Weekly Update 21

Kyle and I are gearing up for our trip to Chicago next weekend.  We have planned where we’re staying each night of our trip (only paying for one!) but don’t yet know what sights we’ll see/activites we’ll do each day (suggestions welcome!).  We have a lot of research and planning and shopping yet to do, but at least our wedding attire is already taken care of.

We have also started looking for a new place to live.  Our apartment complex is raising our rent significantly so we wanted to research what else is available at what price ranges so we can either effectively negotiate with the leasing office or find something else we like.  We need to make a decision in the next week or two about whether or not to renew.  This is a difficult decision because we really, really love our apartment.

Posts I Liked

Corey from 20’s Finances reminded us of some of the important things in life – like safety, security, and community.

Adam Faughn from Christian Personal Finance listed suggestions of how often to review your various types of financial accounts.

The Happy Homeowner expounded on the many psychological reasons that we may develop financial problems.

G.E. Miller from 20something Finance wrote a wonderful post delineating the difference between tactical and ideological personal finance advice.

Craig Ford from Christian Personal Finance listed five reasons renting might be your best option.

Brent Pittman from On Target Coaching listed a few financial and career rules that have changed and what has replaced them.

Mentions

Erika from From Shopping to Saving featured How to Move Out on a Shoestring Budget in her favorite reads.

Daisy from When Life Gives You Lemons featured Obligations on Your Side Hustle Income in her Saturday links.

Carnivals

Budgeting, Tracking, or Neither? was featured in the Totally Money Carnival and the Carnival of Financial Planning #242.

Frugality in Moderation was featured in the Carnival of Financial Camaraderie #38.

Top Comment

Holly from Club Thrifty laid out a plan for paying for vacations that is very similar to ours, perfectly articulating why you shouldn’t finance a vacation: “We pay for our vacations by saving for them all year, setting a budget, and finding vacations that fit within that budget…  I would definitely not suggest that a person go into debt to fund a vacation. If you cannot afford to pay cash for your vacation, you cannot afford it. Period.”

Most Frequent Commenters

1. Edward Antrobus
2. Kathleen @ Frugal Portland
3. Daisy @ When Life Gives You Lemons
4. Michelle @ Making Sense of Cents
5. Leigh @ Leigh’s Financial Journey

Top Blogs Referring to EPF

1. Punch Debt in the Face
2. From Shopping to Saving
3. See Debt Run
4. Get Rich Slowly
5. Work Save Live