It's time again for one of the most fun carnivals out there in the blog world: the Yakezie Carnival! Yes, all kinds of fun to be had with plenty of submissions this week and all of them showing fantastic entries. There's lots of good reading to had, from the basics of money management to the details of working for yourself. It's a great carnival week.
Plus, I've decided to share some of the adorable pictures of my beautiful daughter, so you're in for a special treat with this Yakezie Carnival! (Alright, I'll admit it, I'm in crazy dad mode right now, as I have been for the past six and half weeks, aka as long as she's been alive.)
Pauline @ Reach Financial Independence writes 13 money resolutions for 2013: Make more money – This post is part of a 13 money resolutions for 2013 series, and talks about the many opportunities you have to make extra money and have more room in your budget
Jeff Rose @ Good Financial Cents writes 4 Practical Money Skills You MUST Teach Your Children – One of the best things you can teach your children is the skill of money management. Here's the most basic practical money skills that everyone should have and how to teach them to your children.
Tony @ You Only Do This Once writes Paying Cash For Your Car – Buying a new car or leasing a new car is extremely “normal” in our society, and a lot of my friends have been asking my advice on this lately. So I am going to discuss here why “normal” is not always good when it comes to buying a new vehicle.
Michael @ Financial Ramblings writes Why Did My FICA-OASDI Taxes Increase in 2013? – Wondering why your FICA taxes increased in this year? Click through to find out.
Dividend Growth Investor @ Dividend Growth Investor writes The Dividend Kings List Keeps Expanding – The following companies have managed to reward their loyal shareholders with a dividend raise for over 50 years in a row each. This is particularly interesting, since this period covered several recessions, a few oil shocks and one embargo, a few wars, inflation and a lot of change in the global economy.
harry campbell @ Your Personal Finance Pro writes My New HSA Strategy – Rollovers and Trustee Transfers – Since my company was acquired by an even larger one last year, 2013 will be our first full year under the new administration. That means a whole lot of changes to our benefits and one of those will be to our HSA provider. Although the HDHP insurance portion will still be served by Aetna, our HSA provider will be switching from Fidelity to Chase. Chase is similar in respect to Fidelity but their investing options are more expensive and more limited. And since I don’t rely on my HSA for medi
Lance @ Money Life and More writes How We Set Up My Girlfriend’s Budget – Budgets… a lot of people can’t stand them! My girlfriend isn’t a huge fan of budgets either but she recognizes how budgets help you achieve your financial goals. More importantly, my girlfriend’s budget was made specifically to achieve her number one goal.
Maria @ The Money Principle writes Dealing with debt: change your mental attitude – Mentality is often underplayed when dealing with debt. Here I discuss three mental shifts that will help you pay your debt off and fast.
Wayne @ Young Family Finance writes Saving Money for a Puppy – Families buy puppies before understanding what dog ownership will cost them. Find out how much it costs to raise a dog and how to prepare.
Tushar @ Earn More and Save writes Analyzing Savings Account Interest: Worth It? – Should you bank on savings account interest as a tool for growing your money?
Aloysa @ My Broken Coin writes Why Some Women Prefer Older Men (Money is Not The Reason) – Where are the reasons that some women prefer older men. It's not just for the money.
Roger the Amateur Financier @ The Amateur Financier writes Money and Child Raising: Cloth vs. Disposable Diapers – A comparison of cloth and disposable diapers on issues of cost, environmental effect and convenience, with discussion of which diaper is better. (Hey look, I have a post included in this carnival, too!)
Jennifer Lynn @ Broke-Ass Mommy writes When quibbling over finances leads to a rift in friendship. – Sometime money discussions and escalate to bad feelings, read my experience and advice.
MR @ Money Reasons writes My Secret Wealth Goal – Today I'm going to reveal on of my secret wealth goals. If I can conquer this goal, I should be financially independent and on my way to becoming wealth.
Passive Income Earner @ The Passive Income Earner writes Is Netflix the next Cable model? – Will Netflix pave the way for the Cable companies for content subscription?
JC @ Passive-Income-Pursuit @ Passive Income Pursuit writes So your dividend got cut. Now what? – Looking at how bad a dividend cut is for a dividend growth investor. It's not nearly as bad as you would think.
