Recommended articles:

“Stay the Course” is Becoming a Hard Pill to Swallow in This Market.

7 ideas for maximising your career.

Back To Basics: Debt-Free Is The Path To Financial Success.

Sometimes it Pays to Talk.

A good home inspection is worth the money.

Be Careful Where You Get Your Investment Advice.

My 401K Is Losing Money, What Should I Do?.

How To Buy Stocks In This Volatile Market.

The “Don’t Panic” Response Is Getting a Little Old.

The death of index investing.

7 mistakes not to make in a crisis.

How Much Does Your Money Matter to You?.

This week’s carnivals:

• 160th Carnival Of Debt Reduction - Bailout Edition was hosted at The Happy Rock.
• Carnival of Twenty Something Finances for October 6 was hosted at lava.
• 33th Money Hacks Carnival Oktober Fest Edition was held at Fix My Personal Finance.
• 19th Finance Fiesta - Oktoberfest was hosted by Living Almost Large.

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Synchroblog. On October 7th, a group of about 10 personal finance bloggers are going to simultaneously answer this question:

“What is the single most important initiative that the next administration should undertake to improve the economic health of the U.S. middle class?”

I plan on participating. With everything that is going on in our economy, this is sure to be an interesting group writing project!

The 10 Day Give (Oct 10th): The 10 Day Give is a movement started by Bob at Christian Personal Finance. The idea is to find ways to give for 10 straight days. Bob writes, “The 10 Day Give is a challenge that is designed to help us get our minds off of ourselves and start thinking about how we can help others.”

I think this is a great idea and plan to participate. It doesn’t matter what or how much or how little you give. If you can give, then you can make the world a better place.

Top Referring Websites to Cash Money Life in September: As I previously mentioned, I reached a huge milestone for my website earlier this week. There were many people responsible for this, and though I can’t thank each of you individually, I sincerely appreciate the people you send my way. Here are the top referring websites to Cash Money Life during September - with a link to one of their recent articles I enjoyed. Thanks guys!

1. My Dollar Plan. 7 Moves You Haven’t Made in Your 401k.

2. Paid Twice. The Value of a Well-Placed Complaint.

3. My Two Dollars. DirecTV Customer Service Sucks.

4. FrugalBabe. The Greenhouse Is Finished.

5. Moolanomy. Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Asset Allocation.

6. Being Frugal. Edible Landscaping for Beginners: Part One.

7. Frugal Dad. The 2008 Bailout Bill-Wool Wearers, Racing Fans and Forest Eco-Systems Can Finally Rest Easy. This disappoints me. Not the article - what it is about.

8. MSN Smart Spending Blog. Are you a millionaire in the making?.

9. Million Dollar Journey. Give Yourself a Financial Checkup.

10. The Dough Roller. First Presidential Debate Fact Check: Obama and McCain’s Economic Claims.

Recommended articles:

The Never-Ending War Against Advertising. I don’t watch much TV for the simple fact that commercials irritate the hell out of me. (No, I won’t buy a tivo, I’d rather just do something productive).

Working Two Jobs at the Same Time. This is an interesting ethical dilemma.

have MBAs been devalued by the crisis?. I think MBA’s have lost their value in recent years, which is one reason I have held off my earlier goal of achieving and MBA.

Combining Kiva Lending and Birthday Presents. What a great gift - the gift of giving.

Do You Have What it Takes to Be a Millionaire?. I do.

“Bring Out Yer Debts!” - Ben Bernanke Does Monty Python. Gotta end on a high note.

This weeks Carnivals:

• Carnival of Personal Finance #172 - Meltdown Edition was held at Debt Kid.
• Carnival of Debt Reduction #159~They Never Said It Edition was hosted at On a Quest to Be Debt Free…
• Carnival of Money Stories was hosted by Funny About Money.
• The Festival of Frugality #145 - The Gratitude Edition was hosted at Value For Your Life.
• Money Hacks Carnival #32 - Have You Ever Edition was hosted at The Financial Blogger.
• Finance Fiesta - Procrastination Edition! was held at Master Your Card.

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The good news is, we all had a little fun. The winner was Lazy Man from Lazy Man and Money, and he now has bragging rights until next year’s winner is announced.

Lazy Man won on account of his team relying heavily on players from the Boston Red Sox. They were one of the best teams in baseball this year and are currently in the playoffs. Being from the Boston area, Lazy Man has an affinity for all things Boston, and would like to bring some attention to a couple charities he supports.

