Carnival of Financial Independence

Welcome to the 37th edition of the Carnival of Financial Independence, a selection of the best articles related to Financial Independence this week. If you would like to be included next week, please submit your post via Blogger Carnivals. If you would like to host for a future edition, you can contact Pauline at Reach Financial Independence.

The guidelines are:

• You can submit a post that was published during the last month
• The posts have to relate to reaching financial independence, and fit within the following categories: Savings and Simple living, Travel and Lifestyle, Wealth and Passive income, Real Estate and Investing, or Self employment.
• Submit by Wednesday night for the Saturday edition
• Please mention the carnival in your roundups if you have been featured!

Travel and Lifestyle

Mr. Frenzy @ Frenzied Finances writes Single Cent Problems: The Truth About The Penny – Looking at the history of the penny is a fun way to find meaning and the sense of miracle in something as small as one single cent.

Pauline @ Reach Financial Independence writes European Trip Update: Portugal – After we visited Northern Spain and went to Santiago de Compostela, we kept driving South to Portugal!

Mike @ Personal Finance Journey writes Stay at home and save while making the most of your garden this winter – When you want to escape the house during winter do you consider your home garden? 10 Ways you can use the home garden and save!

Mr.CBB @ Canadian Budget Binder writes Is being taken for granted worth more thsn just your time? – There is only one reason someone will take you for granted and that is because you let them. You are the nicest person anyone could ever wish to know, you have a heart of gold and would do anything for anyone because you are so kind, honest and enjoy seeing others happy.

Alexa @ Defeat Our Debt writes How to Pay Off Debt & Increase Your Income the Fun Way – In order to speed up your debt repayment you will have to locate extra funds to throw toward it. You can either continue down the path you’re on or earn extra money.

Little House @ Little House in the Valley writes Are You Prepared for an Emergency? – In the event of a much larger quake, it’s safe to say that services may not be available for many days which means we’d need enough supplies to get by for at least one week. Below is a list of items that should be in a convenient location (not buried in the garage)

Matt @ Budget Snob writes The High Cost of Using Cash – It has been calculated that the aggregate expense to all households in the United States for accessing and using their cash is $31 billion a year.

Hank @ Money Q&A writes How To Get The Most Out Of This Holiday Shopping Season And Black Friday – It is going to be a tough holiday shopping season for businesses, but that is going to be good for shoppers and consumers. I talk to Jon Lal, founder of BeFrugal.com, on the podcast about the upcoming holiday shopping season.

Miss T. @ Prairie Eco Thrifter writes TrueCar Reviewed: We Bought a New Car – I’ve been reading a lot about the TrueCar buying service and decided to give a try. It works a little like LendingTree if you are familiar with them. You put out a request for a car, mark off some dealers in your area and they come back with quotes.

Danielle @ Saving Without a Budget writes Financial Tips That Sound Bad but Work Well – If you ask most certified financial planners you will find that one of the things they are constantly warning their clients against is making bad money choices based on popular financial advice, which is often wrong.

John @ Frugal Rules writes Can You Earn Too Much to Be Good With Money? – A common myth is that the higher your income is the better you are with money. This problem with this myth is that it overlooks the fact that if you spend a lot while making a good salary you’ll have nothing to show for it. The path to growing wealth, however, is made up of being frugal with your spending and having your money work for you as opposed to being a slave to it.

Ben @ The Wealth Gospel writes The Twitter IPO: A Big Disappointment for the Little Guy – Twitter’s IPO was a big hit! That is, if you are an investment bank. For the rest of us, it may have been better to wait until it flops.

Adam @ Travel Ideaz writes Best Beaches on Majorca: The Unholy Trinity of Beaches – Popular and fun resorts to visit when you’re in Majorca looking for a good time at the beaches.

Miss T. @ Prairie Eco Thrifter writes Avoiding the Need to Upgrade Gadgets – It’s not that I am not a huge gadget geek. Like most of my generation, I love technology and having the latest and greatest. I’ve just become very good at controlling my impulse to purchase the newest models. Next time you find yourself on Apple.com, try to do the following things first, to stop yourself from upgrading unnecessarily.

