The Carnival of Personal Finance has been running consecutively for 185 weeks. The latest edition is live at the Fraud Files blog, and every Monday this celebration of the week’s best in personal finance blogs is hosted at a new location.

For bloggers, hosting the Carnival of Personal Finance is a good way to increase your blog’s exposure in the personal finance community. The Carnival is currently seeking volunteers to host on Mondays in January, February, and March. Hosts will receive access to the week’s submissions and review the articles. Here is more information about hosting the Carnival of Personal Finance. If you’re ready to request a slot for hosting, fill out this quick form.

Besides the Editor’s Picks, here are some of the most interesting articles included in the 185th Carnival of Personal Finance.

• Is the Stock Market a Big Ponzi (Madoff) Scheme?
• Is Buying a Title of Nobility an Investment or a Scam?
• Building a Better Mood about Your Money

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Last Call: Carnival of Personal Finance Looking for Hosts

Anheuser-Busch Cuts 1,400 Jobs. This shouldn’t be a surprise after the company was purchased by InBev and the company promised over a million dollars in annual savings.

Maybe It’s Time to Buy That First House. Don’t worry, there are no conclusions in this New York Times article. Maybe it is time, but maybe it is not. First time home buyers could find themselves with a loss by 2012 in several major metropolitan areas according to some sources. The more you look at a house purchase as a long-term investment, the better off you’ll be. Just keep in mind that the true cost of buying and operating a home is higher than you think and your return after “fees” might not even beat inflation, even in the long term.

Obama Sets Expansive Goal for Jobs. President-elect Barack Obama is set on a two-year plan to create or save 2.5 million jobs. It’s a massive public works project, rebuilding the country’s infrastructure. New roads, bridges, and schools are all part of the plan.

Carnival of Personal Finance #182: Don’t Go Broke Over the Holidays Edition. Free From Broke is hosting the latest Carnival. In addition to the Editor’s Picks, check out Why Investing in Stocks This Year Was Not a Financial Mistake at Money Ning, Turning What You Love to Do Into a Second Income Stream at Funny About Money, and Dave Ramsey Falters in a Crummy Economy at Saving Advice.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

News and Blogs: Monday, December 8, 2008

JPMorgan Chase to Cut 9,200 Washington Mutual Jobs Nationwide. Chase notified thousands of WaMu employees yesterday that their jobs will be eliminated by the end of next year, many much sooner. 3,400 of the jobs will be cut from the Seattle headquarters and 1,600 more from California.

Self-Employes are Frozen Out of Mortgages. If I choose to leave my day job, I will have to pay attention to this. Self-employed individuals work to reduce their income for tax purposes, but that can have an unintended negative effect if they need to shop for a mortgage. Now that banks have tightened up lending, it’s harder for legitimate self-employed borrowers to find comparable mortgage offers.

FCC to Vote on Free Broadband Internet Across USA. We are already almost one decade into the twenty-first century, but we’re only just now beginning to live in the future.

Your Financial Network Map. This is a great way to visualize the way money flows in and out of your hands and bank accounts. As Jim points out, this network visualization can help to identify problems and create efficiencies.

Announcing My First Book: 365 Ways to Live Cheap. Trent from The Simple Dollar is selling his first book on Amazon.com. He says: “It’s a compilation of 365 of my best tips on personal finance and frugal living. Virtually all of the tips, if applied, can save you more than the price of the book itself.”

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

News and Blogs: Tuesday, December 2, 2008

More ING Direct $25 bonus links are now available. I’ve posted more referral codes received from Consumerism Commentary readers on the waiting list. In a few weeks, I plan on opening the waiting list again, so subscribe to the RSS feed so you can respond quickly to add your name before the list is closed again.

Holiday Shopping Bargains Reel in Big Sales. The National Retail Foundation says that despite low expectations for Black Friday, retail sales were up this year. According to NRF’s figures, shoppers spent an average of $372.57, up 7.2% from last year, and 172.9 million consumers visited stores, purchased items online, or through catalogs, up 17% from last year.

If Dad Can Do It Himself, Maybe He Shouldn’t. In the Wall Street Journal, a dad teaches his son about the role and responsibility banks hold when they manage your money. Watch out for invalid fees, and complain enough to get their mistakes reversed.

Stocks are Less of Your Net Worth Than You Think. If you are 65 and expect to receive $2,000 a month from Social Security, add $327,000 — the amount that converts to a lifetime monthly distribution of $2,000 — to your bond position. Taking this phantom inflation-adjusted bond into account, your stocks represent a lower percentage of your income-generating portfolio for retirement. Stay invested in stocks.

