Lifestyle Carnival

This week I’m hosting the Lifestyle Carnival!  I’ve highlighted some of my favorite articles in the Editor’s Picks section.

Submit your blog article to the next edition using our carnival submission form at Blogger Carnivals.

Editor’s Picks:

Hank @ Money Q&A writes How To Compete In The Current Job Market – job-seekers must adapt accordingly to the demands of a deceptively competitive job market if they are to make money. Consider the following steps towards achieving this.

Michelle @ Making Sense of Cents writes Barclaycard Arrival World MasterCard Review – $440 For Travel – If you sign up for the Barclaycard Arrival World MasterCard, you can enjoy 40,000 bonus miles when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 90 days.

Lauren @ L Bee and the Money Tree writes Personal Saving Wisdom from Grandma: The Envelope Budgeting Method – L Bee Note: While I am working today enjoy this guest post from the folks over at Your Finances Simplified, another bang-on PF site. I’ve never used the envelope budgeting method (mostly because I was scared of running out!) but I appreciate the step-by-step how to below.

Mr.CBB @ Canadian Budget Binder writes Easy Cinnamon Buns that will melt in your mouth – Cinnamon buns also known as cinnamon rolls are so good when they are hot and fresh you can bet on lots of ooey-gooey cinnamon bun icing being licked off your fingers.

Cat @ Budget Blonde writes How I Saved Money On My Wedding Dress – After some long and careful thought, I decided to wear my mother’s dress on my wedding day.

Andrew @ Finance with Reason writes Five ways to save money on shaving – Saving costs can add up to hundreds of dollars per year, especially if you buy more expensive razors and products. Here are five ways to save on shaving

Monica @ Monica On Money writes Military Series: 10 Reasons To Love The USO – My family and I were traveling to last minute to visit family in New Jersey and found ourselves on a 8 hour layover in Nashville, Tennesse. We had several unexpected flight delays.

Larry @ KrantCents writes Money Management Tips for Children – Money management is the process of budgeting, saving, investing, spending or otherwise in overseeing the cash usage of an individual or group.

Alexa @ Single Moms Income writes 5 Tough Lessons Learned From Starting an Online Business – Starting an online business is a popular topic in almost every niche.

 

TRAVEL

SBB @ Simple Budget Blog writes Yet More Items To Budget For Your Independently Published Book – More items to consider when independently publishing your book.

Crystal @ Married (with Debt) writes Financial Creativity – My wife and I are on the same page when it comes to our financial goals. This has led me to financial creativity. Stealth savings…

Joshua Rodriguez @ CNA Finance writes Budgets – Happiness (Science Says So) – In this post, William from First Quarter Finance discusses the connection between budgets and happiness with your financial position. Find out why budgets make people happy!

Evan @ The Smaller Dollar writes Frugal Vacation Idea – Go Camping! – For the frugal vacationer a great way to stretch that smaller dollar farther is to pack the tent, grab the cooler, and go camping!

TW @ Tightwad Travelers writes How to Check Your Credit Score for Free – You absolutely have to check your credit score before applying for new lines of credit.

Harry Campbell @ Your PF Pro writes Reader Question: Traditional PPO vs HSA Plan – Most employers have realized the benefit of an HSA/HDHP combo by now and offer great incentives to sign up for one. They save money, you save a lot of money, it’s a win-win. And as long as your employer offers a decent HSA plan you almost always come out ahead vs. a traditional plan. The trouble arises when you spend only a couple thousand every year like Amber. Figuring out which plan is right for you can be difficult if you have some expenses but not enough to go way over the deductible. In

 

HEALTH

Stephanie @ Six Figures Under writes Green Smoothies Without an Expensive Blender – Green smoothies are all the rage, but usually require and expensive blender. We made our second-hand blender last for nearly a year’s-worth of green smoothies using these tips!

Miss T. @ Prairie Eco Thrifter writes It’s Too Late–But It’s Not for You – while it’s (most likely) too late to stop climate change and thus the eventual demise of human life on Earth, it’s not too late for you to do what you can for your own life. Make that as comfortable, healthy, and safe as you can.

 

ENTERTAINMENT

Oscar @ Money is the Root writes Can your Personality Determine your Income? – Experts will tell you that, when it comes to earning money, the type of personality that you have definitely influences how much money you will earn, save and/or put towards retirement.

Matt @ Budget Snob writes Late Payment: Who are the Worst Offenders? – According to The Times, Government bodies are amongst the very worst offenders when it comes to late payments in the UK.

Amy @ Money Mishaps writes Financial Rules for your Life – Part 2 – There is absolutely no denying that money is a big part lives. It is the means to many important ends including security, opportunity, wish fulfillment and even philanthropy.

Andrea @ So Over This writes Parents Need to Start Teaching Their Kids Financial Responsbility! – Believe it or not, you are personally responsible for every financial decision your children make throughout their entire lives!

Lily @ Paying Debt Down writes Better Late Than Never: How to Avoid Late Fees at All Costs – Late fees are fun for no one but they are also very easily avoided.

