MBH Picks!

• Good Financial Cents tells the story of how he got started as a financial planner.
• Credit Cards Canada asks what it would cost to put the twelve days of Christmas on your credit card.
• The Penny Hoarder gives a how-to on making money by shopping at drugstores.
• Magical Penny has something different in mind when he talks about diversification.
• Gen Y Wealth lists twenty financial milestones to reach in your twenties.
• The Saved Quarter has a great list of ten gifts that keep on saving.
• Life Lessons from a Military Wife has a great list of gifts from the heart instead of the wallet.

Budgeting

• The Financial Blogger has a guest post that shows (succintly) how to instantly increase motivation for sticking to a budget.
• Green Panda Treehouse chats about where our money goes.
• Live Real, Now suggests a pre-step to Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps.
• Passive Family Income lists three steps to setting up a budget.
• Mom’s Plan shows how to save money on groceries without coupons.
• It’s the envelope budgeting method with a slick interface and great training resources.  Check out Mvelopes Personal and give it a try for free!

Career

• Free Money Finance discusses one opinion of the biggest thing an MBA does for you.
• Darwin’s Money reports that looks matter in the workplace.  (Survival of the fittest, I guess.)
• Before You Invest explains how to start an eBay business.
• Boomer and Echo lays out the cost of starting a franchise.

Credit

• Studenomics goes through how credit card companies make money.
• Smart Balance Transfers lists three reasons not to get an airline credit card.
• CardHub explains how to get a higher credit limit.
• Credit Card Offers IQ has some Citi bonuses to report.
• The Digerati Life lists five prepaid Visa cards that require no credit check.
• Credit Card Forum gives ShopDiscover reward tips.
• Soldier of Finance marches through how to get free credit scores at CreditKarma.
• Ask Mr. Credit Card reports on the Mastercard DDoS attack.
• Miss Bankrupt explains the difference between prepaid cards and secured cards.
• Nerd Wallet compares Citi rewards cards.
• Discover More® Card – $100 Cash Bonus

Debt

• Consumer Boomer calls for responsible use of revolving credit this holiday season.
• Balance Junkie explains how to solve a debt problem.
• Sustainable Life Blog reports on a debt payoff decision.  Was it the student loan or the truck?
• Donna Freedman wishes everyone a debt-free Christmas.
• Tight budget for Christmas this year?  Make your dollars go further with Mr. Rebates!

Finance

• MomVesting explains the concept of net worth and offers words of advice if that number is below zero.
• PFStock talks about a website that lets you see how your income stacks up to other people in your ZIP code.
• Sustainable Personal Finance has a com-post.  (Garbage collection for nothing and your premium soil for free.)
• Sun’s Financial Diary discusses loans of last resort.

Frugality

• Living Richly On A Budget kicks that expensive caffeinated drink habit down to size and shows how to make your espressos at home.
• FruGal winterizes her beauty routine on a budget.
• Consumerism Commentary tackles the argument that frugality is bad for the economy.
• Sweating the Big Stuff advocates donating more to charity.
• Subscribe to Groupon’s Daily Deals!

Investing

• Commodities Universe gives a brief introduction to paper trading some futures contracts.
• Buy Like Buffett runs down some Christmas gifts that appreciate in value.
• Investing Thesis has a fairly lengthy interview on the topic of gold, bonds, fiat currencies and economics.
• Do Not Wait recommends not waiting to identify your sources of investing risk.
• The Dividend Guy recommends investing in yourself.  I agree 100%!
• The Intelligent Speculator lists no less than twenty things to consider when evaluating an exchange-traded fund.
• Dividends Value gives us a baker’s dozen of stocks with a good mix of yield and growth.
• Money Thinking chimes in with a history lesson on what happens when the stock market crashes.
• The College Investor explains different kinds of education saving accounts.
• Retire By 40 goes through his portfolio and explains his rebalancing.
• ETF Base makes the case for emerging markets exposure.
• The Smarter Wallet discusses modern portfolio theory.
• Chicago Financial Planner has a bit of a gripe with Vanguard.
• Dividend Growth Investor makes the case for dividend investing in retirement.
• Watson Inc wonders if he’s a financial hypocrite.

