

Free Money Finance March Madness, Sweet 16, Posts 1-4

We're now down to the Sweet 16 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

• Extra Income Guide (Guide) - In this economy, a lot of people are looking for ways to improve their cash flow and make a little more money.  This is a comprehensive guide that discusses the pluses and minuses of putting effort into earning extra income, as well as provide you with ideas and strategies to help you succeed.

VERSUS

• 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.

GAME 2

• 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!

VERSUS

• Discussing Retirement with Parents: Is a Comfortable Retirement No Longer an Option? (Option) - This post has been among my more popular articles because it hits a subject area we're all thinking about, that causes anxiety just by seeing the title, but yet, we neglect to really confront the issue.  Writing this was probably one of the most difficult post I've done to date since I've looked up to the gentleman in this post all of my life.  It's a post that everyone can related to on a personal level in terms of concern for their parents quality of life as they age.  It also suggests a few ways to approach the issue with your parents, as well as illuminates segments of parent-child relationships that we might not want to visit because it's a taboo subject.  Best part is that I've had younger adults, as well as those reaching retirement age leave comments, but also contact me directly.

Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 2, Posts 29-32

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 15

• Debt Collection Practices: Going From Debtor To Debt Collector (Practices) - This article is interesting as it offers the view of someone who had debt, who then eventually experienced what it was like to be on the other side of the debt management spectrum, as the debt collector!   Since we often complain about our bill collectors, this post offers a fresh perspective on the debt collection situation.

VERSUS

• Tips for College Graduate (Graduate) - So many college graduates are unaware of how important it is to begin a financial life with the right foundation.  I offer ten key, finance, tips for the recent college grad.

GAME 16

• The College Student Debt Machine:  A National Disgrace (Disgrace) - This post exposes the shameful and often ignored failure of colleges and universities to control their own budgets.  Concurrently, these same colleges freely encourage their students to use student loans to finance the ever increasing costs to attend.  With no one held accountable, young adults graduate with crushing debt that takes years to repay.

VERSUS

• 10 Ways to Tell If You Can Afford It (Afford) - This is my best post because it's short, concise and packs a lot of information on all aspects of personal finance.  From retirement to having an emergency fund, everything is covered.  If there's one post that anyone interested in money needs to read, this is it!

Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 2, Posts 25-28

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 13

• A Story About Banks; They Are Not In The Real Estate Business (Banks) - This is the story of two men who had their dreams: one wanted to make money from his own farm and the other wanted to make money from the others through lending. By reading this story, you will understand how banks got into so much troubles.

VERSUS

• Don't Blindly Invest In A 401k (Blindly) - There is so much "cookie-cutter" financial advice floating around that many of us have stopped using our own God-given creativity and brain when it comes to making decisions. Blindly investing in a 401k is just one example of following the herd, but that doesn't mean it's advice that is the best choice for your individual situation. Buyer beware!

GAME 14

• What the Volitile Market Tells Us About Ourselves (Market) - I think this is a great blog - even I have to say so myself. I like it because it provides a realistic assessment of the economic situation at the time which is not pie in the sky or chicken little and it hopefully helped readers get their feet on the ground and realize that their emotions were the greatest financial obstacle they face.

VERSUS

• How often should I contribute to my Roth IRA? (Roth) - It's a post noting how simple it is to fully fund an IRA account.  The commenters and I discuss the best way to fund a retirement account (incrementally vs. lump sum), and consider the benefits of dollar cost average, both in terms of financial returns and psychological motivation.

Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 2, Posts 21-24

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 11

• Lost Money: How Money Drains Add Up To $175,000 In 10 Years (Lost) - This article gives us some numbers behind the "latte factor" -- how much money are we really frittering away on things we don't really need?  I found the information here the kind of thing that has inspired me to improve my saving and spending patterns, enough to make me cut down our household budget by 25% last year!  I hope this proves helpful to you as well.

VERSUS

• What Makes Kids Happy? (Kids) - This post meant the most to me this year as it got to the whole point of why we crunch numbers - to take care of the ones we love.  It's the story of when my youngest teaches me how being together doesn't cost much at all in an age of rampant consumerism.  It must have touched my readers as well as this was easily my most popular post of the year.

GAME 12

• Why you can't trust real estate agents when buying a house (Trust) - I really liked this post because it was a lot of fun to write and I know it probably helped a few people rethink their relationship with their real estate agent.

