Here we go with the Sweet 16 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 1
- Getting Dirty to Destroy Your Debt – One Toilet at a Time! (Toilet) - I don’t know of anyone who likes to clean their own bathroom, let alone bathrooms for other people! But we sucked it up! We got dirty week after week and did what we had to do to pay down our credit card debt (or rather, MY credit card debt).
VERSUS
- The Save 10% for Retirement Rule Is Stupid (Stupid) - The “save 10% for retirement” rule is absolutely stupid. And so is “save 15% for retirement” (sorry, Dave Ramsey) or “save 20% for retirement” and any other “save #% for retirement” rule you’ll come across. Now I don’t doubt that the people giving this advice meant no harm. They probably just want to get you to start saving for retirement, and offering a simple % of your income solution is a quick, easy answer for a difficult question. But they’re all absurd, useless rules for one simple reason: they completely ignore your situation.
GAME 2
- This 1 Question Will Change Your Spending Habits (Habits) - What makes this post great: A powerful question can have a profound effect on us. Asking the right question can lead to a whole new life. This question can help you change your life forever.
VERSUS
- Why You Should Donate More Money to Charity (Charity) - There are so many reasons people do not give to charity. We'd rather keep the money to ourselves, it requires action, and it won't have any effect are just a few. This year, we should be donating more than ever, and here are 8 compelling reasons why.
Toilet
Habits
Posted by: Kevin | March 14, 2011 at 10:34 AM
Toilet
Habits
Posted by: Jason | March 14, 2011 at 10:42 AM
Toilet
Habits
Posted by: Miranda | March 14, 2011 at 10:45 AM
Stupid
Habits
Posted by: Assaf | March 14, 2011 at 10:47 AM
Stupid
Habits
Posted by: Paul Williams | March 14, 2011 at 10:51 AM
Toilet
Habits
Posted by: Tom @ Canadian Finance Blog | March 14, 2011 at 11:03 AM
Stupid
Charity
Posted by: Thomas J | March 14, 2011 at 11:47 AM
game 1 : stupid
game 2 : charity
Posted by: jim | March 14, 2011 at 11:48 AM
Toilet
Charity
Posted by: Daniel | March 14, 2011 at 12:08 PM
Toilet
Charity
Posted by: LBergs | March 14, 2011 at 12:16 PM
Toilet
Charity
Posted by: Giant Sis | March 14, 2011 at 01:33 PM
Toilet
Charity
Posted by: Rosey | March 14, 2011 at 01:50 PM
Toilet
Charity
Posted by: KMI | March 14, 2011 at 02:37 PM
Charity
Posted by: Gianna | March 14, 2011 at 02:37 PM
Toilet
Charity
Posted by: happi shopr | March 14, 2011 at 02:38 PM
Stupid
Habits
Posted by: Tato | March 14, 2011 at 03:19 PM
charity
Posted by: THE dov landau | March 14, 2011 at 03:42 PM
stupid
charity
Posted by: The berminator | March 14, 2011 at 04:03 PM
Toilet
Charity
Posted by: Elle | March 14, 2011 at 04:47 PM
Toilet
Habits
Posted by: JoeTaxpayer | March 14, 2011 at 04:54 PM
Toilet
Habits
Posted by: Big Cajun Man | March 14, 2011 at 05:10 PM
Toilet
Charity
Posted by: Avishai | March 14, 2011 at 06:41 PM
Toilet
Habits
Posted by: David Leonhardt | March 14, 2011 at 08:52 PM
Toilet
Habits
Posted by: DebtChronicles | March 14, 2011 at 11:13 PM
Toilet
Habits
Posted by: Harad | March 14, 2011 at 11:24 PM
Stupid
Charity
Posted by: Evan | March 15, 2011 at 10:56 AM
toliet
habits
Posted by: joe | March 15, 2011 at 01:23 PM
Charity
Posted by: Dani | March 15, 2011 at 02:03 PM
Toilet
Habits
Posted by: Peter | March 15, 2011 at 02:08 PM
toilets
habits
Posted by: Kevin@OutOfYourRut | March 15, 2011 at 03:31 PM
toilets
habits
Posted by: Jesse | March 15, 2011 at 03:43 PM
toilets
charity
Posted by: Avi | March 15, 2011 at 04:22 PM
Toilet
Habits
Posted by: Nancy Jones | March 15, 2011 at 05:55 PM
Toilets
Habits
Posted by: pixie13 | March 15, 2011 at 05:55 PM
Toilet
Habits
Posted by: Davia | March 15, 2011 at 06:01 PM
Stupid
Habits
Posted by: Addrienne m | March 15, 2011 at 06:02 PM
Stupid
Habits
Posted by: Jennifer | March 15, 2011 at 06:04 PM
Toilet
Habits
Posted by: Scott N. | March 15, 2011 at 06:05 PM
toilet
charity
Posted by: dd | March 15, 2011 at 06:14 PM
Habits
Posted by: Amy | March 15, 2011 at 06:16 PM
Habits
Posted by: Steve V. | March 15, 2011 at 06:17 PM
Toilet
Habits
Posted by: Deb | March 15, 2011 at 06:18 PM
Habits
Posted by: T. Thema Martin | March 15, 2011 at 06:24 PM
Habits
Posted by: Sajeda | March 15, 2011 at 06:25 PM
Stupid
Habits
Posted by: Mandala | March 15, 2011 at 06:25 PM
Habits
Posted by: Saj | March 15, 2011 at 06:26 PM
Habits
Posted by: Kev | March 15, 2011 at 06:26 PM
Habits
Posted by: Kev Fos | March 15, 2011 at 06:26 PM
habits
Posted by: jennifer | March 15, 2011 at 06:38 PM
Toilet
Habit
Posted by: Laura Ostrem | March 15, 2011 at 06:40 PM