Money Management

• Net Worth Journey shares three lessons learned from hair transitioning and how they apply to money management.
• Generation X Finance lists five great year-end financial moves.
• Beating Broke expounds on financial intentionality.
• Provident Planning continues his series on stupid rules of thumb.
• Go Banking Rates warns that this winter could be costly.
• Musings of an Abstract Aucklander (!) chats about lifestyle creep.
• Prepaid Cards 123 discusses prepaid cards that offer online bill pay services.  Interesting way to keep on top of things if you’ve made mistakes before.
• Grumpy Rumblings of the Untenured (!) ask if paying a relative’s tuition is the right thing to do.
• Daily Financial Solutions explains the real cost of owning a car.
• Manage your money for free with Mint.com!

Real Estate

• Garbage Filter explains some common real estate terms helpful to those looking to buy a home.
• Yes, I Am Cheap predicted the mortgage fraud crisis.
• Mortgage rates are at multi-decade lows.  See if you could save money with a mortgage refinance!

Reviews

• Accumulating Money reviews a book on the stock market by Mariusz Skonieczny.
• PT Money reviews EBates.
• Investor Junkie reviews E*Trade.

Saving

• Fabulously Broke in the City breaks this little news:  Women who save are sexy.
• Money Help for Christians gives a brief introduction to the 403(b) retirement account.
• Cash Money Life explains how to cash in US Savings Bonds.
• Len Penzo blows the cover on six money-saving tips that are anything but.

Taxes

• Bargaineering ponders what would happen if the mortgage interest tax deduction didn’t exist.
• Spruce Up Your Finances discusses the ins and outs of itemized deductions.
• Personal Dividends makes the case for solo 401(k)s for the small business owner.
• One Money Design has a tax prep checklist.
• Get quick answers and speedy, professional, intuitive tax preparation with H&R Block At Home!

Other

• Prairie Eco-Thrifter reveals the key to happiness.  Well said.
• Wealth Pilgrim explains term life insurance.
• Budgeting In The Fun Stuff plays her top five songs about personal finance.
• Oblivious Investor investigates and discusses a different side of online bank recommendations.
• Financially Poor parades ten epic money pwns.  (Warning — this post is PG-13.)
• Dough Roller shines the spotlight on the American Red Cross.
• My Dollar Plan reports on some Amazon bonuses.
• Canadian Finance Blog describes some insurance you can do without.

That’s it!  Thanks for checking out the posts.  Have a safe and happy holiday!

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Here we go:

• (#10) Wallet Blog discusses credit cards without a present limit.  The ramifications of these kinds of cards was educational.
• (#9) Dough Roller appears to have gone off the deep end a bit talking about alien abduction insurance, but it’s a clever way to broach an interesting, and possibly important, personal finance topic.
• (#8) The Digerati Life gives some out-of-the-box retirement income strategies.  Her articles are always well-written and well-organized so it’s hard to turn this one down for the top ten.
• (#7) Money Help for Christians questions the investing advice of debt reduction icon Dave Ramsey.  I’ve done my own share of questioning his facts on investment and the like, and there’s some good discussion in Craig’s article.
• (#6) A guest poster on Free Money Finance poses the question: Why should successful corporate employees not start a side business? I enjoyed reading this post because I almost categorically recommend that people start up a side business.  It was enlightening to hear a different point of view.
• (#5) Canadian Personal Finance Blog discusses some gifts that you shouldn’t give your kids, ever.  I like this post if for no other reason than the strong opinions he expresses.  A few I’m not quite sure I’m on the same side as Big Cajun Man but it would be boring if we all agreed, wouldn’t it?
• (#4) Balance Junkie likens investors and the market to Charlie Brown and Lucy.  I don’t follow football much, but this football play is pretty easy to understand.
• (#3) Free From Broke explains how LIFE screws up your budget.  LIFE is an acronym.  Neat tie-in to four budget busters.
• (#2) Saving Money Today weighs in with a samurai’s guide to personal finance.  I like the broad feel of the topics in this post.  They’re timely.

