Free Money Finance

FMF March Money Madness, Championship

Here we go with the final 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.)

Today's game is brought to you by the Citi ThankYou® Preferred Rewards Card which is currently offering 15,000 bonus ThankYou Points after you make $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months after account opening—good for $150 in gift cards.

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 is the Championship game:

• Why a 15 Year Mortgage Isn’t Always the Best Choice (Mortgage) - With mortgage rates being at all-time lows many homeowners are looking to take the rate bonanza a step further by going for a 15 year mortgage. Not only will you pay off the mortgage in half the time, but you’ll get an even lower rate for doing it. Sounds like a good deal right? Not necessarily, and certainly not for everyone.

VERSUS

• How a career change improved my life (Change) - It's not easy to change jobs in a recession but sometimes you need to recognize when there's an opportunity to improve your situation.  I feel fortunate to say I'm better off now than I was three or four years ago because I changed careers.  Here's why.

FMF March Money Madness, Round 5, Posts 1-4

Here we go with the fifth 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

• Why a 15 Year Mortgage Isn’t Always the Best Choice (Mortgage) - With mortgage rates being at all-time lows many homeowners are looking to take the rate bonanza a step further by going for a 15 year mortgage. Not only will you pay off the mortgage in half the time, but you’ll get an even lower rate for doing it. Sounds like a good deal right? Not necessarily, and certainly not for everyone.

VERSUS

• How I Obtained a Masters Degree from Harvard for $500--Without Scholarships! (Degree) - Yes, you read that correctly. With a bit of creativity and whole lot of hard work, I graduated with my Masters degree from Harvard with ZERO debt. Better yet, the entire degree/program only cost me $500! Apply my tips and strategies to reduce any of your education-related expenses. 

GAME 2

• First Steps to Investing in the Stock Market (Steps) - The post is extremely helpful as it helps boil down the essentials to start investing in the stock market. Many are held back, or limit themselves, from investing in the stock market largely out of fear or lack of knowledge. My post helps lower the barrier to entry and educate readers as to how to get started investing in the stock market.

VERSUS

• How a career change improved my life (Change) - It's not easy to change jobs in a recession but sometimes you need to recognize when there?s an opportunity to improve your situation.  I feel fortunate to say I?m better off now than I was three or four years ago because I changed careers.  Here's why.

FMF March Money Madness, Round 4, Posts 5-8

Here we go with the fourth 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 3

• First Steps to Investing in the Stock Market (Steps) - The post is extremely helpful as it helps boil down the essentials to start investing in the stock market. Many are held back, or limit themselves, from investing in the stock market largely out of fear or lack of knowledge. My post helps lower the barrier to entry and educate readers as to how to get started investing in the stock market.

VERSUS

• My Money Design for How to Achieve Financial Freedom – November 2012 Update (Achieve) - This post gives the readers something they can really sink their teeth into - a physical blue-print of an early retirement plan (complete with estimations).  A lot of books or blogs will make vague generalizations telling you to save for retirement, but very few (if any) ever really address how to structure your assets if you want to retire before age 59-1/2.  Not only does the plan outlined in this post accomplish this, but it also asks the readers to re-think their investments in terms of when they can have access to them.  A lot of work went into this post and I hope it will inspire the readers to some up with their own unique money designs.

GAME 4

• 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.

VERSUS

• How a career change improved my life (Change) - It's not easy to change jobs in a recession but sometimes you need to recognize when there?s an opportunity to improve your situation.  I feel fortunate to say I?m better off now than I was three or four years ago because I changed careers.  Here's why.

FMF March Money Madness, Round 4, Posts 1-4

Here we go with the fourth 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

• I handed in my Two Weeks Notice (Notice) - Joe did it! He handed in his resignation letter and quit his engineering career in the summer of 2012. This is one year before he turn 40, but his health was deteriorating so it doesn't make sense to stay any longer. Luckily, he has been planning for this and had a relatively smooth transition to being a stay at home dad blogger.

VERSUS

• Why a 15 Year Mortgage Isn’t Always the Best Choice (Mortgage) - With mortgage rates being at all-time lows many homeowners are looking to take the rate bonanza a step further by going for a 15 year mortgage. Not only will you pay off the mortgage in half the time, but you’ll get an even lower rate for doing it. Sounds like a good deal right? Not necessarily, and certainly not for everyone.

GAME 2

• 5 Savings Strategies that Won’t Actually Save You Money (Savings) - We all like saving money, but sometimes the strategy that you think is saving you money actually isn't. Did you use these false savings strategies?

VERSUS

• How I Obtained a Masters Degree from Harvard for $500--Without Scholarships! (Degree) - Yes, you read that correctly. With a bit of creativity and whole lot of hard work, I graduated with my Masters degree from Harvard with ZERO debt. Better yet, the entire degree/program only cost me $500! Apply my tips and strategies to reduce any of your education-related expenses. 

FMF March Money Madness, Round 3, Posts 13-16

Here we go with the third 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 7

• Lessons in Gratitude: I Opened That Box and Couldn’t Stop Crying (Gratitude) - Sometimes the greatest gifts are not expensive or glittery. Sometimes they aren't appreciated and treasured until long after the wrapping paper is ripped off and the box is opened.

VERSUS

• 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.

GAME 8

• How a career change improved my life (Change) - It's not easy to change jobs in a recession but sometimes you need to recognize when there?s an opportunity to improve your situation.  I feel fortunate to say I?m better off now than I was three or four years ago because I changed careers.  Here's why.

VERSUS

• 3 Dividend Traps You Must Avoid (Traps) - Dividend Investing is definitely one of the most popular and successful ways of investing. But it doesn’t mean that it works all the time. Dividends are not 100% secured. In fact, dividend investing can also bring you big losses. There are some pitfalls you must avoid during your dividend investing journey.

FMF March Money Madness, Round 3, Posts 9-12

Here we go with the third 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 5

• First Steps to Investing in the Stock Market (Steps) - The post is extremely helpful as it helps boil down the essentials to start investing in the stock market. Many are held back, or limit themselves, from investing in the stock market largely out of fear or lack of knowledge. My post helps lower the barrier to entry and educate readers as to how to get started investing in the stock market.

VERSUS

• Is Passive Income All That It's Cracked Up to Be? (Passive) - Passive income ideas are all the rage right now. But is passive income all it’s cracked up to be? Can you REALLY make money with passive income? Find out here.

GAME 6

• I Almost Made an Emotional Investing Decision (Decision) - I almost made a huge investing mistake by making an emotional investing decision but instead I learned an important lesson without making the mistake. My goal for the money I had invested changed from a mid-term goal to a short-term goal and I was invested too aggressively. To find out how much money I almost lost make sure to read the post!

VERSUS

• My Money Design for How to Achieve Financial Freedom – November 2012 Update (Achieve) - This post gives the readers something they can really sink their teeth into - a physical blue-print of an early retirement plan (complete with estimations).  A lot of books or blogs will make vague generalizations telling you to save for retirement, but very few (if any) ever really address how to structure your assets if you want to retire before age 59-1/2.  Not only does the plan outlined in this post accomplish this, but it also asks the readers to re-think their investments in terms of when they can have access to them.  A lot of work went into this post and I hope it will inspire the readers to some up with their own unique money designs.

FMF March Money Madness, Round 3, Posts 5-8

Here we go with the third 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 3

• How Much Savings Should I Have Accumulated By Age? (Age) - The following post provides a realistic savings guideline not only by age, but also by income. Learn about a concept called the "Expense Coverage Ratio" to increase your chances of a healthy retirement. You'll also discover an effective savings strategy that will allow you to convincingly raise your savings rate in one year. No matter how much you make or how old you are, take a look at this post which contains two charts to see if you are on track towards financial freedom!

