Carnival of Financial Independence 30th Edition

Welcome to the 30th edition of the Carnival of Financial Independence, a selection of the best articles related to Financial Independence this week. If you would like to be included next week, please submit your post via Blogger Carnivals. If you would like to host a future edition, you can contact Pauline at Reach Financial Independence.

The guidelines are:

• You can submit a post that was published during the last month
• The posts have to relate to reaching financial independence, and fit within the following categories: Savings and Simple living, Travel and Lifestyle, Wealth and Passive income, Real Estate and Investing, or Self employment.
• Submit by Wednesday night for the Saturday edition
• Please mention the carnival in your roundups if you have been featured!

Travel and Lifestyle

Pauline at Reach Financial Independence writes Rent our Little House in Guatemala! – We just put our Guatemalan house up for rent to travelers and tourists who want to visit Guatemala.

Daisy @ Suburban Finance writes Advantages of Suburban Living – There are many advantages to living in the suburbs instead of the city.

Mr. Frenzy @ Frenzied Finances writes Go Green to Save Green: Tips for a New Lifestyle – Going green can often bring dollar signs to the average American’s eyes. Read here for tips and advice on going green, and learn how it can save you money!

Wealth and Passive Income

CAPI @ Creating a Passive Income writes All or Nothing: Gambling and Finances – For the casino lovers and financial activists alike, here is how you can manage both worlds without possibly ruining your future for the long haul.

Minimalist @ Minimalist Finance writes Ways to Make More Money Without Having to Work More – Ways to Make More Money Without Having to Work More has been published on Minimalist FinanceWe’ve previously described methods of making money, and they are all great suggestions. Every day, people are making money above and beyond their income from their day jobs, and it’s providing families with a sense of security.

Michael Kitces @ Nerd’s Eye View writes Is A Reverse Mortgage Better Than Keeping A Traditional Amortizing Mortgage In Retirement? – Many retirees keep a mortgage in retirement, not wanted to liquidate a large portion of their portfolio to pay off the loan and risk being “house rich and cash poor.” Yet the reality is that if the goal is to keep a mortgage throughout retirement, the best approach may actually be to use a reverse mortgage, not a traditional one!

Crystal @ Married (with Debt) writes I Don’t Care if My Wife Hits the Lottery – I discuss what I evaluated when I purchased my term-life insurance policy with a death benefit of $2 million.

krantcents @ KrantCents writes Financially Preparing for Future Goals – Life is expensive and meeting various financial demands often calls for early preparation. Maybe you’re planning an upcoming vacation. Or perhaps you want to save for your kid’s college education or plan your retirement. Regardless of your life goals, here are tips to prepare your finances.

Michelle @ Diversified Finances writes How Much Do I Need in My Emergency Fund? – Our emergency fund is finally fully funded. WHEW! Since I am switching to full-time self-employment, we have been really focused on building it back up. A couple of months ago, I drained our emergency fund completely so that we could pay the ol’ student loans.

FI Pilgrim @ FI Journey writes How To Create A Strategic Plan For Your Finances – If you have ever been in business, you have probably been exposed to a strategic plan in some form. Here is how to create a strategic plan for yourself!

Anton Ivanov @ Dreams Cash True writes Combining Finances with Your Significant Other – Why, When and How – Combining finances is an important step to building a healthy relationship. I share my thoughts on why, when and how to merge your finances.

Real Estate and Investing

Bob @ Dwindling Debt writes Where Did All the Mutual Funds Go? – Here is an interesting and uncomfortable fact about the mutual fund industry; every year a substantial number of mutual funds fail entirely.

Lazy Man @ Lazy Man and Money writes Real Estate Vs. REITs – Real estate comes with its headaches, no doubt about that. A REIT has never called me up in the middle of the night with a plumbing problem. Additionally, if there’s a problem and you need access to cash, it’s fairly easy to sell a REIT. Good luck selling a piece real estate in an emergency.

ETZ25 @ Entertainment Timez writes AIG Alert – Are Others Starting to Notice This Stock Too? – Is AIG starting to get noticed for the value that I believe that it is? Is it kind of like a dolphin caught in fishing lines? To infinity and beyond!

Kim @ Eyes on the Dollar writes Should We Buy Another Rental Property? – Is this the best time to buy a rental property? How to explore inventory, interest rates, and cash flow in consideration of making an investment property purchase.

