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Welcome to this week's
Carnival of Personal Finance, a weekly listing of the top personal finance articles around the blogosphere in the following categories - taxes, money management, investing, career, debt, frugality, credit, economy, finance, real estate, saving, and budgeting.
The theme for this week's carnival is the most expensive homes in the world! I hope you enjoy the posts and amazingly huge home pictures and that you can stop by My Personal Finance Journey on my non-carnival days as well!
This week, we had 76 total submissions. However, listed below are this week's top 3 editor's picks. Congrats to the three winners!
1.
Len from Len Penzo dot Com presents
My Ketchup Taste Test: Surprise! Guess Which Brand Topped Heinz.
2.
Shaun from Money Cactus presents
Why the Global Financial Crisis has Improved My Work Wealth, and says, "Ever feel like you spend too much time at work and not enough time doing other things you love? Here's a formula you can use to improve your working wealth and how I have implemented it!"
3.
Barbara Friedberg from Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance presents
MBA Class 2011; Risk vs. Reward, and says, "Understand the relationship between risk and reward and become a smarter investor. There is an unavoidable trade off between risk and reward. If you desire a higher return on your investment, you must take greater risk.
The "Antilla" in Mumbai - costs $1 Billion, consists of 27 stories, 40,000 sq. ft, and 600 servants! Very nice humble home!
And, listed below are the rest of this week's great article submissions.
Taxes
Daniel from Sweating The Big Stuff presents
Federal and State Estimated Quarterly Tax Payments are Due!.
Jason from One Money Design presents
Tax Refund Estimator: Best Calculators to Estimate Your Tax Refund, and says, "Will you owe the IRS money this year? Check out these three tax refund estimator calculators you may find helpful in planning for 2011 taxes."
Silicon Valley Blogger from The Digerati Life presents
2011 Federal Tax Brackets & Rates, 2011 Standard Deductions, and says, "Some things you need to prepare for this year's taxes."
Amanda from My Dollar Plan presents
Investing in Tax Lien Certificates and Tax Deeds, and says, "Don't know much about this investment option? Read this to find out about Tax Lien Certificates & Tax Deeds."
Craig from Free From Broke presents
2011 Federal Income Tax Brackets, and says, "See what the 2011 income tax brackets are and where you fit."
Junior Boomer from Consumer Boomer presents
2011 Dividend Tax Rates, and says, "Find out what the future tax burdens will be for many Americans across the country in 2011 how it will affect you. "
Jeff Rose from Good Financial Cents presents
2011 Energy Tax Credit for Home Improvements, and says, "Here's how you can save money on your taxes by making home efficiency upgrades to your home."
Craig Ford from Money Help for Christians presents
Start Online Tax Filing Free with TurboTax, and says, "Use free online tax services to file your taxes or to get a point of comparison to review the work of your tax accountant."
Villa Leopolda in the French Riviera - $506 Million - Who doesn't need 80,000 sq. ft, 19 bed rooms, and 50 full time gardeners?
Money Management
RC from Think Your Way To Wealth presents
Developing Your Financial Willpower.
Clint from Accumulating Money presents
Recent Grad Confused about Personal Finance? Empower Yourself through Education.
Pf blogger from Personal cents presents
Looking to retirement.
Tom @ Canadian Finance Blog from Canadian Finance Blog presents
6 Financial Habits to Take Control of Your Money, and says, "Take control of your money by learning financial habits like manage your debt, live within your means and know where your money is invested."
Nicole from Nicole and Maggie: Grumpy Rumblings presents
Adventures in Cell Phone Purchasing, and says, "Nicole and Maggie discuss pre-paid phones vs. monthly plans and remind everybody to check their provider to see if they offer an employee discount."
vh from Funny about Money presents
Ten Ways to Deal with Bag Lady Syndrome.
Shawna from Making Money Make Cents presents
How To Do A Personal Finance Gap Analysis – And Why You Should.
Pat S. from compounding returns presents
Your Checklist for Financial Freedom, and says, "A checklist to take you from here to retirement with a step by step explanation of why each factor builds on the other."
Bob from Christian Finances presents
Juggling the Baby Steps, and says, "You know Dave Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps to financial freedom. Perhaps you’ve even destroyed your non-mortgage debt and built that hefty emergency fund! You’re even a Financial Peace University graduate! Great job! But inevitably then comes the question: What next?"