VERSUS

• 5 Savings Strategies that Won’t Actually Save You Money (Savings) - We all like saving money, but sometimes the strategy that you think is saving you money actually isn't. Did you use these false savings strategies?

GAME 4

• My Husband is Now WORKING FROM HOME WITH ME!!! (Husband) - It's important to work out a plan before leaping into self-employment.  It's even more important when that entrepreneurial spirit hits both of the income earners of the household.  But after running the numbers, looking at worst case scenarios, and mulling the idea over...it was time for us to put on our big girl panties and jump in.  :-)  Here's the post about the excitement and fear when we officially put all of our financial eggs in one basket and happily skipped away into the unknown...

VERSUS

• How I Obtained a Masters Degree from Harvard for $500--Without Scholarships! (Degree) - Yes, you read that correctly. With a bit of creativity and whole lot of hard work, I graduated with my Masters degree from Harvard with ZERO debt. Better yet, the entire degree/program only cost me $500! Apply my tips and strategies to reduce any of your education-related expenses.

FMF March Money Madness, Round 3, Posts 1-4

Here we go with the third 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

• I handed in my Two Weeks Notice (Notice) - Joe did it! He handed in his resignation letter and quit his engineering career in the summer of 2012. This is one year before he turn 40, but his health was deteriorating so it doesn't make sense to stay any longer. Luckily, he has been planning for this and had a relatively smooth transition to being a stay at home dad blogger.

VERSUS

• I Make $100,000 And Live Paycheck To Paycheck (Paycheck) - It's hard to make $100,000.   What's even harder is figuring out how to manage it so you keep more of what you make.   More and more, the lifestyles of American families tend to expand to match their incomes.  This is why although we have highest average wage earners in the history of our country, we have more and more people who make six figures and sadly spend it all.   How has it become so difficult to live on what used to be considered a wealthy income family?

GAME 2

• Why a 15 Year Mortgage Isn’t Always the Best Choice (Mortgage) - With mortgage rates being at all-time lows many homeowners are looking to take the rate bonanza a step further by going for a 15 year mortgage. Not only will you pay off the mortgage in half the time, but you’ll get an even lower rate for doing it. Sounds like a good deal right? Not necessarily, and certainly not for everyone.

VERSUS

• The Myth of Get Rich Quick (Myth) - People dream of ways to get rich quick. Maybe it’s that lottery ticket or something else that does it. But the truth is getting rich quick is a myth.

FMF March Money Madness, Round 2, Posts 29-32

Here we go with the second 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 15

• Excellence in the Ordinary (Excellence) - Being ‘good with money’ isn’t something you can tick off a ‘To-do’ list. It might sound obvious but how many times have you been ‘good’ by saving towards something, like a holiday, and then after the fact you go back to your ‘normal’ spending habits? Take advantage of psychological tactics to get on top of your money-management.

VERSUS

• How a career change improved my life (Change) - It's not easy to change jobs in a recession but sometimes you need to recognize when there?s an opportunity to improve your situation.  I feel fortunate to say I?m better off now than I was three or four years ago because I changed careers.  Here's why.

GAME 16

• 3 Dividend Traps You Must Avoid (Traps) - Dividend Investing is definitely one of the most popular and successful ways of investing. But it doesn’t mean that it works all the time. Dividends are not 100% secured. In fact, dividend investing can also bring you big losses. There are some pitfalls you must avoid during your dividend investing journey.

VERSUS

• 3 Simple Tips for De-Cluttering Your Home (Home) - You feel that you have too much stuff in your house and you don't know where to start? Use those 3 tips to de-clutter your house and feel much better about your home.

FMF March Money Madness, Round 2, Posts 25-28

Here we go with the second 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 13

• Lessons in Gratitude: I Opened That Box and Couldn’t Stop Crying (Gratitude) - Sometimes the greatest gifts are not expensive or glittery. Sometimes they aren't appreciated and treasured until long after the wrapping paper is ripped off and the box is opened.

VERSUS

• Small Money Mistakes That Have Big Consequences (Big) - You’ve heard “it’s the little things that count”, right? I’m sure everyone can name many little things that have more meaning than a big event in their lives. The same can be said about finances – it is often the little things you do, the small actions you take, that have the biggest impact on your financial security, both in the present and in the future. Of course, this concept is true whether the little things are positive or negative.

GAME 14

• 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

• 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.

FMF March Money Madness, Round 2, Posts 21-24

Here we go with the second 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 11

• I Almost Made an Emotional Investing Decision (Decision) - I almost made a huge investing mistake by making an emotional investing decision but instead I learned an important lesson without making the mistake. My goal for the money I had invested changed from a mid-term goal to a short-term goal and I was invested too aggressively. To find out how much money I almost lost make sure to read the post!

VERSUS

• Dividend Investing in Plain English (Plain) - One of the best ways to build wealth is to invest in stocks that pay dividends. Dividend stocks not only give you the opportunity to make money through capital appreciation, they also provide a steady source of income as long as you own the stock.  In this post you'll learn the advantages of dividend investing and how to get started.

GAME 12

• My Money Design for How to Achieve Financial Freedom – November 2012 Update (Achieve) - This post gives the readers something they can really sink their teeth into - a physical blue-print of an early retirement plan (complete with estimations).  A lot of books or blogs will make vague generalizations telling you to save for retirement, but very few (if any) ever really address how to structure your assets if you want to retire before age 59-1/2.  Not only does the plan outlined in this post accomplish this, but it also asks the readers to re-think their investments in terms of when they can have access to them.  A lot of work went into this post and I hope it will inspire the readers to some up with their own unique money designs.

VERSUS

• Build a Bigger Nest Egg Through "Investment Creep" (Creep) - Lifestyle creep is a popular personal finance boogeyman, and for good reason. If you’re not careful, your expenses will increase in lockstep with your income and you’ll never get ahead. But did you realize that you can use the same principles to supercharge your retirement (or other) savings? It’s really quite easy.

FMF March Money Madness, Round 2, Posts 17-20

Here we go with the second 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

• No Matter What, We Are Still Responsible For Our Financial Future (Responsible) - This post allowed me to vent about individuals and organizations that are blaming the government for their problems.  I am tired of people always blaming others for their lack of money or how they continually get screwed by the government.  My advice in this post is to "get over it" and get your act together.  If you stop worrying about others, then you can finally take control of your financial future.

VERSUS

• First Steps to Investing in the Stock Market (Steps) - The post is extremely helpful as it helps boil down the essentials to start investing in the stock market. Many are held back, or limit themselves, from investing in the stock market largely out of fear or lack of knowledge. My post helps lower the barrier to entry and educate readers as to how to get started investing in the stock market.

GAME 10

• Is Passive Income All That It's Cracked Up to Be? (Passive) - Passive income ideas are all the rage right now. But is passive income all it’s cracked up to be? Can you REALLY make money with passive income? Find out here.

VERSUS

• What's your Expense Freedom Day? (Freedom) - Have you ever wondered how many months out of each year you work just to cover your expenses?  You might work until March or April just to cover your taxes, but when in the year do you flip the switch from spending to saving? This is your Expense Freedom Day!

FMF March Money Madness, Round 2, Posts 13-16

Here we go with the second 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 7

• My Husband is Now WORKING FROM HOME WITH ME!!! (Husband) - It's important to work out a plan before leaping into self-employment.  It's even more important when that entrepreneurial spirit hits both of the income earners of the household.  But after running the numbers, looking at worst case scenarios, and mulling the idea over...it was time for us to put on our big girl panties and jump in.  :-)  Here's the post about the excitement and fear when we officially put all of our financial eggs in one basket and happily skipped away into the unknown...