VERSUS

• Lower My Bills Cable Bill Edition (Lower) - If you ask 10 people what their cable bill is, you'll probably get 10 different answers and costs that range from dollars a day to obscene. These tips and tricks for handling your cable company and customer service in general will make sure that you don't bleed your wallet dry trying to watch Seinfeld reruns.

Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 2, Posts 17-20

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 9

• 10 Things I Have Learned About Money (Learned) - Since I started writing about personal finance  a year ago I've really come to realize a lot of things about money. Some of them are basic, but some of them are life changing.  Here is a rundown of the top 10 things I've learned about money in the past year.

VERSUS

• How to Save on Gas (35 Tips Inside) (Gas) - I have always looked for ways to minimize my gas usage.  This became more important than ever when gas prices neared $5.00 a gallon near my home in mid-2008.  This post is may not currently as practical as the price of gas has eased, but the timing may have been helpful for many.

GAME 10

• What's The Point Of A Phonebook Anymore?  How Do I Stop Getting One Every 3 Months? (Phonebook) - Who told the phone book company I actually wanted this?  What percentage of the population even uses it anymore?  Mine goes from my doorstep to my recycle bin as soon as I see 1 of the 5 that come every few months.

VERSUS

• 10 Ways To Make Your Stuff Feel New Again (New) - Help your family and your pocketbook by using these tips to help bring back the luster in your life.  Make that diamond ring look like new again and make your home look fresh and clean for very little money.

Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 2, Posts 13-16

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.

Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 2, Posts 9-12

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 5

• Ten Can't Miss Ways To Kickstart Snowflaking (Kickstart) - A followup to last year's primer on snowflaking.  Snowflaking is the practice of taking little amounts of money you save or earn and applying them in aggregate to accomplish your financial goals quicker than you ever imagined by turning a lot of "little" into a "big" (ie a lot of snowflakes make a big blizzard!).  This is a list of ten practical and immediately actionable ways you can start doing that in your own life - places to find financial snowflakes in your finances as well as practices that, once habits, will create snowflakes.

VERSUS

• 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.

GAME 6

• 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!

VERSUS

• 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.

Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 2, Posts 5-8

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 3

• 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!

VERSUS

• 36 Ways to Earn Extra Money (36) - What should you do if you've cut your budget to the bone and you still can't make ends meet? Earn more money! This post lists three dozen practical tips for bringing home a bit more bacon.

GAME 4

• Airport Car Rentals are a Ripoff (Ripoff) - Short, sweet, and to the point. You can save a ton of money by skipping the airport rental desk and catching a cab to a nearby location.

VERSUS

• Discussing Retirement with Parents: Is a Comfortable Retirement No Longer an Option? (Option) - This post has been among my more popular articles because it hits a subject area we're all thinking about, that causes anxiety just by seeing the title, but yet, we neglect to really confront the issue.  Writing this was probably one of the most difficult post I've done to date since I've looked up to the gentleman in this post all of my life.  It's a post that everyone can related to on a personal level in terms of concern for their parents quality of life as they age.  It also suggests a few ways to approach the issue with your parents, as well as illuminates segments of parent-child relationships that we might not want to visit because it's a taboo subject.  Best part is that I've had younger adults, as well as those reaching retirement age leave comments, but also contact me directly.

FMF March Madness, Round 1 Over, Latest Brackets

Round 1 of FMF March Madness is over and round 2 started this morning. I've attached the latest brackets below (details the winners from round 1) in a spreadsheet for those of you interested.

Download FMF March Madness Brackets 2009

Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 2, Posts 1-4

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 1

• Extra Income Guide (Guide) - In this economy, a lot of people are looking for ways to improve their cash flow and make a little more money.  This is a comprehensive guide that discusses the pluses and minuses of putting effort into earning extra income, as well as provide you with ideas and strategies to help you succeed.

VERSUS

• How to Save Money Like a Madman (Madman) - I'm passionate about helping people save more of their money. This posts dials in to some of that passion and uses a bit of humor and psychology to really help make the same-ole savings concepts stick.

GAME 2

• 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

• 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.

Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 1, Posts 61-64

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 31

• 6 things you can learn from Deal or No Deal (Deal) - This post lists 6 things you can learn from Deal or No Deal and apply to your personal finances. 1) Have a plan and stick to it 2) Control your emotions 3) Sometimes you shouldn't listen to your family members 4) Something is better than nothing 5) Don't get caught up in beating others 6) Don't overestimate yourself.

VERSUS

• The College Student Debt Machine:  A National Disgrace (Disgrace) - This post exposes the shameful and often ignored failure of colleges and universities to control their own budgets.  Concurrently, these same colleges freely encourage their students to use student loans to finance the ever increasing costs to attend.  With no one held accountable, young adults graduate with crushing debt that takes years to repay.