The first charity is The Jimmy Fund, a cancer research charity which is also supported by the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox have ben involved with The Jimmy Fund for over 50 years and do such a great job supporting the charity that even many casual baseball fans are familiar with this great cause. Here is more info about The Jimmy Fund.

The second charity is a relatively new charity - Hits for Kids, a charity began by Boston Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis. Youk’s Kids, as it is also known, supports children’s charities covering things such as cancer, diabetes, and emotional development. Here is more info about Youk’s Kids.

Fantasy Baseball side bet

We had a little side bet among the bloggers, and the losers all had to share a few of their favorite articles from the winner’s site. In the spirit of good sportsmanship, I’ll share a few from the winner’s site, and one from each of the other participants. I had a great time guys - let’s do it again next year!

The Moneyballers Fantasy Baseball League

First place: Boston Lazy Men (Lazy Man and Money)

• How to Save on Gas (35 Tips Inside).
• Seven Things You Must Do to Prepare for An Emergency.
• Cutting the Cable TV.
• 15 Products that save Time, Money, and Space.
• Top 5 Paths to a Million Dollars.

Second Place: Money and Values. The true costs of driving– how much could you save on transportation?.

Third Place: Cash Money All-Stars (Cash Money Life). 2008 Election - Don’t Forget to Register for Absentee Ballot. (from my other site).

Fourth Place: Moolanonmy. Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Asset Allocation. This is one of the best asset allocation articles I’ve read in a long time.

Fifth Place: North Iowa Green Sox (The Simple Dollar). If You Ask “What’s the Monthly Payment?” You’re Asking the Wrong Question.

Sixth Place: pfblueprint (Blueprint for Financial Prosperity). How Your Credit Score Affects Interest Rates.

Seventh: GenXFinance. Friends Don’t Let Friends Bail Out of the Market. Sometimes you just need to ride out the storm.

Eighth Place: Get Rich Slowly. You Make HOW Much? Getting Paid What You’re Worth.

Ninth Place: Prime Time Players (Prime Time Money). Advice for the Average Person in Today’s Economy.

I did better in my other fantasy baseball leagues

I participated in a couple other leagues this year and fared better in those leagues than this league. I also won another of the leagues I played in, which had 11 teams. In fact, I did better overall in leagues with more players - I finished 1 of 13, 1 of 11, 3 of 9, and 3 of 7. I think there is a different strategy in deeper leagues. I’ll need to keep that in mind for next year!

I only played in one money league, where 13 teams pitched in $20. I took first place and won $150. Not bad for a bit of fun! (I plan on donating the money to charity).

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We can all learn from Paul Newman. Paul Newman passed on this weekend, and I think we can all learn a little bit from the way he lived. He gave his all in his acting, directing , and producing career (which spanned several decades), then he became a professional race car driver, finishing as high as 5th in a Daytona endurance race, and he started Newman’s Own, a food company that donates 100% of its profits (over $200 million since inception) to charitable causes. To top it all off, he had a great family life. I don’t think there is anyone out there who could say he lived life at half speed. Time has a great write up about his life.

Recommended personal finance articles:

creating your first budget. Creating a budget can be an exercise in patience. But it is well worth it! Find out what you need to know to create your first budget.

hazard pay. My military travels took me to many places that qualified for hazard pay - and a few times I was closer to the action than I would have liked. At the time, it was my duty and I went without question. Now that I am no longer bound to military service (and now that I am married), I have no desire to expose myself to those situations.

buying green power.We don’t have the option of buying green power where we are, but I would certainly consider it if we did. I still haven’t figured out why the US hasn’t adopted more sources of green energy.

Should People Be Reimbursed for the Cost of Evacuating?. We’ve reached the point where too many people want handouts.

How To Use Safe Deposit Boxes. My wife and I really need to get one of these!

Practical Steps in This Economic Mess. There is a lot of turmoil in our economy right now, and this article has some great tips for how to weather the storm.

Sneaky ‘daylighters’ risk firing by working extra jobs. CNN ran a feature about people who secretly work a second day job while they work their normal job. Examples included real estate agents, graphic designers, and more. Strangely, they didn’t mention bloggers…

10 free household budget spreadsheets. Here are some great resources if you are looking to build a budget, but don’t want (or don’t know how) to create your own spreadsheet.

Need extra income? Here are some ideas. I’m always looking for extra income. Strangely, look under sofa cushions missed this list…

Restore Your Fico Score – Part One. Solid tips for raising your FICO credit score.