VERSUS

• The Best Personal Finance Tips (Best) - The top 20 tips I have experienced and read anywhere in the blog world. Bookmark or save so that you can stay on track with your networth growth.

GAME 8

• Should I Sell My Wife's Wedding Ring? (Ring) - We all know that American's have an obsession with material possessions. Well, I wanted to find out if readers thought it was acceptable to sell one of the most cherished possessions of all: my wife's wedding ring. Upon discovering that the value of her ring had doubled from when we first purchased it, we pondered selling it and using the money pay off one of our larger student loans (becoming debt free has been our primary goal in life for 6 years).

VERSUS

• How I Obtained a Masters Degree from Harvard for $500--Without Scholarships! (Degree) - Yes, you read that correctly. With a bit of creativity and whole lot of hard work, I graduated with my Masters degree from Harvard with ZERO debt. Better yet, the entire degree/program only cost me $500! Apply my tips and strategies to reduce any of your education-related expenses. 

FMF March Money Madness, Round 2, Posts 9-12

Here we go with the second 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 5

• The Ultimate Baby Cost Tracker! (Baby) - You know how people are always saying kids cost a lot of money? Like, $250,000+ by the time they hit 18? Well, I decided to find out the real number and started tracking EVERY SINGLE PENNY since the day we found out we were pregnant :) 14 months down now, and only 202 more to go! Haha...

VERSUS

• How Much Savings Should I Have Accumulated By Age? (Age) - The following post provides a realistic savings guideline not only by age, but also by income. Learn about a concept called the "Expense Coverage Ratio" to increase your chances of a healthy retirement. You'll also discover an effective savings strategy that will allow you to convincingly raise your savings rate in one year. No matter how much you make or how old you are, take a look at this post which contains two charts to see if you are on track towards financial freedom!

GAME 6

• Take Care of Yourself First (First) - When you look at others problems, it is natural to want to help This isn't a bad thing, unless you can't afford it. You need to take care of yourself first.

VERSUS

• 5 Savings Strategies that Won’t Actually Save You Money (Savings) - We all like saving money, but sometimes the strategy that you think is saving you money actually isn't. Did you use these false savings strategies?

FMF March Money Madness, Round 2, Posts 5-8

Here we go with the second 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 3

• Why a 15 Year Mortgage Isn’t Always the Best Choice (Mortgage) - With mortgage rates being at all-time lows many homeowners are looking to take the rate bonanza a step further by going for a 15 year mortgage. Not only will you pay off the mortgage in half the time, but you’ll get an even lower rate for doing it. Sounds like a good deal right? Not necessarily, and certainly not for everyone.

VERSUS

• What Do You Do If You Really Cannot Afford Regular Health Insurance? (Afford) - According to most financial prioritization guidelines, health insurance is listed as the highest and most basic priority for your funds as they come in. However, what happens when you can’t afford regular health insurance? This post details 6 different options to making sure you are covered and that you don’t break the bank doing so.

GAME 4

• The Myth of Get Rich Quick (Myth) - People dream of ways to get rich quick. Maybe it’s that lottery ticket or something else that does it. But the truth is getting rich quick is a myth.

VERSUS

• Why Financial Planning is Important – An Illustration (Illustration) - I’ve written many posts about the importance of financial planning and related topics.  However this info graphic does a fantastic job of outlining the need for financial planning and how the process works.  The statics cited are sobering.  This is a great tool whether you are considering hiring a professional or doing your own financial planning.  Either way, please make this a priority for yourself and for your family this year.

FMF March Money Madness, Round 2, Posts 1-4

Here we go with the second 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

• I handed in my Two Weeks Notice (Notice) - Joe did it! He handed in his resignation letter and quit his engineering career in the summer of 2012. This is one year before he turn 40, but his health was deteriorating so it doesn't make sense to stay any longer. Luckily, he has been planning for this and had a relatively smooth transition to being a stay at home dad blogger.

VERSUS

• How 5 Top Bloggers Made the Financial Jump to Self-Employment (Jump) - I've always been curious about what it takes to make the jump to self-employment financially - insurance, savings, emergency funds, etc.  So, I asked some of the most well known bloggers about what they did to prepare, and they all focused on some very similar objectives.  Hear it from them - Pat Flynn, Corbett Barr, Leo Babauta, David Risley, Sam Dogan.

GAME 2

• I Make $100,000 And Live Paycheck To Paycheck (Paycheck) - It's hard to make $100,000.   What's even harder is figuring out how to manage it so you keep more of what you make.   More and more, the lifestyles of American families tend to expand to match their incomes.  This is why although we have highest average wage earners in the history of our country, we have more and more people who make six figures and sadly spend it all.   How has it become so difficult to live on what used to be considered a wealthy income family?

VERSUS

• How I Helped My Handyman Get into Debt (Handyman) - I agreed to buy my handyman a motorcycle that is worth 1 year of his salary, after just a few weeks working with us. Was it wise?  Having never been in consumer debt myself I was able to witness first hand all the process a person goes through before going into debt. 

FMF March Money Madness, Round 1, Posts 61-64

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 31

• 3 Dividend Traps You Must Avoid (Traps) - Dividend Investing is definitely one of the most popular and successful ways of investing. But it doesn’t mean that it works all the time. Dividends are not 100% secured. In fact, dividend investing can also bring you big losses. There are some pitfalls you must avoid during your dividend investing journey.

VERSUS

• Single Income Household - The Best Secret for Happiness (Single) - Back in 2009, my wife quit her job and we become a single income household. This was a very important decision but it opened us the door to happiness. We are living with less money than we could if she would go back to work but our lifestyle is just amazing.

GAME 32

• Should Women Work in a Male Dominated Professions? (Women) - Do you think women should take over male dominated professions or simply work in their "own" field. Check out this controversial post about my answer!

VERSUS

• 3 Simple Tips for De-Cluttering Your Home (Home) - You feel that you have too much stuff in your house and you don't know where to start? Use those 3 tips to de-clutter your house and feel much better about your home.

FMF March Money Madness, Round 1, Posts 57-60

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 29

• Why My Wife and I Argue About Money in Front of the Kids (Argue) - I know it's a big no-no for couples to argue or fight about money in front of the kids.  But my wife and I do it from time to time.  And we think it's just fine.  Here's why you should too.

VERSUS

• Excellence in the Ordinary (Excellence) - Being ‘good with money’ isn’t something you can tick off a ‘To-do’ list. It might sound obvious but how many times have you been ‘good’ by saving towards something, like a holiday, and then after the fact you go back to your ‘normal’ spending habits? Take advantage of psychological tactics to get on top of your money-management.

GAME 30

• 31 Days to Improve Your Financial Life (Improve) - It's impossible to fix your finances in on sitting. You need to take action over time. Check out these quick, actionable tips to help you improve your financial life, one day at a time for 31 days.

VERSUS

• How a career change improved my life (Change) - It's not easy to change jobs in a recession but sometimes you need to recognize when there?s an opportunity to improve your situation.  I feel fortunate to say I?m better off now than I was three or four years ago because I changed careers.  Here's why.

FMF March Money Madness, Round 1, Posts 53-56

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.

FMF March Money Madness, Round 1, Posts 49-52

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 25

• Outsourcing Life for a Working Professional - How to Achieve More Balance (Balance) - This is a revolutionary post that introduces a very unconventional view on outsourcing. Outsourcing is normally associated with large companies, small business as well as entrepreneurs, particularly internet based entrepreneurs. This post introduces how successful working professionals can leverage outsourcing to become more successful in their careers, as well as achieve more freedom, flexibility, balance and contentment in life. This post also lists specific items/things a working professional can outsource, as well as specific resources that are available for use, thus providing a practical road map for implementation instead of merely discussing theory.

