Carnival of Personal Finance #229: candy edition

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With Halloween just passed, and the amount of candy in our house dwindling, I thought it would be a perfect time to talk candy. Admittedly I have quite the sweet tooth. My mom would often find me hiding in out pantry eating something I shouldn’t be. I’m still the same way. Just ask my kids, who wonder where the latest treats have disappeared to. With the exception of the kid’s bags, I sent all the candy with my husband to work. So since I can’t snack on candy, I’ll talk about it instead. Tell me what your favorite sweet is in the comments! If you don’t feel like reading through all my musings, feel free to scroll to the bottom where I have an index of posts. (credit to Fabulously Broke for the idea)

Who’s next to host the Carnival? The Canadian Finance Blog

Editor’s Choice/Eclat chocolate

It’s hard to choose a favorite sweet, but these chocolates are amazing. It’s a rare treat, but so, so delicious. They are light, full of flavor, and make you want more. Just like my editor’s choices are deep articles, full of good stuff, and leave you wanting to come back and read the site again.

• Is the 401k a bad idea?: Bob from Christian Finances discusses a recent Time magazine article suggesting we do away with the 401k.
• Seven Zen Principles to Guide Your Money and Your Life: Flexo offers this excellent piece on zen and money. He makes a great case for simplifying your finances.
• My Store-Brand vs. Name-Brand Blind Taste-Test Experiment: Len from Len Penzo dot com did a family taste test which was fun to read, and informative. It sounds fun, so I plan to try it in the future with our local store brands.
• Enjoy Frugal Entertainment Without Breaking The Bank: Brad from Enemy of Debt wrote about 13 ways to enjoy family time without breaking the bank.

Payday (Career)

Be Your Own Part-Time Boss: The Pros & Cons: Baker from Man Vs. Debt shares this excellent guest post on the pros and cons of being your own boss. It’s realistic, not just about how awesome it can be.

Top 15 College Degrees by Starting Salary in 2009: My Life ROI shares the top 15 starting salaries in 2009. Unsurprisingly  most are technical degrees.

A Great Way to Get a Degree Without Paying For It: Free Money Finance shares how to get a college or advanced degree without paying for it. The real question though is it worth sacrificing other aspects of your life to obtain a degree?

Grace is Amazing, but Please Don’t Bring it To Work: Craig Ford discusses whether your faith should be a part of the workplace. I’m not sure the title suits his conclusion, but it’s a very interesting discussion whatever your faith.

Get paid to take online surveys: Ray discusses various paid survey sites that will pay you for a few minutes of your time. You won’t become a millionaire but it can create a nice side income. I also like YouData which pays you to view ads targeted at you. I’ve earned just under $10, but it literally takes 15 seconds.

Zero Bar/Credit

The zero bar is my choice for this section because it’s both delicious, and a 0 where we all want our credit card balances to be at the end of the month.

Noka Candy/Debt

The world’s most expensive candy, costing $2,600/lb. Anyone who buys it is either a multimillionaire who uses $100 bills as toilet paper, or someone who is deeply concerned with appearances, and likely to have a boatload of debt.

• Best Debt Consolidation Loans For Those With Good Credit: Silicon valley blogger writes about  how to consolidate your debt. Great advice if you have high interest debt and good credit.
• Should You Lock Your Mortgage Rate?: The financial blogger presents this article, about sticking with a variable rate loan or locking in a low fixed rate. I’ll let you decide, but I disagree with the conclusion.

None/Economy

Why did I choose nothing for the economy? I couldn’t come up with one! Leave me a suggestion in the comments, and I’ll add something in. Will it be your least favorite candy? The most wasteful candy? Or nerds?

• Here’s one thing that you can absolutely count on in this economy: Might bargain hunter explains what the one thing you can count on in the economy is. It may surprise you.
• Extending the $8000 First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit into 2010 is a Terrible Idea: Curt shares his opinion about the possible extension of the home buyer’s credit.

Chocolate Coins/Finance

Penny Candy/Frugality

I don’t know if it still exists anywhere, but in the heyday of my youth penny candy was found at our local convenience store. It was an easy way to some of your hard earned allowance, and still have a few bucks left for a movie. (for the record I’m only 33!)

• Exorcise Your Financial Ghosts:  Fun read for Halloween on how to tame your personal finance demons.
• Wear and Wash, or Wear Again?: Mrs. Money wants to know if you wear your clothes more than once? Think it saves dough?
• Airing my dirty laundry? No. Just saving $$ and the environment: Connie talks about the benefits of air drying your laundry. It’s making a comeback.
• How to Pick Up Cans For Fun and Profit: Bucks shares how to collect cans for money. A reader suggests leaving them for less fortunate neighbors.

