Here we go with the first round of Free Money Finance March Money Madness (to follow all the action click on my March Money 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 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
- Vanguard vs. Fidelity - Which Funds Are Better? (Better) - This post was written back in August of 2010, and was inspired after a telephone call with a Fidelity representative while trying to rollover my 401k from Fidelity to Vanguard. In this post, I discuss, in detail four points of comparison between the “big two” mutual fund companies – 1. Expense ratios, 2) Trading fees/commissions, 3) minimum balances, initial quantities, and ETF availability, and 4) ease of navigating the provider’s website.
VERSUS
- Decoding the Robo-Signing Foreclosure Freeze Mess (Mess) - Millions of people were affected by the foreclosure freeze enacted by some of the largest banks in the U.S. but many people did not understand why foreclosures were frozen and how it could affect them. This gives a 360 view of the entire situation.
GAME 10
- Saving is Great, but Don't Forget to Make Money Too! (Forget) - Managing expenses and cash outflow is an important part of a sound approach to personal finance. That said, we also need to EARN money in order to have any to save. By actively managing both career (cash inflow) and spending cash outflow), we can successfully increase our savings, and work toward financial freedom.
VERSUS
- Wake Up from the American Dream (Dream) - The American Dream is not all it's cracked up to be. Find out why you should question the goals society imposes on you with this Nightmare of Consumerism and why this is especially important for Christians.
Better
Forget
Posted by: Daniel | January 26, 2011 at 10:37 AM
1: Mess
2: Forget
Posted by: Jason@LiveRealNow | January 26, 2011 at 10:38 AM
Better
Forget
Posted by: Kevin | January 26, 2011 at 11:09 AM
Better and Forget
Posted by: Bob | January 26, 2011 at 11:13 AM
Better
Forget
Posted by: Jacob @ My Personal Finance Journey | January 26, 2011 at 11:16 AM
Better
Forget
Posted by: Becca | January 26, 2011 at 11:46 AM
Better
Forget
Posted by: Mike | January 26, 2011 at 11:48 AM
Better
Dream
Posted by: Paul Williams | January 26, 2011 at 11:55 AM
Better and Forget
Posted by: GT Captian | January 26, 2011 at 12:16 PM
Better
Forget
Posted by: Squirrelers | January 26, 2011 at 12:16 PM
Better
Dream
Posted by: Khaleef @ KNS Financial | January 26, 2011 at 12:45 PM
Better and Forget
Posted by: Cathy Irwin | January 26, 2011 at 01:03 PM
Better
Forget
Posted by: Alan | January 26, 2011 at 01:08 PM
Better
Dream
Posted by: KMI | January 26, 2011 at 01:14 PM
Game 9
Better...a very good retelling of how companies that basically provide the exact same service try to convince the less informed that their service is better than another and come up short when someone who knows what they are doing is on the other end of the call.
Game 10
Forget...Reading so much about saving money that it is nice to read about the importance of making more of it.
Posted by: Jeff | January 26, 2011 at 01:23 PM
game 9 : better
game 10 : forget
Posted by: jim | January 26, 2011 at 02:01 PM
1. Better.
Posted by: sz | January 26, 2011 at 02:34 PM
1. Better
2. forget
Posted by: indio | January 26, 2011 at 03:50 PM
Better =)
Posted by: Phuong Vo | January 26, 2011 at 05:34 PM
Game 9: Better
Game 10: Dream
Posted by: finco86 | January 26, 2011 at 06:35 PM
Better
Posted by: Jill | January 26, 2011 at 06:48 PM
Better
Posted by: Kathleen | January 26, 2011 at 06:49 PM
Better & Forget
Posted by: Jennifer | January 26, 2011 at 07:28 PM
Game 9: Better
Game 10: Forget
Posted by: Crystal @ BFS | January 26, 2011 at 07:40 PM
Better
Posted by: SJ | January 26, 2011 at 09:58 PM
Mess
Forget
I have to vote for myself!
Posted by: yesiamcheap | January 26, 2011 at 10:25 PM
GAME 9 Better
Posted by: Ed | January 26, 2011 at 10:58 PM
Hello,
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Posted by: April bishop | January 26, 2011 at 11:58 PM
Game 10: Dream
Posted by: Stu Metzler | January 27, 2011 at 09:06 AM
Game 10: Dream
Posted by: bk | January 27, 2011 at 12:51 PM
Better
Posted by: celeste | January 27, 2011 at 06:59 PM
better
dream
Posted by: Mana | January 27, 2011 at 08:51 PM
Better
Dream
Posted by: Julie | January 27, 2011 at 09:19 PM
These games are now over. The winners are:
Game 9: Better
Game 10: Forget
Thanks to everyone for voting. Another set of games is out today -- be sure to vote!
Posted by: FMF | January 28, 2011 at 09:52 AM
Thanks so much for the opportunity to participate in this competition FMF! And, thanks to everyone for reading my article on the Vanguard vs. Fidelity comparison!
Posted by: Jacob @ My Personal Finance Journey | January 30, 2011 at 08:56 PM