VERSUS

• Lessons in Gratitude: I Opened That Box and Couldn’t Stop Crying (Gratitude) - Sometimes the greatest gifts are not expensive or glittery. Sometimes they aren't appreciated and treasured until long after the wrapping paper is ripped off and the box is opened.

GAME 26

• Why Should a Car Be Embarassing? 3 Compelling Reasons to Drive A Crown Vic (Reasons) - It seems like anyone who can let go of keeping up with the Joneses gets exponentially closer to financial freedom. For many people, there's often no greater money pit than a shiny new car saddled with hefty car payments and high insurance premiums. Join me as I get a good lesson in not worrying  about what my car looks like and appreciating the utility of Ol' Faithful, AKA the Ford Crown Victoria.

VERSUS

• Small Money Mistakes That Have Big Consequences (Big) - You’ve heard “it’s the little things that count”, right? I’m sure everyone can name many little things that have more meaning than a big event in their lives. The same can be said about finances – it is often the little things you do, the small actions you take, that have the biggest impact on your financial security, both in the present and in the future. Of course, this concept is true whether the little things are positive or negative.

FMF March Money Madness, Round 1, Posts 45-48

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 23

• Treat Banks Like Livestock! (Livestock) - There are three things that make this post great. First, I show the appropriate state of mind for dealing with banks, as anger and other emotions do not help one to make good decisions. Second, I show how easy it is to get banks to pay for your vacations. Third, I'm pretty sure I'm the first blogger to urge readers to treat banks like farm animals.

VERSUS

• My Money Design for How to Achieve Financial Freedom – November 2012 Update (Achieve) - This post gives the readers something they can really sink their teeth into - a physical blue-print of an early retirement plan (complete with estimations).  A lot of books or blogs will make vague generalizations telling you to save for retirement, but very few (if any) ever really address how to structure your assets if you want to retire before age 59-1/2.  Not only does the plan outlined in this post accomplish this, but it also asks the readers to re-think their investments in terms of when they can have access to them.  A lot of work went into this post and I hope it will inspire the readers to some up with their own unique money designs.

GAME 24

• Build a Bigger Nest Egg Through "Investment Creep" (Creep) - Lifestyle creep is a popular personal finance boogeyman, and for good reason. If you’re not careful, your expenses will increase in lockstep with your income and you’ll never get ahead. But did you realize that you can use the same principles to supercharge your retirement (or other) savings? It’s really quite easy.

VERSUS

• My Top 5 Secret Places To Find Items For Free And Resell (Resell) - Most people don't realize you can get items for free somewhere so I think my post is great b/c many people are falling on hard times and need some extra money for gas or groceries and just plain living expenses. I have listed 5 places I find items for free and resell and end up mostly reselling items at my garage sales but some I resell on eBay. Some items still have the tags on them that people give away - amazing to me! Most I can resell as is but the furniture I usually end up sanding and painting. Other items I may need to just fix up such as a nail here or there on furniture or replace the fabric on a chair. I love my ideas and have not shared them with anyone until this post. This is one of the most popular posts on my blog so I know there are others out there like me needing some extra cash.

FMF March Money Madness, Round 1, Posts 41-44

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 21

• I Almost Made an Emotional Investing Decision (Decision) - I almost made a huge investing mistake by making an emotional investing decision but instead I learned an important lesson without making the mistake. My goal for the money I had invested changed from a mid-term goal to a short-term goal and I was invested too aggressively. To find out how much money I almost lost make sure to read the post!

VERSUS

• Tracking Your Net Worth is Not an Option (Option) - Do you know what your current net worth is? If not, you need to start tracking it TODAY! Join me as I give you a step-by-step guide on how to track your net worth along with reasons why you'll be glad you started!

GAME 22

• Shopping for a Good Cheap Car Under $5,000 (Car) - Transportation is often the second highest expenditure for a family so cutting that cost can make a big difference on a budget.   However many people feel that you need to spend a lot of money on a new or late model used car.   I show this is not really necessary and how with some smart shopping you can get a good car for under $5,000.

VERSUS

• Dividend Investing in Plain English (Plain) - One of the best ways to build wealth is to invest in stocks that pay dividends. Dividend stocks not only give you the opportunity to make money through capital appreciation, they also provide a steady source of income as long as you own the stock.  In this post you'll learn the advantages of dividend investing and how to get started.

FMF March Money Madness, Round 1, Posts 37-40

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 19

• Guilt-Free Things You Can Do When You're Out of Debt (Guilt) - Are you working your way out of debt? It pays to daydream a little about the guilt-free things you'll be able to do when you're out of debt.

VERSUS

• Is Passive Income All That It's Cracked Up to Be? (Passive) - Passive income ideas are all the rage right now. But is passive income all it’s cracked up to be? Can you REALLY make money with passive income? Find out here.

GAME 20

• 22 Things You Can Do Today to Become a Better Investor (Better) - This posts highlights a bunch of investing wisdom that I have learned over many years of investing. Anyone who is looking to build wealth needs to be savvy in investing their savings, and these simple tips can help anyone get ahead of the game.

VERSUS

• What's your Expense Freedom Day? (Freedom) - Have you ever wondered how many months out of each year you work just to cover your expenses?  You might work until March or April just to cover your taxes, but when in the year do you flip the switch from spending to saving? This is your Expense Freedom Day!

FMF March Money Madness, Round 1, Posts 33-36

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 17

• Forget About Retirement (Forget) - I vote for retiring the word “retirement,” as it’s traditionally been used: The period of time beginning with leaving paid employment and ending with death. It's obsolete. In the modern world, permanently ending any paid employment is risky, both financially and personally.

VERSUS

• No Matter What, We Are Still Responsible For Our Financial Future (Responsible) - This post allowed me to vent about individuals and organizations that are blaming the government for their problems.  I am tired of people always blaming others for their lack of money or how they continually get screwed by the government.  My advice in this post is to "get over it" and get your act together.  If you stop worrying about others, then you can finally take control of your financial future.

GAME 18

• My Personal Philosophy at Age 31 (Philosophy) - Birthdays are a time to reflect, and here I list my own personal philosophy about how I live my life, and the 31 things I've learned by my 31st birthday.

VERSUS

• First Steps to Investing in the Stock Market (Steps) - The post is extremely helpful as it helps boil down the essentials to start investing in the stock market. Many are held back, or limit themselves, from investing in the stock market largely out of fear or lack of knowledge. My post helps lower the barrier to entry and educate readers as to how to get started investing in the stock market.

FMF March Money Madness, Round 1, Posts 29-32

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 15

• How to Pay Yourself First (Pay) - Personal finance folks often throw around the term “pay yourself first.” It is a bit big-headed of us to assume you know how to do that. Here are some steps you can take to put the most popular finance advice to work.

VERSUS

• Should I Sell My Wife's Wedding Ring? (Ring) - We all know that American's have an obsession with material possessions. Well, I wanted to find out if readers thought it was acceptable to sell one of the most cherished possessions of all: my wife's wedding ring. Upon discovering that the value of her ring had doubled from when we first purchased it, we pondered selling it and using the money pay off one of our larger student loans (becoming debt free has been our primary goal in life for 6 years).

GAME 16

• What is Dollar Cost Averaging? Drip Your Way to Millions (Dollar) - Drip. Drip. Drip. That's the sound of a millionaire in the making. By using Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA), you'll have the secret sauce in how to invest and become rich!