The Alternatives Of 9 To 5. Great tips for working a non-traditional job, or ways to increase income if you are willing to take on additional work.

and a few articles to really pay attention to this week:

Protect Yourself From These Classic Investment Scams. Ponzi schemes, pyramid schemes, and more… There will always be someone looking for a way to part you from your hard earned money.

Pros and Cons of Money Merge Accounts. Money merge accounts often get a bad rap as being a scam, or for their high prices and multi-level marketing compensation schemes. So are they really a good deal? Rean this article to find out more information.

Scam of the Moment: Credit Card Shaving. This is a new one for me, but something to look out for.

This week’s carnivals:

• Carnival of Debt Reduction: Financial Crisis Edition was hosted at No Debt Plan.
• Carnival of Personal Finance #171: Celebrate Fall Edition was hosted at Sound Money Matters.
• Carnival of Twenty Something Finances! 9/22 Edition was hosted at We Like Money.
• Festival Of Frugality #144 - The Host Bailed Out Edition. was held at My Two Dollars.
• Money Hacks Carnival #31 — Crisis And Bailout was held at Moolanomy.
• Welcome to the Finance Fiesta, buzzer-beater edition was hosted at Mighty Bargain Hunter.

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The PF Challenge, by Lending Club. Lending Club recently launched “The PF Challenge,” a game application for FaceBook. This month, Lending Club sponsored a tournament with several personal finance bloggers. I’m happy to announce that I won 3rd place out 16 entrants! Madison from My Dollar Plan was the winner, followed by Step3Prophet. You can read more about it here.

I’m on FaceBook. I’ve been on FaceBook for about a month or so now. Feel free to check out my profile and add me as a friend.

This week’s recommended articles:

MyPoints Balance Continues To Climb; What Shall I Redeem Them For? MyPoints is a great way to make a few extra bucks online - using only a few minutes of your spare time every now and then.

Self-Employment, Estimated Tax, and Safe Harbor. This is the first year I’m going to have any substantial self-employment tax. I should be covered by the Safe Harbor rule, but I think I will end up owing a pretty penny. I’d like to meet with a tax professional later this year to determine the best way to handle my self-employment taxes, and try to shelter some of my business earnings in a Solo-401(k), SEP IRA, or similar investment plan.

Are You a Millionaire in the Making? Tips on how to become a millionaire. Becoming a millionaire doesn’t need to be difficult; Take it step by step, and doing it is achievable for most people.

How to sell a used car. Tips include how to clean and prep your car for sale, how and where to list it, and how to negotiate the sale. Great tips if you plan on selling a car yourself!

grateful for my emergency fund. Plonkee’s house was broken into. Thankfully, no one was hurt. But the thieves did ge away with 2 laptops, a camera, and some important paperwork.

Just Because You Clip It Doesn’t Mean You Have To Buy It. Amen! I know people who go out of their way to buy things on sale even if they don’t need it. Why? Because they are “saving money.” I never understood that idea!

How I Prepared To Be A Freelancer Problogger. About 6 months ago, Jim made the leap fro full-time employee/part-time entrepreneur, to full-time entrepreneur. Here is how he did it.

Be Careful When Asking For A Raise. There is more to receiving a raise than just asking for it. You need to be aware of your value, how much you are worth to your company, the company’s current state, and more. Then, be careful how you ask!

Worried About Your Savings Accounts In Problem Banks? There is a lot going on in our economy right now - especially with several financial institutions. Here is what you need to know regarding your money.

Stealing Restaurant Condiments: It’s Time To Settle An Age-Old Debate. And for some weekend levity… One or two packets of ketchup, you’re probably OK. Salt and pepper shakers, a dozen sporks, and 20 packs of every condiment available… not so much!

29 Steps I Took to Leave the Workforce at Age 29. Madison shares how she was able to leave the workforce at an early age, so she could spend time enjoying her passions.

How to Set New Financial Goals. Solid tips for determining your financial goals, and how to make them happen.

Savers Losing Out in the Current Economy. Inflation is eating away at the relative value of your money, so even if you are saving, you may be losing purchasing power.

2008 Election - Don’t Forget to Register for Absentee Ballot. don’t forget to register for the 2008 General Election - especially if you live overseas and are voting by absentee ballot!

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I plan on celebrating Independence Day with my wife. I hope you have a fun and safe Fourth!

