Carnival of Personal Finance #335: Get A Prenup Edition

Welcome to the 335th edition of the Carnival of Personal Finance: Get A Prenup Edition.

In this edition, Kevin McKee from Thousandaire sang us a song Should I Get a Prenup? Yes! and tell us why a prenup is not just for rich celebrities like David Hasselhoff. There are lots of good reasons to get a prenup not just in case of divorce but also in case of the untimely death of a spouse. I didn?t get a prenup when I married Mrs. RB40. We didn?t have any money when we got married so I didn?t think we needed a prenup. Drop by Thousandaire and leave a comment if you disagree! I?m warning you, this song is catchy and might stick in your head for a while.

Editor?s choice

Crystal from Budgeting in the Fun Stuff presents Truly Budgeting in the Fun Stuff. Crystal is doing AWESOME since she quit her day job a few months ago and became her own online boss. She is a huge inspiration to anyone who wants to tell the boss ? I QUIT!!!? Crystals says, ?I don?t want to waste any precious time anymore. What?s the use of working 50-60 hour weeks if you don?t spend the rest of the time on something we enjoy? I?m not advocating wasting money, but I am a believer of budgeting in fun money for just these occasions.?

Dividend Growth Investor presents Stock Spin-Offs ? What Should Dividend Investors do? I am moving more and more of my investment into dividend stocks and I don?t know what to do if the company split.? From Dividend Growth Investor ? ?Several companies I own have announced that they plan on splitting in two separate entities. Abbott Labs (ABT) was the latest one to announce its intentions to split in two companies. The question in the mind of every dividend growth investor is: ?What should I do???

Roshawn Watson from Watson Inc presents Your Do over Guide: What Would You Do Differently? Roshawn always write long thoughtful posts and this one is no different. If you could press rewind on your life, what would you do differently? Personally, I would have held off a home purchase and waited until 2011 to buy a home. We all make mistakes, what would like to take back?

Mike Piper from Oblivious Investor presents Vanguard?s New International Bond Funds. Mike gave us the lowdown on two new international bond funds from Vanguard. International bond usually have higher return than US bonds, but in this uncertain economy I think I?ll stick with the US bonds. Perhaps after the Europeans get their act together, I might consider some of these funds.

Aloysa from My Broken Coin presents Herman Cain?s Peculiar 999 Plan. Aloysa ? ?Read more about how someone with absolutely no experience in elected office managed to capture the minds of conservative America.? I?m pretty sure most lower and middle class American will pay more tax with Cain?s 999 tax plan. There is no way this tax plan would pass. Too many people will lose their write offs and they wouldn?t allow that to happen.

Now on to the rest of the great personal finance posts. Thanks for submitting!

Credit

Jason from One Money Design presents Zero Interest Loan a Good Idea?, and says, ?A zero interest loan can be helpful, but choose wisely as it could get you in trouble.?

Marjorie from CardHub.com presents How to Get the Right Credit Card, and says, ?Hey, I hope all is well! I think you and your readers will find my submission this week very useful as I explain what types of credit cards work well in various situations. When you first start out, all the different credit card offers and commercials out there can seem a bit overwhelming, so this guide will help lead you in the right direction.?

Karen Bryan from Help Me To Save presents Credit Cards: Friend or Foe?, and says, ?Whether credit cards are friends or foes really depends on how you use them, as they have the capacity to be either. Used wisely they can offer benefits such as cashback and additional consumer protection. Used unwisely and you can end up in ever spiralling debt.?

Investing

Squirrelers from Squirrelers presents Historical Pattern: Stock Prices Increase on the First Day of the Month, and says, ?Sometimes we just have to take a closer look at the data to see interesting patterns. A recent analysis showed the difference between stock returns on the first day of the month, versus returns on other days.?

Hank from Money Q & A presents Great Advantages of Exchange Traded Funds, and says, ?There are several great advantages of exchange traded funds (ETFs) that investors can use in their portfolio. Find out what they are.?

