The 208th Carnival of Personal Finance: Lobster Roll Edition

Summer has arrived in Maine. Of course, that means it’s time for a bite of a Guinness World Record-breaking 60-foot long lobster roll. No kidding! I just watched a troupe of roller derby players unload the world’s longest seafood sandwich from the back of a flatbed truck. Obviously, it would have been easier to craft individual rolls for attendants of Portland’s annual Old Port Festival. But the world’s longest lobster roll was not built to be practical, it was built to be celebratory; much like the Carnival of Personal Finance.

Few of us have time to read more than a few of the many articles submitted each week, but by participating in the carnival and reading even a few posts, we celebrate what it means to be a personal finance blogger or blog reader. One article at a time, we readers and bloggers create a growing dialogue that promotes smart financial decisions and help each other work towards our own goals. So as we in Maine celebrate summer with a big ol’ lobster roll, let’s celebrate personal finance blogging with another week of the Carnival of Personal Finance. Keep up the great work!

Editor’s Picks

Choosing this week’s editor’s picks, I considered a few factors. First, I looked for posts that are unique (after all, there are a hundred great “how to budget” and “how to transfer a balance” posts out there, but there are a hundred of them!) One such unique post is Thomas Jefferson: The Man. The Legend. The Debtor? from Budgets Are Sexy. Looks like old TJ could’ve benefited from reading a personal finance blog or two. Next, I looked for timely posts, like the Sound Money Matters article How the GM Bankruptcy Affects You. Should you worry if you own a GM car? Should you still buy one? This article has some answers.

I also looked for any posts I thought would be immediately useful. The Wise Money Matters post Comparing Cellphone Carriers is a bird’s-eye-view of what you can expect to pay for cell service over two years with various carriers. Great info if you’re shopping for a new rate plan.

Next, I looked for posts that are especially insightful or thought-provoking. Three stood out: The Money Ning post “Be as Frugal and Less Wasteful as Our Parents” offers a simple example (broken glasses) of how we should embrace past generations’ inclination to repair and reuse items rather than replace them. Next up, Man vs. Debt asks What Are You Willing To Consistently Pay More For? and reminds us that there are times when it’s worth paying more for personal service. Finally, Amateur Asset Allocator proposes an idea I know many of my single buddies will love: Women Should Buy Their Own Engagement Ring. Do you agree?

And now, onto the rest of the carnival! Posts are organized by category, but are otherwise listed randomly. Enjoy!

Finance

• Affince Financial Services: Who Benefits from Employee Benefits?
• InsureBlog: Another Resource Pops Up: New Patient Assistance Programs.
• Weakonomics: Why Are Oil And Gas Going Up Again? .

Frugality

• *Editor’s Pick Wise Money Matters: Comparing Cellphone Carriers.
• *Editor’s Pick MoneyNing: Be as Frugal and Less Wasteful as Our Parents.
• LeaveDebtBehind: Low Budget Meal Ideas.
• Mighty Bargain Hunter: Twelve tips for installing and maintaining an electric water heater.

Investing

• Money Smart Life: Best Mutual Funds for Your Money.
• Free Money Finance: Why Even the Best Investors Can’t Pick Winning Actively Managed Funds Consistently.
• Dividends Value: Are Defense Stocks Good Defensive Stocks?.
• Modern Gal: Investing During Inflation: Real Estate.
• Darwin’s Finance: 2009 Stock Market Returns by Country YTD.
• Investing School: Trading Easy is Not So Easy.
• The Smarter Wallet: Should You Trade Stocks Online?
• Dividend Growth Investor: Diversifying into small and mid cap dividend stocks.
• Free From Broke: My 401(k) Investments Are Up And What I’m Doing About It.
• Go To Retirement: Low Risk Commodity Investing for Inflation Protection.