VERSUS

• How I Obtained a Masters Degree from Harvard for $500--Without Scholarships! (Degree) - Yes, you read that correctly. With a bit of creativity and whole lot of hard work, I graduated with my Masters degree from Harvard with ZERO debt. Better yet, the entire degree/program only cost me $500! Apply my tips and strategies to reduce any of your education-related expenses. This is one post you'll definitely want to bookmark and share.

FMF March Money Madness, Round 1, Posts 25-28

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 13

• My Husband is Now WORKING FROM HOME WITH ME!!! (Husband) - It's important to work out a plan before leaping into self-employment.  It's even more important when that entrepreneurial spirit hits both of the income earners of the household.  But after running the numbers, looking at worst case scenarios, and mulling the idea over...it was time for us to put on our big girl panties and jump in.  :-)  Here's the post about the excitement and fear when we officially put all of our financial eggs in one basket and happily skipped away into the unknown...

VERSUS

• Why $200 Lost Gambling Was Better Spent Than $200 Cirque Du Soleil Tickets (Lost) - I lost $200 gambling and loved it! People warn about losing money gambling, but we spent about the same amount on Cirque Du Soleil tickets as we lost playing Craps. Guess which event was more fun?

GAME 14

• The Only Real Get Rich Scheme (Scheme) - Building wealth has nothing to do with picking the right penny stocks or winning the lottery. If you simply spend less money than you earn each month, and then invest the rest, you are guaranteed to start building wealth.

VERSUS

• The Best Personal Finance Tips (Best) - The top 20 tips I have experienced and read anywhere in the blog world. Bookmark or save so that you can stay on track with your networth growth.

FMF March Money Madness, Round 1, Posts 21-24

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 11

• Sometimes It’s Good to Feel the Pain…of Debt (Pain) - Taking the easy way out isn't always the best course of action, especially when there are underlying issues. Sometimes, it's better to feel the pain of debt to truly learn from your mistakes and move forward.

VERSUS

• Take Care of Yourself First (First) - When you look at others problems, it is natural to want to help This isn't a bad thing, unless you can't afford it. You need to take care of yourself first.

GAME 12

• 5 Savings Strategies that Won’t Actually Save You Money (Savings) - We all like saving money, but sometimes the strategy that you think is saving you money actually isn't. Did you use these false savings strategies?

VERSUS

• 6 Questions You Should Never Ask on a Job Interview (Questions) - Serious questions at a job interview can indicate that you’re strong candidate, but the wrong questions can take you right out of consideration. What are questions you should never ask?

FMF March Money Madness, Round 1, Posts 17-20

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

• Domain Flipping – Flip it Like You Mean It (Flip) - This is a thought-provoking article about the highly debatable topic of whether domain flipping can be a viable business or not.  Real-life examples of domain flipping success stories were mentioned and I made a choice whether domain flipping is for me or not.

VERSUS

• The Ultimate Baby Cost Tracker! (Baby) - You know how people are always saying kids cost a lot of money? Like, $250,000+ by the time they hit 18? Well, I decided to find out the real number and started tracking EVERY SINGLE PENNY since the day we found out we were pregnant :) 14 months down now, and only 202 more to go! Haha...

GAME 10

• 15 Ways to Grow and Protect Your Net Worth (Worth) - Money definitely isn’t the most important thing in life, but it’s realistic to say that it can help improve the quality of our life. To that end, it's important for us to grow and protect our net worth. This post shares 15 tips that can help us do just that.

VERSUS

• How Much Savings Should I Have Accumulated By Age? (Age) - The following post provides a realistic savings guideline not only by age, but also by income. Learn about a concept called the "Expense Coverage Ratio" to increase your chances of a healthy retirement. You'll also discover an effective savings strategy that will allow you to convincingly raise your savings rate in one year. No matter how much you make or how old you are, take a look at this post which contains two charts to see if you are on track towards financial freedom!

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

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 7

• The Myth of Get Rich Quick (Myth) - People dream of ways to get rich quick. Maybe it’s that lottery ticket or something else that does it. But the truth is getting rich quick is a myth.

VERSUS

• 10 Best Ways to Make Money from Home (Legitimate) - Want to earn a potentially great income without leaving your home? See this list of ten real ways to make money from home, without falling prey to scams and get rich quick schemes.

GAME 8

• The Oregon Trail Guide to Personal Finance: Preparing for the Journey (Oregon) - Before you ford the river, hunt buffalo, or contract dysentery, you need to prepare for it. The same goes for managing your money independently for the first time. Using the awesome 80s game "The Oregon Trail" as a guide, this post teaches you how to handle your finances before you live on your own.

VERSUS

• Why Financial Planning is Important – An Illustration (Illustration) - I’ve written many posts about the importance of financial planning and related topics.  However this info graphic does a fantastic job of outlining the need for financial planning and how the process works.  The statics cited are sobering.  This is a great tool whether you are considering hiring a professional or doing your own financial planning.  Either way, please make this a priority for yourself and for your family this year.

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

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 5

• Why a 15 Year Mortgage Isn’t Always the Best Choice (Mortgage) - With mortgage rates being at all-time lows many homeowners are looking to take the rate bonanza a step further by going for a 15 year mortgage. Not only will you pay off the mortgage in half the time, but you’ll get an even lower rate for doing it. Sounds like a good deal right? Not necessarily, and certainly not for everyone.

VERSUS

• I've Won The Lottery! (Yet I Can't Claim My Winnings Until 2042) (Lottery) - Lottery fever has the power to grip an entire nation, even a continent for example the Euromillions draw. The bigger the jackpot, the bigger the hysteria - and money spent on tickets. In this article I explain why, even though lotteries are 'fair game,' I'm steering clear in future and have made my own arrangements for winning the jackpot - where the odds of winning are 1 to 1. Want to find out my secret? It's a dead cert!

GAME 6

• My Money Pet Peeve: Skipping Frugality Because Earning More is "Better" (Peeve) - My biggest money pet peeve is when people claim frugality is not worth their time because earning more has a bigger impact. But if you aren't a careful spender, all the money in the world won't keep you from going broke.

VERSUS

• What Do You Do If You Really Cannot Afford Regular Health Insurance? (Afford) - According to most financial prioritization guidelines, health insurance is listed as the highest and most basic priority for your funds as they come in. However, what happens when you can’t afford regular health insurance? This post details 6 different options to making sure you are covered and that you don’t break the bank doing so.

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

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 3

• What Games Taught Me About Life and Finances (Games) - Who didn't play games growing up?  I did.  I am sure you did too.  Did you ever thing about the life and financial lessons and habits you picked up playing games that in one way or another helped form the person you are today?

VERSUS

• I Make $100,000 And Live Paycheck To Paycheck (Paycheck) - It's hard to make $100,000.   What's even harder is figuring out how to manage it so you keep more of what you make.   More and more, the lifestyles of American families tend to expand to match their incomes.  This is why although we have highest average wage earners in the history of our country, we have more and more people who make six figures and sadly spend it all.   How has it become so difficult to live on what used to be considered a wealthy income family?

GAME 4

• How I Helped My Handyman Get into Debt (Handyman) - I agreed to buy my handyman a motorcycle that is worth 1 year of his salary, after just a few weeks working with us. Was it wise?  Having never been in consumer debt myself I was able to witness first hand all the process a person goes through before going into debt.

VERSUS

• How We Paid Off $30,000 in Credit Card Debt (Paid) - Have you ever had so much debt you felt like there was no way to overcome it? This post summarizes our journey from lifestyle inflation and living beyond our means to determining what we value and deciding to change our ways. Over a year and a half, we paid off over $30,000 in credit card debt. This is how we did it and what we learned along the way.