A Blinkin @ Funancials writes Diversify Your Taxes, B!tch – Consider shifting some of your assets from a taxable account to one that is taxed later or never taxed. This way, you’ll be taxed on what you spend rather than what you earn. Checking accounts, savings accounts, stocks and bonds are examples of accounts that are taxed now. 401(k), IRAs, and annuities are examples of accounts that will be taxed later.
Daisy @ Add Vodka writes The Many Inspections Needed When Buying an Older Home – We are happily settled settling into our new house; many boxes are unpacked, we’ve been able to conquer some of the work required to make it a comfortable living space, and I’ve just been able to start sleeping better in our… Read our discoveries!
CAPI @ Creating a Passive Income writes Passive Income for the Brave: Investing 101 – Investing can be really addicting, especially as you focus on developing passive income streams. Find out how you can control yourself.
Corey @ 20s Finances writes Choosing a Business Accountant – Whether you're just starting out as a freelancer, have set up your own company or have owned a business for years, choosing the right accountant is extremely important. A good business accountant can make sure your company is set up correctly from day one, that you're paying the right amount of tax and that you're saving money wherever possible.
Tushar @ Start Investing Money writes How to Use the ADX Stock Indicator – The ADX indicator can be a useful tool when it comes to gauging whether a particular trend is worth following in terms of investments. The indicator was created back in 1978, and the letters stand for the Average Directional Movement Index.
Invest It Wisely @ Invest It Wisely writes How to Raise Happy, Healthy Children – There are many ways to shape our children into the happy, healthy children we desire. Here’s a few tips to aid you in getting there.
JP @ My Family Finances writes Ways to Hoard Your Gold – While no storage method is perfect, there are many ways to hoard your gold. Just make sure you consider your own personal needs when making a decision.
Kanwal @ Simply Investing writes What is a Dividend Aristocrat? – A dividend aristocrat is a company that has paid dividends consecutively for 25 years or more. Standard and Poor's (S&P) maintain a list of US dividend aristocrats. Dividends are key to investing successfully. Dividends are cash payments made to shareholders. Once a dividend is paid it can never be taken back.
Luke @ Learn Bonds writes 4 Reasons the Junk Bond Rally Will Continue in 2013 – Many investors think that yields can’t go any lower and that interest rates will reverse in 2013. Here's why they are wrong about the junk bond market.
eemusings @ NZ Muse writes Can we all realistically expect to love our jobs? – Following your passion is a nice platitude, but statistically it just doesn't work.
Jason @ Work Save Live writes Tips to Save Money on your Cable Bill – If you are currently paying $50-$60 a month for 200+ channels you rarely watch did you know you have options? Here are 3 options that will not only save you money on your cable bill but can also actually improve your programming.
Mike @ Personal Finance Journey writes Eating Well but Saving More – You might not know it, but your bad habits can lead to costly meals. Here are some tips for saving money on food.
Rohit @ The Money Mail writes No-Fee Roth IRA Accounts – Returns in your Roth IRA can be reduced by the fees the custodians charge. You should select accounts that have no minimum balance requirements or annual maintenance fees. Some brokerage houses are now offering many free mutual fund options within Roth IRA but you will still have to pay for individual stock transaction. Other than fees you should factor things like real time quotes and customer service in your decision making. In this article you will find details on the types of fees the custod
Daniel @ Sweating the Big Stuff writes How Much Do You Need To Save To Switch Insurance Companies? – When your car insurance is up for renewal, how do you decide whether to switch? Use this guide to find out.
Thomas @ Finance Inspired writes Moving Abroad to Escape Debt – When faced with high levels of debt some people feel like they have no other choice but to run. Let’s have a look to see whether moving abroad to escape debt is even an option anymore.
John @ WILD about Finance writes How to use your cash card safely online – It’s important to be conscious of the threats surrounding using your credit card online, read this for a great little knowledge nugget.
Mary Rhodes @ http://www.finetunefinances.com/ writes 5 Budgeting tips after Christmas – You might have been allured with great discounts and several parties with friends. The season of giving can very quickly turn out to be the season of reckless spending as spending goes out of control. This is when strict budgeting comes into play. Although there are times that we cannot avoid spending during a holiday season, it is important to take responsibility over our finances. Try these simple guidelines and see how these five budgeting tips after Christmas can be helpful to you in the long run.