N.W. Journey from Net Worth Journey presents
3 Tips to Protecting Your Spouse, and says, "Tips for keeping your information private."
FMF from Free Money Finance presents
Seven Financial Resolutions for the New Year, and says, "Here are seven practices to take you from pauper to prince or princess if you add one each year."
Mike from The Financial Blogger presents
30 Financial Moves Before You Turn 30, and says, "30 smart money moves for all 20-somethings out there."
Roshawn Watson from Watson Inc presents
Setting The Course For The Impossible, and says, "What's possible for you is determined by your capacity to believe."
Fairfield Mansion - The Hamptons - $170 Million - Because who wouldn't need a 91 foot dining room or a $150,000 hot tub? I know I do.
Investing
Dividend Growth Investor from Dividend Growth Investor presents
Six Consumer Stocks to own in 2011, and says, "The companies that could benefit from the increase in consumer spending all have diversified portfolios of strong brand names, wide moats and high returns on equity. Their strong fundamentals have enabled them to weather several recessions over the past 2 decades and have also allowed them to increase dividends for over a quarter of a century. "
Matt from Dividend Monk presents
Four Things I'm Bullish On Going Into 2011, and says, "Four areas of stocks, including several specific companies for each category, are mentioned as places worth having a look this year. "
PT from PT Money presents
Discount Brokers vs Mutual Fund Companies, and says, "When you begin investing with a broker there are a couple of main types to choose from. There are pros and cons to each."
Grace from GRACEful Retirement presents
Bonds--Trying to Get Some Perspective, and says, "A near-retiree's dilemma--Grace needs bonds in her 401(k) but now is the worst time to be buying them. What to do?"
Sean Smarty from Grow Money presents
Advantages of Index Funds.
Financial Uproar from Financial Uproar presents
My Research Process When Buying A Stock, and says, "Many investors don't do the proper research when they buy a stock. Maybe the process I take can be helpful."
Mark from Buy Like Buffett presents
The Beginners Investing Guide.
Mike from Experiglot presents
ETF Asset Allocation Portfolio, and says, "How to properly set up your portfolio with ETFs."
Mike from Do Not Wait presents
Business Owners: Getting Ready to Retire!, and says, "How business owners can prepare for retirement."
IS from Intelligent Speculator presents
A good day to be an Apple shareholder.
Div Guy from The Dividend Guy Blog presents
2011 Top 10 Canadian REITs List, and says, "An interesting read for all of the Canadian investors reading this."
Mike Piper from Oblivious Investor presents
Emerging Market Risks, and says, "Why are emerging market mutual funds thought to be high risk?"
D4L from Dividends Value presents
Who Owns The Top Dividend Stocks?, and says, "The internet provides investors with so much useful and interesting information. I could not imagine going back a decade or so and trying to analyze stocks without the internet. One of my job responsibilities is the statutory reporting for the corporation I work for. Filing 10-Ks, 10-Qs and other such required reports is often tedious, but it gives me a great appreciation of what information is available, including who owns some of the top dividend stocks."
Jessica from MomVesting presents
Investing in Another Mom, and says, "Expand your investing horizons: We need to support and invest in each other. Whoever it is, taking a moment to invest in them will reap some serious benefits in their lives."
Career
ElizabethG from Modern Gal presents
Tips for Maximizing Income.
Squirrelers from Squirrelers presents
Top Five Job Search Strategies, and says, "With one's career being an important part of cash flow for most people, it makes sense to know how to effectively find a job. This article summarizes five strategies."
MD from Studenomics presents
When College is Not Worth The Money, and says, "Some occasions where college is not a great investment."
The Spelling Manor, Los Angeles, California - $150 Million - 56,000 sq. ft.
Debt
Ramsay from moneyedup presents
Use Extra Income To Pay Off Student Loans, and says, "Once you have high interest debt, like credit cards, paid off, it’s a good idea to turn your attention to student loan debt."
RJ Weiss from Gen Y Wealth presents
Pay Off Low Interest Debt or Invest?, and says, "If you have the money to make a lump sum payment and pay off a low interest loan, should you do it?"
Reviews
Sun from The Sun's Financial Diary presents
2010 Year in Review.
Kevin McKee from Thousandaire presents
Don't Pay Off Your Student Loans, and says, "A compelling argument why paying off student loans instead of investing that money elsewhere is like throwing away money."
Credit
Tim Chen from NerdWallet Credit Card Blog presents
Capital One Credit Cards: Which is Right for You?, and says, "Capital One is one of the largest credit card issuers in the US, so it stands to reason that they offer a little something for everyone."