Credit

• The Digerati Life: Balance Transfer Credit Card Tips, Facts and Traps.
• Christian Financial Help: Are credit card rewards coming to an end?
• Doughroller: 0% APR Balance Transfer for 12 Months.
• CreditCardAssist.com: Uh Oh – Your Credit Card Went AWOL.
• Apply4-Credit.com: Would You Give a Teen a Credit Card?
• My Dollar Plan: Fidelity 2% Cash Back Credit Card.

Career

• No Debt Plan: How to Pick an MBA Program.

Real Estate

• The FFS Blog: Time to Consider Renovating Your Home.
• Automatic Finances: For First-Time Homebuyers, Consider This.
• PennyJobs.com: Should I Stop My Mortgage Escrow? .
• Prime Time Money: Taking a Closer Look at Making Home Affordable Program.

Budgeting

• Fiscal Fizzle: Identifying Needs Versus Wants in Your Budget.
• Wealth Pilgrim: Procrastination Ender: Three Minute Solution.

Saving

• Your Money Relationship: 5 Motivational Tips to Start Saving Money Today.
• My Financial Recovery: Emergency Fund Challenge 2009.
• Single Guy Money: Do You Have A Slush Fund?.
• Bargaineering.com: How to Compare Mortgage Refinance Offers.
• Live for Improvement: Switch to Cheaper Dog Food.
• Ready To Be Rich: Money Saving Tips For People Who Hate Saving Money.
• Blogging Banks: Best One Year CD Rate.

Debt

• Stumble Forward: How To Get Out Of Debt When You Owe More Than You Make.
• *Editor’s Pick Budgets Are Sexy: Thomas Jefferson: The Man. The Legend. The Debtor?
• Own The Dollar: Make Banks Compete Against Each Other To Lower Your Car Loan Interest Rate.
• Discover Debt Freedom: How to Correct Your Credit Report.

Economy

• Realm of Prosperity: Bad Economic Times Favors Buying Cheap Vs. Buying Efficient.
• *Editor’s Pick Sound Money Matters: How the GM Bankruptcy Affects You.
• Funny about Money: Go Figure: GM Goes Under and the Stock Market Soars!
• Personal Finance Analyst: The Economic Stimulus Package in Detail… Without the Editorializing.
• Tough Money Love: Six Things Not to Like about Obama Motors.

Money Management

• *Editor’s Pick Man Vs. Debt: What Are You Willing To Consistently Pay More For?
• LivingAlmostLarge: The Bottom Line: How Can Couples Keep Finances Separate?
• Good Financial Cents: Don’t Let Housing Carrots Give You House Fever.
• My Life ROI: ATM Fees: How to Avoid Them and Save Cash.
• Not the Jet Set: PF BS: “Don’t Buy Stuff You Cannot Afford”.
• Moolanomy Personal Finance: Secure Your Financial Future By Delaying Your Retirement.
• StretchyDollar.com: The Hundred Dollar Interview.
• American Consumer News: Watch for Fake Check Schemes that Cost You Money.
• Fine Tuned Finances: Claim Free Money if You Can.
• *Editor’s Pick Amateur Asset Allocator: Women Should Buy Their Own Engagement Ring.
• Punch Debt In The Face: Making love with money is my favorite kind of romance.

Taxes

• M is for Money: Property Tax Reduction.

Reviews

• Personal Finance Software Reviews: Cha-Ching 2 Review.

Other

• Beyond Paycheck to Paycheck : Friday Q & A: Should I Repair My Car or Buy Another One?
• The Time and Money Report: Cracking the Financial Freedom Code: Lessons We Can Learn from Tiger Woods, @iamdiddy and Lebron James.
• The Canadian Finance Blog: Moving Day.
• The Finance Buff: What Is the Source of Price Setting Power?
• Bad Money Advice: Any Printed Number is Believable.
• Passive Family Income: What is Passive Income?
• The Happy Rock: The Choice For Expensive Daycare: This Why I Do This Stuff.

That concludes the 208th Carnival of Personal Finance! Thanks to all the participants, and thanks for reading! Be sure to check out the 209th carnival next week over at Living Almost Large. Until next time: Be well and grow wealthy!

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