Jacob @ Cash Cow Couple writes Motif Investing Review – Motif Investing is an innovative company that allows you to hold motifs (bundles of specialized stocks) in your investment portfolio.

Lauren @ L Bee and the Money Tree writes My House Is Making Me Loose – Remember that post I wrote about a leaky bucket? You know the phenomena when you have all these unexpected expenses and it just seems like all of your money is flying out of your wallet? Well, renovating a home and planning a wedding at the same time is like the leaky bucket phenomena on speed.

Roger the Amateur Financier @ The Amateur Financier writes 10 Truly Unusual Investments – A list of unusual investments, including collectibles, peer-to-peer, and crowdsourcing, as a means of diversifying investments and providing profits in the future.

Luke @ Learn Bonds writes Bonds vs. Bond Mutual Funds – Which do you choose, individual bonds or bond mutual funds? Depending on your investment strategy, the answer will vary. Here are some tips to help decide.

IMB @ Investing Money writes Investing in Health Care – Health care these days is hard to follow – especially as an investor. Read here for the latest information on health care and investing.

Tushar @ Earn More and Save writes How to Make Money With Real Estate – There are several entrepreneurs who are in the business of making a living off of real estate. While earning money through real estate seems very attractive, a lot of hard work and risk is put into this business.

Rich @ Growing Money Smart writes Renting A Room vs Buying A House In College – The Renting a room vs buying a house debate continues and for some it works and others it doesn’t. It wasn’t an option for me, and here’s why…

Holly @ Club Thrifty writes Saying Goodbye To My Dream House – Even though we have the money, we cannot buy our dream house. Read more about the tragic details in this post.

Jack @ Money Saving Ethics writes What exactly is Compound Interest? – Want to know just how fantastic compound interest is? Albert Einstein called compound interest “the greatest mathematical discovery of all time.”

Tushar @ Start Investing Money writes 3 Reasons to Become an Unusual Investor – When we think about investments the usual suspects pop into our minds. We think of the stock market. We think of bank accounts of all kinds, not to mention any tax free options we can get our hands on. We probably don’t think about wine, art and rare coins.

MMD @ IRA vs 401k Central writes Understanding the 401k Limits on My Contributions and Other Rules – The IRS has many 401k limits placed on how much you can contribute, how much your employer can contribute, and a lot of other aspects that can affect your savings and future withdrawals. This post will cover all the main highlights.

Brent @ PersonalFinance-Tips writes Items to Recycle For Cash – Looking for a way to make extra cash? Try selling some of your unwanted items. So start searching around the house. Check out your closet, drawers, in the attic, garage and spare rooms for items you no longer use or haven’t used in years. Here are a few of the more popular items people have sold for extra cash.

Jason Hull @ Hull Financial Planning writes How the Average Market Timer Thinks About Facebook Stock and the Twitter IPO – Ooh! The Twitter IPO is coming! BUY! BUY! BUY! We’ve seen this film before with the IPO of Facebook. Let’s see how that worked out.

PK @ Don’t Quit Your Day Job… writes An Ideal Savings Rate Calculator for Financial Independence and Retirement Planning – Financial independence and retirement are really the same coin – but my calculator can tell you when you can expect either.

Tushar Mathur @ Everything Finance writes Time Is Money So Invest It Wisely – Time is money, so invest it wisely. Do this by creating time to better yourself whether through reading, exercise or spending time with those you love most.

Self employment and Career

Tony @ We Only Do This Once writes A New Blog and a Grammy? – It’s been a busy month for me, so I am sorry I haven’t posted regularly. I have been involved in some projects that you may be interested in, though, and I hope you will spread the word about them.

Kyle @ The Penny Hoarder writes 5 Quirky Businesses Posting Growth in Difficult Climate For Retailers – Given how difficult it has been for many companies to get ahead, bosses and marketing teams have had to ensure that they come up with killer ideas in order to try and expand.

Buck @ Buck Inspire writes Backup Your Data Regularly To Prevent Data Loss Seth Brundle! – Last Labor Day, I had a delightful chat, for the podcast, with Benny Hsu of the Get Busy Living Blog and the creator of iPhone apps like Photo 365 and Gratitude 365. Ironically, he asked about my interview breaks and I told him how the Podcast Answer Man (Cliff Ravenscraft) freaked me out about using computers and software to do podcasts.

