Welcome to Free From Broke and the Carnival of Personal Finance - Don’t Go Broke Over The Holidays edition!
With the holidays coming up it’s real tempting to go all out and decorate to the nine’s, get presents for everyone, and basically throw caution to the wind in getting in the holiday spirit. Problem is it can also get you into deep financial trouble too!
Without further ado here is the carnival and some tips to keep you Free From Broke:
Use cash to keep yourself from getting into credit debt.
photo credit: Unhindered by Talent
Editor’s Picks
Blueprint for Financial Prosperity tells us about Your Financial Network Map. This is an interesting idea to look at all of your financial accounts.
Almost Frugal asks How Old Are You Financially? A great metaphor for where we are are with our personal finances.
Finance and Fat teaches us Simple Steps for a Cash Only Christmas. I love it!
Mighty Bargain Hunter explains why Bailouts Hurt Our Standard of Living. Great reasons why moving away from a free market doesn’t help us.
Prime Time Money tells us How To Figure Out Your Net Worth. A nice easy equation.
Finance
Retire At 40 presents Does Your Bank Have a Broken Business Model?
The Financial Blogger explains A Banker’s Perspective on the Banking Industry.
Debt
Buy Like Buffett gives us Credit Card Companies Are Putting the Squeeze On Loyal Customers
Go To Retirement tells us Striving for a Mortgage-Free Life.
Accumulating Money tells us about Student Loan Consolidation.
DIY – Get creative and make gifts, cards, and wrapping paper yourself and wth the kids. Not only can it be cheaper but it also gives a great personal touch!
Investing
MoneyNing lets us know Why Investing in Stocks This Year Was Not a Financial Mistake.
ABC’s of Investing presents What Are Exchange Traded Funds (ETF’s)?
Dividends4Life tells us about 5 Dividend Stocks to Watch.
Online Investing AI Blog Lets us know How to Invest in Good Luck.
Carckerjack Greenback gives us A Closer Look at a 100% Diversified Stock Portfolio.
Investing School presents Investing With Leverage (or Margin).
Dividend Growth Investor tells us about Dividends and the Great Depression.
Amateur Asset Allocator asks Should Young Investors Be 100% Stocks?
Personal Finance Analyst presents I Series Bonds: An Alternative to Traditional Savings Accounts?
Saving
Stumble Forward lists 10 Quick Ways to Load Up Your Emergency Fund.
Single Guy Money tells us about the SingleGuyMoney Savings Challenge.
Deposit Accounts presents An Overlooked Way to Save Money.
Frugality
The Digerati Life lists Best Coupon Sites for Online Shoppers.
Squawkfox presents 8 Homemade Gifts in a Jar.
Cash Money Life writes Christmas Shopping – Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Beyond.
Money Smart Life tells us to Save Money on Movie Rentals – From Free Movies to Blockbuster Online.
Pecuniarities presents Two Natural and Economical Ways to Shed Dry Winter Skin.
Beyond Paycheck to Paycheck enlightens us with Car Are Underrated.
The Personal Financier gives us The Wine Industry: A Lesson in Marketing.
The Smarter Wallet gives 11 Ways to Save Money on Crafts and Creative DIY Projects.
Greener Pastures lists 54 Discounts on 54 Eco Friendly Gifts.
Make a budget for gifts and keep to it!
Career
Life of an Internet Entrepreneur points out 8 Ways to Improve Your Life by Working From a Home Office.
Free Money Finance lets us know How to Derail Your Job Search.
Funny About Money looks into Turning What you Love Into a Second Income Stream.
M is for Money tells us My Money Mistake #2 – Didn’t Negotiate Salary.
Intelligent Speculator presents Finance/Business Graduates? Good Luck and Welcome Aboard.
Credit
Discover Debt Freedom asks Looking for the Best Vredit Card Offer?
Taking Charge informs of The Downside of Giving Up Plastic: Purchase Protection.
Ask Mr Credit Card questions Should You Pay a Fee to Use Your Credit Card?
The Credit Toolbox says Be Honest, But Not Too Honest.
Taxes
My Journey to Millions lets us know IRS Increases the Amount You Can Save in a Qualified Account for 2009.
Price check online to make sure you are getting the best deal. Also check product reviews to make sure you are getting an item that lasts.
photo credit: Material Boy
Economy
Saving To Invest says I Want My Bailout Too and Here’s Why.
Passive Family Income screams Attention Walmart – Shame on You!
Save and Conquer tells about Foreclosure Vandalism.
The Happy Rock presents Fred Thompson’s Commentary on the Economy nd the Bailout.
Sun’s Financial Diary tells us Monthly Unemployment Rate at 15 Year High.
No Debt Plan writes Should You Support Local Businesses at All Costs?
Money Management
Think Your Way to Wealth gives 10 Tips for a Financially Stress Free Christmas.
Karen Chan asks us Debit or Credit?