And the #1 post this week, again reached by tough decision, is:

• (#1) Provident Planning is saying that a 3- to 6-month emergency fund rule is stupid?  Paul has a point to make, and it’s not that he’s against building up an emergency fund.  A thoughtful post.

Please check these great posts out.  Have a great week!

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This may come as a shock to everyone but my wife, but I’ll let you in on a secret:

I don’t know everything. Especially about money.

That’s part of the reason I started up Cash Commons — so I could possibly get some answers to my money questions (and help to provide the answers I did know to other people for their money questions).  There are a number of questions that the enthusiastic folks that contribute to Cash Commons haven’t answered yet, and I’ll highlight them throughout this week’s personal finance submissions.

The engine that runs Cash Commons allows privileges within the system based on earned “reputation” which is earned from other users by asking good questions and giving good answers.  For the questions I highlight here, I’ve sliced off a bit of my reputation as a “bounty” that will be awarded to the best answer.  So if you’ve been waiting on the sidelines to register and test out Cash Commons, here’s an opportunity to get some quick “reputation” and pull your user profile up to the front page.

In any case, enjoy this week’s submissions!

Editor’s Picks

• Bargaineering has six great ways to kill your credit score.
• Eventual Millionaire explains how she paid off  $70,000 in debt and quit her job.
• My Dollar Plan lists ten ways to rejuvenate your finances.
• FIRE Finance exposes the sad reality of looted 401(k)s.

What’s different about single-family homes and mobile homes that makes one appreciate and the other depreciate? Pulled this question out of Dr. Dean Burke’s new book, The Millionaire Nurse.

Budgeting, Credit, and Debt

• Nerd Wallet compares automotive credit cards.
• Consumer Boomer asks: “What’s the real cost of your credit card?”
• Narrow Bridge Adventures highlights the downside of otherwise good credit card rewards.
• Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance explains how television can save you money.
• The Smarter Wallet shows how to borrow money when credit is tight.
• Stumble Forward runs through five tactics to slash debt now.
• Money Relationship asks if you should use your credit card as your emergency fund.
• Debt Tips asks: “Can debt consolidation save your neck?”
• Independent Beginnings asks  a tough question: “Would you risk your baby’s life to avoid debt?”
• Free Money Finance discusses American debt.

Am I obligated to refinance my mortgage if the home is no longer my primary residence? Or is just continuing to pay my mortgage on the old house enough?

Career and Economy

• Technical Certifications argues for why it’s a good idea to get IT certifications.
• Studenomics discusses how to decide when going full-time with a side business is appropriate.
• Darwin’s Finance discusses raises.
• LifeTuner gives some ways that young people can deal with economic shifts.
• Penny Jobs has some choice words on current student loan reform.
• Cash Money Love also reports on student loan reform.

Frugality and Saving

• Len Penzo puts store-brand and name-brand cereals to the true taste test.
• Live Real, Now risks sleeping on the couch and gives five ways to force your spouse to be more frugal.
• Energy Saving Gadgets reports on green surge protectors.
• Eliminate The Muda! asks: “What sacrifices are you willing to make?”
• Well-Heeled Blog is setting up a joint savings account with a significant other to save up for a vacation.
• Bucksome Boomer asks if her generation can afford to retire.
• Good Financial Cents goes treasure hunting online.
• Free From Broke explains what a CD is.
• Budgets Are Sexy claims that $5 a day will let you become a millionaire.
• Magical Penny discusses the individual savings account.

What’s the “naked” part in naked short selling? Heard this term at dinner a couple of days ago.  I know what short selling is, but not the naked part.

