Yakezie Carnival ' Birthday Edition

Birthdays are a wonderful time in the year, but if often puts a lot of pressure on you. For those of you who are my followers on twitter, you will already know what I am about to ask (because I tweeted about it on Friday). Tomorrow is my birthday and I am looking to capitalize on it. Unlike other years, I have just elected to go to my favorite restaurant in town. This year, I want it to be different. I want to incorporate my new  obsession with personal finances by finding the best free birthday item. In March, my wife and I went to a Thai restaurant in town to get a flaming scoop of fried ice cream (literally flaming; the flame was probably 6-8 inches high and was quite impressive). What I want to know is other restaurants that will provide me with the best birthday item. Please share your thoughts in the comments section (it will most likely have to be a chain restaurant of some sort since 99% of you don't live in the same town as me).

Roshawn Watson @ Watson Inc writes Your Financial Crisis Manual ' You can come out of hardship, and the best way to do this is with a plan. Here are 9 steps to navigating a financial crisis.

SB @ One Cent at a Time writes How to Control Stock Trading Impulses ' People with investible money often gets attracted to stocks after reading an article or two. It is important to not buy out of impulse. Take time, do research and set some guidelines to control your impulses

Ray @ Squirrelers writes My Worst Customer Service Experience Ever ' We often like to celebrate great customer service, and that's a good thing. Of course, sometimes things turn out much differently, and we like to share those stories too. What's your worst customer service experience ever?

Paul Vachon @ The Frugal Toad writes Save Money on Auto Repair with These Web Apps ' With the average age of cars on U.S. roads approaching 11 years, saving money on auto repair is a high priority for many people. One of the problems when dealing with auto repair away from home is finding a reputable repair shop. With a smartphone and these websites, saving money on auto repair is right at your fingertips.

Lorillia @ Your Money Mentor writes Vanishing Paper: Why the value of stock certificates can be worth more than the stock ' Discussing the value of a stock certificate as investment or collectible.

JP @ My Family Finances writes Family Debt Management: Should You Take Out a Student Loan for College or Save Up and Pay With Cash? ' When managed correctly, debt is very useful, it can help you save money and get you ahead in your finances. Student loans are a perfect example.

Jen @ Master the Art of Saving writes Warning: Drinking Alcohol Can Make You Spend More Money ' Can drinking alcohol make you spend more money? In my experience it can, but that doesn't mean that it's that way for everybody. Is it? Drinking alcohol''..

Amanda L Grossman @ Frugal Confessions writes Are Family Memberships Worth It? ' Summer is upon us'a potentially busy time for Moms and Dads.

Maria @ The Money Principle writes About the importance of spotting opportunities and acting on them ' Looking at my plan and what I have really achieved it struck me that my main achievements didn't have much to do with my plan and a lot to do with serendipity. Also, although my talents, skills and knowledge were absolutely necessary for some of these to come off, they are by far not sufficient. These achievements needed opportunities, my ability to recognise these and the courage to ride with them.

Daisy @ Add Vodka writes Are Bloggers Really Writers? ' I was in Kindergarten when I picked up my first novel (Babysitters Little Sister ' holla!) that a family friend had given me to save for when I was actually old enough to read it, and I never looked back.

101 Centavos @ 101 Centavos writes Why Green is the Way Forward for Your Business ' Improving your environmental credentials is unlikely to be at the top of your to do list, but 'going green' can be a super smart move for any business'.

Jon Rhodes @ Affiliate Tips writes How To Build Trust Online ' Building trust is essential for online business success. This article gives you some hints on how to do this.

Daniel @ Sweating the Big Stuff writes IKEA's As-Is Department: How We Saved 40 Percent on a China Cabinet ' This article is about how we saved 40 percent on a China Cabinent by buying it thru IKEA's AS-IS Department! Read about our great deal!

Invest It Wisely @ Invest It Wisely writes Negotiate Using the Lifetime Loyalty Card ' Repeat after me: Everything is negotiable.

