Free Money Finance

One Year Ago This Week -- July 20

Here are some posts worth re-reading from one year ago this week:

• Tip to Save BIG Bucks on Cooling

• What's the Best Day to Trade Stocks?

• Why I Hate Rebates

• Should Kids Pay for Their Own College Expenses or Should Parents Pay It All?

• A Simple Suggestion that Saves You Money, Makes You Money, and Keeps You in Shape

• Save a Fortune on Coffee and Soda

One Year Ago This Week -- July 13

Here are some posts worth re-reading from one year ago this week:

• Pay Off All Your Debt in Less than One Year

• Save Money: How to Extend the Life of Your Car

• Save Money by Retiring in Dirt-Cheap Buenos Aires

• Should You Prepay Your Mortgage?

• Cable TV: Readers Think It's Not Worth the Cost

• Don't Look at Others' Riches -- Become Wealthy by Doing Your Own Thing

One Year Ago This Week -- July 6

Here are some posts worth re-reading from one year ago this week:

• How to Answer Tricky Interview Questions

• Four Steps to Selling Your House for Top Dollar

• What's It Take to be Successful in College? Readers Respond

• What Famous People Have You Met?

• Career Benefits of an Internship

One Year Ago This Week -- June 29

Here are some posts worth re-reading from one year ago this week:

• Save Money by Avoiding Stores and Malls

• Retire Like Royalty in a Foreign Country

• Save Money on Roses (and Flowers of All Sorts for that Matter)

• Six Career Secrets You Won't Learn in School

• Save Money by Moving, Comments from Readers

One Year Ago This Week -- June 22

Here are some posts worth re-reading from one year ago this week:

• The Best Career Tip: Manage Your Career

• How to Get Your Career Off to a Great (or at Least Good) Start

• How Do You Plan to Pay for Your Kids' College?

• How to Make Money: Sell Your Stuff

• Six Ways to Make the Most of Your Career

• Cost of a Wedding Just Went Up -- for Attendees

• Does a Second Income Pay?

One Year Ago This Week -- June 15

Here are some posts worth re-reading from one year ago this week:

• Save Money: 5 Alternatives to High Cable Bills

• How to Evaluate 529 College Savings Plans

• 7 Reasons Not to Retire, Part 1

• Extended Warranty: Worth the Cost?

• Save Big on College: College for Half-Price

One Year Ago This Week -- June 8

Here are some posts worth re-reading from one year ago this week:

• How to Save for a House

• 10 Ways to Get a Promotion

• The Keys to a Great and Prosperous Retirement

• What People Do with Their 401ks When They Switch Jobs

• Money Saving Tip: Save on Prescription Drugs

• Money Moves for the Soon-to-be-Married: From Wedding to Marriage

One Year Ago This Week -- June 1

Here are some posts worth re-reading from one year ago this week:

• Turn Your Hobby into a Career and Love What You Do While You Earn

• It's Not What You Make, It's What You Spend, Part 437

• Money Saving Tip: Shop Now for Winter Clothes

• Secrets of the Wealthy: Five Lessons from the Rich

• Money Saving Tip: Save on College Courses

One Year Ago This Week -- May 25

Here are some posts worth re-reading from one year ago this week:

• Free Money Finance Guide to Making More Money

• Career Guidance: Do's and Don'ts of Quitting Your Job

• Maximize Your Career Earnings: Get a Degree and Manage Your Career

• How to Make a Million Dollars in Ten Years, Part 1: Staying/Becoming Healthy Helps You Spend Less and Earn More

• Penny Pinching Your Way to Prosperity

• Debt in America: What's the True Cause?