Mike @ Personal Finance Journey writes Good financial reasons to volunteer your time – How volunteering your time can help your financial journey along in leaps and bounds. Do you volunteer anything?

Jester @ The Ultimate Juggle writes Why I Love My Job – I’m sure you’re surprised to read the title of this post. And I bet you’re even expecting some very sarcastic story about how I don’t love my job. But the reality is – this title is completely accurate.

Corey @ 20s Finances writes How to Get Raise – If you want to earn more money, there are a number of things you should do.

Lisa E. @ Lisa Vs. The Loans writes Don’t Be a Complainy-Pants – It’s easy to come up with an excuse for everything – why you don’t have a job, why you don’t make enough money, why you don’t save, etc. Stop complaining and start doing something about it!

Investor Junkie @ Investor Junkie writes Are You Working for Minimum Wage? – You’ve heard the phrase, “The harder I work, the luckier I get”. That axiom is somewhat true. Understand though, you are taking risks with a lower salary for an eventual higher payout. Make sure you realize this calculation anytime you take a new job, start a new business, or start working with a new customer.

Robert @ The College Investor writes The Dangers of Being an Idea Man – We need idea men (and women, of course) to help drive innovation, and push the boundaries of what is possible in business, technology, and science. However, ideas are great on paper but we won’t get anywhere unless we also have people who are willing to dive into these ideas and turn them into reality.

Dollar @ Easy Extra Dollar writes Make Money Online With Work At Home Jobs – Landing a work at home job isn’t all that easy. It is going to take a little research and work to find the perfect legitimate job. Initially, you will need to understand the types of jobs from home that are available, along with the job listings. You will then need to check out some companies that have been known to hire freelancers or employees to work from home.

Adam @ Money Bulldog writes What Is Holding You Back from Setting Up Your Own Business? – How to turn your life around and be a business owner yourself. Defeat life challenges and become your own boss!

Stefanie @ The Broke and Beautiful Life writes Survival Job Spotlight: Babysitting, Service, Personal Assisting, and More. My Journey. – My history of side hustlin’

AB @ Aspiring Blogger writes The Joys of Working from Home – Have you ever wondered what it’s like to have one of those “work from home” jobs? Well, I am a consultant and I often work from home. Join me to see what my life is like – the good and the bad!

GMM @ Grad Money Matters writes Great ideas for Side Jobs in the Fall or Winter – Side jobs are always on my mind. There are so many positives to starting a side job. These include: extra money (of course!), being able to pay off debt more quickly, being able to save for your next financial goal a little more quickly, and more. Side jobs allow you to hopefully not live paycheck to paycheck. You can diversify your income and not be as reliant on one area.

Alexis @ FITnancials writes How to make a little extra cash – You can also make money by filling out surveys online. Just browse the internet for current opportunities at your favorite stores, restaurants and local businesses. You can also use the time to air any constructive criticism.

mochimac @ Save. Spend. Splurge. writes Freelancers should treat themselves like a business – Freelancers should treat themselves like a business

Michelle @ The Shop My Closet Project writes One Month until FinCon13! So excited! – I bought a ticket for this conference. I’d never gone to a conference outside of work conferences and I’d barely gone to conferences for work. I had no idea what to expect. It was the best $100 I spent last year.

Justin @ Root Of Good writes Sabbatical, Mid Career Break, or Retired? – If you are a normal human being, you dream of taking a break from the drudgery of work. More free time. More sun filled vacations. More sleeping in on rainy mornings. More lounging on the back porch buried in a book.

Saving and Simple Living

Cat Alford @ Budget Blonde writes 5 Money Saving Tips for DIY and Design Projects – Want some money saving tips for DIY and design projects? Well, look no further than today’s post! I really miss doing DIY projects!

Don @ MoneySmartGuides writes Top Money Saving Tips for the Techy Generation – There are many money saving tips but with the changing of technology, new tips are commonplace. Here are a handful of money saving tips for the techies.

Ryan @ Cash Money Life writes Could a Splurge Be a Positive Thing? – Sometimes it is OK to splurge and spend a little extra on something fun or frivolous. But it’s important to know when to spend the money, and when not to.

