Festival of Frugality: The New Year 2012 Edition

This week’s Festival of Frugality, the first of 2012, is huge. Vast. Nigh unto infinite! This happened because the festival took a hiatus over Christmas, unknown to many contributors. Quite a few bloggers sent two (or more!) submissions. So, we decided that where two posts were clearly intended for two different editions, we should run them both.

The result is a double carnival!

Well, let’s hope this bonanza is a harbinger of a wealthier, happier New Year. Best of wishes for a great 2012 to you and all of yours!

Editor’s Picks

♥ ♥ ♥  Teacher Man
My University Money
The Smith Manoeuvre: Make Your Mortgage Tax Deductible
This post is extremely interesting. In Canada, home mortgages are not tax-deductible. Teacher Man describes a strategy to make a mortgage deductible with a roundabout little juggling act, and in the course of advocating it stirs up some controversy.

♥ ♥ ♥ Kyle
The Penny Hoarder
Where Should I Sell My Gift Card?
Check this out: a comparison chart of the leading gift card buyback companies! Find out who will pay you the highest amount for your gift card….

♥ ♥ ♥ Shaun
Smart Family Finance
A Guide to Common Seller Concessions: Because a Homebuyer Might Ask You to Throw in a Ferarri.
Despite the humorous title, this is actually a serious, thoughtful, and useful discussion of concessions you may be able to extract from a home seller—or offer a potential buyer.

♥ ♥ ♥ Hank
Money Q&A
Have You Been Scammed or Ripped Off? How to Get Help and Get The Problem Resolved.
A useful guide to how to get satisfaction when you think you’ve been handed the short end of the stick.

♥ ♥ ♥ Darwin
Darwin’s Money
Here’s What Happens When You Rent to College Kids
Okay, okay, I know: it’s not funny! But it sure is hard to keep from laughing.

♥ ♥ ♥ 101 Centavos
Retiring Abroad – A Few Things to Ponder
Not your usual sanguine daydream about retiring to some far-away seashore!

♥ ♥ ♥ FMF
Free Money Finance
Be Nice to Make and Save Money
Want to save money? Be nice.

♥ ♥ ♥ Shaun
Smart Family Finance
Who Spends More UK or US Parents: Average Family Christmas Gift Spending Per Child 2011
Prepare to be astonished as Shaun compares US and UK Christmas spending patterns. Holy cow!

♥ ♥ ♥ Jake Gibson
NerdWallet
Donate to Charities, Not Corporations
When you donate via credit card, the charity has to pay a transaction fee of 2% to 3% on the transaction. Jake shows how to get around this or at least minimize the damage.

♥ ♥ ♥ Kate Kashman
The Paycheck Chronicles
Five Ways to Prevent “Throw Money at the Problem” Syndrome
Sometimes it is easier to spend money than to plan. If you want to keep your budget together, use these strategies to prevent the need to “throw money at the problem.”

Holiday Frugal Frolics

Marissa
Thirty-Six Months
Ways to Save Money on Online Shopping
Marissa sits out the Boxing Day shopping frenzy and instead contemplates how to save when shopping online anytime.

Glen Craig
Free from Broke
Free from Broke
The Art of Getting Rid of Unwanted Gifts
It’s awesome getting gifts, isn’t it? But you sometimes get one you don’t care for much. What do you do? Enter the art of getting rid of unwanted gifts.

Beating Broke
Easy Ways to Earn, Make and Give Free or Cheap Gifts
Just because your Christmas budget may be tight this year, there is no reason to stress out over gift giving. Most people are appreciated at the thought behind the gift. Always pair the gift with a special card or note to really show the gift receiver how much you appreciate and care for them.

Don
Money Reasons
Will Buying A Laptop For Christmas Make My Son A Digerati?
Supplying your kids with the latest technology may make them superior technology users. Will they become Digerati?

Julie
The Family CEO
Last Minute Gift Idea: Charitable Donations
Stuck for a last minute gift idea? How about a charitable donation? Here are three things to consider when giving a charitable donation as a gift.

A Blinkin
Funancials
Why I Love and Hate Gift Cards
Have you ever had that someone or many someones that is impossible to shop for? If so, then Gift Cards seem like the golden answer, except when they aren’t!