• Guidelines for Picking a Financial Advisor

One Year Ago This Week -- May 18

Here are some posts worth re-reading from one year ago this week:

• Free Money Finance Guide to Getting Rich

• Save on Gas

• Money Saving Tip: Plant Trees

• How to Extend Your Life

• More Important than Money: Your Health and Your Mind, Part 1

• How the Middle Class Can Get Back on Solid Financial Ground

• Money Saving Tip: Cancel Your Cable TV

• Money Saving Tip: Save Money on Gas by Maintaining Your Tires

• Money Saving Tip: Save Up to 37% on Gas by Driving Sanely

One Year Ago This Week -- May 11

Here are some posts worth re-reading from one year ago this week:

• Five Steps to Negotiating a Raise

• Ten Job Hunting Myths

• The Art of the Raise

• Save $300 a Month (Or More!)

• When You Owe More on Your House than It's Worth

One Year Ago This Week -- May 4

Here are some posts worth re-reading from one year ago this week:

• Money Saving Tip: Only Change Your Car's Motor Oil When Needed

• Earn Money with Cash-Back Reward Credit Cards

• The Basics of Money Management and Financial Planning

• Comments: Maximizing Your Greatest Asset: Why Your Career is So Important

One Year Ago This Week -- April 27

Here are some posts worth re-reading from one year ago this week:

• Three Strategies for Higher Investment Returns

• 20 Ways to Save Money on Your Car, Part 1

• The Richest Man in Babylon: Seven Cures for a Lean Purse Part 1, Start Thy Purse to Fattening

• Comments: Bad Advice from a "Financial Planner"

• Does an Elite College Really Pay?

One Year Ago This Week -- April 20

Here are some posts worth re-reading from one year ago this week:

• What to Do with Your 401k Money: Roll It Over into an IRA

• Five Keys to Developing a Successful Budget

• How to Teach Your Kids about Money

• A Great Alternative to Quicken and Microsoft Money, Part 2

• Is a Career Change Right for You?

• The Richest Man in Babylon: Save a Portion of All You Make

• Money Saving Tip: Select Your Wedding Gift Early

• Your Most Valuable Asset

• College is Expensive, but Well Worth It Financially (Or: Give Four Years and $40,000 and Get an Extra $1 Million)

One Year Ago This Week -- April 13

Here are some posts worth re-reading from one year ago this week:

• More Important than Money: Your Health

• The Richest Man in Babylon, The Power of Compounding

• Cost of Pets According to the SPCA

• The Richest Man in Babylon, The Power of Time

• Wall Street Analyst: Index Funds are the Best Investment

One Year Ago This Week

Here are some posts worth re-reading from one year ago this week:

• Increase Your Home's Value with Cheap Landscaping Tricks

• Don't Kill Your Retirement Fund When You Change Jobs

• Money Saving Tip: Check Your Medical Bills, Part 2

• Money Saving Tip: Don't Dress Like You're Rich

• Money Saving Tip: Keep Your Kids from Hanging on Garage Doors

Church-goers Earn More, but Money Magazine Doesn't Understand the Power of God in a Person's Finances

One year ago I wrote Church-goers Earn More, but Money Magazine Doesn't Understand the Power of God in a Person's Finances. It highlights the lack of understanding among the press when it comes to issues related to the church and money. I thought those stopping by today would enjoy re-reading it.

Retiring Early and Maximizing Your Career

Here are a couple posts worth re-visiting from one year ago today:

• How to Retire Early - Want to call it quits early?

• Maximizing Your Greatest Asset: Why Your Career is So Important - There's big, big money in your career.

Writing a Will and Saving Money

Here are a couple posts worth re-visiting from one year ago today:

• How to Write a Good Will - Consider this my every-so-often reminder that we all need updated wills.

• Comments: Save Big Money by Using Generic/Store Brands - Lively discussion on branded products versus generics.

Spending Your Tax Refund and Keeping Investment Costs Low

Here are a couple posts worth re-visiting from one year ago today:

• Seven Smart Ways to Spend Your Tax Refund - You'll LOVE #1. ;-)

• Low Costs Mean Higher Returns (Another Advantage of Index Funds) - By keeping investment costs low, you're helping your returns to be higher.