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

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 1

• I handed in my Two Weeks Notice (Notice) - Joe did it! He handed in his resignation letter and quit his engineering career in the summer of 2012. This is one year before he turn 40, but his health was deteriorating so it doesn't make sense to stay any longer. Luckily, he has been planning for this and had a relatively smooth transition to being a stay at home dad blogger.

VERSUS

• Being Frugal and Dating (Dating) - I wrote this post after going on many first dates. I heard stories from friends (both sexes) talking about "what he or she did" on a date and how it was actually perceived. I try to educate other single guys out there on some do's and do not's from the dating scene and how to not break the bank doing so.

GAME 2

• Financial Considerations When Deciding How Many Kids to Have (Kids) - It's safe to say most couple like kids. But before you add to your family you need to consider your finances. There are many expenses that come with a child.

VERSUS

• How 5 Top Bloggers Made the Financial Jump to Self-Employment (Jump) - I've always been curious about what it takes to make the jump to self-employment financially - insurance, savings, emergency funds, etc.  So, I asked some of the most well known bloggers about what they did to prepare, and they all focused on some very similar objectives.  Here it from them - Pat Flynn, Corbett Barr, Leo Babauta, David Risley, Sam Dogan.

FMF March Money Madness Brackets Set

At the end of this post is an Excel spreadsheet that contains the brackets for the 2013 version of Free Money Finance March Money Madness (if you're wondering what I'm talking about, click here.) A few things to note about the competition:

The games will begin later today and new ones will be posted every other day through the initial round. Each set of games will be up at least a day and a half, but after that, I'll probably cut them off and name a winner. Some may go longer (especially those posted on Fridays), but not much longer than three days.

The winner will be named in a comment left at the bottom of each post. I'll note that this set of games has now concluded and tell which posts won. If you need an example of what this looks like, look at my comment near the end of this post.

If your post is in the competition, you are allowed to vote for yourself. Others will do it, you might as well too. But you can only vote once per game, just like everyone else.

If your post is in the competition, you're allowed to ask your readers to vote for you. Again, others will do it, you might as well too. If you feel it's too promotional to ask people to vote for your post, you can simply point them to the competition and ask them to vote for the best post. ;-)

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

Download FMF 2013 March Money Madness

2013 FMF March Money Madness Tournament

Yes, it's that time of year again -- Free Money Finance March Money 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. Here are some details from last year:

• My announcement post
• An example of a "round"
• Last Year's Champion

This year I'm collecting the submissions early, though the tournament won't begin until the first week in February. We may go beyond the end of the actual March Madness basketball tournament this year, but if so, it won't be by much.

64 posts in total will be allowed in the 2012 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 here to download last year's bracket.) Here are more details:

How to Enter

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 (must be from the calendar year 2012 or early 2013)

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).

NOTE: IF ANY OF THESE ARE MISSING, YOUR ENTRY WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. AND I MAY NOT GET BACK TO YOU TO REMIND YOU THAT YOU SUBMITTED INCORRECTLY. I WILL GET BACK TO YOU IF I RECEIVE A CORRECT ENTRY.

Entries are on a first-come, first-served basis and all 64 spots usually fill up in a few days. So if you wait, it's possible you're not going to get a spot.

You can submit one post per site. If you have more than one blog, you can submit posts for each blog, though your posts will face each other in the early rounds so only one will ultimately get very far. This ensures that we don't have one blogger who's great at promotion facing himself or herself in the finals. :)

How Posts Compete

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

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 are as follows:

1. Practicality of the post

2. How interesting/provocative/unique it is

3. The "personal-ness" of it

4. Its impact on net worth.

What the Winners Receive

I eliminated the charity component from past efforts because 1) no one seemed to care about it and 2) I ended up on random lists of all sorts of charities that are now sending tons of mail to my home. So this year all participants will receive is tons of traffic, links to their posts, and bragging rights for the winner.

Why Readers Should Care

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!

Carnival and March Money Madness Winner

This week's Best of Money Carnival is now up.

In addition, I just named the winner of this year's March Money Madness. It was:

Violating a Personal Finance Rule: I Just Bought a NEW Car!

Congrats to the winner and all participants!

FMF March Money Madness, Championship

Here are the last two posts 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 is the final (championship) game:

• Living Well on Less Than $10,000 a Year: Habits of Skilled Visa Workers (Skilled) - This is an unusual tale of living under $10,000 a year. The high skilled visa workers while staying in US live extreme frugal life to save money for future, a future they'll live in their home countries. The article talks about this community and their practices, to motivate you towards saving.

VERSUS

• Violating a Personal Finance Rule: I Just Bought a NEW Car! (Car) - Normally, I'd buy a used car. However, I broke this "rule" of personal finance recently in order to get what I REALLY wanted.  This post is about why sometimes it's better to weigh the options, and do what works for you -- instead of going by a rule of thumb.

FMF March Money Madness, Final Four

Here are the final four posts 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

• Gigs For Goals (Gigs) - Remember as a kid when your mother told you that if you wanted something, to go out and get a job? What if you did that for all your "wants" now as an adult?

VERSUS

• Living Well on Less Than $10,000 a Year: Habits of Skilled Visa Workers (Skilled) - This is an unusual tale of living under $10,000 a year. The high skilled visa workers while staying in US live extreme frugal life to save money for future, a future they'll live in their home countries. The article talks about this community and their practices, to motivate you towards saving.

GAME 2

• Violating a Personal Finance Rule: I Just Bought a NEW Car! (Car) - Normally, I'd buy a used car. However, I broke this "rule" of personal finance recently in order to get what I REALLY wanted. This post is about why sometimes it's better to weigh the options, and do what works for you -- instead of going by a rule of thumb.

VERSUS

• Your Do Over Guide: What Would You Do Differently? (Guide) - This is an introspective look over the decisions and mistakes that I have made and how I would change them. I simply don't get people who would want to relive their "mistakes" if given the opportunity to change them. While it is true, that our experiences have made us who we are today, pain is the slowest teacher.

FMF March Money Madness, Round 4, Posts 5-8

Here we go with the fourth 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 3

• Violating a Personal Finance Rule: I Just Bought a NEW Car! (Car) - Normally, I'd buy a used car. However, I broke this "rule" of personal finance recently in order to get what I REALLY wanted.  This post is about why sometimes it's better to weigh the options, and do what works for you -- instead of going by a rule of thumb.

VERSUS

• Firefighters Let Another House Burn Down Over $75 (Burn) - A pay for spray policy has lead to firefighters standing by and watching multiple houses burn down. We discuss the pros and cons of such a policy, as well as offer the perfect solution!

GAME 4

• Your Do Over Guide: What Would You Do Differently? (Guide) - This is an introspective look over the decisions and mistakes that I have made and how I would change them. I simply don't get people who would want to relive their "mistakes" if given the opportunity to change them. While it is true, that our experiences have made us who we are today, pain is the slowest teacher.

VERSUS

• How to Live Your Dream Life Debt Free (Dream) - Finance is a huge part of our lives yet it remains something that many people struggle with. These days, maybe more than ever before, people all over the world are getting into financial difficulties and debt. The recession has proved this. The sad thing is though that people don't realize that they can live their dream life debt free,  that their dreams can come true without sinking themselves into a financial hole. How so you ask?  Simple Grade 1 math. Read this post and see what I mean.

FMF March Money Madness, Round 4, Posts 1-4

Here's the fourth round (only eigth posts left in the competition!) 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

• Personal Finance Lessons From the Trading Pit (Pit) - There are lessons everyone can learn about personal finance from traders. Here are the few things I learned in the trading pit that have had the biggest influence on how I think about and manage my money.

