There's so much good stuff to read on the internet! Here's what I've particularly enjoyed this week:
There's so much good stuff to read on the internet! Here's what I've particularly enjoyed this week:
Frugal Dad talks about how Frugal People Focus Too Much On The Outgo. I find myself struggling with this a lot. Is it smart to spend an hour clipping and organizing coupons if I've lost an hour of income? That depends. What if I could use that hour to mow the lawn instead? Or prepare a healthy, inexpensive dinner?
If you are looking for budgeting and debt help, and you are a spiritual or religious person, faith-based financial guidance might work well for you. LaRita Heet writes about basing debt management and financial counseling on specific religious foundations. If you are looking for financial help, this type of program might work for you.
Most couples have some differences in spending styles, and sometimes those differences can be big and problematic. Chicago Business writes about how the economic challenges are strenghtening the position of the savers. Are you a saver or a spender, or is your behavior changing?
Do you prefer using a debit card so you don't go into debt? Have you ever wondered how your protection differs when you use a credit card or a debit card? Mighty Bargain Hunter tracks down some answers in Some More Visa Debit Card Questions and Answers. This is a follow-up to an older post, Visa Debit Card Questions and Answers. I learned a lot from these posts!
Are you thinking about getting any sort of loan? Mortgage? Car? Personal? Jeremy at Generation X Finance reminds us to Read the Fine Print Before Signing Any Loan. He makes excellent points about particular items that should cause you to take notice. I recommend for asking for any loan documents ahead of time - it is no fun sitting at a loan closing and reading each and every page of a bjillion page document, while the real estate agent and title closers sit tapping their fingers.
I hope that you are having a great 2009 so far, and that the cold weather across much of our country hasn't been too rough!