Updating Your Will and How to Manage Money the Right Way

Here are a couple good posts worth revisiting from one year ago:

• Protect Your Most Precious Assets - "Many parents put off writing a will because they see it as a downer -- a way to dispose of your assets after death. Think of it instead as a way to protect your most precious assets -- your children -- if something should happen to you and your spouse while the kids are minors."

• A Great Example of How to Manage Money the Right Way - Spend less than you earn, save, and invest early and often.

How Much House and Increasing Your Home's Value

Here are a couple good posts worth revisiting from one year ago:

• How Much House Can I Afford? - "This question really has two very different answers: 1) how much will a lender give you? and, more importantly, 2) how much do you feel comfortable borrowing?"

• Increase Your Home's Value -- Plant Some Trees - Landscaping can increase townhouse and condominium values by 5% to 15%.

Your Most Important Assets and How to Spend a Raise

Here are a couple good posts worth revisiting from one year ago:

• Exercising Your Most Important Assets - Want to guess what they are?

• Six Great Ways to Spend a Raise - FYI, "spend it" is not on the list ;-)

Practical Advice from an Experienced Giver

Practical Advice from an Experienced Giver is a post I wrote one year ago and I thought many of you would like to revisit it. The article referenced here is written by a Christian man who's been a giver for over 50 years and now gives over 50 percent of his income away each year. He offers his thoughts on giving and, in particular, shares four principles for honing your giving strategy.

Experience Versus Education and Saving Money

Here are a few posts from one year ago today that are worth reviewing:

• Comments: Experience versus Education - Which makes more difference in your career -- experience or education? Lots of thoughts on this subject at this post.

• Save Big Money by Using Generic/Store Brands -- Even I Didn't Know the Savings Were This Big!!! - An FMF undercover investigation. ;-) Seriously, the cost savings are HUGE!

• Money Saving Tip: Shop the Discount Racks/Bins - Big savings can be found if you just look for them!

Avoid Ruining Retirement and Making Your Brain Fitter

Here are a couple posts from one year ago today that are worth reviewing:

• How to Avoid Ruining Retirement - The Five Worst Retirement Money Mistakes - The title says it all. Five retirement mistakes to avoid.

• How to Make Your Brain Fitter in Six (Sort of) Easy Steps - I'm still not doing well on this list. ;-)

Investing in Charity, Saving Money, and Emergency Funds

Here are a few posts from one year ago today that are worth reviewing:

• The Most Good for Your Charity Dollar - Looking at Your Giving as an Investment - "We need to view our giving in the same way we view our investments."

• Money Saving Tip: Go to the Right Garage Sales - "Go to garage sales in nice, upscale neighborhoods."

• Get an Emergency Fund Now! - "Your single smartest move: Build a cash cushion."

Save Money and How to Make the Most of Your Income Tax Return

Here are a few posts from one year ago today that are worth reviewing:

• 10 Ways to Find Cheap Gas - Gas was $2.50 a gallon a year ago and is again now. These tips could save you some money.

• Use Your Freezer - "Buy meat when it's on sale and store it in the freezer."

• How to Make the Most of Your Income Tax Return - "Here's a revolutionary idea: Instead of spending your refund, put it in an emergency savings account."

Rules for Hiring a Real Estate Agent and Giving

It was David Bach Day one year ago today here at Free Money Finance and we had some good stuff from David then. Here are a couple pieces worth reviewing:

• 3 Basic Rules for Hiring a Great Real Estate Agent

• More Important than Money: Giving

Interview with David Bach

Here's a three-part interview I conducted one year ago today with financial author David Bach Start with David Bach Day at Free Money Finance, Interview Part 1, read the post, and click through at the bottom to go to the next part.

Ten Principles of Christian Giving

One year ago today I wrote Ten Principles of Christian Giving. I thought many of you visiting Free Money Finance today would like to read it. It's a short but impactful piece.

Experience versus Education and Tax Deductions

Here are some posts from one year ago today worth revisiting:

• Experience versus Education: Which Counts More in Career Success? - My opinion: education at the start of your career, then experience gets more and more important as the years pass.

