I have to say thanks to everyone who stumbled and linked back to our guide on getting out of debt. There was a lot of interest and I’m glad you liked it! A special thanks to Ashley at Wide Open Wallet for mentioning us in her roundup! Much appreciated!
OK, so let’s get into what I’m reading this weekend, besides Ambrose Bierce for my fiction class.
- Ginger over at Girls Just Wanna Have Funds talked about buying the car you want at the price you can afford. She gives some good advice….definitely get financing before going shopping. As someone on the other end of the dealership always trying to scam me, I stopped going by myself. I have a friend who used to be a car salesman and I drag him along now.
- Living Almost Large had a fascinating post on trading up. It really made me think about my own situation. I tend to be the kind that saves and whines that I can’t afford what I really want…ahem, a 2008 BMW M3…but, there’s a good point in the fact that we can start small and work our way up. I did it with my debt and my DVD collection. Why can’t I do it with my car and house? It just makes you think.
- No Debt Plan talks about trying to balance the tug-of-war between the spendthrift side of our nature and the budget. It’s a difficult balance, to be sure. It’s definitely something I’ve struggled with, as I’m sure everyone else has as well. My opinion, for what it’s worth, is that it’s a lot like dieting. If you deprive yourself of the things you want for too long, then you end up “cheating,” which eventually makes you feel so bad that you give up outright. To avoid that, give in every once and awhile. If you’re sticking to the budget and have a little extra cash, then what’s wrong with a steak dinner on occasion? You don’t have to go to extremes, but a little leeway will do you some good.
- Trees Full of Money has a complementary piece to our getting out of debt guide. They offer a 12 step plan to protect your identity and credit rating. There’s lots of good information and practical advice, such as not checking your financial information on a public computer. It’s a small thing that many people don’t consider, but you can bet the crooks do. Be sure to check it out!
- Trent at The Simple Dollar talks about the realities of merging finances. I’m actually going to write a post about this based on a situation we’re dealing with at work, but my advice is to be cautious and 100% sure about merging finances, and even then, take some precautions. More details on this to come.
- Flexo at Consumerism Commentary discusses how to deal with unexpected income. This really applies to those of us that made the leap from full-time, steady paychecks to the world of not knowing where your next check is coming from. It’s stressful and terrifying at first glance, but it’s not unmanageable.
- Five Cent Nickel talks about Fannie and Freddie’s inevitable failure and the government’s takeover. Well, we knew it was coming, even with the Fed helping out! But, with the FDIC going insolvent and everything else going on, there’s a lot on the government’s plate. I wonder if they can handle this particular takeover.
And that’s all for this roundup. I find myself with so much to read and so little time to get it done…going back to school is fun! Actually, it is. It’s the load of homework I don’t find fun! Ah, well. Enjoy your week, everyone!
Related posts:
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- Kristy’s Weekly Roundup
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- Kristy’s Weekly Roundup
- Kristy’s Weekly Roundup
Thanks for the mention!