Pimp Your Finances

This is a very special day for me. Today is my one hundreth and eleventh birthday: I am eleventy-one today!

Wait, that’s not quite right. Let me try that again.

Today is my 100th post!

I knew it would be hard to start a blog, but I still underestimated just how much work there would be.  There were times I got discouraged and wanted to give up.

Reaching my 100th post is symbolic for me, because it shows that I can tough it out and stick to my goals. However, I could not have done it without the help of many people – especially you!

Without readers, I’d be yelling into the wind.

Without commentors, I’d have been tempted to give up.

And without people linking to this site, no one would know about it.

As a thank you, I have created a carnival of links, consisting of everyone who has commented on my site. I sorted through my 400+ comments, and checked out every one that left a website. There are 70 finance links in all, broken down into 15 different categories.

Please take a look at these links…I spent a lot of time to bring you the best articles I could find from each site, and there’s some quality stuff in there.

So without further ado, here is my Carnival of Gratitude.

On Blogging

A lot of us in the financial community are bloggers, so it only makes sense to include a few tips about blogging.

Blogging and Blogger has some great thoughts about How to Build Traffic.

Penny Jobs shares 7 Secret Tips I’ve Learned About Personal Finance Blogging. My favorite? Helping others. You win with people. It’s amazing how far you can get just by treating others with respect.

On Budgeting

We’re all trying to save a few bucks, and the best way to do that is with a budget.

Funny About Money explains How to Budget for Extraordinary Costs. You gotta plan for emergencies, folks. One oversight could be enough to throw your budget off for months.

Paying for Retirement asks How is Your Monthly Budget? I’m a big believer in the importance of setting a budget and sticking to it. It’s like the front line in the war on poor finances.

On Entrepreneurship

There are two sides to the personal finance coin. Part of it is spending less, and equally important is making more money. Here are a few posts about entrepreneurship.

Blueprint Economics – who gave me my first comment ever! – has some good thoughts on Building Your Team with the best personnel possible. If you want to be successful, surround yourself with those who are already successful.

Penny Seeds has an interesting article on Lessons Learned from Struggling Entrepreneurs in Other Countries.

Seven Figure Psychic asks if you are Still in Love with your Niche? You have to specialize to be successful, but what happens if you get tired of your area of expertise?

On Frugality

A penny saved is actually more than a penny earned. Here are some ways to stretch your pennies.

Lovely Las Vegas  has some tips for Saving Money in Downtown Las Vegas. I love Vegas… I just wish it was as easy to beat the casinos as it was to get a good deal.

Pecuniarities tackles self-responsibility by asking Who’s to Blame for Your Spending? I’ll give you a hint. It’s you!

Prime Time Money runs down a list of 15 Things You Should Never Pay For. No sense in wasting money, after all.

Moolanomy tells the man that I Don’t Want Your Freakin’ Extended Warranty. After all, why would companies offer extended warranties unless it was better for them in the long run?

Budgets Are Sexy asks How Frugal is Too Frugal? After a certain point, the returns are diminished, and you could be hurting yourself.

Shrinkage is Good tells us How Banks Steal $2 Billion from Us Every Year through bank fees. Don’t let them get even more of our money!

My Life ROI gives some advice for Saving $4000 a Year. They’re good tips, designed to save money without impacting your quality of life.

On Fun

I love posts that can keep a good balance of informative and interesting. Sometimes, fun is the best way to go. Here are a few examples of that.

My Journey to Millions lists 9 Financial Lessons Learned from the Legend of Zelda. You can’t go wrong if you’re mixing video games with personal finance.

The Road Through Middle Earth has a great Tolkien-related post about Dreams and Legends that Appear out of the Grass. In addition to discussing some of Tolkien’s best writing, it can also be a metaphor for overcoming adversity.

Obscured Clarity has 11 Spectacular Bird Photosby David Hemmings. I’ll admit, it’s not finance related, but it’s a great set of pictures.

Weakonomics has a great and creative article comparing Your Favorite Politicians as Star Wars Characters. My inner-nerd greatly appreciates this one.

On General Finance Topics

In life, you have to be flexible and accept what may come. The same goes for link carnivals too.

Green Panda Treehouse explains Why She Doesn’t Use Automated Payments. I don’t blame her – I don’t either.

The Paycheck Chronicles describes how the GI Bill has changed since 9/11.

 One Advice tackles the age old question of What is Good Debt? What is Bad Debt?

Hannlyn tells us how to Replace Your Variable-rate Student Loan Rates with One Fixed-rate Loan.