Bob @ Dwindling Debt writes 4 Places You Should NOT Swipe Your Debit Card – When we hear about massive data breaches at credit report company Experian or a department store like Target, it becomes apparent that debit card problems are spiraling out of control.

Marissa @ Thirty Six Months writes How to Save Money On Moving House: – When moving house, you have two options: to transport things on your own, or hire a moving company.

Aaron @ Aaron Hung writes It’s Never Too Early: Financial Habits To Build in Your Twenties – Too many students are thrown into college with no understanding of how the real world works and are left to figure it out on their own.

 

WEALTH AND RETIREMENT

Michelle @ The Shop My Closet Project writes Why Being #2 Is The Best (Financial) Thing To Happen To The U.S.A. – The American Middle Class had slipped from the # 1 position of being the richest middle class in the world to #2. The thing is the lack of surprise was not a surprise. We already had that feeling. We’re not stupid. We knew that things weren’t going well for the American Middle Class for quite a while

Mike @ Personal Finance Journey writes How hard is it for you to ask financial questions? – Are you someone who can talk finances and ask questions or do you need our easy ways to ask financial questions when your nervous about doing so?

Debt Guru @ Debt Free Blog writes Reconsidering Your Retirement: 10 Tips – Considering retirement? Before you go any further, start reconsidering your retirement, just in case you missed anything. Here are ten tips to consider.

Don @ MoneySmartGuides writes Sin Stocks: What They Are And Why You Should Buy Them – Are you aware of sin stocks? They are stocks that are related sinful acts – drinking, smoking, etc.

Roger the Amateur Financier @ The Amateur Financier writes Sensible Age To Plan Retirement | When Should I Begin Planning My Retirement? – What is a sensible age to begin planning your retirement? That depends on several factors. When you retire, it’s not going to be like it might have been for you parents. Guaranteed lifelong healthcare, locked-in pension payments and proverbial gold watches may certainly not apply.

Maria @ The Money Principle writes One for the weekend: class and the workings of capitalism – A simplistic chart of how capitalism work and your chance to check which class you belong to.

CAPI @ Creating a Passive Income writes How to Help your Friends with Passive Income – Passive income is a financial stream that is derived from little or no extra effort. Think you’re an expert? Here’s how to help friends with passive income.

JP @ My Family Finances writes The Story of Money and Currency – It’s a good resource for anyone who needs to understand how money works and how we value it.

Mr. Frenzy @ Frenzied Finances writes Buyer Beware: Avoiding Shopping Scams – Thanks to the Internet, anyone can fall victim to a fraud. Knowing what to look for will be the first step to protecting yourself from becoming a victim.

Ted Jenkin @ Your Smart Money Moves writes How Rich Do You Think You Are? – Wealth can be defined in many different ways, but classically it is measured through one’s net worth.

Kyle @ The Penny Hoarder writes How to Make Money Reselling Craigslist Freebies – Maybe you’ve used Craigslist to buy or sell things, but have you ever checked out all of the things that are free? That’s right; there is a section devoted to things which are simply given away. People give things away because it is easier than trying to sell them or bring them to a thrift store as a donation.

IMB @ Investing Money writes High Speed Trading – Trading has changed as we have become more technologically able. Read here for all you need to know about high speed trading and the stock market.

Wayne @ Young Family Finance writes From Garden to Table: Why Home Gardens are Both Fun and Inexpensive – Interested in having a home garden? From family bonding to inexpensive meals, here are few reasons why planting your own food works.

Mario @ Adventures in Frugal writes What type of frugal are you — simplicity frugal or champagne frugal? – There’s a war for the soul of frugal! Are you a simplicist or a maximizer?

Daniel @ Make Money Make Cents writes Sexy Stocks: Usually Not Worth It – When you first start talking to people about the stock market, the average reaction by the average individual is to change the topic.

Jay @ Daily Fuel Economy Tip writes Save Money on Gas as You Fill Up Your Tank – Saving money on gas is not all about changing your driving style or choosing the right vehicle.

Jack @ Money Saving Ethics writes Taking the Leap: When is it Time to Ditch the Lease? – This past decade has paved the way for some very big changes in the housing market, making it both harder to find a home and easier to get financed for one.

Hadley @ Epic Finances writes Did some tech insiders dump their shares ahead of the slump in March? – In a move that has caused more than a bit of unease among many investors, insiders at some of the hottest private and publicly traded Internet companies got rid of substantial personal stock stakes before the March slump began.

Katie @ IRA Basics writes The Secret of Saving for Your First Deposit – Are you ready to become a homeowner and do not fancy a no-deposit home loan? Then the biggest obstacle standing in your way is the first deposit or down payment.

Sam @ The New Business Blog writes Top 3 Challenges of Running a Small Business – Before leaving your day job to start your own small business, you should first understand the many challenges that you may face as an entrepreneur.

Marissa @ Finance Triggers writes 3 Ways to Ensure You Have Money Left in the Last Week of the Month – We all know that when we look in our bank accounts during the week approaching pay day, it is more than likely that a few moths will fly out.

