Welcome to the Spring Edition of the Money Pros Carnival!

It’s about time it’s finally getting warm in my area, it’s been very hash and I swear that it seems like half my neighborhood has packed it up and headed south permanently!  I don’t have enough money to do that, but every harsh winter I dream of doing so!

I’m tired of the scene below!  Bring out the sun and warmth!

 

 

And now for the good stuff!  I’m sure you’ll find some gems in the articles below!  Enjoy!

Don @ MoneySmartGuides writes 4 Ways Technology Costs Us Money – Technology is a great thing. But it can also be a bad thing. The worst thing about technology are the ways technology costs us money.

Michelle @ The Shop My Closet Project writes I spent $100 on a Party-Why I feel Good About It! – You’re judging me aren’t you? I feel your judgey eyes piercing me. You have debt Michelle, you’re supposed to be saving Michelle, what in the heck are you thinking Michelle? Well let me tell you some more information.

Dominique Brown @ YourFinancesSimplified writes Your Financial Relationships: How Much Should We Save? – How much should you save? Tricky question huh! While there is a lot of variance in the answer, I do my best to answer this daunting question!

SavingMentor @ How To Save Money writes A Complete Guide To Price Matching In Canada – When my first child was born, my wife and I agreed that a digital camera with video recording capabilities was in order; we wanted to be those parents who post embarrassing home videos of their kid on Youtube. I did some research and settled on a Canon model which could take videos in high definition.

Crystal @ Married (with Debt) writes 6 Reasons I’m Spending $6,000 on a Vacation – I feel like I’m out of touch with money. It is through that lens I ponder whether it’s totally normal to spend $6,000 on a vacation.

Kyle @ The Penny Hoarder writes How to Legally & Ethically Sell Your Body for Extra Cash – Did you know that there are a ton of legal & ethical ways to use your body to make some serious extra cash? We’ve got a run down of all the specifics…

Mrs. Accountability @ Out of Debt Again writes What One Thing Do All MLM’s Promise? – Multi-level marketing companies all make promises. This is one they seem to be fond of making. Whether the promise is kept will depend on the person joining.

SBB @ Simple Budget Blog writes How to Avoid the Budget Blues – Got a case of the budget blues? Here’s how to stop yourself from halting the way you budget.

CAPI @ Creating a Passive Income writes The Aggression Route: A Financial Strategy – If a person does not mind doing some work, they need to switch to an aggression investment strategy.

Roger the Amateur Financier @ The Amateur Financier writes 5 Ways You Should Invest Your Tax Return – With tax season just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about what to do with the cash you’ll soon be receiving on your tax return. While buying a new car or indulging in an exotic vacation may be tempting, spending your tax return money today won’t help secure your financial future tomorrow.

Crystal @ Budgeting in the Fun Stuff writes Budget Friendly Movie Night! – Have you considered a budget friendly movie night, if not, read on.

Mike @ Personal Finance Journey writes The Real Financial Cost of your Own Car Versus Public Transport – Have you ever really looked at the whether you can save money via public transport over owning your own car or just assumed that’s the case?

Tony @ We Only Do This Once writes The Health Benefits of Running – Are you aware of the health benefits of running? If not, check this article and learn about the paybacks.

Maria @ The Money Principle writes Who Earns More: Commercial Landlords or Property Investors? – Commercial landlords vs. property investors: the battle is on.

Wayne @ Young Family Finance writes Why You Need to Get Out of Debt – The main reasons why getting out of debt is a priority.

Debt Guru @ Debt Free Blog writes Smart Phoning: How to Save Money On Your Next Cell Phone – Looking for a new cell phone, but afraid of the costs? Read for tips on shopping smartly for your next cell phone.

Lauren @ L Bee and the Money Tree writes I’m Now Obsessed With My Quarterly Financial Goals (Q1 2014) – For, I know I need to break down my yearly goals into bite-sized, more manageable chunks, thus my quarterly financial goals.

IMB @ Investing Money writes Markets React to Crimea Vote – The conflict in Ukraine has caused Putin to mobilize troops and obtain Crimea for Russia. How the world markets are reacting is significant.

Hank @ Money Q&A writes Win a Free Toshiba Chromebook from Money Q&A and CouponPal!! – Money Q&A is teaming up with the guys at CouponPal and a couple of other bloggers to giveaway a free Toshiba Chromebook to one lucky reader!

Ted Jenkin @ Your Smart Money Moves writes The Biggest Financial Mistake People Make During Divorce – Divorce can often bring about tumultuous times for a family. Sometimes they can go very smooth and others can literally be the ‘War Of The Roses’.

Mario @ Adventures in Frugal writes Try The World sends your taste buds on a trip around the world at a fraction of the cost – I interview David Foult on Try the World, which sends subscribers a box filled with hand-picked gourmet foods from a different city around the world every other month, along with tips on things to do in the city as well as movie and music recommendations to put on while you’re enjoying the snacks.

Emily @ Evolving Personal Finance writes Why Harvey Mudd College Tops the Payscale ROI Rankings – The reasons that Harvey Mudd College is #1 on the PayScale ROI rankings tells you more about what kinds of graduates earn high salaries than anything about the quality of Mudd’s education.

Daniel @ Make Money Make Cents writes Retirement Fund Sustainability | Will My Retirement Monies Run Out On Me? – Retirees are savvy individuals who have already put in the time and effort to develop their nest-eggs.

Oscar @ Money is the Root writes Thousands of Americans Ripped off by Tax Fakes – Since last August, when fraudsters began a phone scam targeted at Americans nationwide, thousands of individuals have been ripped off according to the US Internal Revenue Service’s watchdog, the TIGTA.

Jay @ Daily Fuel Economy Tip writes Fuel Economy Tips for Hybrids Cars – We have written plenty of blogs about fuel economy tips for regular cars but this is our first for Hybrid cars.