Carnival of Personal Finance, Cyber Monday 2008 Edition. Check out the latest edition of the Carnival. Some of the more interesting articles include What Should a Privatized Social Security System Look Like?, 3 Rules to Giving the Good Gift, and 6 Ways to Argue Less About Money.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

News and Blogs: Monday, December 1, 2008

Reminder: While I am on vacation this week, Consumerism Commentary is featuring articles by other writers. Please read Criminal Charges: Volume XVII, the first of this week’s guest articles.

Rescue Deal for CitiGroup. Citi is too big to fail, so the government is preparing an injection of $20 billion in addition to the $25 billion the company has already received. GM, Ford, and Chrysler are quoted as whining, “It’s not fair!”

Wall Street versus Pennsylvania Avenue. According to the Presidential Cycle, the stock market loses ground during the first half of a new president’s term while increases significantly during the second half. Statistics prove this to be true, but here’s why you shouldn’t abandon stocks for two years.

Gift Cards: A Bad Idea Gets Even Worse. This is bad news for office Secret Santa exchanges. Now we’ll have to think about what trinket someone else may like.

180th Carnival of Personal Finance. Living Almost Large is hosting this edition of the Carnival of Personal Finance with pictures of foreign paper currency. In addition to the Editor’s Picks, check out Visualizing $10,000 Extra in Your Life, The Not-so-Easy Part of Personal Finance, and Financial Education in Schools.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

News and Blogs, Monday, November 24, 2008

Happy New Year? Not For Some. At the beginning of 2009, employees who take part in a 403(b) plan, which is like a 401(k) plan for non-profit organizations, will have fewer investment options. This change will bring 403(b) plans in line with the expectations for 401(k) plans. The change will probably mean higher expenses and more paperwork for everyone involved: employers, employees, and plan managers.

Dow 8,000: The Psychology of Round Numbers. This is a short article that doesn’t get deep into the topic. It is interesting how psychology is attached to round numbers, whether it’s 14,000, 10,000 or 8,000 for the Dow Jones Industrial Average. These numbers are seen as triggers.

100 Money Saving Tips for the Holiday Gifting Bonanza. Do not shop for gifts this year without memorizing Jim’s list of 100 tips. If not, at least skim through. There are bound to be several dozen that could guide you this year with the economy in a mess.

Save Time and Effort With a Personal Shopper. This is often a free service clothing stores offer, and they may not even advertise it. Carson Kressley’s fee is too high, and apparently, it’s easy to get the same service. All you have to do is prepare a list of what you need, bring your measurements or have yourself measured in the store, and answer some of the personal shopper’s questions about your lifestyle and preferences, and he or she will bring you items to try on with no obligation.

For the “News and Blogs” features, which I plan to run almost daily as long as I have additional articles to share, I select some of the most interesting posts from my RSS reader and from pfblogs.org. If you don’t believe you blog is included on my RSS reader, please let me know to so I can add it. Thanks!

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

News and Blogs: Thursday, November 20, 2008

5 Money Mistakes in a Bad Economy. Here are the mistakes: continuing to use credit cards, withdrawing or taking a loan from your retirement funds, paying for college without loans, grants, or scholarships, neglecting to invest, and taking home-equity loans.

Bid to Ban Sale of Obama Tickets. Tickets to presidential inaugurations have always been free, but demand for the ability to attend Barack Obama’s ceremony early next year is so high that people are willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars for the opportunity to go. Congress is working to make the sale of these tickets illegal and to penalize those who attempt sell the tickets with a $100,000 fee or a year in jail. Those who live in the Washington, D.C. area stand to make more money by offering their homes and backyards to visitors in exchange for a rental fee.

Consumer Prices Fall Record 1% as Energy Plunges. Thanks to the sharp decline in gas prices, the overall CPI dropped the more in one month than it has since the data were recorded. That’s good news in the short term, resulting in lower expenses for consumers, but could be a problem for businesses when profit margins are already thin.

Last Minute Gift Ideas and Shopping Tips For Holiday Procrastinators. I find myself running around at the last minute as the holidays draw near. Here are some ideas for gifts for those people for whom you might not know how or what to buy. I would stay away from gift cards this year. There’s always a chance your favorite store could have a hard time this year. In the past, stores that enter bankruptcy have not always accepted gift cards.

Vanguard’s New Self-Employed 401(k) Plan – Roth Option Included. Here is a superficial review of this new offering from Vanguard. If I ever give up new contributions to my company 401(k) by leaving the corporate workforce, I’ll be taking advantage of this offering. This is worth more research when the time is right.

For the “News and Blogs” features, which I plan to run almost daily as long as I have additional articles to share, I select some of the most interesting posts from my RSS reader and from pfblogs.org. If you don’t believe you blog is included on my RSS reader, please let me know to so I can add it. Thanks!

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

News and Blogs: Wednesday, November 19, 2008

I’ve added more $25 bonus codes for new ING Direct customers last night. If you have at least $250 to deposit into a high-yield savings account, use one of these codes to receive a small boost.