Harry Campbell @ The Four Hour Work Day writes Why I Picked my Day Job Over the Four Hour Work Day – I started this site because I know that one day I want to work for myself and I think four hours a day is the ideal work day for maximum efficiency and happiness. I will never understand people that kill themselves at their day job: working long hours, weekends and overtime solely for the money. And that is why they’re doing it, what other reason could there be? I would rather work less, spend less and live more as this site’s tagline would suggest. The world that we live in has so much to

Jason @ The Money Makers writes Apple Launches iPad Air in November – With a lighter and thinner chasis, the newly announced iPad Air has a more powerful processor with a great new design and performance features that is sure to continue Apple’s trend setting reputation.

Larry @ KrantCents writes No College, No Problem: 5 Careers That Don’t Require a Bachelor’s Degree – Many med school grads are left with crippling debt and shockingly high malpractice insurance payments.

Natalie @ Debt and the Girl writes Are We Enabling Bad Behavior? – I was catching up on some blog reading lately. I came across a blog where the blog owner was talking about purchasing something that I considered to be a little ostentatious.

Nicole @ How to Avoid a Cashtastrophe writes Reasons to Avoid Debt – Debt may seem like the norm in Western culture, but that doesn’t mean that it should be acceptable. Debt can poison your entire life. There are so many reasons to avoid debt, and Nicole lists some of them!

Andrea @ So Over This writes The Cost of Carrying a Baby: 8 Unexpected Expenses of Motherhood – On average, raising a child from birth to age 18 costs about $200,000. If you add college tuition to that number, you can end up paying up more than quarter million dollars to raise a college graduate.

Buck @ Buck Inspire writes Club MomMe’s Family Fall Fest 2013 Recap – Although I was amped for the Entrepreneurship for Moms speaker panel, there also were tons of sponsors and vendors showing off their wares.

Monica @ Monica On Money writes 8 Warning SIgns That You’re Living Beyond Your Means – Read these tell-tale signs and stop living paycheck to paycheck!

Holly @ Club Thrifty writes Why is Obamacare Taking Away my HSA? – Guess what. Obamacare severely limits the number of HSA-eligibile plans in Indiana. Is Obamacare taking away my HSA? You bet.

Daisy @ When Life Gives You Lemons, Add Vodka writes What Could HR Teach You About Money Management? – A good HR department in a company is worth every penny in salary because they make the overall work environment more comfortable, more efficient, and create a higher work quality. Good HR is so good, that there are a few lessons for your budget.

Daisy @ Suburban Finance writes Is Your Car an Asset or a Liability? – Banks will consider your car an asset when they are assessing whether or not to grant you a loan, but is your car really an asset? Just because you can sell something does not mean it’s an asset.

SBB @ Simple Budget Blog writes Cruisin: How to Budget Your Vacation on the Seas – Going on a vacation on the seas? Here’s some tips on how to budget some of the extra items available on a cruise – so you and your family can have more fun.

Maria @ The Money Principle writes Business in the European Union – how is it doing? – How is the European Union doing in the face of all the problems in the world? Has it achieved its founding 4 principles? We present a report.

Brent @ PersonalFinance-Tips writes Are You Covered? 5 Tips in Giving You Peace of Mind and Control over Your Future – While identity protection companies put the fear of financial ruin in people, the reality is that only 3% of the US population has any financial data stolen (guides.wsj.com) each year. If you are in the small percentage, however, it can wreak havoc in your life.

Ted Jenkin @ Your Smart Money Moves writes Why Can’t We Do It All? – This question is often bandied about in regard to the endless quandary of many women who struggle daily…

Crystal @ Budgeting in the Fun Stuff writes Marketing that Works! These Comercials Are Hilarious!!! – Mr. BFS and I have cable and we love our DVR. That means that I generally do not watch commercials.

Eva Baker @ TeensGotCents writes Goodwill Training – Shopping with Sarah AND Eva – Sarah takes Eva on a night filled with fun, food, and Goodwill shopping tips. Who knew that shopping at Goodwill could be a competitive sport?

Suba @ Broke Professionals writes Should You Learn to Fix Your Own Car? – Read my view on whether you should learn to fix your own car, and if it makes sense for you.