Sustainable PF @ Sustainable Personal Finance writes Why You Should Take Care of Your Finances First – One of the financial virtues that our society lauds is helping others.
MMD @ IRA vs 401k Central writes What are the 401k Withdrawal Rules for Getting My Money Back? – Before putting too much money into your employers retirement plan, it helps to understand the 401k withdrawal rules and when you'll see your money again.
Corey @ Steadfast Finances writes 5 Things a Recent College Graduate Should not Buy – Everyone wants new stuff, but it's not always financially wise. Find out what things college graduates should NOT buy.
MMD @ My Money Design writes What is Financial Freedom – The Easy to Follow Explanation – In this post, we’re going to layout a definition to what is financial freedom and explain where we need to focus in order to achieve it.
Crystal @ Budgeting in the Fun Stuff writes Started as Little Wants, Became Obsessions – I saw some little yard gnomes that I wanted, but pretty soon, I felt like I had to have them. Do your cravings turn into obsessions?
Gary @ Gajizmo.com writes Should I Pay Off My Mortgage? – It's the beginning of the year and you are planning your finances. Young or old, will you be deciding to pay off your home in the next few years? Does it make sense to do so? Here are the pros and cons of paying off your mortgage early.
krantcents @ KrantCents writes Rich Man, Poor Man – Rich man, poor man is not intended to leave out women! I am really trying to examine the difference between rich and poor and help you achieve what you say is a goal. Most 18-25 year old say getting rich and becoming famous are important goals for them.
Chris @ IRetireEarly writes Advantages and Disadvantages of Mutual Funds – Mutual funds have been longstanding staples of the finance industry, but is mutual fund investing the right move for you and your financial goals? Check out the top 3 advantages and disadvantages of mutual funds.
Darwin @ Darwin's Money writes Dollar Cost Averaging: Actual Results From the Past 10 Years – 10 Years of Results crunched for how you would have fared if you dollar cost averaged into the market versus a one-time investment. Interesting results!
SFB @ Simple Finance Blog writes Which Insurance Policy is Best for You? – The question of “What type of insurance is best for you?” is an important dilemma that many adults face. How will you determine what is best for you?
Don @ MoneySmartGuides writes Create Wealth Through Property Investment – Read how to create wealth through property investments.
PPlan @ Provident Plan writes 4 Ways to Save Money in College – College is getting more expensive by the day. Saving money while in college is important in order to limit your student loans.
Steve @ 2011 Taxes writes Pros And Cons Of Filing Your Taxes With TurboTax – Filing your taxes with TurboTax or another online tax program is something that people often loathe doing, therefore they try to procrastinate or push it off for later hoping that they would be excused and the year would pass by.
BARBARA FRIEDBERG @ Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance writes WHAT IS AN ETF AND HOW TO INVEST IN ETFs – ETF investing. Are ETFs better than mutual funds? Pro's and con's of ETF investing.
Ted Jenkin @ Your Smart Money Moves writes Money Unhappiness? It's All About Expectations – Every year that the birthday clock turns another year I ask myself one simple question, Am I getting any wiser? Many say that gaining wisdom in life is
Suba @ Broke Professionals writes Why Can't Men Remember Things? – Male traits set the guys up to fail when it comes to remembering names and other crucial details. Why memory matters, and why improving it can help your career.
Ashley @ Money Talks Coaching writes Check Out the Median Income Over Time – I just came across this chart I made a few months ago. It's the median income adjusted for inflation from 1984 to 2010. I think it's very interesting.
TDB @ Tax Deduction Blog writes Look Twice: The Most Overlooked Tax Deductions – Most people know the common tax deductions, but if you look hard there are lot of easily overlooked tax deductions, here is a list of them.
PK @ Don't Quit Your Day Job… writes Treasury Return Calculator – A calculator which automatically computes the return for buying and holding 10 Year Treasury Notes with all coupon payments and sales reinvested. (Try finding that anywhere else on the internet!)
Jen @ Master the Art of Saving writes Why Didn't I Get A PrePaid Cell Phone Sooner? – While I would love to have a shiny new iPhone and be able to get online no matter where I am, I'm not willing to spend that much money. Granted you can…
Joe @ Midlife Finance writes The Basics of Insuring Your Car – There are other actions you can take for the best auto coverage, including keeping weekly mileage low, your credit sweet, and regularly reviewing your policy. These tips will not only get you on the road to using your vehicle, but keep you going strong for years to come.