You’d Better Watch Out: Gift Cards Can Be Lumps of Coal. If you are considering getting someone a gift card this year, opt for cash instead. Businesses that declare bankruptcy — and there may be more to come — will probably not honor the cards. If you receive a gift card, use it as soon as possibe. Not only will that help the economy, but you may lose it if you wait too long. Many gift cards lose value over time now, even if the issuing company stays in business.

Seized Tanker Anchors Off Somalia. Somalian pirates siezed an oil tanker from Saudi Arabia, one of the largest man-made objects in the world. The tanker carries one quarter of Saudi Arabia’s daily oil output, two million barrels, and is thought to be headed towards the United States. The hijackers will most likely be asking for the highest ransom ever paid to free the oil and the crew. The biggest concern is obviously the lives of the hostages, but will this have an effect on the price of a gallon of gas here?

Things it’s Cheaper to Do Yourself. Hiring out certain tasks has an appeal because it frees your time (in exchange for money) so you can spend that time on more more important, and possibly income-generating, tasks. But there are some fairly simple activities that would save you enough money if you do them yourself.

No Debt Plan. This is a series, currently on Part Nine, that helps you set up a budget, get out of debt, and build wealth.

Best Year-End Move for Salaried Taxpayers. Maximize contribution to tax-deferred retirement plans. Last month, I increased my 401(k) contribution to 50% of my salary, split evenly between a before-tax contribution (matched up to 4%) and an after-tax Roth 401(k) contribution. Even doing so, I will not hit the $15,500 ceiling because I started the year too low.

Tip’d is a social media website that lets you share and comment on finance-related current events, and today is its official launch date. I mentioned Tip’d last month when it was first announced to early adopters. At the end of every article on Consumerism Commentary, I have included a link labeled “Add to Tip’d.” With this, you can share stories from Consumerism Commentary with another audience. Connect with me on Tip’d.

For the “News and Blogs” features, which I plan to run almost daily as long as I have additional articles to share, I select some of the most interesting posts from my RSS reader and from pfblogs.org. If you don’t believe you blog is included on my RSS reader, please let me know to so I can add it. Thanks!

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

News and Blogs: Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Announcement: As a reminder, I am featuring guest authors next week. If you’re interested, please read my posts by following that link and contact me to discuss a topic. I’ll need all submissions by Friday. Thanks!

Americans are Digging Deep to Save Money. Frugality is the new trend, with a new USA Today poll that people are spending less money due to the state of the economy. The poll also showed that more than 55% of people surveyed are spending less for the holidays this year. My Twitter poll earlier this month showed that many of my people surveyed will be spending less money, but not necessarily due to the economy.

Gas price observation. I spotted $1.879 per gallon this morning at a location that offers a discount for customers paying with cash.

G20 Launches Ambitious Plan to Restore Confidence. The group of 20 leaders from developed and developing countries met this weekend in Washington and decided to change the rules. You can expect to see more regulations for hedge funds, more stimulus measures across the world, and a larger role for the International Money Fund. The group will reconvene in April 2009 with the new President of the United States.

I mentioned a few days ago that Citi might lay off 10,000 workers in addition to increasing interest rates on credit cards for all customers. Looks like they’ll be laying off 50,000.

Carnival of Personal Finance: Smile Edition. The 179th edition of the Carnival of Personal Finance includes a round-up of some of the best writing about personal finance from this past week. In addition to the Editor’s Choice articles, start browsing through the Carnival with 5 Proven Ways to Find a Job in a Recession, Money is 100 Percent Emotional, and Top 10 Reasons We are Not Frugal.

Christmas Shopping Tips to Keep Your Holiday Spending Under Control. This article is the antithesis of the piece I wrote for PC World in which I described how to find the best bargains on tech items this holiday season. When I originally asked a few colleagues for input, J.D. from Get Rich Slowly suggested I mention Buy Nothing Day. The blurb was eliminated by the editor. Rather than searching for bargains bargains on the “popular” electronics, maybe it’s time to cut back on shopping overall.

For the “News and Blogs” features, which I plan to run almost daily as long as I have additional articles to share, I select some of the most interesting posts from my RSS reader and from pfblogs.org. If you don’t believe you blog is included on my RSS reader, please let me know to so I can add it. Thanks!

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

News and Blogs: Monday, November 17, 2008

America’s 20 Best Health Plans. Unsurprisingly, my plan is not on this list from MSN and US News & World Report. The top award goes to Harvard Pilgrim Health Care of New England in Maine and Massachusetts. I should take advantage of my Aetna plan more by visiting a doctor for a check-up once in a while, particularly since the price of my plan is going up next year.