VERSUS

• Gigs For Goals (Gigs) - Remember as a kid when your mother told you that if you wanted something, to go out and get a job? What if you did that for all your "wants" now as an adult?

GAME 2

• Living Well on Less Than $10,000 a Year: Habits of Skilled Visa Workers (Skilled) - This is an unusual tale of living under $10,000 a year. The high skilled visa workers while staying in US live extreme frugal life to save money for future, a future they'll live in their home countries. The article talks about this community and their practices, to motivate you towards saving.

VERSUS

• The New American Family: Flexibility and Unconventional Lifestyles to Make Ends Meet (Unconventional) - Today's economy has changed the face of domestic living and who stays to watch the kids. More American families are living unconventional lifestyles to make ends meet. See how our choices affect our life and finances.

FMF March Money Madness, Round 3, Posts 13-16

Here we go with the third 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 7

• Your Do Over Guide: What Would You Do Differently? (Guide) - This is an introspective look over the decisions and mistakes that I have made and how I would change them. I simply don't get people who would want to relive their "mistakes" if given the opportunity to change them. While it is true, that our experiences have made us who we are today, pain is the slowest teacher.

VERSUS

• My Next Home Is Going To Be A Hotel And Save $925 Per Month (Hotel) - How much money could you save by not having to pay your electric bill, internet, cable, or other expenses every month? Many people do not consider all of the little things that we spend our money on every month when we rent or buy a home. These items tend to be taken for granted as necessities, but these small costs can quickly add up. But, how much money could you save every month if you simply live in a hotel? The savings can actually be quite substantial.

GAME 8

• How to Live Your Dream Life Debt Free (Dream) - Finance is a huge part of our lives yet it remains something that many people struggle with. These days, maybe more than ever before, people all over the world are getting into financial difficulties and debt. The recession has proved this. The sad thing is though that people don't realize that they can live their dream life debt free,  that their dreams can come true without sinking themselves into a financial hole. How so you ask?  Simple Grade 1 math. Read this post and see what I mean.

VERSUS

• 10 Tips For Helping Family Members With Money Problems (Problems) - When it comes to family, there are always problems and dramas we have to deal with - and money is a big one.  I've learned a lot over the last few years helping my own family work through money issues and was shocked at some of the things I learned. From finding out my dad was on food stamps to learning my mother never made a budget in her life, it wasn't easy to swallow.  I want to share with you 10 important tips on how to help your family members with money problems.  They all come from my own experience!

FMF March Money Madness, Round 3, Posts 9-12

Here we go with the third 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 5

• 5 Reasons You Should Never Buy a Video Game at Launch (Launch) - The video game market has gamers rejoicing as Triple A titles are released, and lamenting these reasons you should never buy a video game at launch. Rejoicing as fantastic video games are released, and lamenting because their wallets are empty.

VERSUS

• Violating a Personal Finance Rule: I Just Bought a NEW Car! (Car) - Normally, I'd buy a used car. However, I broke this "rule" of personal finance recently in order to get what I REALLY wanted.  This post is about why sometimes it's better to weigh the options, and do what works for you -- instead of going by a rule of thumb.

GAME 6

• Firefighters Let Another House Burn Down Over $75 (Burn) - A pay for spray policy has lead to firefighters standing by and watching multiple houses burn down. We discuss the pros and cons of such a policy, as well as offer the perfect solution!

VERSUS

• The Complete Guide To Building Wealth In Two Sentences (Two) - The truth behind wealth building is public domain knowledge, simple to understand, and nobody is going to get rich selling it you. In fact, it is so simple it can be explained in just two sentences…

FMF March Money Madness, Round 3, Posts 5-8

Here we go with the third 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 3

• Living Well on Less Than $10,000 a Year: Habits of Skilled Visa Workers (Skilled) - This is an unusual tale of living under $10,000 a year. The high skilled visa workers while staying in US live extreme frugal life to save money for future, a future they'll live in their home countries. The article talks about this community and their practices, to motivate you towards saving.

VERSUS

• Retirement Portfolios for Those Drawing an Income (Drawing) - The usual viewpoint of investment advice is that of someone twenty or thirty years away from retirement who wants to accumulate a capital for retirement. Here I instead focus on somebody who is retired and wants an income.

GAME 4

• The New American Family: Flexibility and Unconventional Lifestyles to Make Ends Meet (Unconventional) - Today's economy has changed the face of domestic living and who stays to watch the kids. More American families are living unconventional lifestyles to make ends meet. See how our choices affect our life and finances.

VERSUS

• Creative ways to help a charity without spending any money (Creative) - "I can't afford to give to charity". How many of us have used this statement? I am willing to bet quite a few of us. But we don't need money to help, and I am not talking about the usual ways to give - volunteering, giving blood, donating used goods. We can do better than that. This post talks about 16 creative ways to help a charity without spending money, with minimal effort and absolutely no changes to your current lifestyle.

FMF March Money Madness, Round 3, Posts 1-4

Here's the third 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

• Personal Finance Lessons From the Trading Pit (Pit) - There are lessons everyone can learn about personal finance from traders. Here are the few things I learned in the trading pit that have had the biggest influence on how I think about and manage my money.

VERSUS

• Seven Businesses You Can Start for $100 or Less (Businesses) - One of the obstacles to starting a small business is the misguided notion that you need a lot of money to do so. But there are plenty of businesses you can start for little to no money — in some cases just for the cost of getting a business license. Here are seven businesses you can start for $100 or less.

GAME 2

• Gigs For Goals (Gigs) - Remember as a kid when your mother told you that if you wanted something, to go out and get a job? What if you did that for all your "wants" now as an adult?

VERSUS

• Extreme Couponing Reality Check (Check) - Most of the articles written about the downside of Extreme Couponing aren't written by Extreme Couponers. My post is about all the stuff that gets left out when thinking about extreme couponing from my personal experience as an Extreme Couponer. I share the top 9 associated costs with extreme couponing---they're not all financial costs. Saving money is great, but what price are you willing to pay?

FMF March Money Madness, Round 2, Posts 29-32

Here we go with the second 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 15

• Build a Bunker: How to make a vault without breaking the bank (Bunker) - In your home, you should be safe.  When the crappy things happen and somebody decides they want what you have, how easy will it be for them to get it?   Is your home a convenience store, or is it more trouble than it’s worth?

VERSUS

• How to Live Your Dream Life Debt Free (Dream) - Finance is a huge part of our lives yet it remains something that many people struggle with. These days, maybe more than ever before, people all over the world are getting into financial difficulties and debt. The recession has proved this. The sad thing is though that people don't realize that they can live their dream life debt free,  that their dreams can come true without sinking themselves into a financial hole. How so you ask?  Simple Grade 1 math. Read this post and see what I mean.

GAME 16

• 10 Tips For Helping Family Members With Money Problems (Problems) - When it comes to family, there are always problems and dramas we have to deal with - and money is a big one.  I've learned a lot over the last few years helping my own family work through money issues and was shocked at some of the things I learned. From finding out my dad was on food stamps to learning my mother never made a budget in her life, it wasn't easy to swallow.  I want to share with you 10 important tips on how to help your family members with money problems.  They all come from my own experience!

VERSUS

• 10 Things I’ve Learned From Warren Buffett (Buffett) - Warren Buffett is one of the most famous and respected investors in the world. Here are some investing gems which you can apply to your investment strategy today to help guide your investment decisions.

FMF March Money Madness, Round 2, Posts 25-28

Here we go with the second 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 13

• Are you penny wise but pound foolish? (Penny) - Many of us work hard to save a few cents here and there while throwing dollars away elsewhere.  Here are 10 ways people waste money.  Are you one of them?