Justin @ Edward Antrobus writes Low Income is Better than No Income: How to Climb Out of the Low Income Bracket – Nowadays low income brings up a negative image. It feels like a curse word to those that have to list it in their paperwork and feels like a scarlet letter.

Alexa @ Defeat Our Debt writes How to Get Rid of Debt on Your Own – There is no easy way to get rid of debt. You have several options, each come with their own set of pros and cons. Here is how to get rid of debt on your own.

Charles @ Getting A Rich Life writes Find Your Financial Freedom Inspiration – Those who are inspired are more likely to stick with their path towards financial independence.

Danielle @ TeacHer Finance writes Three Types of Apps to Get Your Bank Account Back on Track – There are apps for absolutely everything you need these days, whether it is help managing your eating habits, catching up with your celebrity gossip or sling-shotting birds into the faces of cute little piggies.

Justin @ iPlugin writes Should You Own an iPad Air? – Are you looking for a new tablet because your old one has reached the end of its useful life or maybe simply because you want to upgrade to a better device?

Harry Campbell @ Your PF Pro writes Increase Your Citi Credit Card Limits – Most of the time when I get mail from Citi it’s junk mail like offers for balance transfers, adding an authorized user or those paper checks. Does anyone actually use those stupid checks that probably charge 30% interest? I sure don’t and any time I see a letter from Citi, I open it, scan it quickly and almost always throw it away. But the other day, I got an offer that was actually pretty enticing.

Christine @ CO123 writes Edible Arrangements Coupon Codes For Mother’s Day – Planning something unique for Mother’s Day can be tough. Flowers are a bit cliché, but why not try a creative fruit bouquet? If you haven’t already seen or tried Edible Arrangement’s beautiful fruit bouquets, check out these Mother’s Day coupon codes to save you money.

Nell Casey @ The Million Dollar Diva writes A New Do + A Money Lesson for All of Us – Sometimes money lessons come from the strangest situations. When someone taught me how to curl my hair, I learnt a valuable lesson about appreciating other’s knowledge about money management.

Jeremy @ Modest Money writes What is the Best Way to Carry Money When Visiting Multiple Countries? – Credit card, Cash, Debit Card, Prepay Currency Card, and Travellers Cheques are the Best Way to Carry Money When Visiting Multiple Countries.

Erastus @ Sprout Wealth writes Why Credit Cards are Not Evil – Are Credit Cards evil? I am going to say they aren’t. The Blame Lies with You. Too many use of credit cards incorrectly and then we blame them for their money problems. If you use the tool correctly, things tend to go OK.

Mario @ Debt BLAG writes May 2014 net worth update — DOWN $6,700! – My net worth took a nose dive in April; check out why I’m not too worried about it

Joshua Rodriguez @ CNA Finance writes Financial Hardship Programs – The Ultimate Guide – In this post, Joshua shares a great deal of information about financial hardship programs. Could they be your key to debt freedom? Find out here!

Brock Kernin @ CleverDude writes Costco Got Me Hook, Line, and Sinker With Their Reward Programs – I haven’t been a player in the credit cards rewards game, but I am now!

Mr. 4HWD @ The Four Hour Work Day writes 3 Ways to Develop a Support System – When you’re working hard to develop a side hustle or business, or trying to make the leap from employment to entrepreneurship, you’re going to need a few shoulders to lean on from time to time. Managing a full-time job working for someone else while establishing your own side gigs is exhausting, and everyone needs a little help along the way.

Gretchen @ Retired by 40! writes What can Miranda Lambert Teach About Frugality? – During my commute one day I found inspiration in Miranda Lambert’s “Automatic.” Find out why it struck a chord and what it teaches about frugality.

Mark Ross @ Money Saving Dude writes 5 Ways How To Earn Money Online Without Any Investment – In today’s world, earning money can be as easy as answering survey questions or sharing something in your Facebook account. In simple terms, you can now earn money online without any investment. Here’s a list of the things you can do to make money online without you spending a dime.

Thomas @ i need money ASAP! writes Make Money Selling Glow Sticks – Selling glow sticks is an easy way to cash in on all the summer excitement.

 

HOBBIES

Danielle @ Saving Without a Budget writes Tips on How to Make and Save Extra Money – Every person always toys with the idea of making extra cash and becoming an overnight success.

Lenny @ Best Money Saving Blog writes Financial Aid Tips for the Uninitiated – If you are the parent of a child in high school that is rapidly approaching college age, chances are that you have just been introduced to the numbers game that is financial aid.

Hazel Blackthorn @ blogger.come writes Skyrim: Adventures in Modding – A post about Skyrim mods and some of the lack of variety for anyone wanting eyecandy that isn’t well endowed ladies.

Little House @ Little House in the Valley writes Remodeling Tools: Choosing the Right Tools for Home Improvement Projects – Home improvement projects can be performed by homeowners, successfully, in many cases. Just remember that DIY projects can go seriously off-course when the homeowner has no real idea what he or she is doing.

 

GOOD EATS