Ron from The Wisdom Journal presents Should You Invest While You?re In Debt?, and says, ?Where you are debt-wise can and should influence your investing decisions, but it isn?t a cut and dried decision.?

D4L from Dividend Growth Stocks presents 12 Blue Chip Dividend Stocks For When the Chips Are Down, and says, ?This year the market has been quite volatile. With significant run ups followed by steep declines. This has provided income investors first hand experience in managing both their emotions and their income portfolio in an unsettled market. To make the most of these trying times, here are some concepts to help you succeed and thrive during a market correction:?

Eric from Narrow Bridge Finance presents Social Lending Options, and says, ?An updated look at social lending through sites like Lending Club, Prosper, and Kiva.?

IS from Intelligent Speculator presents How Much Is That ?Security? Worth To You?, and says, ?What?s your investing strategy??

Div Guy from The Dividend Guy Blog presents How to Tell the Difference Between a Ride in the Markets and When You are About to Lose Serious Money, and says, ?Can you spot the difference??

Money Thinker from Money Thinking presents European Financial Contagion Woes affect Dow Jones, and says, ?Money Thinker explores the idea of financial contagion and what it means in our current economy.?

Money Management

Ashley from Money Talks Coaching presents If You Know It?s Coming, It?s Not an Emergency, and says, ?An emergency is when you are in danger. If you know ahead of time that you are going to have an emergency then it no longer becomes an emergency. You can plan for it.?

Lisa from Thriftability presents Fiverr: What Will You Do for $5?, and says, ?When times are tight, many people begin to think about ways to make a little extra cash. Second jobs and freelancing are popular ways to make more money. One venue I am unreasonable intrigued by is Fiverr.?

Sustainable PF from Sustainable Personal Finance presents Your Finances and a Greener Life, and says, ?Here are some steps you can take to make your finances a little greener:?

Budgeting

Neo from NetWorthProtect.com presents 5 Easy Ways to Implement Your Simple and Successful Budget, and says, ?Once you have gone through all of the hard work of understanding your financial means, goals and budget, the next big task is the execution of your budgeting strategy.?

Corey from 20?s Finances presents How an ATM Fee Saved me $32, and says, ?Find out how a $2 ATM fee saved me $32.?

Debt

Money Beagle from Money Beagle presents 5 Reasons To Be Optimistic About Student Loan Debt, and says, ?Maybe, just maybe, we?ve hit the peak of the problem? ?

Boomer from Boomer & Echo presents How Well Do You Handle Debt?, and says, ?Debt management is simply how well you handle the debt you have now and how prepared you are to handle debt in the future.?

Melissa from Mom?s Plans presents Debt Free Journey Update #3, and says, ?We did many different activities this week to find money to snowflake on our debt, and the result was that we were able to snowflake $496.17 this week! In the three weeks since we have gotten gazelle intense, we have ?found? $1197.73 to snowflake!?

Glen Craig from Free From Broke presents The Payday Loan Trap, and says, ?Payday loans are hated by most personal finance experts and such. But a payday loan does have a place to fill a need for some. Just watch out for the payday loan trap!?

Matt Bell from Matt About Money presents Choosing the Best Method for Getting Out of Debt, and says, ?For anyone trying to get out of debt, there is conflicting advice. Should you focus on your highest interest rate debt first or your lowest balance debt? In this video-based post, I review a free online calculator that can help you make an informed decision.?

Saving

Eric J. Nisall from DollarVersity presents Emergency Funds: A Vital Part Of Any Financial Plan, and says, ?Emergency funds are of great assistance in case of, well, emergencies. It is up to you to decide just how much should be in you particular account.?

Miranada @ Financial Highway from Financial Highway presents 45 Ways to Save Money, and says, ?Do you want to start your own business and make a little extra money? It can seem daunting at first, since there are so many others out there trying to get something started. Here are 4 creative business ideas that can help you get started. ?

