The Swanky Carnival of Retirement

Michael Kitces @ Nerd’s Eye View writes IRS Opens Door In PLR 201330016 For 1035 Exchange By Beneficiary Of Fixed And Variable Inherited Annuities – Using annuities for retirement income has become increasingly popular in recent years, with one unfortunate caveat: whatever annuity was used during life was the type of annuity the beneficiaries were stuck with in the future.  But no longer – with a recent ruling, the IRS has opened the door for annuity beneficiaries to change to a new annuity that better suits their own needs and circumstances.

Alexis @ FITnancials writes Extra Money Ideas Part 2 – Last week I had my Part 1 of ways that you can make extra money.  Today is Part 2! As I said last week, lately, I haven’t been working a whole lot.  It’s definitely a big difference as to when I was accepting all the shifts I could take and was working well over 40 hours per week.

Michelle @ Diversified Finances writes Disadvantages/Negatives of Working From Home – Last week, I talked about how I’m super excited to start working from home, and all of the positives that go along with it (such as no pants and making your own schedule, haha).  However, there are some disadvantages and I would like to talk about them.

Barbara Friedberg @ Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance writes Learn To Build Wealth In 15 Minutes A Day – Build wealth fast with a step by step money management program.

GD @ MLIQ123 writes Life Insurance Companies – Picking the right insurance policy for your family’s needs is just as important as choosing the best life insurance company who offers you good customer service.  Between life insurance company ratings from A.M. Best and JD Power, one of which focuses on financial strength and the latter on customer satisfaction, here is a list of the top providers in the industry and what factors you should consider when picking your provider.

Swanky Ladies and Limousine outside Hotel Alfonso XIII – Seville, Spain by Adam Jones, Ph.D. – Global Photo Archive, on Flickr.  This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

DPF @ Digital Personal Finance writes Important Expenses for Which We Need to Save – There are multiple reasons to save, including some long-term needs that inevitably pop up for many if not most people.

MMD @ My Money Design writes Motivation In the Workplace and My Thoughts on Mind Control – Motivation in the workplace has gone from the desire to do your best into a simple will of survival.  And worst of all: We let ourselves be hypnotized into this form of mind control.  This post will explore why we let this happen.

DW @ Great Passive Income Ideas writes I Want To Make Money on the Side – What Are Some Ways To Do So? – If you’re saying I want to make money on the side but don’t know how, then you should know there are a lot of easy things you can start doing now that work.  Here are my tips for ways to accomplish that.

Mr FD @ Financial Debauchery writes How Much Is Gold Worth? More Than What a Dealer Will Give You! – It’s a really good idea to find out how much is gold worth before you’re about to go sell it to one those cheesy We Buy Gold places.  Read on and have a better experience than I did.

Michelle @ The Shop My Closet Project writes Frivolous Spending, Super Poo, and Debt Repayment.  A few thoughts about the road to Debt Freedom – I am on a serious mission to repay my debt.  I stopped shopping, am using up my sh$t, bring my lunch to work, make my coffee at work, and am picking up extra work.  Basically, I’m serious as a heart attack when I talk about wanting to take care of my debt!

Minimalist @ Minimalist Finance writes Save Money on Your Education (Or Get it For Free) – Education is expensive.  We all know this.  Parents save for years for their kid’s post-secondary education, and sometimes that’s not even enough.

Robert @ The College Investor writes Not Having Enough for Retirement – When I first started my personal finance blog Budget and the Beach, I felt pretty embarrassed and ashamed of the careless spending I had done in the past.  I was also embarrassed by my money struggles after I was laid off from my full time job of eight years and started freelancing – so much so that I was anonymous about my blog for almost nine months.

Business, Loans and The Market

Robert @ Cult Of Money writes Auto Insurance Decoded: Understanding Your Auto Policy – It is extremely important to know and understand what coverages you do and don’t have.  Without the proper knowledge you could be dangerously under-insured.  If you have trouble decoding your auto insurance policy let’s take a look at some of the most common auto insurance coverages.

