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 27
- Turning Down Financial Opportunities is NOT the Same as Not Having Them (Down) - There are plenty of people who bemoan their lack of opportunities. But many of them actually have plenty of opportunities. When financial opportunities come in your way, you can’t really complain about your lack of money if you turn them down.
VERSUS
- Dare to Dream (Dare) - Spend 15 minutes picturing the life you want in the next 5-10 years. Rather than letting inertia keep you in your current grind, focus on what your ideal life would look like. This small investment today can pay dividends for years to come in providing motivation to make changes in your financial life. Dare to dream and figure out your why.
GAME 28
- Our Money Choices and Their Impact ...5 Years Later (Impact) - When we first got married we made choices that we thought were financially sound. We didn't realize the impact they would have on our lives until later when we moved, one of us became self-employed, and we became parents.
VERSUS
- Pay Off Mortgage Early or Invest? – The Complete Guide (Guide) - You will inevitably confront this important question on your path to financial security, and the intuitive response is to get out of debt. But there are times when intuition and finance disagree. In this complete guide, I explain the many dimensions and surprising contradictions to paying off your mortgage early so you can make the right financial decision for your situation.
GUIDE
Posted by: LaurS | March 11, 2013 at 02:23 PM
Guide
Posted by: CoolHappyGuy | March 11, 2013 at 02:30 PM
Down
Impact
Posted by: Laura | March 11, 2013 at 03:16 PM
Dare
Guide
Posted by: Ivy | March 11, 2013 at 03:19 PM
Guide
Posted by: CT | March 11, 2013 at 03:24 PM
Dare and Guide
Posted by: Lars | March 11, 2013 at 03:29 PM
Dare
Guide
Posted by: MMD | March 11, 2013 at 03:35 PM
Dare and Impact
Posted by: Jennifer | March 11, 2013 at 03:39 PM
Down
Guide
Posted by: Miranda | March 11, 2013 at 04:02 PM
Down
Impact
Posted by: Echo | March 11, 2013 at 04:02 PM
Down
Guide
Posted by: Peter | March 11, 2013 at 04:18 PM
Down
Guide
Posted by: Glen Craig | March 11, 2013 at 04:40 PM
Down
Guide
Posted by: Financialmentor | March 11, 2013 at 06:40 PM
dare and impact
Posted by: alecia | March 11, 2013 at 09:54 PM
Dare
Impact
Posted by: NoTrustFund | March 11, 2013 at 10:05 PM
dare and guide.
Posted by: SS | March 11, 2013 at 10:21 PM
Down
Guide
Posted by: JTS | March 11, 2013 at 10:59 PM
Dare
Guide
Posted by: Jeffrey | March 11, 2013 at 11:01 PM
Down
Guide
Posted by: steve | March 12, 2013 at 12:54 AM
Down
Guide
Posted by: Tom Drake | March 12, 2013 at 02:57 AM
Dare
Impact
Posted by: Nick @ ayoungpro.com | March 12, 2013 at 11:03 AM
Dare
Posted by: Leigh | March 12, 2013 at 11:31 AM
game 27 : down
game 28 : guide
Posted by: jim | March 12, 2013 at 01:13 PM
dare
impact
Posted by: Tom | March 12, 2013 at 04:05 PM
Down
Guide
Posted by: Jeff Rose | March 12, 2013 at 04:43 PM
Down
Guide
Posted by: Ryan | March 12, 2013 at 05:11 PM
Down
Guide
Posted by: Dave | March 12, 2013 at 06:48 PM
Down
Impact
Posted by: Rob | March 12, 2013 at 07:49 PM
down
guide
Posted by: Justin | March 12, 2013 at 09:42 PM
Dare and Impact
Posted by: Mara | March 12, 2013 at 10:51 PM
Dare
Posted by: Kate C | March 12, 2013 at 11:59 PM
Down
Impact
Posted by: Mike Collins | March 13, 2013 at 08:39 AM
These games are now over. The winners are:
Game 27: Down
Game 28: Guide
Thanks to everyone for voting. Another set of games is out today -- be sure to vote!
Posted by: FMF | March 13, 2013 at 09:17 AM
Dare
Posted by: Jackie | March 13, 2013 at 03:01 PM
Down
Guide
Posted by: Amy | March 14, 2013 at 07:14 PM