Aflac CEO Says He’ll Give Up Golden Parachute if Ousted. Aflac, which isn’t seeking bailout money from the government, would owe Dan Amos $13 million if a merger or acquisition results in the elimination of his job. Amos has graciously volunteered to give up this income if he leaves the company in these circumstances. He’s setting an example for other highly-paid CEOs who plan on taking windfall compensation even as their companies fail or ask the public for handouts.

76% Say Obama Can Fix Economy – Poll. No pressure, though. Meanwhile, Bush and 19 other world leaders from developed and developing countries are meeting in Washington to discuss the financial crisis. While expectations are probably too high for the meeting, it will be interesting to see if anything comes from it.

Citigroup to Lay Off Another 10,000 – Report. Even after Citi received $25 billion from the government, we can expect more lay offs and significantly higher interest rates on consumer credit cards.

For the “News and Blogs” features, which I plan to run almost daily as long as I have additional articles to share, I select some of the most interesting posts from my RSS reader and from pfblogs.org. If you don’t believe you blog is included on my RSS reader, please let me know to so I can add it. Thanks!

News and Blogs sponsor: FNBO Direct, currently offering 3.25% APY

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

News and Blogs: Friday, November 14, 2008

I have written an article for PC World Magazine called The Insider’s Guide to Black Friday Bargains. Please read it, and if you are so inclined, give it a “thumbs-up” on the website.

A Hypnotic Answer to Financial Angst. It’s becoming increasingly popular for those who worry about money to treat their anxiety through hypnotherapy. The success of the technique is hard to measure, but those who have pursued this form of treatment seem to be happy with progress. Expensive hypnosis sessions may do more damages to your finances without much real benefit, but if participants feel better and come away with a better approach to dealing with money, it may be worthwhile.

Putting Santa on a Budget. If Santa Claus brings gifts to your house, bear in mind that his investments sank since last year, just like yours, and he’s dealing with the global economy as best as he can. He’s cutting back on some expenses, and I’d imagine these include reindeer fuel. He might have had to lay off a percentage of his elf workforce. And of course, he’s spending less on gifts for families across the world. If you explain this to children, they might just understand why Santa is not bringing them as many gifts this year.

Text of Paulson Remarks on TARP. Here are Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson’s comments on the Troubled Asset Relief Program (the Bailout) from yesterday, in full. To summarize: Bailout money will no longer be used to buy “toxic” mortgage-backed assets but it will be used to “prop up” banks. These banks must begin lending the money provided by the Bailout in order to get the conomy flowing again.

On Good Debt and Bad Debt. Is there such a thing? Like Trent from The Simple Dollar, my position is that debt is debt, and cannot be inherently “good” or “bad.” “Good” debt is debt that allows you to have resources that afford you returns in excess of the expenses of debt. For example, a student loan might be good debt. “Bad” debt is debt that traps you and offers you no or little reward, like credit cards and car loans. Circumstances change, and what is good debt for one person might be bad debt for someone else.

Do-it-Yourself Christmas: 34 Great Gifts You Can Make Yourself. Already noting that Santa is cutting back this year, let’s put him to work rather than using the mass-production elven workforce. Here are many great ideas for adding a personal touch to gift-giving. It’s frugal, too!

News and Blogs sponsor: Discover More Card is currently offering a $50 bonus for new cardholders.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

News and Blogs: Thursday, November 13, 2008

Seeking Guest Authors for the Week of November 23. I’m looking for a few writers to provide a small number of articles later this month while I am in California. While I’ll be blogging somewhat regularly during this time, I like to use this week every year to feature writing by other authors. If you are interested, and you don’t have to be a blogger, please read this information.

Secrets of Their Success. Malcolm Gladwell talks about his new book, Outliers: The Story of Success. I’m adding this to my wish list, having liked Blink by the same author.

10 Things Hospital CEOs Won’t Tell You. Don’t forget that hospitals are businesses, not just a public service. Even non-profits need to make money.

American Express Asks U.S. for $3.5 Billion. AmEx is the next company looking to convert its corporate structure. It will become a bank holding company to take advantage of protections now offered by the government.

Banks Boost Customer Fees to Record Highs. Late last month, I provided some suggestions for avoiding overdraft fees and Consumerism Commentary readers provided additional suggestions. It’s not just the overdraft fees that are increasing. Banks are doing everything within their power to charge customers more for the same features. The Wall Street Journal has similar suggestions for getting around fees. I particularly like the suggestion to change banks if you don’t like your current bank’s policy.

Is It Crazy to Spend $1000 a Month Buying DVDs? Although we often try not to judge other people’s spending, it’s hard to avoid, particularly when the details are provided for everyone to read in the New York Times. If I purchased 50 DVDs every month, I may not be so willing to admit it in the New York Times.

