A Single Mom’s Finances, Paying Debt Early and House Hunting @ The Roundup

I just took one look at this post and can’t believe how long it got (as usual!). Lots of material here but don’t let it deter you — it includes a few eventful matters that transpired in the last week. If you’re curious about what’s up in the personal finance blogosphere, then check out these questions!

• Who’s adding a new contributor to their site?
• Who’s slowing down their posting schedule to start a new blog and a book?
• Who’s house hunting?
• Who’s been unjustifiably hounded by a credit card collection agency?
• Who’s back from his honeymoon?
• Whose stocks took a beating?

Answers below!

Personal Finance Reads

• Money Smart Life: A different personal finance perspective has come to Ben’s blog, and it’s brought to you by a new contributor who’s a single mother. I can see how this site will be enriched by such a collaboration! Hmmm…. We’re taking guest posts here too!
• Lazy Man and Money: Lazy Man has returned from his travels with some thoughts on how to save money in Aruba. I wish I had the time to make it there one day.
• Money, Market and More Musings: I believe I’ll be a member of what you call “the Sandwiched Generation” fairly soon, but not necessarily in the financial sense. My parents and in-laws have done well to take care of their health and finances up to this point but I anticipate that physically caring for various people will be in our cards in the near future.
• Gen X Finance: What do you think of the claim that perhaps Americans are just saving too much for their retirement to the detriment of present day consumption? Not sure I agree with this premise either.
• The Sun’s Financial Diary: Sun looks at the bright side even after financial and bank stocks have taken a beating.
• The Simple Dollar: I’m highlighting a post written by Trent that discusses how he’s decided to slow down his frenetic posting schedule in order to pursue other projects. This is a wonderful compromise if you’re thinking of diversifying your time into other endeavors and also emphasizes how our time is precious and best used for the more important things in our lives. If you can’t do it all, it’s okay to slow down and smell the roses.
• Get Rich Slowly: How interesting to compile a list of personal finance sites written by folks from all over the world! To this list, I’d like to add one of my favorite sites from my country of origin (this would fall under the “Asia” category): Money Smarts by Salve Duplito.
• Five Cent Nickel: Here’s someone’s first-hand experience with dealing with a collection agency that won’t leave you alone.
• Blueprint For Financial Prosperity: Though personal finance gurus and experts have their shortcomings, I always keep myself open to advice from “educators”. It’s just part of my strategy to get informed as much as possible, while making up my own mind in the end.
• Mighty Bargain Hunter: Here’s something I’m wholeheartedly agreeing with here, that the housing slump has just gotten started. This is a great post reminding prospective homeowners to bide their time and wait for housing prices to fall comfortably into their budget range.
• No Credit Needed: NCN gets into the technical, step-by-step details of how he actually pays off his debt, mortgages and credit card bills early.
• Free Money Finance: Here are some reflections made by FMF as he begins his house-hunting quest. I agree with him that after looking at other homes for quite a bit, you may have the tendency to appreciate your own house just a wee bit more.

Additional Readings Around The Web

Psychological Effect of 99-Cent @ Marketing Deviant
Ten Ways To Save Time and Money on Thanksgiving Travel @ Punny Money
Why do poor people always win the lottery? @ My Investing Blog
The Generational Contract @ Brip Blap
The Week Ender: Finding that Home Business Idea! @ The Small Business Blog

Thank you to: Lifehacker, Smart Spending, and Money Smarts for featuring something from this blog in recent days!

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