GAME 32

• 10 Ways to Tell If You Can Afford It (Afford) - This is my best post because it's short, concise and packs a lot of information on all aspects of personal finance.  From retirement to having an emergency fund, everything is covered.  If there's one post that anyone interested in money needs to read, this is it!

VERSUS

• How To Pay Off Your Mortgage Early (Early) - There are tons of pros and cons to paying off your mortgage early. But most of the pros you can't put a dollar value on (like less stress and freedom).  My #1 goal right now is to get my mortgage paid off, and I'll show you how I'm doing it in this post.

Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 1, Posts 57-60

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 29

• 8 Rules you Must Follow when Buying Stocks During a Recession (8) - Investing in turbulent times is never easy, and can actually be quite frightening. However, when you follow sound principles and choose winning companies, the potential for profit can be monumental. Now is not the time to sit on the sidelines. This post shows you what to look for in a stock in today's recession.

VERSUS

• Debt Collection Practices: Going From Debtor To Debt Collector (Practices) - This article is interesting as it offers the view of someone who had debt, who then eventually experienced what it was like to be on the other side of the debt management spectrum, as the debt collector!   Since we often complain about our bill collectors, this post offers a fresh perspective on the debt collection situation.

GAME 30

• Setting up a Budget, Lower Debt – the Internet is Full of Advice (Advice) - This post aims to convince readers to set up a budget so that they can lower their debt and reach other financial goals. It makes a compelling case that setting up a budget and following it is the first step to get one's financial house in good order. We all work so hard for the income we earn. Why don't we also apply some effort to make sure that our hard-earned income is spent well?

VERSUS

• Tips for College Graduate (Graduate) - So many college graduates are unaware of how important it is to begin a financial life with the right foundation.  I offer ten key, finance, tips for the recent college grad.

Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 1, Posts 53-56

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 27

• What the Volitile Market Tells Us About Ourselves (Market) - I think this is a great blog - even I have to say so myself. I like it because it provides a realistic assessment of the economic situation at the time which is not pie in the sky or chicken little and it hopefully helped readers get their feet on the ground and realize that their emotions were the greatest financial obstacle they face.

VERSUS

• How to Redeem Internet Coupons (Coupons) - This post was written in 2005 and I continue to get requests to repost it as the topic is relevant and useful to many!  This article attempts to help the internet/coupon user to successfully save money with legitimate coupons that retailers and cashiers often reject due being technology challenged.

GAME 28

• How often should I contribute to my Roth IRA? (Roth) - It's a post noting how simple it is to fully fund an IRA account.  The commenters and I discuss the best way to fund a retirement account (incrementally vs. lump sum), and consider the benefits of dollar cost average, both in terms of financial returns and psychological motivation.
  As a bonus, you linked to it as a Star Money Article on January 11, 2008!

VERSUS

• What's Wrong with Used Goods? (Wrong) - Why do people have such reservations about buying something used?  This post explores the stigma of buying second hand and what it means for your money.

Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 1, Posts 49-52

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 25

• A Story About Banks; They Are Not In The Real Estate Business (Banks) - This is the story of two men who had their dreams: one wanted to make money from his own farm and the other wanted to make money from the others through lending. By reading this story, you will understand how banks got into so much troubles.

VERSUS

• 18 Ways I Keep My Grocery Bill Under $75 a Month! (18) - We all need to eat---but why spend more than you have to?  With inflation skyrocketing and the economy in a tailspin, what better way to improve your own bottom line than saving money at the grocery store?  In the past, I've succeeded in keeping my grocery bill under $75 a month using these 18 frugal tips! 

GAME 26

• Today's Expenses, Tomorrow's Savings (Today) - Why deprive yourself of a $5 coffee or a $10 meal today? Just how much money can you earn by saving it? $500? $5000? Meanwhile, you're pinching pennies and not really enjoying life. How does that make any sense?

VERSUS

• Don't Blindly Invest In A 401k (Blindly) - There is so much "cookie-cutter" financial advice floating around that many of us have stopped using our own God-given creativity and brain when it comes to making decisions. Blindly investing in a 401k is just one example of following the herd, but that doesn't mean it's advice that is the best choice for your individual situation. Buyer beware!

Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 1, Posts 45-48

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 23

• If I Were A Rich Girl (Girl) - This post is about the positive legacy of poverty: the drive, the cojones, the ambition.  I've made it, I make plenty of money, heck I'm a blogger that doesn't even take ads.  I believe it was in large part because I watched my mother put back things every time we went to the grocery store.  I credit that childhood poverty to my success.

