Festival of Frugality 337: Seeking Something Fresh Edition

Editor’s Picks

Have you noticed how difficult it is to say something new and fresh about personal finance, especially given how crowded our niche has become? There are only so many ways you can say “make a budget, get yourself out of debt, live within your means, work hard and smart, and save for the future.” That’s why posts that have something original to say and a lively way to say it jumped out at me. Hence, this week’s editor’s picks:

♥ Miss T
Prairie Ecothrifter
How to Save Hundreds of Dollars a Year on Your Water Bill
While most of us have access to the city water we need for drinking, flushing, and gardening, there is one easy way you can cut your water bill down quite a bit while potentially saving thousands of gallons of fresh water this season: by catching the water you need from the sky, free of charge.

♥ TB
Blue Collar Workman
Reversing a Bird Invasion
TB, a man of many war stories, says (with understatement): “One way to live frugally is to maintain your home. In the case of this story, a family didn’t and ended up with an invasion of birds in their attic. Tips are offered to help make sure this doesn’t happen to you and that you maintain your house.”

♥ John
Married with Debt
Give Yourself a Raise (No Boss Required)
John realizes that meeting a debt goal is the equivalent of getting a raise—in this case, a nice one!

♥ PPlan
Provident Plan
Would Jesus Support the Buffett Tax Law?
“Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s….” PPlan reflects on the meaning of Christ’s radicalism and its significance for us today, and then asks readers if they think Jesus would support raising taxes on the wealthy.

♥ Crystal
Budgeting in the Fun Stuff
Our Food Fight – Month 1 Results
Crystal and Mr. BFS come up with a straightforward way to cut expenses so it won’t hurt much to build up some padding once they close on their new house. Here are the month one results.

♥ Sustainable PF
Sustainable Personal Finance
Green Tip #242: Sharing Toys
Not the obvious parental advice to rival siblings. SPF discovers a toy library in town!

Who can resist this image?

Let’s Take a Stroll Down the Midway

Walking the Frugal Walk

Jeremy
Modest Money
Keeping Up with the Joneses in the Digital Age
As the Internet has evolved and we truly enter the digital age as a society, the biggest enemy of our personal finances has been quietly growing stronger and stronger. No, it’s not inflation. It’s not government taxes. It’s something much less obvious. It’s those pesky Joneses!

Daisy
Add Vodka
Life Lessons From My Mother
Says Daisy: “Yesterday was Mothers Day. You all know that. I don’t live near my mom, so I was sad I wasn’t able to take her out for breakfast or anything like that.”

Steve
Brip Blap
Frugality or Decluttering, or Both
“Now that we have a four-person family,” Steve reflects, “I’ve noticed that I avoid purchasing things more and more out of a desire to declutter.”

YFS
Your Finances Simplified
Ten Common Characteristics of Millionaires You Can Follow
Back in 2007, Forbes Magazine reported that all over the world there are a total of 946 billionaires, and according to Capegemini, a financial consultancy firm, in 2011 there are about 10 million millionaires. All of us probably have this dream of becoming millionaires ourselves, and sometimes we’re left wondering how these once ordinary people manage to make it big.

Ashley
Money Talks Coaching
The Envelope System Works: Even on a 10 Year Old
“I’ve talked quite a bit about my frustration with my daughter and her lack of concern when it comes to money,” says Ashley. “She wouldn’t save money to save her life.”

Karen Bryan
Help Me to Save
False Economies on Car Running Costs
Make sure that you are sensible when looking at ways to save on the cost of running a car. Karen makes an interesting point about the wisdom (or not) of avoiding the use of your car.

Robert
The College Investor
The College Freshman’s Guide to Money Management
It’s finally here: The summer before your first year of college. As one chapter of your life closes and another begins to take root, it’s a prime opportunity to instill sound money management–and set yourself up for a lifetime of financial stability. As you decide which courses to take, start to find your textbooks, and wonder what you’re new roommate will be like, here are a few ways to make sure you’re taking care of your finances as you navigate your way through your freshman year….

FMF
Free Money Finance
Is Joining a Warehouse Club Worth It?
Says FMF: “I have been a warehouse club shopper for many years and it comes down to this: you have to know your prices. If you do, you can spot what’s a good deal at a club store and what’s not. It’s that simple.”

Khaleef Crumbley
Fat Guy, Skinny Wallet
Planning A Financial Diet – Eat Healthy And Spend Less
Eat healthy and spend less…something that seems impossible However, if you follow these tips you can do both!