Robert @ Entrepreneurship Life writes How to Handle Legal Disputes with Other Businesses – It is a sad fact that in today’s business climate, we will almost all run into a legal dispute with another business.  Even in the online world, there are many situations in which legal disputes can arise with other companies.  Here are some steps you can take to make the experience as painless as possible.

Matt Becker @ Mom and Dad Money writes Is Peer-to-Peer Lending the Next Big Thing? – Peer-to-peer lending is pretty big in the world of personal finance right now.  There are a lot of people talking excitedly about the great investment returns they’ve made recently, and of course this has only drummed up interest from others on how to get involved.  This is typical of any new investment that’s seen some success, but does it mean that it’s a good thing to get involved with?  Today I’d like to share some of my thoughts on peer-to-peer lending and how it might fit into an investment plan.

Amanda L Grossman @ Frugal Confessions writes Add a Boatload to Your Savings Account in One Year, Even if You are Living Paycheck to Paycheck – There are a lot of people living paycheck to paycheck, out of necessity.

Lazy Man @ Lazy Man and Money writes My Tenants Won’t Get Out! – For the last 3 years, I’ve had one tenant.  Typically this is a very good thing.  If this case was typical, I wouldn’t be writing about it.

Lazy Man @ Lazy Man and Money writes Free Summer Activities – Since most of us are on fairly tight budgets, it’s important to explore these free summer activities to ensure a fun-filled summer for less.  All of the activities discussed can be done either as a family, a couple, or even a group of friends.

Cat Alford @ Budget Blonde writes How to Avoid A Savings Addiction – Do you have a savings addiction?  Do you always feel like you have to buy something just because you have a coupon?  If so, here’s how to combat it.

Kyle @ The Penny Hoarder writes How to Get an Interest Free Loan from LendUp – Get this:  Did you know that 12 million Americans take out payday loans each year to cover their daily expenses? Crazy, right?  On average, a single borrower takes eight loans of $375 annually and has to pay a whopping $520 in interest.

Brent @ PersonalFinance-Tips writes Tips That Help You Manage Your Personal Finances Well – Managing personal finances and that, too, personal finance, is not an easy affair.  In fact many of us face problems in taking care of our personal finances in spite of making a budget.  It often happens that we end up spending more than we actually intend to.

Daisy @ Suburban Finance writes Rent Vs. Buy – Should I rent a home, or buy one?  This article will be helpful in deciding what you should do.

Mrs. Accountability @ Out of Debt Again writes How to Get a Statement and Reconcile Your PayPal Business Account – Trouble reconciling your PayPal account?  This short tutorial will show you how to get a statement that will allow you to reconcile your account.

Roger the Amateur Financier @ The Amateur Financier writes How to Monitor and Maintain Your Online Persona – A discussion on online persona and how to monitor what is being said about you online as you attempt to generate a positive personality online.

Suba @ Broke Professionals writes 6 Reasons I Hate Underwriting – Buying a house is a different universe than it was five years ago.  Getting a mortgage is like taking candy from a baby… or, maybe, a 42-year-old underwriter.

Corey @ 20s Finances writes Tips to Save Money on Your Wedding Reception – Here are some tips I have gathered while planning our wedding reception.

JP @ My Family Finances writes Different Types of Loans for Your Family – In an effort to save time and painful research, here is a very brief overview of some of the more common types of loans that families have.

Tushar Mathur @ Everything Finance writes Self-Employed and Have Debt?  Why Dave Ramsey May Not Work for You – Dave Ramsey.  His name is synonymous with getting out of debt.  No doubt his baby step program has helped millions get out of debt and stay out of debt.  But he might now work for you, and here is why.

Jon Haver @ Pay My Student Loans writes Investing made easy for Graduates – Most people run into problems because they don’t invest enough, diversify their investments, or allocate investments properly for a specific situation, such as sending their children to college.

Mrs. PoP @ Planting Our Pennies writes Home Value Update – How To Use Market Comps – Mrs PoP reviews how to use market comps to keep track of your home’s value more accurately than Zillow without much effort.

