Motivation and Inspiration for Saturday

Here are some articles that I found particularly helpful this week:

Manage Your Finances Together from Gather Little By Little suggests that couples manage their finanaces together, and recommends periodic budget meetings - seems intuitive, but not necessarily.

9 Financial Tips, by Patrick at Cash Money Life, is a part of the "12 Days of Christmas, Personal Finance Style" thread. Patrick lays out 9 basic financial tips: Set your financial goals, Spend Less then you earn, Increase your income, Pay down your debts, Invest your money, Find ways to save money, Make it automatic, and Give and ye shall receive. Tips we have all heard, for the most part, but nevertheless an excellent compilation.

Is an All-Cash Lifestyle Useful for Kicking the Debt Habit? by Trent at The Simple Dollar, points out that if the only way to avoid debt is to destroy all credit cards is not a true reform in financial behavior, but is rather like riding with training wheels. The goal should be learning how to use credit cards responsibly. I have to agree, and that's my goal.

Stop Asking Me If I Want To Apply For Your Silly Credit Card, at No Credit Needed, gripes about the incessant credit card offers pushed by ever retail clerk in America. "Woud you like to save 10% by applying for your card?" Just what I need - more credit inquiries, more available credit, and potential to pay that 10% and more on the exorbitant interest rates!

These People Must Know What They're Talking About, by Karen Datko at Smart Spending, is another source of inspiration and motivation, and one of the main reasons I love reading Personal Finance Blogs. Whenever I feel like I'm spinning my wheels and I'm doomed to a life of debt, it always helps to read success stories from people who made it work.

Another motivational post, You CAN Get Out Of Debt, by Ana at DebtFREE-Revolution, is a pep-talk for anyone struggling to get out of debt.

Don't Let Great Marketing Catch You Off Guard, by Pinyo at Moolanomy, discusses some of the advertising campaigns that impact consumers' purchasing trends. Only the most astute consumer is able to resist the marketing machine, and if you fall for the claims in every advertisement, you will no doubt pay for it.

If you enjoy this post, be sure to subscribe to my rss feed.