Mrs. Accountability @ Out of Debt Again writes Who Should Pay For The Date? – To tell you the truth, I have not dated much in my life. But here are some thoughts on the topic!

 

 

 

Wealth and Passive Income

Tushar @ Earn More and Save writes How to Make $100,000 or More Per Year – What would you do if you earned $100,000 or more per year? Well, you could fund an early retirement, take time off work to travel, remodel your home, or save money and start your own business.

Jon @ Novel Investor writes Retirement Planning Guide – Whether you are starting early or playing catch-up, retirement planning is the best way to protect your financial future.

The Warrior @ Net Worth Warrior writes Ultimate Guide to (Finally) Building an Emergency Fund – An emergency fund can help keep you on a path to financial freedom by reducing stress, eliminating the worry of affording an emergency and providing security that you can maintain progress. Through this guide, you will (finally) establish a painless emergency fund.

Robert @ Cult Of Money writes The Little That Stands in the Way of Selling a Structured Settlement Annuity – Selling a structured settlement, a state lottery or some other annuity is the answer for a payee who cannot wait for the arranged periodic payments, whether they are monthly or annual payouts. Sometimes, the payouts may not begin for a period of months, or the payouts may not provide a sufficient amount to meet current monthly obligations.

Debt Guru @ Debt Free Blog writes Fallen Behind: Catching Up On Retirement Savings – Proper financial planning takes serious dedication. If you have fallen behind, here are three helpful tips for catching up on your retirement savings.

Anton Ivanov @ Dreams Cash True writes The 7 Steps to Financial Freedom – Reaching financial freedom is one of the most sought-after goals. Get started on your wealth-building journey with my 7 steps to financial freedom.

DPF @ Digital Personal Finance writes 10 Tips to Keep Income Flowing – If one is to reach financial goals and ultimately financial freedom, it sure helps to have income. Here are tips to help make sure this can happen.

Justin @ Root of Good @ Root of Good writes Join the Military to Retire Early? – Retired nuclear submariner Doug Nordman explains how joining the military could lead to early retirement. However, it isn’t necessarily an easy path to riches.

Jack @ Money Saving Ethics writes Tips for a Great Financial Year – Improving your financial situation is not as difficult as it might sound, but it does require dedication and thought. It is really just a matter of starting and maintaining healthy financial habits.

 

 

 

Real Estate and Investing

Luke @ Learn Bonds writes Bond Buying Criteria – Looking at corporate bonds as an investment? Here are the criteria to look at when buying corporate bonds.

Wayne @ Young Family Finance writes Small Things That Make a Big Difference in Your eCommerce Business – When you’re running an eCommerce store, one of your most important assets is your customers’ loyalty. It’s not something you can buy, but it is something you can cultivate. Surprisingly, it’s the little things that make the biggest difference. Here’s what you can start doing now to make the best impression on your customers.

Bob @ Dwindling Debt writes Age Old Debate of Whether to Buy or Lease – To buy, or to lease, that is the question. People have long debated on both sides whether they should buy or lease a car.

Kyle @ The Penny Hoarder writes Get the Tools to Increase Your Small Business Cash Flow – Increase your small business cash flow with business banking tools and cash management solutions. From managing your business cash flow online to automating payments, you can easily grow your cash flow and increase your bottom line.

Christopher @ This That and The MBA writes I own rental furnished apartment properties – We decided to grab it as soon as we saw it; we definitely thought the rent was well below market value. Come to find out the gentleman was getting ready to put the house on the market and was just trying to get it rented to cover his carrying costs until he could sell the house.

Graham @ Moneystepper writes Should I invest in emerging markets? – Should I invest in emerging markets?

Ryan @ Cash Money Life writes Should You Invest Your IRA in a Savings Account or CD? For Most People the Answer is No. – Should you trust your retirement savings to the volatile stock markets, or should you keep your IRA in a savings account? The answer may surprise you!

Cat Alford @ Budget Blonde writes Tips for Starting An eCommerce Store – If you are interested in starting an ecommerce store, this post contains several tips and tricks for cutting costs and making sure you turn a profit.

Dominique Brown @ YourFinancesSimplified writes What is a Stock Market Index? – A stock market index is a relatively simple concept, and it allows you to see the big picture.