Aloysa @ My Broken Coin writes Why I Took Out a 401K Loan ' Two years ago I took out a 401K loan to pay off my personal loan. Don't gasp. Don't shake your head. Don't judge, or be judged, remember? Most financial bloggers recommend to never borrow from your 401K. They are right: the risks of taking out a 401K loan outweigh the benefits by far.

Dr. Dean @ The Millionaire Nurse Blog writes Innovative Ideas ' Are you looking for new ideas? Do you want to learn how to look for ideas in a new way? This is an innovative way to expand your search for creativity.

Suba @ Broke Professionals writes You Better Not Die Without These Three Documents! ' You Better Not Die Without These Three Documents! is a post from: Broke Professionals if you enjoy it, please visit us and subscribe to the Feed. Death is something that no one wants to think about, but is inevitable. Like the saying goes, 'no one comes out of this life alive.

PPlan @ Provident Plan writes Should You Pray for Good Fortune? to Win the Lottery? ' Do you find yourself wanting more money? Maybe you want to win the lottery. Find out how prayer comes into play and whether it can help you win the lottery.

Hank @ Money Q&A writes Why Good Companies Do Not Always Make Good Investments ' There is a difference between a good company and a company's stock that makes a good investment. How do you choose and know when a good companies may not make good investments?

Jester @ The Ultimate Juggle writes Watch out for These Scams When Opening up a High Risk Merchant Account ' Merchant account scams have become more common as more businesses have become able to accept their customers' credit cards. High risk merchant accounts can be especially vulnerable to these types of scams.

Sustainable PF @ Sustainable Personal Finance writes HELOC For Consumption vs Investment ' The Smith Manoeuvre might not be for everyone, but basic math shows that it isn't insane. In fact, for many people, it makes a lot of sense.

Kyle @ The Penny Hoarder writes How to Get Paid for Making Fun of Movies Online ' If you are good at making fun of movies, here's an opportunity for you to make some money from it'

Kevin @ Thousandaire writes Do Young People Need Life Insurance? ' Do young people need life insurance? Unfortunately that's the wrong question.

Corey @ 20s Finances writes Is the Best Job The Highest Paying One? ' Too often our society places the highest value on that which costs the most money. Somehow we have come to learn that the most money means the best product and ultimately, quality of life. We convince ourselves that life would be better if we had more money. While it is almost always easier, it doesn't mean better.

Edward Antrobus @ Edward Antrobus writes 3 Ways You Can Watch Hulu on Your TV Without Paying for it ' Hulu Plus isn't the only way to stream shows from Hulu onto your tv. Here are three FREE alternatives to try instead.

Evan @ My Journey to Millions writes Updating My Covered Call Traditional IRA Account ' It has been almost two months since I have provided an update to my Traditional IRA which is used to primarily purchase Covered Calls. Here is where the account stands now.

Mr. Money @ Smart on Money writes TD Ameritrade Review: Highly Rated Discount Broker ' In the past year I've reviewed quite a few online brokers on this site. Many of them were very highly reviewed by customers and industry press alike. One that stands out among the pack, however, even with all the other great brokerages out there is TD Ameritrade .

Cash Flow Mantra @ Cash Flow Mantra writes One Year of Cash Flow Mantra ' Now the stats are nice to look at, but don't tell the whole story. Since starting CFM (which was my first Word Press blog), I have managed to start two more (although with writing assistance). I have met a lot of nice fellow personal financial bloggers online and hope to meet some in person someday. I have also been able to make a little bit of money and pay off some debt on a business credit card and a business credit line. The public accountability and being able to share my personal t

Debt Guru @ Debt Free Blog writes Should you Finance Vacations? ' Everyone enjoys a nice vacation. If you are working a stressful job that makes you feel entitled, you may want to get away for a week or two. It's not always easy to save up for vacations and it's definitely takes work to find cheap vacation ideas these days (with the cost of gas and airfare going up), so the two choices that people are often left with are 1.

Little House @ Little House in the Valley writes Five Ways to Recession Proof Your Life ' Consider the following suggestions to 'recession proof your lifestyle' and make sure that you're in the best financial position possible.