Squirrelers
Squirreling Gone Wild #31: The Surprise 90% Discount
Did you get any really good deals during holiday shopping? This article discusses how Squirrelers got a surprise 90% discount on a recent purchase.

Kennedi
5 Tips for Holiday Beauty Savings
At this blog with an interesting concept, proprietor Kennedi suggests several ways to look good for the holidays without breaking the bank.

Michael
So You Think You Can Save
How To Save Money This New Years Eve
Don’t start the new year on the wrong foot!

Eddie
Finance Fox
Christmas Gift Guide For Your New Relationship
In a new relationship, a gift can say the world about you or it can become a ticking time bomb, especially if you’re in a new relationship.There are no rules per se when it comes to gift giving, ultimately you place the final value on the gift. Buying too much too early in the relationship can be a disaster too.

Julie
The Family CEO
Pets: The Gift That Keeps on Eating
Just imagine the look on your child’s face when, from underneath the Christmas tree, comes a Golden Retriever puppy. The unbridled joy, unconditional love, and initial enthusiasm will be great, right? Julie urges readers to think twice before giving pets as Christmas and birthday gifts.

Pondering Frugality

Saving Mentor
How to Save Money.ca
Is This Morally Wrong?
After feeling a little ripped off on the original purchase, this is what SM did to get money back with very little hassle.

Jon the Saver
Free Money Wisdom
Are You Frugal or Cheap? Find Out with This Test
So, how would you know if you are frugal or cheap? Moolanomy came out with a frugal vs. cheap test a while back, which inspired this post. Take out a sheet of paper and a pencil and answer these 12 short questions.

FMF
Free Money Finance
Do You Collect Anything?
FMF claims you can save a boatload of money if you’ll just stop collecting stuff. But some of the winsome comments from readers suggest that may be easier said than done!

Aloysa
My Broken Coin
Under Beaker’s Microscope: Why I Let My Wife Shop
The author believes that everything is shared in a marriage. This couple shares the ups and downs, the good times and the bad. Says Aloysa: “We are a team that strives to improve our lives for the better, and we do this together.”

vh
Funny about Money
Do You Really Need It?
Ever wonder how many of the amenities we take for granted are really necessary for a good life?

Steve Zussino
Canadian Personal Finance
Which Celebrity Gave the Most to Charity in 2011?
Steve reflects on an article showed the top reported celebrity donations in 2011. It included celebs like Jerry Seinfeld, and Hugh Hefner.

Mike
Money Matters Guy
Teaching Your Kids to Appreciate What They Have
Money lessons start early. Teach your kids to be grateful for what they have instead of always expecting something for nothing.

Penny
Penny-Pinching Professional
Financial Lessons From Unexpected Places
What personal finance lessons do you think can be learned from a board game based on subsistence farming in 17th century Europe?

Erika
Newlyweds on a Budget
Rich and single or Poor and In Love?
Do finances affect the way you look at potential mates? Should financed play such an important role in marriage and relationships?

Politics

Kevin
Thousandaire
The Durbin Amendment Stole Your Money
Says Kevin: “The Durbin Amendment stole your money and gave it to retail store owners. Thanks Dick Durbin!” Not only that, but we get to learn a great new word, too.

Darwin
Darwin’s Money
2012 Social Security Tax Deal Explained
Here are the juicy details behind the latest Payroll Tax holiday on Social Security taxes for the beginning of 2012.

Retiring

Boomer
Boomer & Echo
Retirement Plan B: A Light-hearted Look
Sez Boomer: “If I don’t think I’ll have enough money to live comfortably in my old age, I have a retirement plan B—move in with one of my kids!” What the kids have to say, we haven’t heard.

PITR
Passive Income to Retire
My Early Retirement Plan in Detail
How he intends to do it: “I share my early retirement plan in detail, including target dates and monthly target income amounts.”

Andy
My Retirement Blog
Retirement Planning Software
Lots of free retirement calculators are available on the web. These can be interesting but when you are planning for your retirement they are of limited use. They often give ballpark figures and point you to their company’s financial advisers. Retirement planning software gives you the ability to make a more comprehensive plan. Check out these!