VERSUS

• Why you can't trust real estate agents when buying a house (Trust) - I really liked this post because it was a lot of fun to write and I know it probably helped a few people rethink their relationship with their real estate agent.

GAME 24

• The Importance of Savings Goals (Goals) - Having specific goals when it comes to saving can really help you manage your money in an smart way.  Having such goals has helped my husband and I settle money disagreements and it helps me to be okay when it comes time to spend a large chunk of money.

VERSUS

• Lower My Bills Cable Bill Edition (Lower) - If you ask 10 people what their cable bill is, you'll probably get 10 different answers and costs that range from dollars a day to obscene. These tips and tricks for handling your cable company and customer service in general will make sure that you don't bleed your wallet dry trying to watch Seinfeld reruns.

Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 1, Posts 41-44

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 21

• How I started an ebay business (ebay) - This post walks the reader through each step I took to start my Ebay business. From the idea phase to to calculating profit/loss it lays out the details of how to do it.

VERSUS

• Lost Money: How Money Drains Add Up To $175,000 In 10 Years (Lost) - This article gives us some numbers behind the "latte factor" -- how much money are we really frittering away on things we don't really need?  I found the information here the kind of thing that has inspired me to improve my saving and spending patterns, enough to make me cut down our household budget by 25% last year!  I hope this proves helpful to you as well.

GAME 22

• What Makes Kids Happy? (Kids) - This post meant the most to me this year as it got to the whole point of why we crunch numbers - to take care of the ones we love.  It's the story of when my youngest teaches me how being together doesn't cost much at all in an age of rampant consumerism.  It must have touched my readers as well as this was easily my most popular post of the year.

VERSUS

• What's the Answer to Pricey Bridesmaid Dresses? (Dresses) - Bridesmaid's dresses are an out-of-control expense. Young women end up shelling out hundreds of dollars because they worry about letting a friend down on the "most important day of her life." What's the solution? I offer a few ideas and seventy commenters throw in their two cents!

Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 1, Posts 37-40

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 19

• 10 Ways to Save Money During the Recession (Recession) - This is a great article because it contains some of the best ideas to help people deal with the recession. This is not a time to put your head in the sand. Stay alert. Being prepared for opportunities is perhaps the best strategy you can have.

VERSUS

• What's The Point Of A Phonebook Anymore?  How Do I Stop Getting One Every 3 Months? (Phonebook) - Who told the phone book company I actually wanted this?  What percentage of the population even uses it anymore?  Mine goes from my doorstep to my recycle bin as soon as I see 1 of the 5 that come every few months.

GAME 20

• State Schools Save Dollars, Make Sense (Sense) - Like a lot of people, Farnoosh had a case of the top-tier college envy in high school, she worked hard for the grades and didn’t want to be dragged down by attending some local state university. That’s a tough lesson to learn for a lot of people, but it’s also an important financial advantage when you consider the enormous amounts of student debt graduates are accumulating. This post is pretty awesome because it gives you some insight into the mind of most high-achievers and offers two solid lists full of advice and additional info. How can you go wrong with that?

VERSUS

• 10 Ways To Make Your Stuff Feel New Again (New) - Help your family and your pocketbook by using these tips to help bring back the luster in your life.  Make that diamond ring look like new again and make your home look fresh and clean for very little money.

Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 1, Posts 33-36

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 17

• 10 Things I Have Learned About Money (Learned) - Since I started writing about personal finance  a year ago I've really come to realize a lot of things about money. Some of them are basic, but some of them are life changing.  Here is a rundown of the top 10 things I've learned about money in the past year.

VERSUS

• How Much Should You Spend on on an Engagement Ring? (Ring) - An engagement ring can be a very large purchase for a new couple.   The common rule of thumb cited for how much to spend on engagement rings is two months salary.   Do people really spend two months salary and how much should you spend?

GAME 18

• How to Save on Gas (35 Tips Inside) (Gas) - I have always looked for ways to minimize my gas usage.  This became more important than ever when gas prices neared $5.00 a gallon near my home in mid-2008.  This post is may not currently as practical as the price of gas has eased, but the timing may have been helpful for many.

VERSUS

• Saving Money Cold Turkey Style (Turkey) - For months I was telling myself and everyone that I was saving money and paying down my debts, but that is all I was doing: talking about it.  The results were not there and the numbers didn't support my words.  Just like any other bad habit (Drugs, alcohol, gambling), extreme measures needed to be taken which lead me to cutting down my budget to the extreme and cutting out the problem areas of my life!

Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 1, Posts 29-32

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.

Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 1, Posts 25-28

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 13

• 14 Ways to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill (Cell) - Working for cell phone service providers over the last eight years has enabled me to gain unique and uncommon insights on how to save money on your cell phone bill.  Within this article I tell you the best time of year to sign up with a cell phone provider, how to get your cell phone provider to lower your bill, educate you on unadvertised price plans, and more!

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.

GAME 14

• 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.

VERSUS

• How Portfolio Turnover Affects Mutual Fund Return (Turnover) - Portfolio turnover is one of those oft-ignored facts buried deep within a prospectus. That's unfortunate though, given the significant (downward) effect that turnover has on return. With many funds averaging nearly 100% turnover per year, you have lots of room to improve your results just by doing a little research.

Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 1, Posts 21-24

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.

Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 1, Posts 17-20

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 9

• 20 Questions with J.D. Roth, author of Get Rich Slowly (Roth) - J.D. Roth is the author of Get Rich Slowly, one of the most popular and successful finance blogs on the web.  He was nice enough to answer 20 questions for me on a variety of topics such as starting a website/business, goals and passions, the economy, and lessons that he has learned over the years.  You can learn a lot from the success of others, and J.D. has some great lessons to teach.  Read this and prepare to be inspired!

VERSUS

• Ten Can't Miss Ways To Kickstart Snowflaking (Kickstart) - A followup to last year's primer on snowflaking.  Snowflaking is the practice of taking little amounts of money you save or earn and applying them in aggregate to accomplish your financial goals quicker than you ever imagined by turning a lot of "little" into a "big" (ie a lot of snowflakes make a big blizzard!).  This is a list of ten practical and immediately actionable ways you can start doing that in your own life - places to find financial snowflakes in your finances as well as practices that, once habits, will create snowflakes.

GAME 10

• How to Buy and Sell Shares on the Stock Market (Shares) - An article that explains the very basics on how to buy and sell shares with a discount brokerage.  The article discusses details such as how to read a stock quote along with explaining the terminology before hitting the "trade" button.

VERSUS

• 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.

Close Games -- Be Sure to Vote

Two close games here -- be sure to vote and let your opinion be known!

Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 1, Posts 13-16

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 7

• Airport Car Rentals are a Ripoff (Ripoff) - Short, sweet, and to the point. You can save a ton of money by skipping the airport rental desk and catching a cab to a nearby location.

VERSUS

• The Age of No Negotiation (Negotiation) - Why do businesses not want my money? I just don't understand the rational in sending a potential customer out the door so angry that they never want to come back.

GAME 8

• K.I.S.S. – Keep it Simple, Small (KISS) - What small homes lack in space, they make up for in savings. From cheaper repair bills to lower utility bills, sometimes smaller is better. If your quest is to live more simply, try downsizing.

VERSUS

• Discussing Retirement with Parents: Is a Comfortable Retirement No Longer an Option? (Option) - This post has been among my more popular articles because it hits a subject area we're all thinking about, that causes anxiety just by seeing the title, but yet, we neglect to really confront the issue.  Writing this was probably one of the most difficult post I've done to date since I've looked up to the gentleman in this post all of my life.  It's a post that everyone can related to on a personal level in terms of concern for their parents quality of life as they age.  It also suggests a few ways to approach the issue with your parents, as well as illuminates segments of parent-child relationships that we might not want to visit because it's a taboo subject.  Best part is that I've had younger adults, as well as those reaching retirement age leave comments, but also contact me directly.

Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 1, Posts 9-12

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 5

• 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!

VERSUS

• Retiring Early in Turbulent Times (Turbulent) - Obviously, 2008 wasn't the greatest time to be in early retirement. However, we did survive our first year of retirement, and I think the prospects of staying retired are still reasonably good. Here's a brief summary of what worked, what didn't work, what we wish we had done, and what turned out to be lucky.

GAME 6

• 36 Ways to Earn Extra Money (36) - What should you do if you've cut your budget to the bone and you still can't make ends meet? Earn more money! This post lists three dozen practical tips for bringing home a bit more bacon.

VERSUS

• How to Evaluate Balance Transfer Credit Card Offers (Evaluate) - Low APR balance transfers are a great tool for digging yourself out of debt. This article provides a quick rundown of what to look for when searching for the very best offer.

Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 1, Posts 5-8

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.