Jason @ Live Real, Now writes What Motivates Me Financially ' As a grown-up, with three precious little monsters dependent on me for absolutely everything, I had to start worrying about their security. This was more than just keeping them physically safe. I've had to manage their emotional health, their physical needs, and their entertainment. They rely on me (and my wife!) for everything. How could I live with myself if I couldn't put food on the table and a roof over their heads? Winter boots? Clothes without holes? Visits to the doctor?

Beating Broke @ Beating Broke writes Your Money or Your Life ' When this book first came onto my radar as a book I might like to read, it was with reviews from my fellow personal finance bloggers that described it as one that will change your life, and that will make your finances follow you rather than the other way around. Both of those descriptions are pretty accurate.

Matt @ Living in Financial Excellence writes Monthly Grocery Sale Cycle & When to Stockpile ' A savvy shopper waits until a product is on sale and then buys lots of it to get it at its lowest price! The idea is to create a stockpile that will last you 3-9 months or until the product goes back on sale and can be bought at its lowest price. Packaged foods are seasonal, just like produce. Check out the list below and find out when your favorite foods will more than likely be at their cheapest.

MR @ Money Reasons writes Are Robert Kiyosaki's Books a Stepping Stone To Wealth? ' After re-reading the rich dad poor dad author Robert Kiyosaki's books, I now think that they serve a great purpose on the road to wealth' Believing!

Tushar @ Start Investing Money writes 5 Types of Common Stocks ' This Post was Originally published at 5 Types of Common Stocks on Start Investing Money

Miss T. @ Prairie Eco Thrifter writes Should Environmental Groups Take Money from Dirty Polluters? ' While many groups dedicated to saving the planet have green-colored logos and pleasant, naturey-sounding names, where they get a percentage of their funding from may surprise the most ardent environmentalist.

Robert @ My Multiple Incomes writes How to Get Hired Freelancing ' As most of you know from my income stream reports, I do a lot of freelance work. The funny thing is, I never intended to do any of the work that I currently do, I just sort of fell into it. I actually tried to do some freelance work purposefully, and it didn't work out as I had planned. So, from both my successful ventures, my failures, and the offers I currently get now, here is my advice on how to get hired freelancing.

Robert @ The College Investor writes Emergency Funds. How Much Do You Really Need? ' The key to navigating the waters of emergency fund information successfully is to remember that setting up, funding, and utilizing an EF is a personal decision. No matter what any expert touts as the best method for establishing an emergency fund, you need to tailor your approach to your own personal situation. So whether it's that you save one month, six months, or twelve months of expenses, the point is that you're saving something. This is especially true if you're just starting out

krantcents @ KrantCents writes The 3 R's of Success ' The 3 R's of Success is the eighteenth in a series of articles to help you reach your goal.

MMD @ MyMoneyDesign writes Can You Afford to Work? ' Does your daycare cost more than you make? Would it make sense for you to simply quit your job and stay at home with the kids? There are many reasons on both side of the argument. Let's explore a few of them.

TRL @ The Retired Landlord writes Why Purchase Price is VERY Important ' Find out what properly assessing a rental property is important for any real estate investor. The last thing you want to do is over pay.

Don @ MoneySmartGuides writes Half of American's Save Nothing for Retirement ' A recent survey by LIMRA, which is an association related to the financial services industry, found that 49 percent of American's are saving nothing for retirement. The percent is even higher for 18-34 year olds, of which 56 percent save nothing.

Wayne @ Young Family Finance writes Cheap Hobbies to Save You Money ' Find ways to save money with these cheap hobbies. You will save money and find enjoyment at the same time.

Corey @ Steadfast Finances writes How to Turn Artistic Creativity Into Supplemental Income ' Find out how you can turn your creativity into a side income and perhaps even replace your day job income.

John @ Married (with Debt) writes PMI: The Shadow Debt ' PMI is annoying, but is it a debt? Private mortgage insurance, or PMI, is a cost of ownership, but it behaves like a shadow debt.

Marie @ Family Money Values writes Summer Camp ' Learn about camps that teach kids financial and business concepts and see some examples in this post from FamilyMoneyValues.