Melissa Batai
Everything Finance
How to Find Online Coupons for Your Favorite Restaurant
The dining out category can be curbed without sacrificing quality. Finding online coupons for your favorite restaurant is surprisingly easy. Try these strategies.

SFB
Simple Finance Blog
6 Hidden Money Wasters
We think of many ways to save, but what most people don’t know is that many everyday things they buy on a regular basis are money wasters.

Kevin
Thousandaire
How to Save Money on a Date
Save money on your dates by using daily deal sites like Groupon and Living Social to find interesting cheap dates.

Alex Manson-Smith
Totally Money
5 easy ways to cut the cost of your commute
How to save money every day during your commute.

Mike Collins
Wealthy Turtle
5 Money Leaks That Are Draining Your Wallet
Seal up these 5 common money leaks before they drain your wallet completely.

Green Panda
Green Panda Treehouse
Eat Well and Save Money—Community Supported Agriculture
How to save money on food and support your community.

Martin
Studenomics
How Much Should You Spend on Your Laptop?
Should you be frugal with your laptop purchase? Martin gets a rise out of his readers with this question.

Broke Bytch, Guest Author
Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance
New Money Series for the Seriously Broke College Grad
Barb introduces a series of posts by Broke Bytch, targeting recent college graduates in their cash-strapped years.

Hey, You! Step Right Up! Hit a Goal and Win a Prize!

Jeffrey
Money Spruce
Setting Financial Goals 101
The most fundamental step in setting financial goals is to gain control over your daily financial affairs by setting up and sticking to a budget. Thereafter, you will need to set longer-term financial goals. At this point, you will need to build a financial safety net to ensure financial independence.

Eddie
Finance Fox
How to Access Cash in a Hurry
Your home is equipped with smoke detectors, and your car carries a spare tire in the trunk, but are you equipped for a financial emergency?

Come On In, Folks! Next Fight Starts in 10 Seconds. It’s the Clash of the Hobbyists!

Wayne
Young Family Finance
Why Hobbies Save You Money
Staying active and finding things that you enjoy can actually save you money. Find out how to define yourself not by the things you buy.

Lance
Money Life & More
How I Paid for My Hobby
Hobbies are a lot of fun, but there is one thing that prohibits many from taking part in their favorite hobby as much as they would like to. Cost. Hobbies, while fun, can be expensive. This post explains how I paid for them.

Hurry, Hurry, Hurry! See the Underwater Man Escape from Debt!

Matt
Living in Financial Excellence
http://financialexcellence.net/what-i-have-learned-by-interviewing-people-who-are-debt-free/
Matt reflects on a major project: “For the past six months now I have had the pleasure of being able to interview debt free individuals and couples on the Debt Free Living Podcast. So far I have released about 20 episodes and it amazes me how unique each story is regarding how they got debt free. It also is interesting to me to see what each person’s ‘Why’ is. Some got their finances together in order to travel more, some do it to quit a job they hate and do something they love, and for others it was to stay at home with their children. But as unique as all these stories are, they also share one thing. They started to pay off their debt when they started to pay attention and take control of their money.”

Jon the Saver
Free Money Wisdom
Why You Should Be Debt-Free on Your Car
There are many reasons why you should be debt-free on your car. You can spend the money elsewhere instead of on a car payment.

Debt Guru
Debt Free Blog
Basic Rule to Use Credit Cards and Avoid Debt
Find out how to use credit cards and avoid debt all together. It can be summed up in one basic rule, but it often implies much more.

Boomer
Boomer & Echo
How To Pay Off Your Mortgage Faster
When you pay off your mortgage faster, a big part of your household budget will become available to help you achieve your other financial goals.

Sean
One Smart Dollar
How is my Credit Line Determined?
Understanding how your credit line is determined can be a great way to start understanding your finances.

Jason
One Money Design
Average Student Loan Debt on the Rise
Average student loan debt is on the rise and it may get worse if congress doesn’t take action. However, it is entirely possible for your kids to go to school without debt! All the more reason to manage your money wisely!

It’s Sweet! It’s Holy! It’s a Cheap Way to Get Hitched: The Chapel on the Midway

Little House
Little House in the Valley
Cash Gift Registries for Weddings
Says Little House: “Maybe this dates me a bit, since my wedding was over 10 years ago and most of my friends and family married years ago as well (my sister is a lot younger than me), but cash gift registries seem like a terrific idea for a bride and groom who prefer cash gifts over home goods.”