Goodwill Adjustment Letters. If you ask nicely, petitioning your creditors, you may be able to have negative items removed from your credit reports! Here is a goodwill adjustment letter template that you can edit to suit your needs.

If you have suggestions for Consumerism Commentary or questions and issues you’d like me to address, please do not hesitate to email tips at Consumerism Commentary (dot com).

News and Blogs sponsor: FNBO Direct, currently offering 3.25% APY

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

News and Blogs: Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Profit From the Obama Economy. Invest in biotech, green energy, infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and information technology. These sectors of the economy are expected to grow during Obama’s presidency.

A New Way to Transfer Cash. New technology lets customers use ATMs to transfer cash from one person to another. You will be able to register your cell phone use text messages to receive passwords that allow you to retrieve money. No bank accounts are necessary. One person deposits cash into an ATM, sends the money using the controls, and the receiver accesses another ATM to withdraw the money. I would hate to see the fees.

Citi to Modify $20 Billion in Home Loans. If the press release reflects the action Citi takes, 500,000 Citi mortgage customers will be able to lower their payments to just a percentage of the interest due each month for a total payment of 40% or less of their income.

Announcing the Save $1,000 in 30 Days Challenge. Each day this month, I Will Teach You to be Rich is presenting one tip to help readers save money now. Ramit is guaranteeing that he will not include “stupid frugality tips.” One such tip that passed the test is to involve your friends with your savings goals.

What Circuit City Customers Need to Know. With the announcement that Circuit City is declaring bankruptcy, customers and investors are concerned. They are honoring gift cards, but you should use these as soon as possible. Warranties will be serviced by third parties (as they would have been otherwise).

News and Blogs sponsor: Discover More Card is currently offering a $50 bonus for new cardholders.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

News and Blogs: Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Circuit City files for bankruptcy. This store is the latest victim of the current economy. You can look through the remaining stores, but I don’t think this bankrupcty will lead to fire-sale prices on electronics as we head into the holiday shopping season.

Is It Time to Have a Money Talk, Child to Parent? Will you have to bail out your parents? Finance is always a difficult topic across generations within the same family. This New York Times article includes a sample letter you can use to help approach the subject with your parents.

Reinsuring A.I.G. The Treasury Department added $40 billion to the bailout for A.I.G., bringing the total assigned to this company $150 billion. In return for the additional $40 billion, the government will own a stake in the company. A.I.G. will also benefit from a lower interest rate on the money it is borrowing from the Federal Reserve.

Fierce Financial Tips: The Carnival of Personal Finance #178, Struwwelpeter Edition. Today’s edition of the Carnival of Personal Finance focuses on a strange collection of 19th century children’s poetry from Germany! In addition to the articles featured as Editor’s Choice, start with What Has Changed in Personal Finance, Living Frugal With Other People’s Money, and The Importance of Doing What You Know You Should.

News and Blogs sponsor: Open an account with optionsXpress for a virtual $5,000 portfolio to test your market-timing skills.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

News and Blogs: Monday, November 10, 2008

There’s no doubt that the banking industry has had a tough time over the past month. Interest rates have fluctuated. Most notably, ING Direct’s Orange Savings Account is now at 2.75% APY (1.5% as of May 29, 2009) and Washington Mutual’s Online Savings Account is now tun by JP Morgan Chase and offers 3.0% APY. Here are more updated interest rates.

Check out some of these articles from around the web. Jim from Blueprint for Financial Prosperity suggests several investments outside of the stock market. You may want to recover after this current stock market decline, and Five Cent Nickel offers some examples.

Million Dollar Journey looks at doctors’ salaries and isn’t impressed. Here is a selection of the worst gifts received by Lazy Man and Money. The Simple Dollar offers ten suggestions to keep in mind when buying a house. For some career advice, head to Money Smart Life, where you can find ten suggestions culled from the blogger’s peers.

Have a link you’d like to see included in a roundup on Consumerism Commentary? Email tips at this domain name with the subject, Roundup.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Updated Latest Savings and Checking Account Rates (and Blog Roundup)

Here are a few articles from the MoneyBlogNetwork that I’ve enjoyed recently:

How I Live Without Borrowing Money
A Quick Look at the Dow Jones Sector Indexes (It’s Not Good!)
You Make HOW Much? Getting Paid What You’re Worth
What Politicians Give
Make Your Clothes Last Longer (Without Spending Big)
Back to Basics: Spend Less Than You Earn

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

MoneyBlogNetwork Weekend Roundup

Once again, I’ve refreshed the list of ING Direct $25 bonus codes. This bonus is available to anyone looking to open a new account at ING Direct, one of the most popular high-yield savings accounts. These bonus codes are provided by Consumerism Commentary readers. Thanks to everyone who has helped another reader by sending in their codes!