Jeremy Waller @ Personal Finance Whiz writes Infographic: The Insanely High Cost of Higher Education ' Upon graduation, the average student has over $25,000 in student loan debt. Though, it's not unusual to graduate with many times that amount.

ETZ25 @ Entertainment Timez writes Is BP a Dividend Stock For Entertainment Money? ' would BP make a good stock because of it's dividend as a cashflow for entertainment timez?

A Blinkin @ Funancials writes What To Do With Your Old 401(k) ' There are a lot of topics within personal finance that can spark debate among 'experts' and economists; however today, I will highlight a less-controversial topic. Though important, I foresee no wadded panties towards the end of the post.

Jason @ Work Save Live writes What Phase of Investing Are YOU In? ' Welcome to the 'Understanding Retirement Planning & Investing' series! If you've missed the first few posts be sure to check them out! Everything You Need to Know About a Roth IRA.

Mich @ BeatingTheIndex writes The Spearfish Oil Play in Manitoba and North Dakota ' The Spearfish formation is a highly sought-after tight oil resource play with millions of barrels in recoverable oil in Manitoba and North Dakota.

SFB @ Simple Finance Blog writes The Rise of Electronic Money ' What is electronic money (or e-money)? What are its advantages and disadvantages.

Jon the Saver @ Free Money Wisdom writes Do You Plan to Work in Retirement? ' You probably don;t want to work during retirement, so start making steps today to ensure that you don;t get stuck in the working trap!

Jeffrey @ Money Spruce writes Who Does Professional Indemnity Insurance Cover? ' The following is a guest post. Professional Indemnity Insurance is available to protect you from the costs of defending (and perhaps settling or being ordered to compensate) cases brought by clients dissatisfied you're your professional work. Depending on the type of business you own, the sort of cases that might be brought against you will vary.

Eddie @ Finance Fox writes 5 Full Proof Ways To Beat Rising Gas Prices ' Prices of gas at the pump are just going up, and its our due diligence to keep fighting back by saving money every time we fill our car.

YFS @ Your Finances Simplified writes We Have Officially Purchased Rental Property #3 ' As Ice Cube said Today Was a Good Day I thought we were going to get this deal done before our Europe vacation, but the sellers lawyer was moving at a snails pace. So, I said sorry guys we are closing when I get back. Then the deal almost didn't happen, here's why'!

Luke @ Learn Bonds writes Is Now a Good Time to Buy a Savings Bond? ' The Treasury Department recently announced rates for Savings Bonds purchased between May 1st and October 30th, 2012. Is now the time to buy?

PITR @ Passive Income To Retire writes Ways to Retire Early ' Find out what it takes to retire early. Do you have what it takes to quit your day job before everyone else?

Crystal @ Budgeting in the Fun Stuff writes Saving Our Health and Money ' Thanks to health issues and debt, our family has made big changes to our food budget and choices. Our health is getting better and we are saving a lot!

Ashley @ Money Talks Coaching writes We Paid off $37,000 in 58 weeks! ' My friends Vicki and Alan became debt free this week!! I asked if they would do a little interview for this site and they graciously agreed.

Jeff Rose @ Good Financial Cents writes Opening a No Fee Roth IRA with Scottrade ' One of my goals in mobilizing the Roth IRA movement was that I was hopeful that many young adults would get inspired and, in turn, open up their first Roth IRA. I then became determined, a.k.a. obsessed, in trying to find the viable option for someone who was a novice investor, on how they could get started in opening a Roth IRA.

Brent Pittman @ On Target Coaching writes 8 Lessons I Learned From The $100 Startup ' What if you could be your own boss, follow your passions, and make a great living? You can! The $100 Startup can show you how to start a business you'll love waking up to every day.

Sicorra @ Tackling Our Debt writes What Not to Say to Co-Workers ' So did I miss any points on what not to say to co-workers? Again, I am interested in hearing your perspective of what should and shouldn't be said based on your experiences in your present or past work environment.

Sean @ One Smart Dollar writes The Effects of Student Loans on Credit Scores ' Have you ever stopped to think about how your student loans might affect your credit score?