Debt Guru @ Debt Free Blog writes The Missing Help on Credit Scores – Didn’t get to learn about credit in high school?  Neither did we.  It’s strange, right?  Read here for your basic education on credit and credit scores.

Crystal @ Budgeting in the Fun Stuff writes Cost for Tubing the Comal River Last Weekend – My friends and I headed out to New Braunfels last weekend and ended up tubing down the Comal River for 6 hours.

Bargain Babe @ BargainBabe.com writes 7 Cheap Meals for Dinner – The only thing better than a tasty, cheap meal for dinner is if someone else cooks it for you! If it’s you, consider reading my 7 cheap meals that are affordable, but also tasty!

Christopher @ This That and The MBA writes An Introduction to Annuities – When you have finally saved what you think is enough for retirement, you do not want to worry about the upward and downward movements of the stock market.  Some retirement plans or pension plans organized through your employer will invest in an annuity.

Hank @ Money Q&A writes Business Liability And Why It Is Important For Your Finances – Business liability insurance can and will help you and your business get through any type of situation, this form of insurance covers legal defense costs.

Ted Jenkin @ Your Smart Money Moves writes I Am A Freelancer… What Five Business Moves Should I Make? – You have decided to leave your employer and make a go at a consulting business on your own.

Mike @ Personal Finance Journey writes Creative money saving ideas for the car – Driving a car isn’t rocket science and neither is saving money.  Here are our creative money saving ideas for the car.

Shredding Debt @ Shredding Debt writes Debt Payoff Progress for June 2013 – Well, we made some more progress during the month of June which is good news.  Here’s how much debt we’ve knocked out.

Penny Thots @ Penny Thots writes Collecting for Value: African American Art – If you love paintings, prints, and sculptures, collecting them can be an excellent way to invest your money.  Or maybe not.

IMB @ Investing Money writes Two Markets in the Cross Hairs – This week the energy market and the S & P are in focus.  Read here for information on these important markets and how they are changing.

Eva Baker @ TeensGotCents writes Thrift Store Costume Ideas – Shopping With Sarah – Need a costume?  Don’t have much money?  Can you sew a little?  Never fear!  Get thrift store costume ideas from Sarah in her latest post on TeensGotCents.

Little House @ Little House in the Valley writes Kanga Cottage Cabins – Modular homes and cabins appear to be popping up all over the place.  I can see why; they offer a variety of housing solutions (office, shed, pool house, cabin), flexible design, and are affordable options for those wanting to expand or build a cabin of their own.

Harry Campbell @ Your PF Pro writes What’s the Best Day of the Week to Quit Your Job? – If you haven’t heard by now, I quit my job!  My fiancee and I are moving and I did not want to make the hour plus commute so I gave my notice about a month ago.  My last day was last Tuesday and so far being unemployed has been pretty awesome.  Eventually I’m going to get back to my day job but for now I’m happy working online and living life.  A lot of my co-workers thought it strange that I quit on a Tuesday but there was a method to my madness.

CAPI @ Creating a Passive Income writes Small Business Saving: How To Save Your Business Money – Running a small business and finding success?  Great!  Now you need to save your business money.  Read here to learn how.

Roger Wohlner @ The Chicago Financial Planner writes Is My Pension Safe? – The city of Detroit recently filed the largest municipal bankruptcy in history.  One of the potential casualties of this situation will likely be retired city workers receiving pensions.  While pension payments are promises made by the employer, should the bankruptcy go through the city will be free to cut pension benefits as part of the restructuring of the city’s finances.  In light of this situation, how safe is your pension?

krantcents @ KrantCents writes Some Things Get Better with Age! – Some things get better with age such as wine, cowboy boots, blue jeans, rib-eye steaks, balsamic vinegar and some human beings.  Older people are not quietly going into the sunset and retiring.  Successful entrepreneurs are getting older!  The young entrepreneurs may get more press, but there are many older people becoming entrepreneurs.

LaTisha @ Young Finances writes 3 Reasons Why Kim Kardashian Has More Assets Than You – Kimberly Noel Kardashian, mother of North West and partner of Kanye West, is worth $40 million and earned an estimated $10 million in one year as of June 2013.