Free Money Finance March Madness, Round 1, Posts 1-4

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 1

• Extra Income Guide (Guide) - In this economy, a lot of people are looking for ways to improve their cash flow and make a little more money.  This is a comprehensive guide that discusses the pluses and minuses of putting effort into earning extra income, as well as provide you with ideas and strategies to help you succeed.

VERSUS

• Looking Back on a Year Without Credit Cards (Year) - I think this post is great because it shows that it is possible to make the turnaround from a credit card addicted consumer to a frugal saver who pays with cash. I no longer use credit cards at all and I stopped wasting money on stuff I don't need.

GAME 2

• The Financial Benefits of Giving (Benefits) - While giving your money away might seem to be at odds with smart financial planning strategies, it most certainly is not.  Charitable giving is a great way not only to make a difference in someone else's life, but to gain a new perspective on your own finances.  Giving can liberate you from feeling the need to keep up with the Joneses, help you realize just how wealthy you are, and enable you to make smarter decisions with your money.

VERSUS

• How to Save Money Like a Madman (Madman) - I'm passionate about helping people save more of their money. This posts dials in to some of that passion and uses a bit of humor and psychology to really help make the same-ole savings concepts stick.

2009 March Madness Bracket

Attached is the 2009 March Madness bracket. A few comments on it:

• Included is each post title, the link to the post, as well as an estimated date when those posts will "play" each other.

• The brackets were assigned in order that I received each submission -- they are not seeded.

• I have not yet reviewed every post (I'm in the process of doing that). If any are deemed unacceptable (like spam posts, mostly ads, etc.) I will replace it with other posts submitted that missed the cutoffs or second posts submitted by bloggers already in the competition.

• The competiton starts soon -- next week -- so we can space them out a bit and focus on only four at a time.

• Once posted, each competition will be given a couple days to let readers vote. After that, I'll post the winner.

• There are some GREAT posts in here. I think readers will love being introduced to many of the submissions.

That's it for now. Good luck to everyone!

Download 2009 March Madness

March Madness Now Closed

Just want you money bloggers out there to know that submissions for my March Madness tournament are now closed.

For readers -- stay tuned. I hope to have the brackets available for your viewing in the next week or so.

Hurry Money Bloggers!

Seven spots are left in my March Madness competition. Submit something now if you want to be part of it.

Reminder to Bloggers: Space is Filling Up Fast

If you're a money blogger and want to participate in my March Madness tournament this year, you need to submit your entries quickly. Inclusion is on a first-come first-served basis and spots are filling up. If you're one to wait awhile to enter (or if you put things off too long), you'll probably be left out in the cold on this one.

Just a friendly reminder. ;-)

Attention Financial Bloggers: Free Promotion for Your Top Posts and $500 Given to the Charity of Your Choice

Yes, it's that time of year again -- Free Money Finance March Madness is upon us!

For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, it's our annual "tournament" of the best personal finance articles of the past year. They face each other in an NCAA-style bracket system, FMF readers vote for the winner, and at the end of it all, the best post is left standing. And like last year, it's all for several good causes. Here are some details from last year:

• My announcement post

• An example of a "round"

• The Champion is Named

This year I'm getting a head start on it. In the past, we've had so many posts in the early rounds that it's been hard for readers to keep up. So this year I'll be starting the tournament early (still ending near the end of March) and letting everyone have plenty of time to read all the posts.

64 posts in total will be allowed in the 2009 competition. Each one will be assigned randomly in a bracket set of "games" similar to the one used for the Men's NCAA basketball tournament. (If you want to see what one looks like, go to the end of this post and download last year's bracket.) Here are more details:

• If you're a blogger and have money-related posts you want to include you can email the following to me: 1. The name of the post you're submitting, 2. the URL of the post you're submitting, 3. two to five sentences on what makes this post so great (I'll be using this wording in the competition, though I reserve the right to edit it, so really "sell" your posts), and the charity you're playing for (see below for details on what this means.) I need to receive all this by Friday, January 30. Note: if you do not submit your posts in this format, they could be rejected. Also, the posts submitted need to be from the calendar year 2008.

• You can submit up to two posts, but if you do, be sure to list them in order of your preference. I'll start by allowing only one post per site, but if all the slots don't fill up, I'll start adding extra posts by sites already in the tournament. If I don't receive 64 submissions, I'll fill in the brackets with my own posts.

• Participation will be on a first come-first served basis. So if you're the 65th blogger to submit a post, you're not going to get a spot.