$100 Grand/Investing

Why $100 Grand? It’s a nice number to see in your account, if you are under 30 and have $100K in the bank, your chances of meeting your retirement goals are very high.

• What You Lose When you Cash Out a 401k:Miss M discusses the consequences of withdrawing from your 401k.
• Why I will probably never buy gold: Mike shares that gold is generally a bad investment, and why he will never buy it.
• Investors making the same mistakes over and over… : It’s no surprise that investors make mistakes, but what happens when you make the same mistakes over and over again?
• Vanguard Investors Outperform Fidelity Investors: A recent Morningstar study shows that Vanguard outperformed Fidelity.
• Six Dividend Stocks for current income: From Dividend Growth Investor: ”Most novice dividend investors typically are under the impression that successful dividend investing entails finding and purchasing the highest yielding stocks.” He explores the flaws in this strategy.
• Back to the Future: Will 2010 Look Like 2004?: Jeff Rose says that many forecasters are looking to the 1930s as a comparison for what 2010 will look like, but Jeff looks to a more recent year.
• Benefits of Employee Stock Purchase Plans: Clint shares why employee stock plans are a great benefit to employees and employers.
• Another Interesting Look at S&P 500 Index Returns: JLP shares an interesting look at returns.

Smarties coins/Money Management

You are a smartie if you manage your money! Read these posts to find out ideas and tips for managing your money better.

• How to Get Your Free Credit Report Online: A Step-by-Step Guide: Baker provides a step-by-step guide on how to get your free credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com.
• 10 Steps to Declutter and Simplify Your Finances: I love to declutter and simplify, and Patrick’s tips are fantastic.
• Responsible Credit Card Usage Tips: Tips on how to use your credit cards smartly.
• Doing Your Homework on Financial Advisors: Zina shares 5 questions you should ask you financial advisor.
• Don’t Pay Bills That Aren’t Yours: A reminder to check all your bills thoroughly. Make sure you don’t pay for someone else’s bill.
• My Top Five Financial Frights for 2009: Aryn shares her top 5 financial frights from this year. Entertaining, and something most of us can relate to.
• Family Money – Fairness vs. Favoritism in Gifting, Wills and More,: Darwin tackles fairness and favoritism in families. Some compelling examples are presented.
• How would you do in a world without financial advisors?: Thicken My Wallet wonders how the world would be without financial advisors.
• Best Credit Card: Choose the best credit card for your needs, and let your credit card be a tool.
• Cash Is King, But Do You Really Spend Less When You Pay With It?: Adam wonders if you really spend less with cash?

Gingerbread House/Real Estate

What is more apt than a house made of candy for the real estate section? Most homes have fallen so far in value that a gingerbread house might be a better investment than a real one!

• The Emperor has no House!: Fabulously Broke shares ”A reflection on what I encountered when I visited Portugal in the summer.”
• Real Estate: What Does the Future Hold?: vh tackles this questions in a compelling post.
• 10 Deadly Mistakes Buyers Make When Purchasing a Home and How to Avoid Them : Andy shares how to avoid the top home buying mistakes. Mine? Don’t shop while pregnant.

Candy Buy Back/Saving

Have you ever heard of a candy buy back? It’s the newest trend among dentists and parents who don’t want their kids bouncing off the walls.

• Top Online Savings Accounts For Savvy Savers: The Smarter Wallet offers the best savings accounts for short and long term savings.
• Simplicity Leads to Wealth: Don shares,  ”Simplifying your life can cut your expenses and lead to wealth building.” I completely agree. We’re hosting a huge yard sale this weekend to get rid of the junk.
• How To (Mentally) Max Out Your 401K: Carrie says, ”Unfortunately, many people who CAN max out their 401K DON’T. Here’s a helpful list of items that can get you in the mental mindset to max out that 401K.” Great topic, and one I learned a lot from!
• Earning Interest and Dividends on Someone Else’s Dime: Amanda shares how to earn interest on found money.
• 5 Steps to Closing Old Bank Accounts, Kevin says, “We recently switched bank accounts. There is more involved to it than you think — a helpful list so you won’t forget any of the steps (and get hit with fees).” Bookmarking this in case we ever need to make a switch.
• Holiday Tipping Guide: Jim shares his holiday tipping guide. Some of the numbers don’t apply to me, or seem a bit high, what do you tip?

Whatchamacallit/Other

Of course I’d title this after one of the best named candy bars ever! These articles don’t fit in any of the above categories, but are still great reads.

