What’s with our weather lately? Are these the inevitable signs of global warming? So many fires and heat waves are hitting California so early in the summer season, and it’s not been fun. Especially for those people who have had to be evacuated. I’ve even wondered how Big Sur, a place by the coast, can conceivably be threatened by fire but this just shows that no place is safe from any kind of natural disaster. If you know of some place that is, tell us so I can move there!
A look at the fires in Northern California:
Things are a little better these days as air quality has improved (sun is no longer orange) and we’ve received some respite from high temperatures. I guess I should just be glad I don’t have to visit Phoenix anytime soon. 
While I try to stay cool this summer (which can be tough when I’m in a small office heated by a couple of computers), I’ve been collecting articles I think you’ll enjoy as much as I have. So please have a go at these gems from the PF net this week.
Keep safe and healthy wherever you are!
Personal Finance Reads
- Get Rich Slowly: So what do you think? Would you rather have an iPhone or be a millionaire? Thanks to the magic of compounding, we can now make that comparison. Seems like a no-brainer to me, but tell that to my spouse.
- Free Money Finance: FMF gives us an update on the real estate situation around where he lives.
- Five Cent Nickel: Uh oh, I think we’re stupid. We haven’t been in the habit of rotating our tires!
- Blueprint For Financial Prosperity: Do you carpool? I’ve tried it a few times when I used to be employed, but I couldn’t make it work out. Too many logistical issues behind my commute, which included having to drive my kids to school before heading to the office. In the end, I just gave up on the hairy commute and resigned from my job. That’s how I ended up saving 70% off my gas bill.
- Lazy Man and Money: Lazy Man ponders some questions behind our collective spending and saving and how it all affects our economy.
- Money Smart Life: Blockbuster Total Access is running a free trial offer for their online movie rental service and is also giving out $10 cash back when you sign up.
- Gen X Finance: Fascinating! Being a retirement specialist, Jeremy has been seeing first-hand what interesting decisions investors are making these days, in light of the current tough economic climate.
- The Sun’s Financial Diary: Looking for even better rates for your savings? Then look no further than EverBank’s intro rate of 4.76% APY or this Washington Mutual free checking offer.
- Mighty Bargain Hunter: Maybe it’s time to change the way we travel. Don’t insane gas prices make you wonder about other options in vehicular transportation?
- No Credit Needed: Wow, I haven’t encountered an organizational system like this for bill payments. When I receive my bills, I just pay them upon receipt, then stuff the statements in one place where I hope to never see them again.
- Million Dollar Journey: Frugal Trader has published another comprehensive and detailed article about managing risk through insurance. This time, the focus is on critical illness insurance.
- Brip Blap: Always keep an open mind, as they say. Learn more and keep growing by staying flexible and thinking bigger.
- My Dollar Plan: Here’s a nifty ten step plan to eliminate your debt!
- The Wild Investor: Apparently, the country has gone really gassy! Humor aside, check out the great images that portray gas prices around the nation.
- Rich Debt Credit Loan: My goal is to create multiple income streams. Everyone seems to be on the same wavelength as I am, so I’m sure you’ll be interested in these income generating ideas.
- Cheap Healthy Good: Get your veggies into your system with this tunisian-style greens and beans dish.
- Free From Broke: Get motivated and get stuff accomplished by setting clear goals. Free From Broke offers some examples of fantastic goals he’s accomplished.
- Postcards From The Funny Farm: Why you shouldn’t care about what people think of you.
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Fabulously Broke In The City: Here are some things I may think about but won’t say out loud. Or maybe I’ll say them while being anonymous . Venting can do wonders for your health by relieving your stress levels, as in the case when your manager is being a major pain.
Recent Carnivals
- Concert Ticket Inflation and Credit Card Rewards
- Finance Fiesta, No Debt Plan Edition: My article discussing why most people aren’t successful investors was included as one of the Editor’s Picks! A hearty thank you to Kevin for hosting this carnival!
- Money Hacks Carnival #19, Personal Finance Destinations: Oooh! Another Editor’s Pick from one of my fave bloggers, Pinyo from Moolanomy! Muchas gracias for highlighting my post on how to make ordinary things last longer.
- Carnival of the Vanities
- Carnival of Cities
- Stock trades: Free stock trades from Zecco, Cheap stock trades from TradeKing, Stock news and Investment info at INO TV Free, No cost Trend Analysis for stocks
- Earn top returns: FNBO Direct [1.90%], HSBC Direct [1.65%], WTDirect [1.76%], E*Trade Bank [0.95%], ING Direct [.25% to 1.65%]
- Cash bonus: Discover More [$50], American Express [$25], Lending Club [$25]
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Thank you kindly for the link love, Stay cool!
Wonderful round-up–I clicked through on about 60 percent of these posts. And the poor air quality has now made its way to Idaho (as our recent visitors from California were bummed to find out…).
Thank you for the inclusion… With that post you linked too I highlighted a couple of blogs… One in particular is taking a very interesting angle on building a community…
I am not entirely sure how to apply this to personal finance, but it seems ingenious to me. What do you think of this approach?
http://www.sfboater.com/get-paid-for-fish-stories/
I feel like I’m in the midst of it all and it’s been tough to do anything without worrying about all of the smoke outside.
The iPhone is priceless so you shouldn’t compare it with anything that has to do with money!!
It’s quite amazing how many of these little things add up to 1 million dollars that I wonder why not many people are rich!
Thanks for the link, SVB! That dish (my friend Leigh made it) is OUTSTANDING. Definitely suggested.
I didn’t realize there were so many fires going on out west! As for air quality, I wonder how it compares to NYC (it’s actually been nice here lately)?
And thanks for the mention!
I’m actually quite nervous every summer whenever heat waves hit because I live in an extremely wooded area here in the SF Bay Area. We’ve had a fire several years ago not far from where my house is located and it razed a few acres of forest by some residences. Good thing it didn’t cause much damage, but it’s something we always worry about.
We’ve had that terrible memory of the Oakland Hills fire to keep us jittery this time every year.
We have a lot of Eucalyptus trees in the vicinity and those trees are major fire hazards, fuel to lightning sparks and can cause a lot of the wildfires around us. A lot of my neighbors have whacked down their massive Eucalyptus as part of the fire prevention programs we have.
Living in nice, wooded, remote country spots is nice but you can see where it can be a problem! I’m still trying to convince my spouse about moving to a less rural neighborhood.
Hello, I invite you to visit my blog site which is all about personal finance also. This is a personal blog sharing my own experiences as I journey the path towards becoming a successful entrepreneur. Thanks
Hello!! Pinay ka pala. Can I ask for a favor? Is it ok for you to include my blog to your blogroll or links? I really hope to get into US also and land a job there. I hope my blog will be linked in one of your carnivals of personal finance. Thanks.
Tyrone,
Thanks for coming back
. I’d be happy to link to a kababayan. I’ll let you know when you’re on the blogroll. Also, it would be great if you can find a job here in the U.S. This is a fantastic country to live in, in all respects!
Also, I would suggest that to be part of the carnivals, you go to BlogCarnival.com to enter your post submissions.
And if you’re interested in the Carnival of Personal Finance, please visit the CoPF site to see how to be part of the carnival!
Good luck, and hope to see you in the financial sphere!