Pete from IPersonalFinances presents Take the Emergency out of your Emergency Fund, and says, ?Save for your ?peace of mind? instead of an emergency. You are less likely to save for an emergency that robs you of your happiness, not only now but when it happens. It?s easier to save instead for more peace and happiness in your life. ?

Economy

Dr. Dean from The Millionaire Nurse presents Occupy Wall Street: If Only, and says, ?The occupy movement should come in my town!?

Odysseas from Wallet Blog presents Switzerland Supports Criminals & Hurts Your Wallet, and says, ?Economies around the world are now more interconnected than ever, and if we want the world to become a safer place and for all U.S. citizens to be held accountable for the same tax laws, then Switzerland will need to adjust or risk expulsion from the Western financial network.?

N.W. Journey from Net Worth Journey presents Social Security, and says, ?A basic primer on the Social Security program.?

Trent Green from Money for Regular People presents Why Hasn?t Quantitative Easing Worked as Well as Hoped?, and says, ?Why hasn?t the economy improved significantly even though the Federal Reserve has engaged in 2 rounds of quantitative easing? This article explains why in plain English.?

Flexo from Consumerism Commentary presents Boost Your Human Capital: Publish Your Thoughts, and says, ?You may not think that writing your thoughts will result is great wealth but just take a look at some personal finance blogs selling for millions of dollars.?

Real Estate

Tyler Wright from Debt Reckoning presents Managing Rental Property: DIY or Hire a Property Manager?, and says, ?Tyler breaks down the pros and cons of hiring a property manager versus being your own landloard, a crucial decision for real estate investors.?

PKamp3 from Don?t Quit Your Day Job? presents Mortgages vs. Inflation: The Real Mortgage Rate is Historically Low?, and says, ?The difference between the 30 year fixed mortgage rate and the 10 year market inflation expectations is at an unprecedented low level. Too wonky? Don?t worry, I added a chart which explains it better than I can!?

Edu @ DollarMusings presents Contract for Deed is a BAD IDEA, and says, ?As banks tighten their lending standards, some people are turning to seller-financed agreements to purchase homes. Known as ?Contract-for-Deed?? these arrangements can be EXTREMELY dangerous, and expensive, for first-time buyers. This post shows how they offer none of the legal protections of a traditional mortgage and other reasons why they should be avoided at all cost. They?re simply the latest iteration of predatory lending.?

MD from Passive Income Now presents How to Buy an Investment Property as a Young Investor, and says, ?What you need to know about an investment property.?

Career

LaTisha from Financial Success for Young Adults presents Why Your Degree Means Nothing, and says, ?Getting a degree is more than just getting a piece of paper and a handshake. Make it mean something. Is your degree worthless??

Mike from The Financial Blogger presents Do You Want to Blog Full-Time? Reality Check Part 2, and says, ?The second part of the reality check.?

Green Panda from Green Panda Treehouse presents So Many Choices in So Little Time: College Choices That We Have To Make, and says, ?The important decisions we all have to go through.?

Lindy from Minting Nickels presents The One That Got Away, and says, ?This article is about staying positive in the face of lost opportunities (financial or otherwise). ?

Peter from Bible Money Matters presents Unemployed? Consider Moving to Where the Jobs Are. . . North Dakota, and says, ?In an economy where millions have been looking for jobs for months, the current oil boom in North Dakota sounds like a dream come true, especially for those who are willing to move and work hard.?

Darwin from Darwin?s Money presents Unemployment by Major ? Some Degrees Pay While Others Leave YOU Paying, and says, ?This new report sheds light on which majors have high or low unemployment rates ? and what the salaries are.?

Odysseas from Wallet Blog presents What?s the Connection Between Unions and Your Wallet?, and says, ?Unions are inextricably tied to the U.S. economy. They have served an important purpose, ensuring that there is a balance of power between management and labor. But what if things have gone too far? Could unions actually be costing Americans jobs by forcing companies to outsource? And, if so, what?s the solution??

Fanny from Living Richly on a Budget presents 3 Ways to Make Extra Money From Home, and says, ?Need ideas to make extra money from home? Here are 3 ways you may not have thought of.?