Here are some interesting articles from around the blogs:

Career in Financial Services? It’s well known that a career in financial services can be lucrative. FrugalTrader looks at the pros and cons of this career path, one which I have considered.

Six Ways to Get Intense About Your Finances. Prime Time Money suggests reading personal finance blogs as the number one option. Luckily, pfblogs.org gathers the best in personal finance articles and presents them to readers in a number of different ways.

29 Steps I Took to Leave the Workforce at Age 29. Madison has exited the corporate workforce and is now living off “retirement” income and “alternative” income.

Behind the “We Deserve It Dividend” Hoopla. Smart Spending responds to a forwarded email making the rounds, purporting that the $700 billion bailout would be better spent if distributed directly to taxpayers, at a rate of $425,000 per person! The calculation is off — the $700 billion divided among all Americans works out to $425 per person. Many have already received more than this from the economic stimulus package.

JPMorgan Chase Owns Me! The Frugal Duchess responds to her friend whose home, credit cards, and checking account, once owned by Washington Mutual, are now owned by Chase. By the way, The Frugal Duchess published a book this year, The Frugal Duchess: How to Live Well and Save Money.

Warning: Post Office Not Offering First Class Mail. If you use the United States Postal Service, it helps to educate yourself about the types of shipping methods available to you. Apparently, government employees are not providing the entire picture, favoring more expensive methods for shipping than may be required.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

More ING Direct Bonuses Available and Weekend Blog Roundup

On Saturday, I woke up before dawn to help out as a volunteer for a fundraising event to support the search for a cure for polycystic kidney disease, which affects 1 in 500 people. A friend of mine, whose father has this disease and who has a 50% chance on inheriting it herself, organized the event and I was happy to help out and donate to the cause.

Here are a few interesting articles from the Money Blog Network.

The Never-Ending War Against Advertising. “Mute television commercials, ignore magazine ads, throw away junk mail… When you make a purchase, ask yourself why you’re doing so…”

The Sky is Falling: Reacting to Recent Stock Market Turmoil. “Unless you’ve had your head buried in the sand, you’re aware that United States financial system is in the midst of an ever-worsening crisis, and that the stock market has gone a bit haywire.”

Why Use Donor-Advised Funds? Free Money Finance doesn’t see the point in charitable giving of this type. I wrote about this when I decided to route my giving through Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, a donor-advised fund.

Earning Power Trumps Return on Investment. “The market might take away some of what you’ve already earned, but losing your income might take away the rest of what you own. Protect your income streams.”

• Need a Game to Learn to Manage Your Credit?
• Debt Reduction Gurus: Clark Howard
• Discover Card’s Idea of “Hurricane Relief”

If you are a blogger with articles you’d like to be considered to weekly listings like these, please feel free to contact me.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Weekend Blog Roundup

If money is the ultimate judge, it’s better to be a fake doctor on television than it is to be a real doctor, at least if that fake doctor appears on the show House. Hugh Laurie, the British comedian-actor who affects a usually convincing accent in the program, will earn about $400,000 per episode this season, totaling about $9 million. This salary makes him third among the highest earning television actors.

Here are some articles I’ve enjoyed recently.

The Great Debate Over Joint vs. Separate Bank Accounts. “I think that all married couples, new and old, should hold joint checking and savings accounts.” Money Smart Life offers this strong opinion.

Building a Home Entertainment Center – The TV. Million Dollar Journey is going through a process I went through about a year ago to buy a new high-definition television.

Would an Engagement Ring from Costco Bother You? Jim from Blueprint for Financial Prosperity asks this question which draws a number of strong opinions, as it did when I asked about Costco diamonds vs. Tiffany diamonds.

The Bottled Water Myth. “Most bottled water sold in the US is nothing more than repackaged tap water, bottled in an ergonomic container with a colorful label slapped on it.” I avoid Coke’s and Pepsi’s bottled tap water as much as possible. Smithee has written about his opinion of bottled water.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Hugh Laurie (Dr. House) Will Earn $9 Million This Season (and Weekend Blog Roundup)

Consumerism Commentary readers have supplied more ING Direct bonus referral links to help other readers earn $25 for opening a new ING Direct Orange Savings Account. Additionally, I’ve sent emails to the first group of readers on the current waiting list to request more links. If you’re on the waiting list, start checking your email for a notification from me.

Here are some articles from the MoneyBlogNetwork.

How to Save Money on Prescription Drugs. Five Cent Nickel offers seven suggestions.

Five Essential Skills for Mastering Plastic. J.D. from Get Rich Slowly once was strictly against the use of credit cards, but he has recently changed his opinion and now sees credit cards as a financial tool. Tools can be used properly or dangerously, and J.D. offers suggestions on how to use credit cards properly.