VERSUS

• Your Do Over Guide: What Would You Do Differently? (Guide) - This is an introspective look over the decisions and mistakes that I have made and how I would change them. I simply don't get people who would want to relive their "mistakes" if given the opportunity to change them. While it is true, that our experiences have made us who we are today, pain is the slowest teacher.

GAME 14

• My Next Home Is Going To Be A Hotel And Save $925 Per Month (Hotel) - How much money could you save by not having to pay your electric bill, internet, cable, or other expenses every month? Many people do not consider all of the little things that we spend our money on every month when we rent or buy a home. These items tend to be taken for granted as necessities, but these small costs can quickly add up. But, how much money could you save every month if you simply live in a hotel? The savings can actually be quite substantial.

VERSUS

• Junk Won't Make You Happy (Junk) - Stuff simply won't fill the void in your life. In fact, I would argue that it only makes the void grow deeper and stronger as you put more and more things between you and the people you love.

FMF March Money Madness, Round 2, Posts 21-24

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 11

• How Much Do We Need to Save For a Baby? (Baby) - As my husband prepared for our baby girl's arrival last year we spent a lot of time planning and saving. We looked back at everything and share how we were able to start and contribute to our baby fund and what seem to be necessary baby expenses. We want to help parents get ready for their own little one's arrival.

VERSUS

• Firefighters Let Another House Burn Down Over $75 (Burn) - A pay for spray policy has lead to firefighters standing by and watching multiple houses burn down. We discuss the pros and cons of such a policy, as well as offer the perfect solution!

GAME 12

• The Double-Standard of Car Buying (Double) - I often hear people say that buying a car is a terrible investment. I have two questions for anyone who says this. 1 - Is a car really an investment? Do you really expect it to appreciate in value? Probably not. 2 - Do you view someone who drives a beat up car as a brilliant investor and congratulate them on their self-control? Probably not.

VERSUS

• The Complete Guide To Building Wealth In Two Sentences (Two) - The truth behind wealth building is public domain knowledge, simple to understand, and nobody is going to get rich selling it you. In fact, it is so simple it can be explained in just two sentences…

FMF March Money Madness, Round 2, Posts 17-20

Here we go with the second 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

• 5 Reasons You Should Never Buy a Video Game at Launch (Launch) - The video game market has gamers rejoicing as Triple A titles are released, and lamenting these reasons you should never buy a video game at launch. Rejoicing as fantastic video games are released, and lamenting because their wallets are empty.

VERSUS

• Personal Finance Lessons From Harry Potter (Potter) - The end of popular series Harry Potter brings personal finance lessons from every book or movie. Here are 7 lessons I learned from the 7 installments of Harry Potter.

GAME 10

• Violating a Personal Finance Rule: I Just Bought a NEW Car! (Car) - Normally, I'd buy a used car. However, I broke this "rule" of personal finance recently in order to get what I REALLY wanted.  This post is about why sometimes it's better to weigh the options, and do what works for you -- instead of going by a rule of thumb.

VERSUS

• Ways to Pay for and Afford College (Ways) - In this economic recession and with unemployment at unfortunate highs, students and adults looking for higher education are struggling with rising tuition rates. Exacerbating the situation is the fact that this sought-after education is essential to landing those elusive job opportunities. This article's key goal is to provide a comprehensive look at all of the options, many unique and thought-provoking, that people can utilize to reduce tuition rates and minimize their reliance on student loans.

FMF March Money Madness, Round 2, Posts 13-16

Here we go with the second 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 7

• Do a financial self appraisal (Self) - I just submitted my self-appraisal at work. Even though it is one among the least favorite parts of my job, I can see how a self-appraisal helps me set some aside to think about what I excelled at over the previous 12 months and what improvements need to be made over next year. It makes me improve constantly and do a better job year after year. I am improving myself for the company’s benefit (mostly). But how many of us do a self-appraisal for our own good. Isn’t it our aim in life to be better than where we were last year? Financially, spiritually and physically?

VERSUS

• The New American Family: Flexibility and Unconventional Lifestyles to Make Ends Meet (Unconventional) - Today's economy has changed the face of domestic living and who stays to watch the kids. More American families are living unconventional lifestyles to make ends meet. See how our choices affect our life and finances.

GAME 8

• Creative ways to help a charity without spending any money (Creative) - "I can't afford to give to charity". How many of us have used this statement? I am willing to bet quite a few of us. But we don't need money to help, and I am not talking about the usual ways to give - volunteering, giving blood, donating used goods. We can do better than that. This post talks about 16 creative ways to help a charity without spending money, with minimal effort and absolutely no changes to your current lifestyle.

VERSUS

• Are Safe Withdrawal Rates Really Safe? (Safe) - An epic 8000 word expose that puts the multi-year controversy behind safe withdrawal rates to rest once and for all. This subject is arguably the most important topic in retirement planning, and the analysis in this post earned top rankings in Google and praise from pension managers and top researchers alike (see comments!). Discover what ugly truths lurk behind the infamous “4% Rule” and how it might effect your financial security…

FMF March Money Madness, Round 2, Posts 9-12

Here we go with the second 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 5

• Living Well on Less Than $10,000 a Year: Habits of Skilled Visa Workers (Skilled) - This is an unusual tale of living under $10,000 a year. The high skilled visa workers while staying in US live extreme frugal life to save money for future, a future they'll live in their home countries. The article talks about this community and their practices, to motivate you towards saving.

VERSUS

• 30 Financial Moves Before 30 (Moves) - The following are 30 financial moves that all 20-somethings should consider. They are key financial milestone you need to do before you hit 30.

GAME 6

• I Am Quitting!!! (Quitting) - This was the happiest post that I have ever written!!!  Last July I took the leap into self employment after hitting my target income goals months earlier than expected.  I also needed to recapture my sanity after nearly a year of 100 plus hour work weeks due to balancing a day job and my growing online endeavors.  I can't vouch for my sanity's recovery yet, but this leap of faith has ended up being the best financial decision of my entire life.  Thank you to all of my supporters that helped me get here!

VERSUS

• Retirement Portfolios for Those Drawing an Income (Drawing) - The usual viewpoint of investment advice is that of someone twenty or thirty years away from retirement who wants to accumulate a capital for retirement. Here I instead focus on somebody who is retired and wants an income.

FMF March Money Madness, Round 2, Posts 5-8

Here's the second round of FMF 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 3

• Gigs For Goals (Gigs) - Remember as a kid when your mother told you that if you wanted something, to go out and get a job? What if you did that for all your "wants" now as an adult?

VERSUS

• How I Saved Over $300 On My Cable And Internet Bills (Bills) - Two telephone calls, $300 in savings on cable and internet services. See how it's done by reading this post.

GAME 4

• High-Dividend Stocks (High) - This post reminds and illustrates to readers that investing in "safe," high-dividend stocks entails a lot more risk than the low-interest instruments (e.g., CDs, T-bonds) against which these high-yield stocks increasingly are compared. To make the point vividly, I critique a specific sales pitch and review the performance of AT&T stock during the summer of 2008. The overall point of the post is that investors need always to consider critically Wall Street's recommendations, understanding that, first and foremost, these are money manager marketing tactics, aimed at promoting Wall Street's prosperity.

VERSUS

• Extreme Couponing Reality Check (Check) - Most of the articles written about the downside of Extreme Couponing aren't written by Extreme Couponers. My post is about all the stuff that gets left out when thinking about extreme couponing from my personal experience as an Extreme Couponer. I share the top 9 associated costs with extreme couponing---they're not all financial costs. Saving money is great, but what price are you willing to pay?