Joe @ Retire By 40 writes 7 Little Downsides Of Being An Entrepreneur – Being an entrepreneur has a lot of benefits, but there are many downsides too. From heath care to the lack for time for your family, it’s not all peaches and cream.
Josh Thompson @ Becoming Your Own Bank writes Infinite Banking Video – We have a new Infinite Banking sketch video that you will love!
Jon the Saver @ Free Money Wisdom writes Easy Ways To Protect Your Money – Here are some practical and easy ways to safeguard your money and ensure that it stays protected.
Kyle @ The Penny Hoarder writes 7 Top Tips to Deal with Mortgage Troubles – Here are a few things you may wish to think about when contemplating your mortgage and what-if type questions: If your circumstances change and you find yourself doubting your ability to meet your mortgage repayments, you must contact your mortgage provider as soon as possible.
Evan @ My Journey to Millions writes The World Lost a Great Personal Finance Role Model – The Wife's grandma was 92 years old and up to her last moments was sharp as a tack. I am only writing about her passing now because her funeral was a couple of days ago (Monday the 28th). She was a lot of fun to just sit and talk to since she loved to tell stories and I am not sure if it was because of my interests or hers but she loved to talk about personal finance issues.
Edgar @ Degrees and Debt writes Monitor Your Credit for FREE – Ways to monitor your credit for FREE!
Steve @ 2012 Taxes – Free Tax Filing Options writes Intuit Unveils TurboTax CPA Select – TurboTax CPA Select is designed to connect small and medium business owners who require someone to file their taxes with a CPA.
Tushar @ Finance TUBE writes Little Known Facts About Credit After Bankruptcy – Today we will be talking about the known Facts about Credit after Bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is a terrible thing and it leave a colossal blemish on your credit report for a minimum of seven years. In some cases there remains a black mark that remains up to a decade.
Hank @ Money Q&A writes Tips To Save Money On A Mortgage – There are a few solutions to make a mortgage more affordable. If paying down the principal in advance is feasible, it is an effective method to save money on a mortgage.
Amanda L Grossman @ Frugal Confessions writes Our 2012 Energy Consumption – Each year I take the time to review our energy consumption from the previous 12 months (electricity and natural gas costs).
Holly @ Club Thrifty writes The Value of Taking a Vacation – Vacation is the best thing since milk and cookies! While it may cost us a ton of money, going on vacation is essential for our well-being.
Jason @ Live Real Now writes Comcast: A National Treasure – Our Tivo died last week, so we ordered a replacement. We accidentally ordered the wrong one. Crap. We could send it back and miss out on the Tivo for another week, or we could upgrade our cable package. Hmm….
Cash Flow Mantra @ Cash Flow Mantra writes Rental Refi Did Not Work – Now that the refinance won’t be going through, I will using that money to pay down a credit card balance in order to save over $2300 per year in interest. Once I get this card paid off which should be in the next few months, I will save almost $800 per month in cash flow which can be added back into the budget. So all is not lost with plan B.
John S @ Frugal Rules writes How to Take the Emotion Out of Investing – The stock market is driven largely by emotion, some say upwards of 90%. If you have a solid investment plan though you can easily separate the emotions from the day to day activity of your investments.
Jon @ Novel Investor writes H&R Block At Home Review – H&R Block is one of the world's largest tax service providers with offices all over the country. We breakdown their H&R Block at Home online tax software.
William @ Quote Me A Price writes Can a Structured Settlement Transfer be Blocked by the Court? – Many people rightfully think that the decision of how to best use their resources, like money, is theirs to make. This is especially true of annuities and structured settlements, although that might not actually be true. Many states have laws in place dictating how structured settlements are dealt with, especially transfers or sales.
Anna @ BryanMaltier.com writes How To Save Money With Coupons – Couponing may still be one of the best ways to start paying closer attention to your budget by spending less and saving more. If you aren't sure where to start on improving your personal finances, think about your consumption and find ways to cut back using coupons.
Jules @ Faithful With a Few writes What I Learned About Contentment from Watching House Hunters – It doesn’t matter whether we are thinking about our home, car, electronics, job, clothing, or even relationships; we need to be grateful and thankful for what we have.