Hank @ Money Q&A writes How To Save Money On Your Mobile Phone Bill – Mobile phone bills can be a burden on anyone trying to live on a tight budget. But, you can save money on your mobile phone bill with these great tips.

Crystal @ Budgeting in the Fun Stuff writes The Art of Choosing Between An Experience And A Possession – So you have extra money – do you buy stuff with it or buy an experience with it? Here is my argument for the experience.

Suba @ Broke Professionals writes Save on Entertainment Costs with Cable or Satellite – The price of everything is going up. Child care, groceries, transportation costs; you name it, you are paying more for it now than you have in the past.

Katie @ IRA Basics writes Benefits of a Budget – Budget. It is a dreaded word, not one that instills ideas of grandeur and immense fun. It is also a word that is often neglected, an idea that most of us would rather not think about.

Mr CBB at Canadian Budget Binder writes Living on a budget is for losers – A budget for some people means they are restricting themselves from spending and for others it means understanding where their money goes. There is no wrong or right answer when it comes to budgeting because a budget doesn’t have to be an excel spreadsheet all you need to know is where your are at, where you are going and are you succeeding at reaching your goals.

Michelle @ Making Sense of Cents writes Is Cable Worth It? Costs and Other Alternatives – We are currently paying $57 (this amount includes all fees and taxes) for nearly every single channel imaginable and also for channels such as HBO.

GYF @ Gaming Your Finances writes 66 Easy Ways to Save Money – A list of the 66 easiest ways to save money. These tips were employed by the GYF household to increase their savings rate from 40% to +60%.

SFB @ Simple Finance Blog writes How To Save Money On Back To School Supplies – Every parent who has a school-going child knows that shopping for back-to-school supplies is usually heavy on a budget, but that does not mean that you should break the bank.

John S @ Frugal Rules writes 6 Flea Market Shopping Tips That Will Help You Save Big – Going shopping at a flea market can be great entertainment as well as a way to save money on certain items. If you’re creative, you can be frugal and save some money on items you may need for your home.

Bargain Babe @ BargainBabe.com writes 10 Alternatives to Christmas Gifts – Don’t hate me because it’s September and we’re going to talk about alternatives to Christmas gifts. Think of this as you getting a head start on the inevitable holiday. Yes, I realize it isn’t even…

Maria @ The Money Principle writes Smart driving can be cheap – Smart have introduced another car in their range that specially targets the 21 year olds. Driving with Smart can be cheap, stylish and trendy.

Brock Kernin @ Clever Dude writes Cheap Entertainment: Poker Night – Need an idea for a cheap night of entertainment with friends? Ever try a poker night?

SavingMentor @ How To Save Money writes You Need A Quality Back Yard Mechanic – In breaking news: Cars Are Expensive! I bet you’re shocked, right? I think anyone who has owned a car for a few years knows that most vehicles are just a huge money pit that never stop sucking your wallet dry yet they are a necessity for most of us Canadians in this monster of a country we live in.

Eva Baker @ TeensGotCents writes Starbucks Coupons – Shopping With Sarah – Sarah has found a way to get a great deal on her favorite drink. Did you know that you can buy Starbucks coupons – all sorts of coupons – even gift cards?

Chris WIlliams @ Big Day Coming writes Back From Vacation: Lessons Learned – Lessons laerned the hard way about how to save money while on vacation!

Marissa @ Thirty Six Months writes Negotiation in Everyday Life Spending – Very few things in this world are black and white; the bulk of our existences falls within gray areas. The same is true for expenses, as many seemingly unwavering price tags are not as firm as they may appear. Using negotiation in everyday life spending can help you reduce bills so you have more cash free to do the things you want to do.

Monica @ Monica On Money writes Why You Don’t Need The iPhone 5S – Before I became frugal, I bought the iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, iPad, and Macbook Pro on the day that they were released! BUT, the iPhone 5S is different and you don’t need it.

Daniel @ Sweating The Big Stuff writes One Way Car Rentals Are Really Cheap – I rented a car from Boston to New York because it was significantly cheaper and more convenient than taking buses and shuttles to all the places I needed to go.

SBB @ Simple Budget Blog writes What Personal Budgeting Software is Right for You? – Quicken? Mint? Excel? What software fits your personality? Here are some descriptions to help you figure it all out.

Thank you for reading, have a great weekend!

photo from Free Digital Photos