Investing

• Invest in the Markets tells how to find solid stocks.
• Accumulating Money discusses a 401(k) rollover to an IRA.
• Money Help for Christians explains value averaging.
• Wealth Pilgrim suggests using caution when handling inherited IRAs.
• Dividend Growth Investor explains the 4% rule for dividend investing in retirement.
• Investing Thesis outlines their stock-picking criteria.
• Foreigner’s Finance gives insights on foreign savings accounts and CDs.
• Dividends Value sheds light on master limited partnerships.
• Oblivious Investor shares a quickie on why he doesn’t pick stocks.
• IRA Reviews reviews the Vanguard IRA.
• Amateur Asset Allocator describes how to determine mutual fund holdings with Morningstar.
• Gen Y Wealth has a post with a flowchart on determining where to locate assets.
• Bible Money Matters reveals his Lending Club investing strategy.
• Balance Junkie crunches numbers on the ultimate calculation.
• PT Money on Roth IRAs vs. 401(k)s: Which one tastes great, and which is less filling?
• Canadian Finance Blog reminds us that American investment advice might not apply elsewhere.
• The Trend Rida declares the smartphone war over for investors.
• Tough Money Love advises avoiding the bond fund trap.

What are your indispensable Quicken 2010 tips? I’m a new Quicken 2010 user.  What makes it rock your world?

Money Management

• The Wisdom Journal has 14 reasons you’re living on the edge financially.
• Green Panda Treehouse lists a who’s who (what’s what?) of personal finance e-books from bloggers.
• Hope To Prosper says that a fool and his money are soon parted.
• Christian Personal Finance has a guest post with four tips for broke college students.
• Smart Money Daily recounts the continual drama of men, women, and money.
• Rainy Day Saver runs over the basics of estate planning.
• Funny About Money is counting all her money.
• Digerati Life asks: “Should you get low-cost life insurance?”
• Go To Retirement gives five strategies for retiring on less.
• A Modern Gal asks: “Why does spending money make us feel good?”

Real Estate and Taxes

• The Financial Blogger lists six reasons why he will not use a real estate agent to sell his house.
• Frugal Dad reveals the secrets to falling in love with your house all over again.
• Alpha Consumer dispels the myth of the baby tax credit.
• Provident Planning runs some tests to help you decide whether you need to file a tax return or not.

Other

• More Than Finances lists five documents that should be in your estate plan.
• Car Negotiation Coach says to use free car quotes at your own risk.
• Military Finance Network explains what Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance is.
• Need Money Tips is starting off with the Shoemoney System.
• One Money Design gives nine ways for women to increase cash flow.
• The Financial Student has a discussion of rich vs. wealth (video has explicit language).

Have a great week!  And also stop by Cash Commons with your money questions and answers!

(Photos: Erik Charlton, Marco Bellucci, fontplaydotcom, konradfoerstner)

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• Steadfast Finances runs through several thought-provoking quotes on debt and paying interest.
• Debt Eagle show how to do debt settlement yourself.
• Silicon Valley Blogger warns about refund anticipation loans.
• The Smarter Wallet discusses the Dave Ramsey cash-only diet.
• Do You Dave Ramsey? does the emergency fund baby step.
• Ask Mr. Credit Card shows how to use credit cards for a debt repayment plan.

Thanks!  If you have debt-reduction related questions (or any other money questions, for that matter!) ask them over at Cash Commons.

Have a great week!

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But no matter.  In the spirit of Middle Name Pride Day, whether on time or two days early, I will reveal my middle name to (hopefully) at least three people who don’t know it already.  I’ll also share some tweets from some followers who gave their take on their middle names.

Here are the submitted posts for this week’s Money Hacks Carnival!

My picks for this carnival:

• Darwin’s Finance runs down 401(k) loan rules and discusses the pros and cons.
• PT Money describes how credit card numbers are generated.  (Very interesting!)
• Balance Junkie relates financial literacy to green eggs and ham.  (Thank you!  Thank you, impressed-I-am.)
• ABCs of Investing explains in detail how to convert to a Roth IRA.
• My Dollar Plan runs down three tax deductions to help the unemployed.

@EverydayFinance mine’s “whatchoo talkin ’bout Willis”. I was mocked relentlessly as a kid but now I can laugh about it.

@thefrugallawyer Middle name is Starr. It was supposed to be my first name but wasn’t a good Christian name, so it went to the middle.

@centsiblelife middle name:Liann. Named after a cousin and the first syl. is both a repeat from my 1st name+ my Dad’s name.