Pauline @ Make Money Your Way writes How to Start Investing – This post talks about the first steps to takes when you start investing, and the different brokerage accounts available.  We go over the costs per order of the top 10 firms and explain how they work.

Pauline @ Reach Financial Independence writes Keep your “safe” investments safe – This post talks about how to keep your investments safe and protect your savings from inflation

Tushar @ Earn More and Save writes Secrets of the Wealthy: How to Pick the Right Career – Passion.  Commitment.  Perseverance.  What do these three things have in common?  They are traits of the wealthy who have chosen careers in which they excel.  Choosing a career is a tough choice and, unfortunately many people choose the wrong one.

Ryan @ Cash Money Life writes Why you Should Take a Vacation – Studies show that taking a vacation can improve your quality of life and help your career by improving your concentration and productivity.

Luke @ Learn Bonds writes Accrued Market Discount – What You Need to Know – Knowing about accrued market discount will help you make better investment decisions and handle taxes with better wisdom.

Glen @ Monster Piggy Bank @ Monster Piggy Bank writes How to Save Money for a House – Learn about the common things you need to look for when saving money for a house.

Paul @ The Frugal Toad @ The Frugal Toad writes 5 Things Everyone Should Know About Loans – Sooner or later in life, everyone is going to need to borrow money.  It happens, either because you’re making an investment in a residence, going to college, or buying another big-ticket item.  There are many types of loans to choose from, all with different interest rates and grace periods.  Before you jump into the first loan you can find, you should do some research and know what you’re getting into.  In fact, here are five things you need to know before you think about taking out a new loan.

John S @ Frugal Rules writes When Should You Start Saving for Retirement? – Saving for retirement can be challenging for many.  There are many excuses to use from not having enough money to it being too far away.  However, by starting to save for retirement earlier rather than later, regardless of the amount, you put yourself in the best position possible.

Jefferson @ See Debt Run writes Looking For a Streaming Media Player – There are a variety of options available if you are looking for a way to stream movies to your home.  How can you choose?

Odysseas @ Card Hub writes Can You Buy with a Credit Card & Return for Cash? – Your credit card company paid the merchant when you made your purchase, so should presumably be able to settle up with your card issuer while recouping your expense in cash – but here are a few reasons why cash returns for credit card transactions aren’t permitted.

Don @ MoneySmartGuides writes How to Calculate Net Worth – Net worth is an important calculation that shows you your financial health. This post shows you how to calculate net worth.

Sonia @ Wallet Hub writes 2013 Checking Account Transparency Report – There are over 100 million checking accounts in the US and close to nine out of ten households have an existing one.  Checking accounts are among the most basic and critical of financial service tools, allowing consumers to manage their monthly finances.  That’s why having access to and understanding the costs associated with checking accounts is essential for consumers.

Jacob @ AllPersonalFinance writes Insurance… Don’t be Underinsured – Many people are always looking for cheap homeowners insurance.  However in their haste to find cheap homeowners insurance they often risk the protection they need.  Millions of residents in the UK are under-insured.  Are you one of them? Now would be a good time to check your homeowners policy to make sure you have adequate coverage.

Mr. Frenzy @ Frenzied Finances writes Two X Problems: The Financial Challenges Women Face – Recognizing that there are many financial challenges women face, and what to do about them, will help women to prepare for the future. Read for information.

Bank Free Credit @ Bank Free Credit writes Free Summer Activities – Since most of us are on fairly tight budgets, it’s important to explore these free summer activities to ensure a fun-filled summer for less.  All of the activities discussed can be done either as a family, a couple, or even a group of friends.

Matt @ Living in Financial Excellence writes I Spent A Lot of Money and It’s Okay – Once you’re debt free and you’re funding your retirement and college savings plans, it’s OK to spend money on yourself.  Go ahead.  Live a little.  Splurge a little.  You’ve earned it.

Jon @ Novel Investor writes Best Brokerage Promotions, Deals, & Bonuses – A list of the best brokerage promotions, deals, and sign up bonuses offered by recommended online brokers.