On Goals

If you don’t know where you’re going, you can’t be unhappy with where you’re at.

My Quest to Build an Empire tells us Why It’s Important to Set Goals.

Creating Momentum is going to Quit Screwing Around, and really get working on her goals.

The Wonderful World of Slinky writes about their dream. What’s Yours?

Second Child, Last Born gives us an update on their March 2009 Goals.

Personal Finance Firewall has an update on his February Goals.

Checkbook Diaries tells us why his goal of Fully Funding an Emergency Fund is important.

All Things Financial tells us about a Vacation Worth Taking.

On Kids

It’s never too early to start educating your children when it comes to finance.

 Cash Money Life explains how to Make Your Child Your Financial Guru.

Father Sez shares tips on How to Prepare Your Kids to Handle Financial Stress.

On Mental Attitudes

You have to have the right attitude if you want to get anywhere in life.

15 Minutes to Riches warns that Information Overload Will Eat Your Brain.

Wealth Junkies gives 5 Tips for Taking the Long View with Money.

Hustle Up is going to Live Below His Means.

Money Young explains The Difference between Broke, Poor, Rich, Wealthy, Frugal, and Cheap.

Life Made Great writes about how We Get What We Ask For.

Retirement: a Full Time Job is Choosing Happiness. I think we all should!

On Personal Development

Your financial journey should also be a quest to learn and grow on a personal level.

Thriveal asks How Will You Change the World?

Financial Matters has some tips for How to Come Out Stronger in this Economy.

Your Money Relationship shares some Financial Lessons from Flight 1549.

 The Happy Rock ponders if we’re In Search of Perfection, or Seeking Honesty and Growth.

Divorced Dad Frugal Dad says that if you’re Feeling Helpless, Knowledge Will Empower You.

FIRE Finance has a list of 1001 Financial Words You Need to Know.

This Improved Life thinks that Sometimes You Just Have to Say No to Yourself.

Seek Wisdom, Find Wealth explains what the true Cost of Wisdom is.

Taking Charge Credit Card Blog is Growing Up, and Got Her First Collections Letter.

The Amateur Financier shares Three Things He Wish He Knew When He Was Younger.

Scordo gives 5 Reasons Why It’s Important to Have Social Skills.

On Real Estate

Buying a house is the biggest purchase you’ll make. It’s important to do it right.

Bankruptcy Access asks Who’s the Real Owner of Mortgages?

Free From Broke has some Frugal Ideas to Help Your Home Sell.

On the Recession

There’s no point denying the elephant in the room. Times are hard.

Monevator explains that The Recession is Not a Choice.

All Financial Matters wonders When Things Will Get Back to Normal.

Stretchy Dollar has 5 Great Recession Tips From 5th Graders. Sometimes the best advice is also the most simple.

Curious Cat Investing is also wondering When Will the Recession be Over?

My Two Dollars asks What, If Anything, Have You Given Up During the Recession?

My Notes on the Stock Market says this is a Depression, Not Recession. That’s the Impression, at least.

Elementary Finance has a similar point of view, and thinks that An Economic Depression is in Our Future.

On Stocks

Even though the market is down, it’s still a great opportunity. Maybe even more so than it was before the bottom dropped out.

Saving to Invest describes Another Panic Monday on Wall Street.

Passive Family Income says that with a Recession in America, it’s Trading Stocks, not Investing.

The Digerati Life asks How Do You Feel Now that the Dow Jones Closed at 6700?

The Oblivious Investor tells us that the Biggest 401K Mistake People Make is Not Accepting Free Money.

Money Progress explains some Investment Changes for After the Crash.

My Covered Call gives some information on the Historical Performance of the market.

Taxes

Only two things are certain in life, and taxes are one of them.

Fine Tuned Finances explains How to Get Tax Credits and Deductions by Saving for Retirement.

My Barnabas asks What Are You Going to Do With Your Tax Refund?

Don’t Mess With Taxes (awesome name, by the way) lets us know that the New Withholding Tables are Ready.

Work

Are you working to live, or living to work? I know it’s a cliche, but try giving it some serious thought.

Finance Your Life describes how Young Professionals Do Not Need a Work Life Balance.

The Strump gives tips on Dealing with the Behaviorial Job Interview.

And last – but certainly not least – The Online Investing AI Blog tells us how Getting Laid Off Can Be a Good Experience.

Again, thank you all for reading, commenting on, and linking to my site! I sincerely appreciate your contributions, and appreciate being able to learn from you.

I hope you continute to join me on my next 100 posts, and beyond!