• Five Common Missed Tax Deductions - Anyone still doing their taxes?

401k Thoughts and Saving Money

Here are some posts from one year ago today worth revisiting:

• Figuring Out Your 401k - "Next to deciding how much money to save for retirement, the most important decision a worker can make is how to allocate assets among stocks, bonds and money market mutual funds."

• Money Saving Tip: Shop on a Full Stomach - Or go to Costco at 11:45 am on a Saturday -- sure to fill you up!

• Money Saving Tip: Buy the Sunday Paper - This saves us a few hundred dollars every year.

Two Money Saving Tips

Here are some posts from one year ago today worth revisiting:

• Money Saving Tip: Use a List when Grocery Shopping - Of course, you need to remember to LOOK at the list when you're in the store.

• Money Saving Tip: Get to Know the Staff - This one has saved me a TON at my local bike shop.

Wills, Saving Money, Finding the Right Career, and Lost Money

Here are some posts from one year ago today worth revisiting:

• Proof that You Need a Will (And What to Do About It) - A real-life case shows how important a will is.

• Money Saving Tip: Shop for Groceries Once Every Other Week - If only I could stick with this one!!!!!

• Nine Steps to a Perfect Career Fit - Decent list of how to find the best career for you.

• You Could be Rich and Not Know It! - Do you have any forgotten assets?

Phil Town Day, Part 2

One year ago today was Phil Town Day here at Free Money Finance. Here are a couple posts worth revisiting if you're a fan of Phil:

• Phil Town Day at Free Money Finance: $1 of Value for 50 Cents

• Phil Town Day at Free Money Finance: An Interview with Phil Town, Part 1

Phil Town Day, Part 1

One year ago today (almost) was Phil Town Day here at Free Money Finance. Here are a couple posts worth revisiting if you're a fan of Phil:

• Phil Town Day at Free Money Finance: Rule #1 and the Four Ms

• Phil Town Day at Free Money Finance: The Five Moats

The Poor in Proverbs

I wrote The Poor in Proverbs one year ago and shared some of my favorite verses on caring for the poor from the book of Proverbs. If you're interested in what that book has to say regarding our responsibility to those less fortunate, check it out.

Test Drive Retirement

In Quit Work for a Year: 7 Steps to Do It Right, I talked about how some people want to see what retirement is like so they quit their job for a year to find out. It's a post I wrote one year ago and is worth a re-read if you're in a similar situation.

Using a Dealer for Car Work, Borrowing for Your House, and Young Workers Passing Up Free Money

Here are a few posts from one year ago today worth re-visiting:

• Why I Pay More to go to a Car Dealer for Service Work - Yes, I pay more than needed for some things. But there's a good reason for doing so -- it's a better value.

• Don't Let a Bank Tell You How Much to Borrow for a Home - How true!

• Young Workers are Passing Up Free Money, Jeopardizing Retirement - I don't understand why anyone would pass up free money.

Free Money, Getting a Raise, and Using a Credit Card to Save Money

Here are a few posts from one year ago today worth re-visiting:

• Free Money from American Express - Details why I use/recommend the Blue Cash from American Express card.

• Want More Pay? Here are Some Tips - Four tips on how to get a raise.

• What My Second Credit Card Does for Me - Details why I use the Subaru Platinum MasterCard from Chase as my back-up credit card.

Spending Less than You Earn, Saving Money and Index Funds

Here are a few posts from one year ago today worth re-visiting:

• Even the Rich Need to Spend Less than They Earn - If you make a ba-zillion dollars and spend a ba-zillion and one dollars, you're going backwards.

• Money Saving Tip: Know the Law - Especially if your state has a "special" shopping law like the one in Michigan.

• Why I Like Index Funds - An old stand-by. I've updated this post since I first did it, but the facts in this one are as true as ever.

Saving Money and Money Blunders for Engaged Couples

Here are a couple posts from one year ago today worth re-visiting:

• Money Saving Tip: Pay Attention to Price Stickers and Watch the Register Readout - This one netted me a GREAT deal!