Lauren @ L Bee and the Money Tree writes How I Plan to Recoup Renovation Costs – Oh my glob. Any time someone asks me how my renovation is going I just shrug and say, “It has pretty much broken my spirit and soul as a person.” “But you love your house!” A co-worker replied. “Nope.” I said and finished eating my soup.

SFB @ Simple Finance Blog writes How to Save Money When Buying Your First Home – Buying a home is an American dream for most of us, but it is a bitter fact that home buying is an expensive process.

Jester @ The Ultimate Juggle writes Easiest Way to Make a Profit in Real Estate – Investing in real estate can be a great way to set yourself up for the future. If you invest in the right property at the right price, you can create a positive cash flow from the beginning.

Don @ Money Reasons writes Slow Sale Zone Concerns – This is about the concerns associated with a slow sales zone. You should take this points into consideration when looking into such a consideration.

Sam @ Grad Money Matters writes Mistakes Made When Flipping A Home – Before the economic downturn, it seemed like many people were finding homes to flip. This seemed to die down for a few years, and now house flipping seems to really be back. However, how do you know if house flipping is for you? How do you know if you can even make any money?

Arnel Ariate @ Money Soldiers writes How are Mortgage Rates Determined? – How mortgage interest rates are set is determined by a number of factors some of which you may have an influence on and many that you won’t.

writing2reality @ Write Your Own Reality writes Investing with Prosper – After four years of investing in peer-to-peer lending with Lending Club, I have diversified and added Prosper to the portfolio.

Marissa @ Thirty Six Months writes Hello, ING Direct, errr Tangerine – ING Direct was acquired by ScotiaBank last year. As a result of the acquisition, ING Direct was required to change their name as they are not owned by the ING Group anymore.

Marissa @ Finance Triggers writes How to spot a good mortgage broker from a bad one – How can you decide if a mortgage broker is a good one or a bad one? The best way is to learn the answers to these questions.

Lily @ Paying Debt Down writes 5 Home Improvement Tips to Help you Sell your Home Quicker – Selling a home these days is all about image. The problem that most people have is that they put a lot of effort into making the interior of their home look absolutely wonderful but fail to do the same for the exterior of their home.

Hadley @ Epic Finances writes Build or Buy? – Taking the big step to buy a home can be difficult. Buyers are often faced with the decision of whether they want to buy an existing home or build a new one. Here are some things to consider before making that big decision.

Lenny @ Best Money Saving Blog writes What Is the Importance of Seeking a Mortgage Broker? – Many first-time homebuyers make a mistake by trying to negotiate a mortgage directly with a lender. Unless you are an expert in home loans, it makes much more sense to hire a mortgage broker to do the negotiating for you.

Oscar @ Money is the Root writes What Home Loan Is Right For Me? – Buying a home is a huge financial step that permanently changes the household budget for a family. Understanding the different types of home loans before signing any paperwork is a must.

Adam @ Money Bulldog writes Should I Get a Mortgage? – How mortgages can be a problem that you can benefit from in the long run.

J Rodriguez @ Modest Money writes Is Peer To Peer Lending Worth My Investment? – Although, most peer to peer lending websites boast big returns, many investors are scared of the concept of loaning money to consumers who could possibly take the money and run with little recourse. So, is this a good idea?

Brian @ Luke1428 @ Luke1428 writes 5 Common Rental Real Estate Mistakes You Will Make – Even after researching the rental real estate market for over a year before our first purchase, my wife and I stil made a few mistakes along the way. Here are five big ones that many landlords make but are easily avoidable.

 

 

 

Self employment and Career

Roger the Amateur Financier @ The Amateur Financier writes A Few Harsh Truths About Blogging – Some of the tricky things to learn about blogging, such as getting a server, getting assistance, and paying money to keep your website running.

Pauline @ Make Money Your Way writes October Blog Income and Stats Recap – Here is my fourth blog income and stats recap of MMYW.

Dollar @ Easy Extra Dollar writes Make extra money through working from home – With the increasing and also improving the use and also accessibility to the internet things have presently changed. Anyone can perform at home business and make money easy without your manager and supervisor that always supervise your performance.