YFS
Your Finances Simplified
401k Is Not Enough: Alternatives to Your Retirement Planning
Nowadays, it’s disconcerting to realize how employee retirement plans just don’t seem to be enough to cover one’s retirement.

Money Planning & Investing

Adam
Magical Penny
Should You Get a Junior ISA?
In the UK, the Brits recently launched a new financial instrument called a “junior individual savings account,” allowing parents to set aside money for a child in a tax-advantaged way. Adam explores the ins and outs, the pros and cons of this tool.

LaTisha
Prairie Ecothrifter
How to Invest Like an Extreme Couponer
You’ve seen these shoppers, these are the people that clip coupons until their little fingers can’t clip any more. They spend time finding the best deals to go with their coupons. Investing and extreme couponing are different, right? Let’s take a look to see if they really are so different.

Daniel
Sweating the Big Stuff
The Problem With Money Ratios
A review of Charles Farrell’s Your Money Ratios: 8 Simple Tools for Financial Security. Says Daniel: “I really enjoyed the book. However, the book is geared more toward people in their 40s and beyond.”

Corey
20s Finances
ROTH IRA – Great Investment in your 20s
Finding the best first investment is a difficult thing. If you are already investing in your employer’s 401k or 403b plan or your employer doesn’t have offer one, a Roth IRA is the way to go!

Mike Collins
Saving Money Today
The Power of Compound Interest
Albert Einstein once said that compound interest is the most powerful force in the universe. Learn how to use it to boost your savings and investments.

Echo
Echo & Boomer
Will You Be Better Off Financially Next Year?
What are some of your financial priorities for 2012? Do you think that you’ll be better off financially next year?

Don
Money Reasons
Dividends Paying Expenses: My Thoughts
Here’s why Don thinks using dividends to pay expenses is a great idea. See if you agree…

Budgeting

Erika
Newlyweds on a Budget
Where Did Our Money Go?
One newlywed couple reviews the annual budget to answer the ubiquitous question: Where did our money go? It sounds a little scary when she says they only saved 8 percent of their income…until she clues you that the 8 percent amounted to $8,000. And they’re a one-income family.

Entertainment

Crystal
Budgeting the Fun Stuff
It’s Date Night: 6 Cheap Ways to Sweep Each Other off Your Feet
Whether you’ve been married five months, five years, or fifty years, spending time alone with your spouse is vital to keeping your marriage strong in the midst of your hectic lives. Here are some ideas for inexpensive dates you can try.

Marie
Money-Spending Mommy
Have a Romantic Evening at Home and Save
A romantic evening at home can rekindle your passion for your partner without putting a strain on the bank account. Here’s how to do it.

Products & Programs

Linsey
1099 Mom
Review of SEO Profiler
Here’s an interesting review of an interesting tool. At fifty bucks a month, it’s not cheap; however, if it brings in enough business or ad revenues, it could pay for itself.

Peter
Bible Money Matters
Amazon Kindle Fire Review: A Frugal Tablet Computer that Doesn’t Feel Frugal
Not your average eye-glazing hardware review! Says Peter: “I ended up winning a Kindle Fire through a contest on another blog. I got my Kindle Fire right after the launch and have been able to test out the device for the past month or so. Today I thought I’d take another look at the device, talk about whether I still think it’s a good value, and whether or not people should consider buying one.”

Alan Schram
Canadian Finance Blog
Saving Money On Video Games: Steam Sales Edition
Alan believes Steam is your best friend when it comes to saving money on video games. Steam is an online digital game distributor run by the gaming publisher Valve.

Frugal Tips

DJ
The Family Wallet
Tips for Saving Money on Heating Bills
With just a few changes there are many ways that you can reduce your fuel bills significantly. Here are a few tips to help get you started.

Glen Craig
Free from Broke
What Is the True Cost of Leasing a Car
The thought of leasing a car can be very enticing. But what is the true cost of leasing a car? Find out what variables you may be leaving out when you consider leasing.

SB
One Cent at a Time
4 mins saved me $40, Thank You Chase!
SB offers advice on getting a credit-card lender to waive a late fee.