Earth and Money
Planning a Green Frugal Wedding – Guests
At most weddings, there is a fixed cost associated with every guest that attends – food, dishes, venue, all these things are related to the number of guests that you have. So that begs the question: do you really want to invite your dad’s cousin’s nephew’s boyfriend who winds up getting drunk at the open bar?

Amazing! Awesome! See the Astonishing Software Marvels!

Jen
Master the Art of Saving
What Is Manilla and Why Should You Try It?
Manilla is a free—yes, that’s right! 100 percent free—web-based service to make our financial lives more organized and easier to manage.

Lazy Man
Lazy Man and Money
Six Months with a Windows Media Center DVR (No Cable Equipment Rental Fees! Woohoo!)
Interesting review of a Windows-based recording system: “Nearly a year ago, I got pretty excited about the Silicon HDHomeRun Prime that was coming to market. It came with the promise of ending cable box rental fees… fees that have totaled over $2000 in the last years that I’ve enjoyed the wonders of DVR.”

A Blinkin
Funancials
Convenient Banking Technology
A Blinkin finds that easy, reliable online banking services relieve him from the hassle of having to drive to a bank and stand in line to do business.

Right This Way, Folks, to the House of Horrors! The World’s Most Thrilling, Chilling, Terrifying Retail Car Lot!

Jason
Work Save Live
Should You Buy a Car through CarMax?
The need to buy a new(ish) car elicits a cri de coeur from Jason: “Rust buckets, over-sized purses, methods of transportation, and a means of showing worth and status. Maybe it’s needless to say, but there isn’t a topic I detest more. When I hear the word ‘car,’ all I can think about are over-priced machines that have gone from performing a function to being status symbols.”

Hank
Money Q&A
How a Little Preparation and One Question Saved Me Over $1,000 
By doing the legwork before entering the car dealership, Hank saved himself a lot of money on a car purchase.

Luke
Learn Bonds
Why Bond Laddering Is a Bad Idea
If you are investing in the bond market you have probably had Bond Laddering recommended to you as a strategy. Here is why this is a bad idea.

Tushar
Start Investing Money
What to Do When an Investment Pays Out
So you made some money. So…now what?

KT
Personal Finance Journey
Can You Afford NOT to Save for Retirement?
Saving for retirement can be difficult. With the recent increases in the cost of gas and groceries and other basics combined with a loss of income because of the economy or a lack of raises over the last few years, saving for retirement can seem like a goal that is out of reach.

Steve Zussino
Canadian Personal Finance
Why Facebook Should Be Scared with Its Revenue Strategy
We all know the Facebook IPO is happening soon but some big news happened yesterday that, GM (the third largest advertiser in the US) pulled a $10 million dollar order because they figured out that Facebook ads don’t work.

Jim
Bargaineering
Best 529 Plans
A look at 529 plans and which state’s program is best for you.

Teacher Man
Young And Thrifty
RRSP vs RESP Accounts
There are obviously numerous aspects of each person’s financial situation that will come into play when looking at whether a RRSP or an RESP contribution is right for them. (These are Canadian investment instruments, with some interesting similarities and contrasts to their rough US equivalents.)

MR
Money Reasons
Debt Free…Now What? Real Estate
“I’ve been debt free for a while now!” Money Reasons reports. “It’s time to pickup debt to buy assets instead of expenses.”

TRL
The Retired Landlord
Important Traits of a Successful Landlord 
Find out what it takes to be a successful landlord. Do you have these important traits to make a profit in real estate investing?

Squeezer
Personal Finance Success
Why Social Security Should Not Be Your Sole Source of Retirement Income
What happens if one depends on Social Security for retirement? Squeezer explains the risk and other options that are available.

What? Me? Work?

Suba
Broke Professionals
Should You Buy Supplemental Unemployment Insurance?
Who knew you could buy unemployment insurance in the private market? This interesting article is an eye-opener.

Daniel
Sweating the Big Stuff
Secure Your Future by Developing Multiple Streams of Income
If you are like most people, you work hard at your day job. Maybe you used to make what you considered a good salary, but now, with the economy, your income seems to be dwindling. Perhaps you haven’t gotten a raise in several years, or if you have gotten a raise, you simultaneously faced an increase in health care premiums.

101 Centavos
Career Tips for Young Folks
This is a series of blog posts, dormant for a while, resurrected for a while.  These would be career tips #15, #16 and #17, meant for young people entering the work force.  Little practical nuggets gleaned a few years in the grind.