@The_Weakonomist my middle name is “the”

• Live Frugally or Die Broke keeps a keen eye on #1: paying yourself first.
• Wench Wisdom quotes Prudent Bear on the disincentive to save.
• Rabbit Funds hops on an interview with the founder of MoneyDesktop.com.
• Dividends Value lists 18 stocks that are raising their dividend yield on cost.
• Free Family Finance reports a late-breaking story on politicians getting a fiscal clue.  (I can’t believe it myself, but you be the judge.)
• Green Sherpa suggests asking for directions if you’ve lost your financial way.
• Money Help for Christians explains the tax implications of Roth IRAs vs traditional IRAs.
• Good Financial Cents goes through how to make quarterly estimated tax payments.
• Consumer Boomer asks: “How much retirement income should you withdraw?”
• Provident Plan outlines how to create a budget and stick to it.
• Studenomics runs down some favorite time management tips.
• Wealth Pilgrim explains how to regain your mojo.
• Canadian Finance Blog has ten tips for going green and saving money.
• Money Ning suggests that investing in physical gold can cost you.
• Dough Roller lists credit cards that you can transfer balances at zero percent for a year.  (They do still exist, apparently!)
• Personal Finance Playbook explains effective yield.
• Steadfast Finances comments on investor psychology and losing out on profits.
• Stumble Forward reveals a scam.
• Len Penzo warns that fees can erode your savings account returns.
• Live Real Now has a February 30-day project.  (He can put two extra days in the month if he wants; it’s his blog!)

My middle name is Burnett.  It was my grandfather’s first name, and I carry it proudly.

Have a great rest of the week!

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Welcome to the Carnival of Personal Finance, Parts-of-Speech Abuse Edition.  What is parts-of-speech abuse, you might ask?  Well, it means taking a word with a perfectly good part of speech (as most words have) and changing it to a completely different, less well-known, possibly buzzwordy part of speech.  I’ve scattered four five examples of this kind of language jaywalking throughout the carnival submissions.

Budgeting, Career, and the Economy

• Christian Personal Finance tells how he escaped the rat race.
• Life Tuner proclaims cash king.
• Penny Jobs says that only capitalism can save us.
• The Smarter Wallet runs through some tips on how to save money on groceries.
• Parenting Family Money says that if you have a family, you should have a budget.
• The Suburban Dollar looks for the line between looking for a career and taking a job.

leverage (v.) – to use as a springboard; use as leverage.  Example: “The new project should leverage as much of our current technology as it can.”  One example of a long, bulleted list of bureaucratese developed explicitly to hide intelligent thought.

Credit, Debt, and Finance

• Len Penzo explains how to get out of paying a mandatory gratuity for bad service.
• Insureblog plugs Cartopia.
• Taking Charge recommends payment cards for keeping spending habits in check.
• Foreigner’s Finance serves up something a little different: seven countries’ credit card stats, side-by-side.
• Digerati Life talks about frequent-flyer credit cards.
• PT Money runs through Charge Cards 101.
• Simple Financial Lifestyle nicely explains the power of one.
• Personal Finance Analyst recommends doing your own mortgage acceleration.
• One Money Design shares some common traits of people who successfully got out of debt.
• Debt Free Adventure has a how-to handbook for credit card debt reduction.

awesome (n.) — an otherwise indescribable great thing; something awesome.  Examples:  Stackoverflow Careers’ invitation to “amplify your awesome” or Sheetz’ call to “wake up and taste the awesome.”  This always leaves me asking: “My awesome what?“
Frugality

• Pragmatic Environmentalism shares some tips for getting more mileage out of your laptop batteries.
• Tiny Money was taken on a trip to Bait and Switch, Inc., by the mall Santa.
• You Have More Than You Think (great title!) lists the five questions you should ask yourself before buying anything.
• Rainy Day Saver talks extreme frugality.
• Quest for Four Pillars dishes out some last-minute cheap gift ideas.
• Free From Broke really enjoys saving at the supermarket.
• Live Real, Now flogs his inner impulse shopper.
• Bible Money Matters suggests ways to give more and spend less this Christmas.
• A Gai Shan Life reminisces about the holidays.
• Money Crashers lists five last-minute Christmas gifts that don’t suck.
• Think Your Way To Wealth explains how to save money with Bing Cashback.
• Eliminate the Muda wonders what the ROI is on an iPhone.