Alexa @ Single Moms Income writes How to Make Money Blogging (Plus a Challenge) – Want to know how to make money blogging? Join me in a challenge to grow your readership and make money blogging.

Crystal @ Married (with Debt) writes Thanks to These Blog Carnivals – October 2013 to Current – Hi again! Every week, we submit our favorite posts to a variety of blog carnivals. When we are selected, it is common courtesy (and an expectation) that we link back to those that included us.

CAPI @ Creating a Passive Income writes Right Out of High School: Five Jobs That Don’t Require a Degree – Job markets are always changing. Here are five jobs that do not require the individual to have more than a high school diploma or a G.E.D.

Harry Campbell @ Your PF Pro writes A Tribute to the Greatest Chipotle Article of All Time – When I first started this site almost two years ago it was with the intention to discuss topics like saving for retirement and investment strategies. But I quickly realized that those articles were pretty boring to read and to write. That’s why you see articles today ranging from travel hacking to saving money at Chipotle. The latter has actually become one of the most popular articles on my site and today it has over 5,000 total views.

Michelle @ Diversified Finances writes Is Freelancing Not For You? – I really enjoy freelancing, but there are some downsides. I always laugh inside whenever people tell me how easy life must be for me. There are some many things that go into owning a business, and if you aren’t careful then it can easily take over your life.

Jessica Moorhouse @ Mo’ Money Mo’ Houses writes 5 Must-Dos to Interview Like a Pro – Over the past month I’ve had time to reflect on my experiences in the workforce for the past 5 years and I’ve discovered a bunch of new (or new to me) dos and don’ts when it comes to interviewing like a pro.

Sam @ The New Business Blog writes 5 Mistakes that Successful Entrepreneurs Wish they Would have Avoided – Many successful small business owners and entrepreneurs made mistakes when they started their businesses that they wish they could go back and correct.

Daniel @ Make Money Make Cents writes How to Boost Sales Using Just Slatwall in Your Shop – If you have your own shop and you are aware that you could improve your display area, slatwall could be an ideal option for you.

Adam @ Money Rebound writes The World’s Best Rags to Riches Stories – Get your daily ounce of motivation from these people who had little way back but have almost everything in the world now.

 

 

 

Saving and Simple Living

Tushar @ Start Investing Money writes Write Down What You Spend: You’ll Save More – Do you have any idea how much you spend on a regular basis? This is a tricky question to answer unless you happen to write everything down. Few of us do this and that’s a shame – if we did we’d have a much more accurate view of our spending habits. But that’s not all.

Brock Kernin @ Clever Dude writes How Your Cell Phone Can Break Your Grocery Budget – Don’t answer your cell phone when you’re at the grocery store…don’t you dare – because it’ll cost you!

Kali @ Common Sense Millennial writes Twenty Things Twenty-Somethings Should Know About Money – It takes work and time to figure out something as complicated as money and personal finance – and sometimes, it is overwhelming trying to understand it by yourself. I wanted to help by composing a list of the twenty things most important for twenty-somethings to know.

Tushar Mathur @ Everything Finance writes 7 Ways to Save and Make Money Right Now – There’s always a lot of reasons for the need to save money stat, but around the holidays, most of us feel the pinch on our wallets just a little bit more.

Barbara Friedberg @ Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance writes Roadblocks to Saving: Not Planning Ahead – Learn simple tips to save for a house, car, retirement, or wedding. Savings tips reduce money stress and are easy to implement.

Daisy @ Suburban Finance writes A Cup of Coffee: Daily Necessity or Daily Indulgence? – Starbucks coffee is very expensive, and is an indulgence.

SavingMentor @ How To Save Money writes 6 Tips For Keeping Better Tabs On Your Money – Keeping track of your money can be a chore that you don’t often want to think about. I know I dread the endless letters in my mailbox, the stack of unfiled papers on my desk, the bills that need paying, the bank accounts that should be checked, and the budgeting and investment spreadsheets I should be updating.

Nell Casey @ The Million Dollar Diva writes 5 Things You Might Be Doing to Sabotage Your Savings Goals – If you are struggling to reach your savings goals, you may be falling victim to a financial saboteur. Whether your goal is too big, undefined or your savings are not automated could be a reason for not achieving your goals.