In the mean time, consider heading over to the Carnival of Financial Goals - Financial Freedom Edition, which is currently being held at my other site about military money.

photo credit: CMWGary.

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The following is a video from Tops In Blue, which is an Air Force entertainment group comprised entirely of active duty AF members. As part of a one year special duty assignment, they travel around the world and perform shows to entertain the troops and their families, including performing shows in overseas military communities and in war zones. I hope you enjoy it.

To everyone who has either served, loved someone who has served, or otherwise supported our country in any capacity, I salute you. To those who gave the Ultimate Sacrifice, words cannot express what our country owes you.

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Selecting the winner: The winner was selected with a random number generator from the website Psychic Science. To verify and label entries, I placed each valid entry in an Excel spreadsheet, assigned it a number, and then “rolled the virtual dice” so to speak.

And the winner is: GL!

GL, you will receive an e-mail with the keycode, which will allow you to sign on and complete your taxes. Thank you for entering the giveaway, and I hope your tax return will be kinder to than mine was to me!

To everyone else: I’m out of town this weekend, so check back Monday for more personal finance and career tips!

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I was recently contacted by a representative from H&R Block who offered to give me a keycode for the online version of TaxCut Online Premium. Well, my taxes are done, but that just means I can give it away to a lucky reader.

This is done entirely on-line, so you can get access to the program and get your taxes done very quickly! (I will e-mail the winner the link and keycode).

TaxCut Giveaway

• The giveaway: One copy (an internet keycode) for TaxCut Online Premium + State + efile ($59.95 value).
• How to enter: Leave a comment in this article.
• Rules: One entry per person/e-mail/IP address. Odds of winning depend on number of entrants, etc.
• Giveaway ends April 5th 2008 at 11:59 EST.
• The winner will be chosen at random and will be announced Sunday, April 6th.

Good luck everyone, and thanks for reading!

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I have a couple announcements and thank yous to share:

Guest Post on Cash Money Life

I would like to take this opportunity to open the doors to guest authors to contribute an article to Cash Money Life. This would be a unique opportunity for you, the reader, to see your words in print on a world famous personal finance blog. OK, maybe not quite world famous…

Do I have to be a blogger? No! In fact, I would love to hear from readers who do not have a blog of their own. Everyone has a story to tell, so why not try your hand at writing?

What am I looking for in a guest post? Anything that fits in the topics you normally normally see here: personal finance, frugal living, career, investing, self-improvement, etc. Personal stories about how you deal with any of these topics are a great place to start. I only ask that any submissions not be advertising for a commercial outlet, or used as a platform for religion or politics. There is a time and place for those, and this blog isn’t that place.

How to submit an article: Use my contact form, or e-mail me. I can’t promise to print every article that is sent my way, but if it fits with the content of my blog I will try to work it in the rotation. Right now this is an experiment and I only plan on posting a couple guest articles per month. If this works out well, I may set aside one day a week or every other week for guest authors.

Thanks for the Traffic!

March was my most successful month in terms of traffic and subscribers, and there are a lot of people to thank for that. There are a lot of blogs that sent traffic my way, and a lot of people who Stumbled my articles (look me up at StumbleUpon). Thank you, everyone!

Thanks to the top 10 11 blogs that referred traffic to Cash Money Life.

1. Being Frugal
2. Moolanomy
3. My Two Dollars
4. Paid Twice
5. My Money Blog
6. Gather Little by Little
7. Free Money Finance
8. My Dollar Plan
9. Mrs. Micah
10. NCN Blog
11. Single Guy Money

I listed 11 because the last two were only 4 referrals apart. Even if you sent one person my way, or found my site via Google or another method, I sincerely appreciate you stopping by.

Top Commentators

I appreciate every (non-spam) comment! A sincere thanks to Ron @ The Wisdom Journal, Mrs. Micah, Dividend Growth Investor, fathersez, Mark @ TheLocoMono, deepali, Frugal Dad, Know The Ledge, No Debt Plan, Prime Time Money for commenting the most often during the last month. Thank you for contributing to the conversation here.

Subscribe

Now is as good a time as any to subscribe to Cash Money Life. It’s free and easy! You will get daily updates in your feedreader, or if you elect email subscription, you will get no more than one e-mail per day. I also have giveaways on a monthly basis - and the only way to enter is to e-mail me a secret phrase found only in the bottom of the subscription feed.

Thanks for stopping by.

photo credit: stefanies.

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