• When your collection becomes clutter: As someone who used to organize people’s homes this is a huge problem for many people. It effects you financially, emotionally, and even at times physically!
• Trustful Business Breeds Customers: Austin, currently living in Japan,  shares his fascinating story of buying a car from a Japanese salesman who went the extra mile.
• 52 Ways to Make Extra Money…Revisited: PT updated his e-book with new info on ways to make money. Key for anyone who is working on getting out of debt.
• The Secret Engagement Ring Upgrade: Kevin shares a fascinating tale of deceit, love, and retail. I was shocked reading this, because it is apparently common.
• How to Buy Life Insurance: A great, simple guide to buying life insurance.
• Golf cart subsidies – Why the government is subsidizing golf carts: Commentary on a subsidy that allows taxpayers to buy a golf cart and be subsidized by the government.

Index of posts

Editor’s Picks

• Christian Finances:  Is the 401k a bad idea?
• Consumerism Commentary: Seven Zen Principles to Guide Your Money and Your Life.
• LenPenzo.Com:  My Store-Brand vs. Name-Brand Blind Taste-Test Experiment.
• Enemy of Debt: Enjoy Frugal Entertainment Without Breaking The Bank.

Career

• Man Vs. Debt: Be Your Own Part-Time Boss: The Pros & Cons
• My Life ROI: Top 15 College Degrees by Starting Salary in 2009
• Free Money Finance: A Great Way to Get a Degree Without Paying For It
• Money Help For Christians: Grace is Amazing, but Please Don’t Bring it To Work
• Money Blue Book: Get paid to take online surveys

Credit

• Consumer Credit Card Guide:  Social Lending: What Are Peer-to-Peer Loans
• Canadian Finance Blog: How To Use Credit Cards Without Bankrupting Yourself

Debt

• The Digerati Life: Best Debt Consolidation Loans For Those With Good Credit
• The Financial Blogger: Should You Lock Your Mortgage Rate?

Economy

• Mighty Bargain Hunter:  One thing that you can absolutely count on in this economy
• PennyJobs.com: Extending the $8000 First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit into 2010 is a Terrible Idea

Finance

• Dough Roller: 5 Practical Ways Anybody can Become a Millionaire
• Budgets Are Sexy: The Cost of Being a Dude
• Personal Finance By The Book: What To Do With Equity From Sale of House

Frugality

• Frugillionaire: Exorcise Your Financial Ghosts
• Ultimate Money Blog:  Wear and Wash, or Wear Again?
• Taking Charge: Airing my dirty laundry? No. Just saving $$ and the environment
• The Buck List: How to Pick Up Cans For Fun and Profit

Investing

• M is for Money: What You Lose When you Cash Out a 401k.
• Gather Little By Little: Why I will probably never buy gold
• Intelligent Speculator: Investors making the same mistakes over and over…
• The Oblivious Investor: Vanguard Investors Outperform Fidelity Investors
• Dividend Growth Investor: Six Dividend Stocks for current income
• Good Financial Cents: Back to the Future: Will 2010 Look Like 2004?
• Accumulating Money: Benefits of Employee Stock Purchase Plans
• AllFinancialMatters.com: Another Interesting Look at S&P 500 Index Returns

Money Management

• Get Rich Slowly: How to Get Your Free Credit Report Online: A Step-by-Step Guide
• Cash Money Life: 10 Steps to Declutter and Simplify Your Finances
• Studenomics: Responsible Credit Card Usage Tips.
• Tonka Beans Blog Doing Your Homework on Financial Advisors
• Chief Family Officer: Don’t Pay Bills That Aren’t Yours.
• Sound Money Matters: My Top Five Financial Frights for 2009.
• Darwin’s Finance: Family Money – Fairness vs. Favoritism in Gifting, Wills and More
• Thicken My Wallet: How would you do in a world without financial advisors?
• Financial Highway: Best Credit Card
• Your Money Relationship: Cash Is King, But Do You Really Spend Less When You Pay With It?

Real Estate

• Fabulously Broke in the City: The Emperor has no House!
• Funny about Money: Real Estate: What Does the Future Hold?.
• Saving to Invest: 10 Deadly Mistakes Buyers Make When Purchasing a Home and How to Avoid Them

Saving

• The Smarter Wallet: Top Online Savings Accounts For Savvy Savers
• Don from Keep My Dollar: Simplicity Leads to Wealth
• Carrie…On The Cheap:  How To (Mentally) Max Out Your 401K
• My Dollar Plan: Earning Interest and Dividends on Someone Else’s Dime
• No Debt Plan: 5 Steps to Closing Old Bank Accounts
• Bargaineering: Holiday Tipping Guide.

Other

• The Everyday Minimalist: When your collection becomes clutter
• Foreigner’s Finances: Trustful Business Breeds Customers
• PT Money: 52 Ways to Make Extra Money…Revisited.
• The Red Stapler Chronicles: The Secret Engagement Ring Upgrade.
• Provident Planning: How to Buy Life Insurance
• Beyond Paycheck to Paycheck: Golf cart subsidies – Why the government is subsidizing golf carts

Phew.

Tagged as: carnival, links, money, personal finance