Money Beagle from Money Beagle presents
Now's A Good Time To Check Your Credit Report.
Kim at MMI from Blogging for Change presents
Should you get a vanity credit card?
Economy
Stuart from Pennywise2Pennyworth presents
Do You Tip at Buffets? (You Should!), and says, "Tipping isn't just for services rendered...For the low-wage worker it is an absolute necessity to supplement a non-livable wage. THIS is why you need to tip at a buffet (better yet, raise minimum wage to a realistic "livable" wage)."
Frugality
The Smarter Wallet from The Smarter Wallet presents
The Many Uses of Baking Soda, A Cheap Household Cleaner, and says, "Some great ideas on how to save on cleaners and other household items by using baking soda as an alternative!"
Control Your Cash presents
Man of the Year 2010, and says, "Awarding the prize was a tough decision. The incumbent, Bob from Las Vegas, did nothing to disgrace himself. Nor did runner-up Brandon Jennings, one of the most underpaid players in the NBA but a guy who knows the value of a buck."
Jason from Live Real, Now presents
Quit Smoking: My First Frugal Move...Ever, and says, "Smoking is expensive. I've saved $10,000 since I quite."
Donna Freedman from Smart Spending presents
20 minutes to keep your house clean, and says, "Need to slash your budget? Fire your housecleaner and pick up a broom. This won't take long. "
Miss T from Prairie Eco-Thrifter presents
7 Free Ways to Lose Weight.
Finance
Miranda from Personal Dividends presents
Will You Get a Raise in 2011?.
Real Estate
Mike from Green Panda Treehouse presents
How-to Pick the Right House For a First Time Home Buyer, and says, "A look at how you can pick the right house as a first time home buyer."
Saving
Adam from Magical Penny presents
Confessions of a Procrastinator -And Why You Should Be Saving For Retirement Today, and says, "It’s hard to tell the effect of an extra few hours of preparation could have made in some instances but one thing where the impact of preparation is not in question is when it comes to saving for retirement.
Updown Court - Surrey, UK - $140 Million - Who doesn't need a home bigger than Buckingham Palace? Sometimes 30,000 sq. ft is just too small.
Budgeting
Money Thinker from Money Thinking presents
So, Today, I Went to the Store , and says, "Isn’t that exciting? No, not really. Anyway, today, I went to the grocery store down the street from my house. We’re supposed to get this big snowstorm this week, so I thought it would be in my best interest to go get some things in case I got snowed in..."
Crystal from Budgeting in the Fun Stuff presents
Eating Out on a Budget, and says, "This is a great post that covers some ways you too can eat out on a tight budget."
Other
Well Heeled from Well Heeled Blog presents
Non-Traditional Engagement Rings: Thinking Beyond the Diamond, and says, "Diamond engagement rings are expensive, but if you want something a little unique and are open to non-diamond gem stones or lab-created stones, you can find something beautiful, meaningful, and probably for much cheaper than a diamond."
Miss Thrifty presents
Miss Thrifty Manifesto, Revised: New Year, New Me?.
Dan from Taking Charge presents
Cleanliness lesson from ATMs, toilets, germs and Charlie Sheen.
FruGal from FruGal presents
Fighting winter blues on a budget.
Neal Frankle from Wealth Pilgrim presents
3 Weekend Jobs that Pay $50 an Hour, and says, "If you want to earn some extra serious cabbage and don’t have a lot of time to do it, I have 3 ideas you’ll be interested in learning more about."
Ron from The Wisdom Journal presents
A Resolution Worth Keeping: Get An Insurance Checkup, and says, "There are several resolutions worth keeping this new year. One of them should be to review your insurance needs. Let’s face it: Your life changes on a daily basis but rarely do we make the needed tweaks and changes to our insurance. Here's what to look out for:"
Bogey from Back Nine Finance presents
Best Financial Move for 2010: Spending More.
Well, that concludes this week's edition of the
Carnival of Personal Finance! To all of this week's participants - it was an honor to be able to read and get involved with such high quality articles!
Next week's carnival, # 293, will be hosted by our good friends at
Living Richly On A Budget and is scheduled for January 24th, 2011. Be sure to submit your articles for next week's edition, using the following handy
submission form.
Also, if you're interested in hosting a future edition of the Carnival of Personal Finance, you can apply using this
form.
, for FREE.