fly (adj.) — stylishly cool; bangin’; sweet; tight. Examples in song: “Pretty Fly For A White Guy” by The Offspring; “Pretty Fly For A Rabbi” by Weird Al Yankovic; “Feelin’ So Fly” by TobyMac. (Let’s just say I’m in touch enough to know that I’m not even the slightest bit fly.  Just ask J. Money.)
Investing

• Narrow Bridge Adventures talks about using microfinance to invest in someone’s future.
• Dividends Value lists the 2010 Dividend Aristocrats.
• The Dividend Guy reviews The Investor’s Manifesto.
• Good Financial Cents warns that the 80% rule might not be enough to retire on.
• Dividend Growth Investor suggests using dividend stocks to combat inflation.

friend (v.) — to add someone to your online social network (e.g. Facebook).  Example: “Thanks for friending me.”  As it is possible to friend someone, it is also possible to unfriend someone.  Or is it defriend?  Disfriend?  Antifriend?  Who knows …

Money Management & Saving

• Fiscal Geek reviews budgeting software You Need A Budget 3.0.
• Free Family Finance makes a case for why your income isn’t your greatest wealth-building tool.
• Don’t Quit Your Day Job (another great blog title!) explains how to control your giving.
• Free Money Finance discusses the net worths of the members of the US House of Representatives.
• Science and Money gives a run-down of the financial aftermath of a car accident.
• Well-Heeled with a Mission has a super-simple net worth calculation.
• Budgets Are Sexy‘s brother put on his reflection pants and swam in the lake of him.
• Gen Y Wealth suggests a savings goal for 2010.
• Get Rich Slowly states that no one cares more about your money than you do.
• Studenomics asks: “How do people get rich?”
• Bargaineering rates checking accounts and selects the best on a number of criteria.
• My Wealth Builder recommends giving saving priority over spending.
• Money Smart Life has a tip for Christmas shopping deals on name-brand goods.
• A Modern Gal discusses the confession of financial sins.
• No Debt Plan has a way to change your financial life radically in four steps.

fail (n.) — a spectacular non-success; a flamboyant failure.  The example here is pretty obvious.  Not only a parts-of-speech abuse, but lots and lots of spawned noun pairs!  A total fail in standard written English!
Taxes

• Oblivious Investor discusses tax planning in retirement.
• Darwin’s Finance has some year-end tax tips.
• Stumble Forward explains in what way the rich don’t pay taxes.

Other

• Provident Planning gives a summary of tithing in the Bible.
• M is for Money discusses holiday tipping.

That is it!  Stay tuned as Gather Little By Little carnivals next week.

(Photos: fireflythegreat, jpctalbot, happysweetmama, jaycross, Beverly & Pack)

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Business

• Free Money Finance talks about taking risks for an improved career.
• Christian Personal Finance describes how he handles being owed money.
• The Smarter Wallet says that free chicken can turn fowl.
• Great Question: How much can an employee earn before I need to take taxes out?

Credit and Debt

• Bible Money Matters publishes a worst-case scenario handbook on handling the financial slip-up.
• Money Ning wonders if 0% balance transfers for life are possible.
• Great Question: Should I pay down my debt, or try to build an emergency fund in savings?

Housing

• Get Rich Slowly talks about Madoff-prison-cell-sized houses.
• M is for Money recounts the story of a house that’s a money pit.
• Gather Little By Little discusses homeschool finance.
• Great Question: Is having a Walmart a few hundred feet from a property a good or bad idea?

Investing

• OneMint discusses how to develop a long-term approach to investing.
• ETFdb talks about investing in the yuan.
• Canadian Personal Finance Blog chats about risks in life and in investing.
• Trading Stocks discusses investing money online.
• Great Question: How to go about calculating a realistic rate of return for the stock market?
• Darwin’s Finance lists a gazillion ETFs.
• Dguoh Rloler syas taht you don’t need to be pfercet wtih yuor fnniaecs.
• Sun’s Financial Diary harnesses the power of Google to track investments in real time.
• My Dollar Plan tells us what to expect when talking to a financial planner.
• Great Question: What is the underlying reason for stock market supercycles?