Jules Wilson @ Fat Guy,Skinny Wallet writes Plumbing and the Family Tree: The Roots Run Deep – We often have resources close to home. There are probably people in your family, your church, job, or even friends that can help save you time and a lot of money.
Marie at Family Money Values @ Family Money Values writes The Downside of Wealth – You think “If I just had more money, everything would be OK”. Past a certain point, however, more money can be more trouble than fun. Being wealthy is not for the feint of heart. You need to understand the things that can go wrong when you have lots of money, so you can learn how to avoid them! Here are six.
KK @ Student Debt Survivor writes My Finances, His Finances, Our Finances – Do you and your significant other share bank accounts? When you marry should you combine you finances or keep your own individual accounts?
Miss T. @ Prairie Eco Thrifter writes Reviewing the World's Landfills – A Future Fictional Business Plan Excerpt – Before the successful development of bio-degradable, non-petroleum based plastic manufacturing, some 75 billion tons of plastic PER YEAR were generated in the USA alone. Over the course of the 21st century trillions of tons of plastic were sent to landfills throughout the world.
Ray @ Squirrelers writes Stocks in February: Time for a Correction? – February hasn't always been kind to stocks. That history, as well as the huge increase in prices in January 2013, leads to the question of whether or not a correction is coming.
DPF @ Digital Personal Finance writes How Often Do You Upgrade Your Phone? – Many people are excited to get a new phone as soon as their contract is up. Do you get one right away, or do you just take your time to get a new one? This post discusses the financial implications of each.
Little House @ Little House in the Valley writes Straw Bale Homes – Straw bales are strong enough to support load-bearing walls and offer better insulation than traditional home building materials. Straw bale homes are also healthier homes – they absorb carbon and aren’t covered in chemicals. Surprisingly as well, rodents and vermin aren’t at all attracted to straw since it offers no nutritional value.
Everything Finance @ Everything Finance Blog writes Ideas for Valentine's Day Gifts Under $30 – This short list of ideas for Valentine’s Day gifts will help you pick something everyone will love.
Deacon @ Well Kept Wallet writes How to Work From Anywhere – Have you ever wanted to be able to travel and have the ability to work from any place in the world? Here are ten tips to help you make that happen.
Jason Hull @ Hull Financial Planning writes Does This Credit Card Make Me Look Fat? – This article examines a recent survey by creditcards.com concerning how much debt is a turnoff for both men and women. And here you thought it was your terrible moves on the dance floor…
Marvin @ Brick By Brick Investing writes Buying Options Is A Fool’s Errand – A detailed description and explanation of why buying options is generally a losing investment.
Carmen @ MyBestCarInsurance101.com writes How To Get The Best Car Insurance Quotes From Companies – Written by a former car insurance agent and broker, literally, a complete guide to buying car insurance, from details on factors that affect premiums, the different types of car insurance and when you should buy them, how to compare multiple policies, and discounts you need to apply for. This is a must-read for anyone reviewing their car insurance policy.
Jason @ PT Money Personal Finance writes How to Protect Yourself from Antiquated Airline Computers that Could Ruin Your Trip – Airline computers can be the cause of many travel issues, but what can you do about it? We analyze the reasons behind the problem and experts weigh in on ways to avoid them.
Emily @ Evolving Personal Finance writes January 2013 Month in Review: Money – Our cash flow this month was the closest ever to our projected budget, but we were over in one major category.
Mr. MWD @ My Wealth Desire writes The World’s Best Personal Finance Magazines – Reading personal finance magazines could change your view about money and could help you improve your family finances. World’s best personal finance magazines provide a wide range of financial information and tricks to achieve your financial goal. If you want to improve your financial status and to have a financial freedom or stay updated on the latest opportunities, being surrounded by personal finance or investment reading materials like magazines is good for you.
Girl Meets Debt @ Girl Meets Debt writes My Frugal Habits BEFORE I Started Blogging – The old me may have spent more money than I had, but even before I started blogging, I had a few frugal habits that I was already practicing daily. I know, it is suprising right?
Alright, that's it for this week (not that this list is lacking in any way; there's a LOT of talented bloggers out there and dozens of impressive articles included in this carnival. Have a great time reading through all of them, as I know I will! (And feel free to ooh and aah over my sweet daughter; I assure you that was part of my diabolical plot in including so many of them.)