Young @ Young And Thrifty writes Investors Group Update: Lower MERs ' Slowly but surely, those who are preaching the low MER fees Gospel (and I will proudly number myself among the faithful) are winning the battle for the hearts and minds of Canadian investors.

Teacher Man @ My University Money writes Is the Extended Warranty Worth It? ' What you are being sold using catchy terms like 'layers of protection' is an extended warranty. These products differ widely in what they cover, but the basic idea is that for a yearly fee, the place where you are buying the product will fix your purchase if it breaks or malfunctions. As with most financial products, the devil in the details, but the vast majority of the time, you should politely decline the offer.

Kraig @ Young, Cheap Living writes Why The Millennial Generation CAN Win ' Is the millennial generation in trouble because of the economy or because of their urge to spend more than they make? This article proposes that young adults can win in spite of the economy.

Earth and Money @ Earth and Money writes Planning a Green Frugal Wedding ' Dishware ' To be frugal in planning a wedding, you have to do all the little things yourself ' including buying or renting dishware.

Eric J. Nisall @ DollarVersity writes Mistakes New Graduates Should Avoid When Applying For Jobs ' So you just graduated, and need to find a job. Where do you begin? You can start by learning what not to which will make the process a lot smoother for you. BONUS'this stuff also applies to folks who are already in the workforce as well!

PK @ Don't Quit Your Day Job' writes Do You Say Anything When You See People Spending Foolishly? ' Hopefully we're all great with our own finances now ' but with a little bit of knowledge do we try to spread the seed?

Everything Finance @ Everything Finance Blog writes Don't Overspend This Summer ' As with all things in life, the key to sticking to your budget is balance. Forgo the big ticket items, but take advantage of some small indulgences, such as ice cream outings, trips to the beach, hikes with the family and picnics in the park. There are lots of things to do that require little to no money, won't put a dent in your wallet, and will still allow you to enjoy the summer without feeling deprived. All it takes is a little bit of extra planning.

Melissa @ Mom's Plans writes How Much Do You Think Is Reasonable to Pay for an Engagement Ring? ' Many jewelers recommend that an engagement ring cost 3 times the man's monthly income. As Calla Gold Jewelers in Santa Barbara, California recently said, 'The engagement ring is a symbol to the rest of the world not only that you love the woman, but also that the man is economically successful' (Seattle Times). In our modern age where 22% of women earn more than their husbands (Slate) and many men are glad to be stay at home dads, do we really need a ring to demonstrate how much the ma

Jacob @ I Heart Budgets writes Give Your Money an Identity ' Does you money have an identity crisis? Learn why saving money without a name is worthless.

Emily @ PT Money Personal Finance writes Outdated and Bad Financial Advice ' Everyone has financial advice to offer, but it's important to weigh what people have 'always said' against the current economic situation. This post offers 3 tips that aren't good advice anymore.

Forest Parks @ Frugal Zeitgeist writes Becoming a TV Extra ' Forest talks about his experience and how to get into film and TV background artist work.

Stephanie @ The Empowered Dollar writes Your Allowance System Makes Your Kid Lazy, Unmotivated and Bad at Managing Money ' Research shows that allowance is statistically associated with diminished financial literacy, lower levels of motivation and an aversion to work. So what's the right way to give your kid an allowance?

J.P. @ Novel Investor writes An Early Look At The Possible 2013 Tax Rates Increase ' As it stands, there are several tax cuts set to expire at the end of this year. All of which will impact the economy, your income and how you invest.

Roger the Amateur Financier @ The Amateur Financier writes Being Truly Prepared for an Emergency ' A discussion of how you can plan your emergency funds, build them up, and when it is appropriate to draw them down, should it come to that.

Michelle @ See Debt Run writes How Not to Have a Fun Date Night ' Anecdotal account of a FAILED date night. Sometimes, it's hard to get out when you have little ones.

Steven Zussino @ Canadian Personal Finance writes Finding a New Job When You`re Already in One ' Some people say that it's easier to find your next job when you're already employed, but searching for new employment whilst you're working for a different organisation comes with risks. So, how can you manage your job hunting without jeopardising your current position?