• The posts will "play" each other with the winner advancing and the loser being bumped. They'll "play" in this manner: 1) I'll post the competing posts, listing who's playing who, 2) readers can leave comments on which they like better, 3) the post with the most votes wins -- I'll break any ties, and 4) the winner will advance in the bracket to "play" again. Ultimately, there will be only one post left -- the "champion" for this season.

• Criteria for great articles is as follows: 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.

Like last year, I'll make contributions to the charities of the top four winners' choices as follows:

• First Place donation -- $500
• Second Place donation -- $300
• Third Place donation -- $100
• Fourth Place donation -- $100

The charity has to be a registered charity to receive a tax deduction under U.S. law. In other words, I won't be giving $500 to a "charity" you and your brother came up with on the spur of the moment. In addition I reserve the right to ask you to select an alternative charity in case I don't feel it's appropriate for me to give to the cause you've listed. This wasn't a problem last year and I don't suspect it will be this year, but I'm putting this stipulation in up front just in case I need a bit of flexibility.

As readers, you get the chance to read some great pieces and help decide who wins this year's championship. It should be great fun and full of the best personal finance posts of the past year. Good stuff all the way around!

March Madness Winner, $50 Gift Card Winner, and Donations to Charity

Well, it was a close battle, but Snowflaking:  A Primer (Snowflaking) beat How I Taught My Preschooler the Value of a Dollar (Dollar) for the championship in my March Madness tournament. Congrats to you both -- your posts were wonderful!

In addition, I named the winner of the $50 gift card courtesy of SmartyPig. Click the link and scroll to the bottom to see if you won.

Finally, I promised to make contributions to the charities of those whose posts were in the final four of my tournament. Therefore, later this week I'll be contributing the following amounts to the following charities:

• Make A Wish Foundation - $500
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - $250
• American Cancer Society - $100
• Russian Children's Welfare Society - $100

Congrats to all the participants -- the posters and the voters! You made it a great event!!

30 Minutes Left

30 minutes left in my March Madness finals. (And your chance to win a prize.) Vote now if you haven't yet!!!

Free Money Finance March Madness, Championship; Your Chance to Win a $50 Gift Card Too

We're down to the last two posts 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 the "game" below -- simply comment on which post you like better. Here we go:

• Snowflaking:  A Primer (Snowflaking) - Snowflaking is a concept that many people actually employ but few people can name. It involves systematically and purposely saving and earning small amounts of "extra" money to reduce debt or increase savings. Doing this in a purposeful manner can make a huge difference in your financial health.  This post outlines what snowflaking is and how to get started implementing it in your own life.  It has worked wonders for me!

VERSUS

• How I Taught My Preschooler the Value of a Dollar (Dollar) - It's important to teach young children about hard work, saving, and spending.  In a quite accidental way, I used a chart system to teach my son the value of money and hard work.  If you teach your children about delayed gratification early, it will have a positive effect on their money management skills throughout life.

In addition, I still have a $50 gift card courtesy of SmartyPig for one commenter dwarn at random. Here's how you can win it:

1. Leave a comment/vote below for your favorite post of the two above.

2. Sometime on Tuesday, I'll stop by the post, stop the submissions, and name the winner.

3. It will be that person's responsibility to check back to see if they are a winner and then email me their contact information.

4. Once I'm contacted, I'll mail out the card.

A few rules for these giveaways:

1. I will be the complete and final judge.

2. Legal disclaimer: I can not guarantee safe delivery of the items. The prize will be sent via mail and since it comes from SmartyPig, it should be fine, but since I can't control the mail I won't be held accountable if there's a mess up.

3. If you win and do not contact me within a week of winning, I reserve the right to give your prize away to another winner. Note again: I won't track down the winners -- it's your responsibility to come back and see if you won.

4. Local laws, rules, and regulations apply.

Good luck! Post a comment below for your chance to win!

Free Money Finance March Madness, Final Four; Your Chance to Win a Prize Too

We're down to the final four 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 better out of each set of two. Here we go:

GAME 1

• Snowflaking:  A Primer (Snowflaking) - Snowflaking is a concept that many people actually employ but few people can name. It involves systematically and purposely saving and earning small amounts of "extra" money to reduce debt or increase savings. Doing this in a purposeful manner can make a huge difference in your financial health.  This post outlines what snowflaking is and how to get started implementing it in your own life.  It has worked wonders for me!

VERSUS

• A little-too-late advice on building wealth (Late) - Well, we're all stupid.  Some of us stupider than others, but mama always told me stupid is as stupid does.  If you can read this list and you haven't messed up all of these points already, you may find a way to destupidify.