• Why Does My 10 Ounce Silver Bar Weigh More Than 10 Ounces?
• Maybe Social Security Isn’t the Issue
• Rethinking How I Tip Restaurant Servers
• Start The School Year Off Right: A Few Frugal Tips for Getting Through the Fall

Bloggers should check out the MoneyBlogNetwork Forums for discussion and insight about blogging about personal finance and investing.

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ING Direct $25 Bonus Referrals Updated and MoneyBlogNetwork Roundup

Today’s holiday provided me with a much-needed break from the general craziness that is my life. I had time to take care of a few household chores rather than procrastinate as usual. Living alone is both a blessing and a curse in this respect. After I finished my chores and allowed myself to go out and enjoy the beautiful weather, as dusk approached I spent a few hours in Princeton with my camera. Here are a few pictures followed by some interesting personal finance articles from the past week.

4 Reasons Why Index Investing May Not Be for You. This post at Million Dollar Journey takes the “devil’s advocate” position. It’s important to note that index funds do not get “average” returns — a very small percentage of actively managed mutual funds beat the index over long periods of time, and it’s impossible to predict who will ahead of time. That’s really a key point in favor of index funds.

The 7 Deadly Sins of Personal Finance. Blueprint for Financial Prosperity has assembled seven of the worst things you can do for your personal financial situation. This post rounds up the seven articles pertaining to each “deadly sin.”

The Hidden Costs of Smoking. Smoking is an expensive habit, not just because of the price of cigarettes but also because of the effect the habit will have on a person’s health.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Labor Day Blog Roundup: Smoking, Sins, and Index Funds

Here are some interesting articles from the MoneyBlogNetwork and beyond. I enjoyed these posts and I believe others will as well.

The Psychology of Credit Cards? Get Rich Slowly shares the story of a reader who has switched from debit card to credit card but has lost the ability to keep track of his spending as a result. Together, they ask readers for suggestions about overcoming the psychology of “spending somebody else’s money.”

Decision Made: I Am Moving All of Our Accounts to Vanguard. NCN from No Credit Needed has decided that the low-cost funds available at Vanguard suit his investing style. NCN made a great choice based mostly on numbers. (The funds have very low expense ratios for all account owners and will actually become less expensive as your balance increases and you qualify for different levels of service). It’s an excellent financial decision. I agree with NCN and at this time I plan on opening any new investment accounts at Vanguard.

Cost vs. Benefit Analysis: Extra Chest Freezer in the Garage. Jonathan from MyMoneyBlog runs the numbers to determine whether it is worthwhile to buy an extra freezer. This is a good example of an analytical approach to decide whether the potential benefits of a large purchase are worth the cost, but as always, a number of assumptions are involved.

Buying a Used Auto With High Miles. Gather Little By Little shares his recent experience buying a Eddie Bauer edition (didn’t they go out of business? or just close a bunch of stores?) Ford Expedition with over 100,000 miles. In many cases it makes financial sense to buy used cars, though there are some exceptions. He got a great deal on this car as long as there are no undiscovered problems.

• How to Find a Good Auto Mechanic. Five Cent Nickel shares several tips.
• What You Buy Matters to Credit Card Companies. Meg from All Financial Matters describes how CompuCredit uses the types of locations in which you shop to determine your credit score.
• Don’t Be Scared of Your Portfolio. Mighty Bargain Hunter offers some advice for those who are afraid to look at the damage caused by the stock market.
• Help Some Readers: Lots of Credit Score Questions. Free Money Finance asks readers to help other readers.
• How Good Writing Skills Save and Earn Money. Wise Bread lists four reasons it pays to write well.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Weekly Blog Roundup: Psychology of Credit Cards, Vanguard, and Freezers

Here are some articles from the Money Blog Network I enjoyed recently.

All I Really Need to Know About Stocks I Learned in the Sixth Grade. Get Rich Slowly interviews David Gardner, one of the founders of The Motley Fool, a website mainly about investing. The forums on The Motley Fool is where I originally picked up some great tips on how to live financially smart before I started writing for Consumerism Commentary. Once the forums gained popularity, the website began requiring payment in order to participate, counter to the idea of the free exchange of information — an important price for people learning how to get their finances in order. The discussion boards there have, I believe, returned to being a free service, but considering The Motley Fool’s transformation to an expensive investing newsletter, I’ve moved on. The interview at Get Rich Slowly is worth a read, though.

Uh Oh. It Might Be Time For A Real Emergency Fund. No Credit Needed points out the Morgan Stanley customers may not be able to withdraw money from their home equity lines of credit. Many see the HELOC as an emergency fund, but it can never be a complete emergency solution; in fact, I believe it should be low on the list in a complete emergency plan. Here’s one example of why it can be dangerous to rely on your HELOC.