Philip
PT Money Personal Finance
Make Extra Money as a Dog Sitter
Discusses the idea of making extra money by creating a dog sitting business and shares 2 websites that can help launch your new part-time gig.

Soap Box Central: They’re Mellow, They’re Mad, They’re Sentimental, They’re Wise—Hear Them Now!

Maria
The Money Principle
Politics and Economy in the Eurozone part 2
Interesting rumination, from a Brit’s point of view, about the ongoing economic turmoil in Europe.

Amanda L Grossman
Frugal Confessions
Do You have a Future as the Woman Who Lived in Her Shoes, or the Man Who Lived with His Tools?
Thirty-five year old Carrie Bradshaw had a stunning financial realization during an episode of Sex and the City.

Beaker (Guest Author)
My Broken Coin
How to Lose Friends and Alienate People
Beaker tells how a neglected debt cost him a friend.

Don
Money Smart Guides
The Money Conversation for Couples
Don spins a discussion off an article that appeared in a recent US News post.

Kyle
Penny Hoarder
University Will Pay You $3,500 to Eat Only Fast Food for 3 Months
Kyle is flabbergasted by news of a couple of bizarre (and, on the surface, unethical-sounding) scientific studies recently announced. Amazing!

Dr. Dean
The Millionaire Nurse Blog
Talking About Ourselves: A Turn On?
Does talking about ourselves really give us pleasure? And how can that knowledge help us increase our income?

John
Wallet Blog
How’s a Little Medical Bill Transparency Sound?
What are you talking about? The system for payment of services in the healthcare industry can’t possibly be broken!

Nick
Step Away from the Mall
Sometimes It’s about Way More Than Math
Nick wonders, “Am I the only one who gets way too caught up in ‘math’ sometimes? Sometimes I lose track of what’s really important to me.”

Glen
Parenting Family Money
Is a Child’s Gift Registry a Good Idea?
Retailers are getting better at helping people shop, aren’t they? One great example is a child’s gift registry for their birthday. But is it really such a bad idea?

JB
My University Money
Are Banks Really In It For You?
Says JB: “Learn from my mistakes and never assume the banks are in it for you. They aren’t, in fact they make a killing off you, so don’t make it easy on them whenever they try to push a product on you.”

PITR
Passive Income to Retire
Why Quality Is Important
PITR has an insight into the relationship between quality content and site traffic.

Maya Ackerman
Great Living Now
How To Save Your Money
A frank discussion on the psychological nature of problems surrounding our ability to save money and be frugal. The article aims to teach us how to save money by understanding the science of persuasion.

Travelin’ On down the Road

Miss Thrifty
Mr Straw’s House
This is extremely cool. If you’re going to England or are already there, do try to get in to see it. Says Miss Thrifty: “If you are into old school thrift and Make Do And Mend, you will love Mr Straw’s extraordinary hose as much as Miss Thrifty does.”

Michelle
See Debt Run
10 Fabulously Free and Family Friendly Things To Do In The Lou
Kids are on break, but you’re on broke? No problemo if you live in the beautiful city of St. Louis, MO! Michelle shares her top 10 FREE attractions the Lou has to offer.

Laura
NerdWallet
Expensify Trips: Turn Your Travel Receipts into a Complete Itinerary
In this interesting report, Laura notes that Expensify is free, easy to use, and it lets you track pretty much every purchase under the sun, but as of May 8th, it just got even more useful for traveling.

Kristen
My Dollar Plan
11 Free Travel Apps to Save Money
Travel can be pricey, but lucky for us, travel apps make it that much easier to not break the bank during travel. Here’s a list of our favorite totally free travel apps for Android and why should download them before your next trip.

On the House…

vh
Funny about Money
Locks & Doors, Doors & Locks
After a neighborhood happening that led to a police SWAT team escorting me out of my home behind a phalanx of bullet-proof riot shields, I go in search of more secure locks and better doors. Doesn’t take long to learn that you get what you pay for in that department. Pay upfront to save over the long run.

That’s it for this week! Thanks to everyone who participated, and I hope everyone enjoys reading these stories as much as I did. Please don’t forget to link back to the Festival from your site, and Tweet, FB, Pin, or whatever else one does social-medially. Next week’s host, Money Crashers, is looking forward to receiving your latest and best—to send in a post, you can go to Canadian Finance Blog’s blog carnival submission form or the FoF contact form at the Festival’s official site.

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