Investor Junkie @ Investor Junkie writes How to Choose Investments Like a Business Owner – In order to be truly successful as an investor, you need to choose your investments like you’re a business owner.  Because if you are buying individual stocks, a business owner is exactly what you’ll be.

MR @ Money Reasons writes Upper Middle Class Online Test – Check out my results from this Upper Middle Class Test.  I included the url so you can try it, too.

Wayne @ Young Family Finance writes The Self-Employment Dream: Less Talk, More Action – Maybe it came to you as a ‘lightbulb moment’, or maybe it’s a thought that you’ve stewed on and perfected for years.  You know the one.  It’s your business idea, your inspired concept to invent, design, manufacture or improve something that fills a gap in the market.  You’ve discussed it with friends, colleagues, the postman – anyone who will listen.

Bryan @ Gajizmo writes Best Time To Buy Anything – Need a new car, appliance, grill, suit, boat, wedding dress, camera, cell phone, television, luggage, laptop, mattress, or power tool?  Check out our comprehensive guide on the best time of year to buy anything and everything you need.  By planning ahead and knowing when stores are pushing out old stock for new releases, you can enjoy huge discounts on big ticket items.  Check out this list detailing what to buy each month and let us know how much you save.

Mr.CBB @ Canadian Budget Binder writes UK Exchange Rate Takes It’s Toll On Our Net Worth – The exchange rate in the UK has been going up and going down just as fast as the petrol prices have.  The exchange rate can have a profound affect on our net worth and why it’s important to track your investments and make sure you can handle the ups and downs if you invest abroad.

Grayson @ Debt Roundup writes Diversifying My Savings – I have been building my emergency fund for quite some time, but I have realized that I am not doing myself any favors.  I need to diversify my money in order to have it make money.  I decided to put some money into my Roth that I will use as my backup emergency fund, so if something really bad happens, then I will have it available.

Crystal @ Married (with Debt) writes A Big Debt-Free Reward – My husband and I worked diligently together to become debt free.  Well, he did the work and I was supportive (and along for the ride).   Anyway, we did it.

SBB @ Simple Budget Blog writes No Plan: How Americans Fare in Planning Budgets – The recent results of a Gallup poll reveal little enthusiasm for budget planning.  Budgeting is important!  Read here to learn more about American budgeting.

AB @ Aspiring Blogger writes Your Job is Trying To Kill You! – I know life can be rough sometimes, but did you realize that your job could be trying to kill you?  Now you have another reason to become financially independent.

Tushar @ Finance TUBE writes What Are The 6 Best Investment Options of 2013? – Every investor is looking for the advice on the next big money maker.  Smart investors are the ones who develop their own systems for determining which the best ways to remit their money are.

Maria @ The Money Principle writes The Manifesto of a Frugal Artist – In this article I discuss two kinds of frugality: extreme frugality and frugality as an art form.  I am a frugal artist; how about you?

Tushar @ Start Investing Money writes Smart Reasons for Investing in Your Financial Knowledge – Here is a question for you: would you invest in stocks and shares if you didn’t know a thing about them?  What about other forms of investments?  Would you be willing to sink a good portion of your savings into an investment you knew little to nothing

SFB @ Simple Finance Blog writes Ready, Set, Shop! It’s Tax Free Weekend – It’s my favorite time of the year – a time when I can go to the store and splurge a little bit, while simultaneously feel a little less guilty about the money I’m dropping.

Simon @ Modest Money writes Retirement: How Much Will You Need? – People work all their lives to ensure that they have a comfortable retirement and something to show for their years of hard graft, but without the use of a crystal ball, how will you know how much you will need to live comfortably?

Pat Murphy @ Feeling Financial writes Why use a 401(k)? What’s the Point? – Somebody who’s never saved for retirement may wonder: what’s the point of saving in a 401(k)?  This post starts with the big picture.

Anton Ivanov @ Dreams Cash True writes An Introduction to Peer to Peer Lending – Peer to peer lending has been gaining popularity as an alternative investment and a way to diversify.  Learn the basics of P2P lending.