GAME 2

• 8 Lessons I Learned From The Cheapest Family In The Nation (Lessons) - This post was the single most popular post I wrote last year.  It garnered a huge response on the net and a lot of discussion to boot. I think it's a great and inspiring look at a real-life family's frugality.  The Economides family proves that with teamwork, strategy and determination, we can all live below our means and live well with less.

VERSUS

• How I Taught My Preschooler the Value of a Dollar (Dollar) - It's important to teach young children about hard work, saving, and spending.  In a quite accidental way, I used a chart system to teach my son the value of money and hard work.  If you teach your children about delayed gratification early, it will have a positive effect on their money management skills throughout life.

In addition, I still have one 1GB USB drive available to give away (see details on it here.) All the rules, exceptions, etc. detailed on the linked post apply, but the basics are -- leave your votes for the best posts above and one commenter will be selected at random to receive the drive FREE!!!! Good luck!!!

Final Four Decided Today

Just a note to let you all know that voting is winding down for the following games:

• Free Money Finance March Madness, Elite Eight, Posts 1-4

• Free Money Finance March Madness, Elite Eight, Posts 5-8

I'll be naming the winners this afternoon, so if you want your vote to be counted, add it now.

Free Money Finance March Madness, Elite Eight, Posts 5-8

Here's the fourth 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 better out of each set of two. Here we go:

GAME 3

• 8 Lessons I Learned From The Cheapest Family In The Nation (Lessons) - This post was the single most popular post I wrote last year.  It garnered a huge response on the net and a lot of discussion to boot. I think it's a great and inspiring look at a real-life family's frugality.  The Economides family proves that with teamwork, strategy and determination, we can all live below our means and live well with less.

VERSUS

• Think before you buy!  A wallet-sized reminder of your priorities (Think) - Being a thoughtful shopper is vital if you're trying to buy less and/or buy in ways that fit your values and priorities.  This post links to a ready-made credit/debit card sleeve printed with some great questions to ask yourself before you buy anything-- and is also full of suggestions and inspiration for designing your own list of questions if the existing one isn't right for you.  It's an exercise that's all about developing a mental checklist (with a physical reminder) that makes you more intentional and thoughtful about your consumption.

GAME 4

• Lessons Learned from Diet Books: How to Think Like a Rich Person (Lessons) - Some people are rich, and some people are thin: what are they doing right? Using a best-selling diet book as inspiration, this post lays out 8 personality traits that can make it difficult for you to manage your finances, and suggests ways to combat these self-defeating traits. There are many ways in which dieting and saving money are analogous but I think these 8 points really get at the heart of why many people have trouble succeeding in each area.

VERSUS

• How I Taught My Preschooler the Value of a Dollar (Dollar) - It's important to teach young children about hard work, saving, and spending.  In a quite accidental way, I used a chart system to teach my son the value of money and hard work.  If you teach your children about delayed gratification early, it will have a positive effect on their money management skills throughout life.

Free Money Finance March Madness, Elite Eight, Posts 1-4

Here's the fourth 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 better out of each set of two. Here we go:

GAME 1

• Snowflaking:  A Primer (Snowflaking) - Snowflaking is a concept that many people actually employ but few people can name.  It involves systematically and purposely saving and earning small amounts of "extra" money to reduce debt or increase savings. Doing this in a purposeful manner can make a huge difference in your financial health.  This post outlines what snowflaking is and how to get started implementing it in your own life.  It has worked wonders for me!

VERSUS

• I want to be rich like you (Rich) - My teenage cousin thought that because of the things I had – house, car, electronic gadgets – that I had to be rich. I had to explain to him what debt was and how appearances from the outside can be deceiving.

GAME 2

• A little-too-late advice on building wealth (Late) - Well, we're all stupid.  Some of us stupider than others, but mama always told me stupid is as stupid does.  If you can read this list and you haven't messed up all of these points already, you may find a way to destupidify.

VERSUS

• Shopping at Costco the frugal way (Costco) - Here's how to become an extremely disciplined Costco shopper and save significant amounts of money, even for small families.

Your Votes and Opinions Needed

I need votes for the following March Madness Rounds:

• Free Money Finance March Madness, Sweet 16, Posts 5-8

• Free Money Finance March Madness, Sweet 16, Posts 9-12

Please help select the best personal finance post this year by voting in these -- it only takes a few seconds!

BTW, it appears to me that most FMF regular readers don't really like the March Madness tournament (at least based on the reaction to it.) If you have any comments, I'd love to hear them.