Net Worth and Shopping

• Free From Broke relates personal finance to running the NYC Marathon.
• Breathe-Smile weighs options to talk about opportunity cost.
• Great Question: Are you spending more, or less for the holidays this year?
• Lazy Man and Money questions swapping CDs for an iPod with the same CDs.

Budgeting and Personal Finance

• Peak Personal Finance serves up five financial rules for women.
• Prosper and Be In Health describes how to make a budget that works.
• The Digerati Life discusses the almighty allowance.
• Great Question: What do you do to save money daily, and do you think it is important?
• Bargaineering gives a how-to on canceling your cable TV service.

Other

• Frugally Green really wants you to get yourself the right tools for the job.
• Spend On Life reviews SmartyPig.
• Good Financial Cents really likes In-N-Out Burger.  Find out why.
• Great Question: What things are necessary to do before accepting donations online?
• Personal Finance By the Book tells how to prosper by celebrating your marital differences.
• Budgets Are Sexy handles a reader’s question on receiving a gift.
• Great Question: Is there a standard equation for how much life insurance a person should have?
• PT Money starts down the long road to life insurance.
• True Adventures in Money Hacking describes the fine art of couchsurfing.
• Canadian Finance Blog expects to save money this Christmas with LED holiday lights.

Have a great week!  And if you have some great money questions of your own to ask, be sure to head over to Cash Commons!

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• Bargaineering hosts a guest post on how to sue debt collectors.
• The Smarter Wallet shares some first-hand experience with debt collection practices.
• The Digerati Life runs through options for debt consolidation loans for people with good credit.
• Studenomics asks if student loan consolidation is right for you.
• Ask Mr. Credit Card has a radio interview with Lending Club, with an emphasis on debt consolidation.
• Budgets Are Sexy wouldn’t mind moving back in with the ‘rents to pay down debt.

Thanks!

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Here are this week’s debt reduction posts, with the personal debt reduction stories up top:

• The Good Life on a Budget has paid off a car loan eight months early! Congrats!
• Man vs. Debt has a post from a reader on how they paid off their $15,000 debt by selling their stuff on eBay.
• Digerati Life has a post from a guest contributor that reduced debt with a loan modification.
• Reduce Debt Faster outlines three good ways to lower your credit card payments.  (Hint:  It never hurts to ask!)
• PT Money has an interesting question from a reader with a bit of debt problem that isn’t really her own overspending.
• Damon Day shares a sad story of a woman hit with a debt settlement nightmare.
• Christian Personal Finance gives four ways on how to pay off your mortgage early.
• Bargaineering has a post from Kyle from Suburban Dollar on telling the difference between first- and third-party debt collectors.
• Cash Money Life suggests this question as a wake-up call:  “Do you know how much interest you are paying each month?”
• Clear Choice Credit Cards posts a debt elimination guide.
• Your Money Relationship stirs up the good debt vs. bad debt question, with an anecdote on student loan debt.
• Eliminate the Muda has an interesting take on debt consolidation.

Again, thanks everyone for the on-topic posts.

One last thing:  If you’ve got debt questions, head over to Cash Commons and ask them!  They can even be as specific as this one.

Have a great week!

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• Modern Tightwad is deprioritizing her debt payoff in pursuit of some other goals.

And other posts closely tied to debt reduction:

• Free Money Finance lists a couple of suggestions for deciding when to pay off your mortgage.
• Bargaineering shares a guest post on debt validation, which is a lender’s response to a debt collection dispute letter.
• Man vs. Debt has taken the plunge and told credit card companies exactly what they can do with their rewards.
• The Digerati Life discusses the pros and cons of debt settlement companies.
• Financial Methods asks a simple question: What would you give up to get out of debt?

Thanks for checking out the articles this week.  Also, if you have a debt reduction question, you can ask it over at Cash Commons!

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