Philip from PT Money Personal Finance presents 5 Things to Do Before Starting a Business, and says, ?There are a few things you should consider doing before you start your own business.?

Finance

Jeff Rose from Good Financial Cents presents In-Plan Roth Conversions-Convert It While You Work, and says, ?Here are some insightful facts about Roth IRA conversions and some helpful information you need to know.?

Kyle Taylor from The Penny Hoarder presents How to Earn $10/Hour Counting Crowd Sizes, and says, ?It?s a bit like counting sheep before you go to bed, but you can actually earn $10/hour by counting the number of people in a crowded area. Here?s how to get hired??

Craig Ford from Money Help For Christians presents 7 Fundamental Foundations for Fixing Financial Failure, and says, ?7 helpful tips for fixing past financial mistakes.
?

Chris Holdheide from Stumble Forward presents What Is A Cash Out Refinance Mortgage And Is It Worth It, and says, ?Learn how I used a cash out refinance to pay down my debt.?

Frugality

Junior Boomer from Consumer Boomer presents How To Make the Most Out of Selling Your Car, and says, ?Here are some valuable tips on how to get the most money when selling your car.?

Colin Williams from Humble Savers presents Being Very Frugal, and says, ?Every penny saved can seem like Gold when you need it most. A collection of quick money saving tips for Being Very Frugal?

Money Management

Bob from Christian Personal Finance presents Financial Lessons From Football, and says, ?It was only five short years ago that I was on the football field, under the bright lights. I can still remember the fans cheering and coaches play calling. The sound of Gatorade being sucked down, the sound of cleats on the turf, smashing of pads, it?s still very vivid in my head. I will miss playing football. I miss it so much I still have dreams about it??

FMF from Free Money Finance presents Economic Lessons from Settlers of Catan, and says, ?You can learn a lot about managing your money by playing Settlers of Catan.?

Mr. Money from Smart on Money presents Ally Bank Now Offers E-Check Deposit: Scan and Deposit Your Checks At Home, and says, ?This past month Ally announced that they were going to be rolling out to all customers the ability to take physical checks that they?ve received and deposit them online, without having to actually mail the check in to Ally ? or go to a connected bricks and mortar bank to deposit the check and then transfer.?

Dough Roller from The Dough Roller presents Don?t Be a ?Bank Transfer Day? Lemming, and says, ?Don?t worry if you missed Bank Transfer Day. You?ll have all the opportunity in the world to find the right financial institution for your money.?

ElizabethG from Modern Gal presents How Financially Flexible Are You?, and says, ?Have you made any big changes in your life that have resulted in a very different financial outlook??

Other

Shaun from Money Cactus presents How to Become a Millionaire, and says, ?The things that millionaires have in common aren?t super top secret strategies that are only available to the rich. They are really very basic, but do require work. See how you stack up and share your thoughts as well.?

SB from One Cent At A Time presents Kathy, Cynthia, Joyce, and Carmen Go Black Friday Shopping, and says, ?A story on Black Friday shopping told in a style previously unknown in blogging world. Read this imaginary conversation between four friends about Black Friday deals. See how the truth and legitimacy of Black Friday deals comes out from the conversation. ?

Craig Ford from Help Me Travel Cheap presents The Best Air Miles Credit Cards for Every Day Spending, and says, ?Discover the best air miles credit card for everyday spending.?

J.B. from My University Money presents What Does Tuition Include?, and says, ?I took my latest tuition bill and broke it down so people can see where all of their money goes.?

Daniel from Sweating The Big Stuff presents Aim High With Your Goals, and says, ?I work for an online advertising company and when I see people trying hard to make $5 a week. it upsets me because they are setting their sites so low. Set goals that will propel you forward and will make an impact on your life!?

Thanks for visiting Retire By 40.

Source: http://retireby40.org/2011/11/carnival-personal-finance-prenup/

alcohol poisoning mark ingram mark ingram between two ferns howard stern howard stern joe the plumber