Michelle @ Fit is the New Poor writes Financial Lessons From My Dog – Money lessons as taught from my rescue dog, Vanna

Blair @ Life, Dollars, and Sense writes Living Beneath My Means-Spending Below Average on Housing – Housing costs as a percentage of income.

Bobby @ Making Money Fast and Slow writes The True Cost of Commuting and Some Alternatives – You spend $125,000 over 10 years and 1.6 working years sitting in your car. So what can you do to stop this waste of time and money? Plenty.

Mel @ brokeGIRLrich writes Five Dolla’ Make You Holla’Day Series: Dad – Thrifty tips for holiday gifts for your dad.

FI Pilgrim @ FI Journey writes Flipping The Script: How I Learned To Live On Last Month’s Income – Nobody wants to live paycheck to paycheck, but for a long time I did just that. Here is how I flipped the script and began living on last month’s income.

 

 

 

 

Thank you for reading, have a great weekend!

 

DO NOT FIT THEME

JP @ My Family Finances writes Lost Health Insurance Because of Obamacare: Can I Still Sign Onto My Spouses Plan? – Spouses everywhere are taking a second look at their plans now that millions of Americans have lost their coverage due to Obamacare.

IMB @ Investing Money writes Railroads Increase Revenue from the US Oil Boom – The US Oil Boom is a big topic in politics, the environment and finances these days – and railroads increase the revenue from the boom! Read here.

Little House @ Little House in the Valley writes Three Most Common Causes of Debt – Want to avoid debt? Observe the three don’ts: Don’t get sick, don’t get divorced, don’t go to school.

Grayson @ Debt Roundup writes The Gift Of Debt – Enjoying My Hobby – I used to be in debt. When you get out of it, you realize that debt actually gave you a gift. The gift is different for each person and I am no different. Debt gave me many things, but it also gave me a new perspective on my finances. Debt gave me the ability to enjoy hobbies again without worrying where the money was coming from.

Kayla @ ReadyForZero Blog writes The Key To Paying Off Credit Card Debt Quickly – Don’t let credit card dominate your financial decisions for longer than it needs to. Find out how to maximize the efficiency of your repayment and reach your debt free goal even sooner!

Corey @ 20s Finances writes Optimizing Credit Cards – Are you missing out on this strategy with credit cards? Try to optimize your use of credit cards to earn more money with little hassle.

Lindy @ Minting Nickels writes Know How To Spend And Manage A Credit Card Account Responsibly – Millions of Americans use credit cards; many people use their cards every day.

Don @ MoneySmartGuides writes Ten Tips for Choosing the Best Home Loan – Buying a house is stressful enough before even taking into account the loan. here are 10 tips for choosing the best home loan.

Bargain Babe @ BargainBabe.com writes Is Bankruptcy Better Than Debt? – Is Bankruptcy Better Than Debt? offers tips on saving money every day.

Katie @ IRA Basics writes What Happens to Debt When You Die? – Now we do not want to sound morbid but it is a fact of life that none of us are getting any younger and one day we will meet our maker. But what happens if we meet an untimely end while we have still got debts outstanding?

Amy @ Money Mishaps writes How to Liberate Yourself from Student Loan Debt – The student loan crisis in America is absolutely massive and does not look like it is going to get better anytime soon.

Jay @ Daily Fuel Economy Tip writes Picking the Right Auto Policy – Having the right kind of auto insurance is akin to having the right kind of health insurance, in most cases they can be equally as important.

Robert @ The College Investor writes How Saving Money on Your Car Insurance Can Help You Meet Your Long-Term Financial Goals – If you’ve decided that you urgently need to shear some dollars off your monthly outgoings and aren’t sure where to start, then continue reading for a few handy hints around how to minimize what you’re spending on car insurance.

Adam @ The Cheapest Cars To Insure writes What Does Third Party Insurance Cover? – Know the important facts about your third party insurance inside and out before it’s too late.

Jon Haver @ Pay My Student Loans writes How to refinance student loans – The lender you choose to refinance your loans essentially buys all of your loans from the original lenders and reissues you a new loan, leaving you with one loan for the total amount of loans consolidated.