Paula
Afford Anything
Be Frugal With Your Time, Not Your Money
Time is like money: we must ruthlessly cut things that don’t matter, so we can spend lavishly things that matter most.

Hank
Money Q&A
One Time Is Too Many With Identity Theft
How do you protect yourself from identity theft? What are the warning signs of identity theft? One incident is too many when it comes to protecting your identity.

A Blinkin
Funancials
How To Stop Receiving Credit Card Offers
This article will show you how to stop receiving credit card offers and junk mail.

Corey
20s Finances
Turn Around Your Finances
People often find themselves with a bad credit score due to poor financial choices in the past. The sooner the credit score is repaired the better. It is a good idea to put aside money every month to cover any emergencies that may arise.

Dr. Dean
The Millionaire Nurse
Frugal Groceries Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Edition
Says he: “During the holidays my grocery bill increases but I keep the gift giving bill down by making my special cinnamon rolls. They are made using my freshly ground whole wheat bread dough. I have included the recipe for these yummy kitchen concoctions that you won’t want to miss.” Take a look, folks…these things are to die for! The only question is, how do we get ourselves invited to Dr. D’s house next Christmas?

Real Estate

YFS
Your Finances Simplified
8 Hidden Costs of Home Ownership
Owning a home has always been a part of the American dream. It’s something that we fantasize about when we’re young, something we scrimp and save for, and quite frankly, something we end up paying for, for the rest of our lives. Check out these eight hidden cost associated with the dream!

Jobs & Careers

Eddie
Finance Fox
7 Things About Reality That Business Education Never Taught Me!
Says an older and wiser Eddie: “Despite my educational background and a passion for business, reality is different. And as much as I’ve learned in school, I have equally as much learned on my own. Here are seven things that I never learned in school which I learned on my own.”

Suba
Broke Professionals
Woman’s Work
Is the concept of woman’s work or man’s work still around? If not, then why are there not more woman CEOs? Why don’t all fathers get paternity leave? Why do men not aspire to administrative assistant jobs? Why do more women still bear primary responsibility for child rearing and housekeeping?

Phil Taylor
PT Money
What to Do if Your Job Is Dying
A few thoughts and tips for anyone whose job is considered “dying.”

Marissa
Thirty-Six Months
Live to Work or Work to Live
A look at Gen Y and the different mentalities when it comes to work-life balance.

Aloysa
My Broken Coin
Five Things Everyone Should Know About Twitter
Aloysa has recently learned the value of Twitter. Read these 5 things that everybody should know about Twitter, too.

Kevin
Thousandaire
College Kids Need Skills, Not Good Grades
Get a skill like accounting or engineering in college. It’s way more valuable than getting a high GPA without any real skills.

Suba
Broke Professionals
Get Your Accomplishments Noticed
It’s tough at work these days, companies are trying to do more with fewer employees. Employees are struggling to meet increased workloads without ruining their personal lives. Most are probably just making it through the critical, must do, tasks each day. In this kind of environment, it is sometimes hard to make sure that your get your accomplishment noticed.

PITR
Passive Income to Retire
Owning Blogs vs. Staff Writing
To earn money online, you can do one of two things. Find out what is the best way to make money online.

Miranda
Financial Highway
50 Home Business Ideas
Many of us want to earn extra money from home. And, indeed, starting a home business can be a good way to cultivate additional income, and help you reach other financial goals that you might have. From creative business ideas, to the more mundane, here are 50 home business ideas.

Dannielle Brathwaite
Odd Cents
How I Became an Entrepreneur
How Danielle started Odd Cents on a small budget and how she became an entrepreneur.

Next Week

Next Tuesday (January 10) Adam of Magical Penny will host the Festival of Frugality. Be sure to send in your contributions through the Blog Carnival HQ.

Ryan is looking for hosts—a number of dates in 2012 are still open. Check out the hosting guidelines and use the contact form to grab a date. Hosting is pretty easy and a nice way to increase traffic while distributing link love to fellow bloggers.

Meanwhile, if you enjoyed this edition, please do Tweet, Digg, Facebook, Stumble and otherwise express your joy.

Happy New Year!