Saving Advice presents Dave Ramsey Falters in a Crummy Economy.
Budgets Are Sexy tells us It’s All About the Credit Cards Baby, 4 Steps to Success.
American Consumer News teaches Stepping into Better Money Management.
Dough Roller presents Money Management in Action: How to Make More than $800 in 10 Minutes.
Budgeting
Bridging the Gaap presents BTG’s Free Holiday and Christman Excel Budget Template.
If you do use credit cards make sure you don’t exceed an amount you can payoff when your bill comes in. Make it your holiday not the credit card company’s!photo credit: Andres Rueda
Real Estate
Chief Family Officer tells us We’re Finally Re-Financing Our Mortgage.
Searchlight Crusade informs of Adverse Possession.
My Wealth Builder presents Mortgage Rates Are Falling.
Other
Tough Money Love tells us Dispensing Money Advice (or not) to “Help Resistant” Family and Friends.
Broke Grad Students lists 3 Things Every Parent Should Know Before Buying Gifts for College.
Reviews
Stop Buying Crap tells us E-Trade Bank Savings Account Review.
I hope you enjoyed this edition of the Carnival of Personal Finance. Next week’s edition will be hosted by The Frugal Duchess. You can submit your article here. Have a great holiday season!
Thanks for hosting this big carnival! It looks great. Thanks, too, for including Funny’s squib on monetizing the things you enjoy doing.
Funny about Money’s last blog post..Monthly budget updated; enforced “retirement” planned for
Thanks for hosting!
Thanks for selecting my article on Dividends and The Great Depression!
Dividend Growth Investor’s last blog post..Are Dividend Investors betting that the worst is over?
Thanks for making it an editor’s pick!
jim’s last blog post..“Chinatown” Buses
Many thanks for including me! Looks like I have lots of great articles to read now.
Eden’s last blog post..Weekly Web Favorites: Crazed-Consumerist Edition
Thanks for hosting and including me!
SingleGuyMoney’s last blog post..Beware of Hidden Holiday Costs
Wow a lot of good sights, been to a few already but discovered some new ones, thanks
STOCKMANMARC’s last blog post..Warren Buffett Is Adding to His Train Set
Thanks for including my post, great theme.
Andy’s last blog post..Feds Beige Book Update and Commentary: Turbulence Ahead
Nicely played my friend! Thx for hosting.
J. Money’s last blog post..Sure we financed our house 100%, but ya know what? It works
Thanks for including me in the editor’s picks, FFB. Great job on the carnival. Hope you were not up too laet putting all this together and reading everyone’s articles. Have a great week.
PT’s last blog post..Collecting Aluminum Cans for Cash
@ PT – Well the sun wasn’t up yet when I went to sleep so it wasn’t that bad. I forgot how long it takes to go through all of the articles and put them into a post! It was all fun though and I’m happy with the result.
Thanks for the inclusion! I like your blog!
Everyday Finance’s last blog post..Generating Income and Hedging by Selling Puts on Oil
Thanks for including me and hosting!
TStrump’s last blog post..Things I WON’T Be Getting For Christmas
Thanks for hosting and for including our post (2 Economical Ways to Shed Dry Winter Skin).
Happy Holidays!
P
Penelope Pince’s last blog post..Gifts Cards Could Be a Blessing This Christmas
Thanks for including my post this week. Nice job hosting!
pfincome’s last blog post..PFI Weekly Updates – December 2 (2008)
Love the carnival this week thanks for adding me.
As always, a great resource. At some point, I’ll get my stuff together and start submitting articles…
Miranda’s last blog post..Credit Card Christmas? Make Sure You’re Using the Right Card for You
Nice layout. Thanks for the holiday shopping tips. Also, thanks for hosting and for including my post.
SaveAndConquer’s last blog post..Would You Buy a Car from the Big Three Now?
Great job!
Thanks for hosting this week and including my article on 5 Dividend Stocks to Watch.
Best Wishes,
D4L
Dividends4Life’s last blog post..Dividend Investing vs. S&P Index Fund
Thanks for including us!
Great job to all the other bloggers, as well.
MattS’s last blog post..Smart Dust May Clean Up In New Economy
Great carnival, FFB. Thanks for including my article!
RC@Thinkyourwaytowealth’s last blog post..Get an Absolutely Free Copy of Your Credit Report from All 3 Credit Bureaus at annualcreditreport.com
HUGE Carnival – Thanks for including me
My Journey’s last blog post..15 vs 30 Year Mortgages – Longer is better!
Thanks for hosting FFB. That is quite the list of articles.
The Happy Rock’s last blog post..My Finances and Saving System With ING Direct
Thanks for the Editor’s Pick nod! Glad you enjoyed the post.
mbhunter’s last blog post..Hey, let’s inflate the dollar 30% overnight to end the recession
Thank you everyone who submitted articles and came to check out the carnival! I appreciate all of your work!
Thanks for including me!