• Big Money Blunders to Avoid: Engaged Couples - "We must share our life goals with the person that we are marrying. If we haven't done it before marriage, we had better be doing it during marriage because [those goals] do evolve and change."

Splurging and Unusual Tax Deductions

Here are a couple posts from one year ago today worth re-visiting:

• What Do You Splurge On? - One of my most "fun" posts ever. Isn't it great to splurge? ;-)

• The Most Unusual Tax Deductions Ever! - "One professional dancer was allowed to deduct her breast implants as a legitimate business expense." Yikes!

Tithe versus Offerings

Tithe versus Offerings, What's the Right View? is a piece I wrote one year ago today that I thought many of you would like to revisit. The summary:

Although we may not have to produce a tithe (talking about people who didn't believe in tithing), we should desire in our hearts to be at least that generous, without any sense of legalistic compulsion. God expects us to be generous givers and to provide a generous share of our firstfruits for His work.

Tax Goofs and Blogger Offer

Here are two articles from one year ago today worth checking out again:

• Free Loans to the IRS and Other Tax Goofs - It amazes me how some people treat their tax return process. ;-)

• Calling All Bloggers: Does Free Money Finance Owe You a Link? - The offer is still good. If you're a money blogger, maybe I owe you a link.

Prosperity, Sears Blows It, and Saving Money

Here are a few articles from one year ago today worth checking out again:

• Poverty to Prosperity - One of my all-time favorite posts here. It summarizes a great deal of my thinking on money and personal finances.

• Sears Finally Gets It Right, But Ends Up "Ok" at Best in My Book; Fine with Mrs. FMF; You Decide Who is Right - In case you're wondering, here's why I hate Sears.

• Money Saving Tip: Breakfast over Dinner - Simple but good tip. Though it helps if you're a "morning person." ;-)

• Getting Homeowner's Insurance (And Saving Money Too) - Be sure you're not paying too much for homeowner's insurance.

Saving Money Again and Again

Here are a few articles from one year ago today worth checking out again:

• Comments: Save Up to 50% on Your Heating Bill with Three Simple Tasks; Replacing Furnace Filters Can Save a Bundle - "Regular filter replacements also keep your forced air motor from burning out too early in the life of the system from the reduced air resistance. I pay less than a dollar each for my filters, and at $12/year even for a single month's gain in motor ($400 service call) life, it's a bargain."

• Money Saving Tip: Save on Entertainment Expenses While also Doing Good - "Spend an evening gathering items for a donation box to give to a local relief organization or volunteer as a family at a soup kitchen."

• Comments: Money Saving Tip: Tell Friends when You're Thinking of Buying Something - More money saving thoughts added to my initial idea.

Annual Pet Costs, Career Killers, Nasty Money Habits, and How to Spend Less

Here are a few articles from one year ago today worth checking out again:

• Annual Pet Costs and A Money Saving Tip (Get a Cat) - Annual costs: Large dog -- $1,500; Medium dog -- $1,115; Small dog -- $780; Cat -- $640.

• Seven Career Killers - "Your best defense against any of these (or any other career-limiting traits): 1) deliver results and 2) have a good attitude."

• 10 Nasty Money Habits to Kick - Yep, these sure are nasty.

• Money Saving Tip for How to Spend Less - "Bottom line: Before you buy anything, ask: Do I truly value this? By making value-driven decisions, saving will be become a regular part of your life."

Selling a House, Cost of Pets, and Getting a Higher Salary

Here are a few articles from one year ago today worth checking out again:

• Selling a House: Location's Important but so is Price, Price, Price - Ha! Especially in today's market.

• Comments: Cost of a Pet is $48,000!!! - Key quote: "$6,030 over the 5 months I've had him, that's $1206 a month."

• The Best Ways to Negotiate a Higher Salary - "When asked what was most likely to persuade them to sweeten their offer, the largest group (34%) said they want to hear you explain why you're worth more by highlighting specific accomplishments."