I Wan to Pay Cash for a House in 12 Years. In this article, JLP from AllFinancialMatters takes a look at a reader’s financial position and determines what it will take for him to reach his goal.

Ten Things Teens Should Know About Money. Five Cent Nickel shares BankRate’s list. I agree with Nickel’s opinion that the list could be improved with a few additions.

Get Promoted and Earn More Money by Dressing Correctly. Free Money Finance inspires an interesting discussion about what (not?) to wear. In my building, there is quite a difference between the dress “code” on the second and third floors due to the type of the work that occurs there.

There is Nothing Unpatriotic About Retiring Early. Mighty Bargain Hunter responds to a call for retirees to continue working and not accept some retirement benefits to help ensure that the system will support future generations.

How Much Money Should a CEO Make? While it’s easy to say that any individual should make whatever he or she was able to negotiate, but I’m reminded of a few examples in which CEOs were paid quite well to drive businesses into the ground.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Several Interesting Articles From Around the Web

Here are some personal finance articles I’ve enjoyed recently from around the web. Perhaps you will, as well.

$1.8 Million Net Worth – How I Got From There to Here. QCash, a retired, 37-year-old millionaire, explains how he reached that point. “[P]urchasing real estate at a young age paid off huge for me. Living a pretty frugal lifestyle, while planning for a family and working hard on my business, allowed me to take chances.”

Why the Heck Does Gas Cost So Much – Commodities Investing Series. “Still, some economists believe that as the U.S. economy takes a dive, most investors start looking for “safe” places to put their money. Usually, they turn to commodities. This actually drives the price of those commodities up because of the sudden increase in demand.”

Get it in Writing. “Whenever you are dealing with with anything of importance, get it in writing. This includes things such as a contract for employment, salary negotiation, contractor’s estimate, negotiating a purchase, or anything else that involves money or a service. If you don’t get it in writing, you open the door to unscrupulous people trying to take advantage of you.”

How SIPC Works and How SIPC Differs from FDIC Insurance. “Just like how the FDIC insures bank deposits in the event of a bank failure, SIPC insures investment accounts in the event of a failure… The SIPC only covers losses due to a brokerage failure, or other unscrupulous activity. SIPC does not insure losses that occur as a part of regular market fluctuation.”

Lost Money: How Money Drains Add Up To $175,000 In 10 Years. “Many of us have frittered away some of our money on occasion. But what if we’re able to put a stop to the mindless spending that eats up our money without us even realizing it?”

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Tuesday Roundup: $1.8 Million, Gas Prices, and SIPC

As I write this roundup, the anchors of The Today Show mentioned they will soon present the founder of Thrasher Funds, an expensive mutual fund company designed to attract younger people towards investing, to offer financial advice for teenagers. I’ve noted before that the concept is good, but the execution is out of touch. It’ll be interesting to hear the advice they’re scheduled to provide on the television show.

Here are some recent articles from the MoneyBlogNetwork.

Details on Equifax ID Patrol. Free Money Finance interviewed the president of Equifax Personal Solutions about this identify theft protection product. Even after the interview, FMF is not convinced that this is a necessary product.

How Can I Get My Wife to Talk About Money? J.D. from Get Rich Slowly shares a question from a reader and solicits opinions from his readership. Here’s the question: “Whenever I bring up anything financial… [my wife] gets very defensive and angry, and refuses to talk about it… Is there anything I can do to have an open dialogue with her about money matters without making her defensive?”

Can You Handle the Financial Truth? Mighty Bargain Hunter tackles “verbal shock therapy.” Some people respond to verbal beat-downs in the style of Suze Orman and Dave Ramsey. No, I do not agree that this “therapy” is effective in the long run. People with problems and addictions need support from their friends. Spending and debt is much more private than alcoholism, for example. If it weren’t, if finance was an acceptable topic for discussion, it would be much easier for people to get the support they need. In the mean time, authors who yell at callers on television and the radio will thrive.

How to Annualize a Rate of Return. AllFinancialMatters is one of the best blogs for getting technical information about measuring your success (or failure) at investing. Recently, he shared the formula for annualizing your rate of return to compare your performance with metrics common in the financial media.

Updating My Will and Purchasing More Insurance. I need to pay more attention to my insurance situation. Here’s some of what No Credit Needed has done recently to update his coverage and paperwork.

The Federal Minimum Wage: Looking Back Over Time. Five Cent Nickel shares some excellent charts describing how minimum wage has changed over time and how the real purchasing power of the minimum wage has varied wildly at the same time.

Track Your Spending. Or Not. At Wise Bread, Philip writes about the benefits of tracking your spending. If you’re beginning the path to financial stability — or financial awareness — tracking your spending is one of the most important first steps. Once you’re in good financial shape, the necessity of tracking every single penny is diminished.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Thrasher Funds on Today Show and Weekly Blog Roundup