Danielle @ Saving Without a Budget writes Tips for Buying in Bulk – No matter who you are, a trip to the grocery store almost always ends the same way; you end up spending way too much.

Matt @ Budget Snob writes Who needs an Emergency Fund? If these things happen, you do. – If you have been an adult for any length of time you know that life is full of surprises, some good and some, well, not so good.

Jack @ Money Saving Ethics writes Accelerating My Retirement | How Can I Retire Faster? – There are definite methods to accelerate retirement. There are tips, tricks, plans and procedures to engage that can shave loads of time off your retirement age, but you have to understand some rather bleak facts first.

Amy @ Money Mishaps writes Organization is the Key to a Less Stressful Divorce – Frankly, getting divorced usually means a lot of difficulty and emotion. We can’t really help you with the emotional side of divorce, but when it comes to reducing your stress financially, we can tell you that being prepared and organized is one of the best ways to do it.

Lenny @ Best Money Saving Blog writes Obama’s New Budget Proposal Bad News for Consumers Unprepared for Retirement – Experts are saying that the budget for 2015 proposed by President Obama will be an absolute disaster for millions of Americans who are not fully prepared for retirement.

Hadley @ Epic Finances writes What’s the secret behind top-performing mutual funds? Just ask Joe Huber – When it comes to owning mutual funds, nearly half of the households in the United States own them today, according to the Investment Company Institute.

Andrea @ So Over This writes How to Get the Best Deal on a New Car – Last fall I helped a friend buy a new car. Here are some of the things we did to ensure that she didn’t get the runaround or wind up with a lemon.

Lily @ Paying Debt Down writes Tax Fraud due to Identity Theft on the Rise – How to Protect Yourself – It was recently reported that billions of dollars are being stolen every year by identity thieves filing fraudulent tax returns.

Taylor @ Trendy Cheapo writes How to Cut the Crap and Start Saving Right Now! – Bootstrap advice on how to start saving money right away.

Katie @ IRA Basics writes The Secret of Saving for Your First Deposit – Are you ready to become a homeowner and do not fancy a no-deposit home loan? Then the biggest obstacle standing in your way is the first deposit or down payment.

Sam @ The New Business Blog writes Creating a Stylish, Practical and Attractive Catering Establishment – Any catering business understands the Health and Safety requirements to keep all their fresh products properly refrigerated.

Marissa @ Thirty Six Months writes Tips to Make Your First Real Estate Investment a Success – Most of us do not really think of accumulating investment properties. It is just not something that we are programmed to do, but it is an area that more GEN Y should start taking seriously.

Justin @ Edward Antrobus writes Why the Wealthy are Suddenly Fond of Using Pawnshops – While banks everywhere have started frowning on assets that are not quite liquid, there is a boom underway in high-end pawnshops.

Aaron @ Aaron Hung writes Why an IRA May be Better than a 401(k) – With a 401(k) plan you are limited to the mutual fund choices that your employer offers but with an IRA you suddenly have access to exchange traded funds (ETFs) and stocks.

Monica @ Monica On Money writes Life Happens (Have a Plan!) – This month I have focused on writing about being prepared for the unexpected. We all know that Life Happens, and usually when we are already busy and stressed.

Natalie @ Debt and the Girl writes Victims of Circumstance or Something More? – I have always been a big fan of doc type shows like True Life (the only good show left on MTV) that let you peer into the life of someone else.

Alexa @ Defeat Our Debt writes How to Get Rid of Debt on Your Own – There is no easy way to get rid of debt. You have several options, each come with their own set of pros and cons. Here is how to get rid of debt on your own.

Sustainable PF @ Sustainable Personal Finance writes Is the New Freelance Economy Such a Bad Thing for You? – One of the trends becoming apparent following the recent global financial crisis and worldwide recession is that the new economy is likely to be a freelance economy.

Charles @ Getting A Rich Life writes How To Travel For Free: Game Changer – Earlier this year when a family emergency came up I only had enough miles for a free plane ticket from Hawaii to the mainland.

Cat @ Budget Blonde writes Saving on Baby Expenses During the First Year – As a mother of four kids, I have learned a lot about what needs to be spent, and what does not need to be spent, as you are raising your kids.

Gretchen @ Retired by 40! writes My 7 Best Financial Moves – I’ve done many things wrong. What have I done right?

Bryan @ Gajizmo.com writes Best Business Schools For An MBA – 2014 – MBA programs are back in style again as the economy heats up. If you are considering a top business school program, which one offers you the highest chances of being accepted? Check out our guide on finding the best MBA schools and their stats.

Bryan @ DebtRoundUp writes Life Insurance Premiums – What Factors Affect Rates? – If you’re thinking about buying life insurance in 2014 or beyond, it is important to know what factors may affect your rates in the future so you can minimize any negative effects in advance. Check out this guide to learn about the factors that affect life insurance rates and how you can get the lowest premiums from the best companies.

Little House @ Little House in the Valley writes Best Cities to Live on an Average Income – As a median income earner, I’d definitely like to get more for my money. Though I’m not quite ready to pack up my things and head on over to Denver or Charlotte, these are definitely cities I’ll continue to keep my eye on as I think about possible relocation.

Evan @ The Smaller Dollar writes Why You Should Open an IRA – You should open an IRA because you control it without having to go through an employer, you have a limited amount of lifetime space available to, and government policy makes the IRA an incredibly attractive wealth building vehicle.

Nell Casey @ The Million Dollar Diva writes How Much Should You Spend On Your Hobby? – Spending and investing for the future is important. But it’s also important to send aside money for things that make you happy today. If you have a hobby, costs can quickly spiral out of control so it’s important to be smart with your budget to make sure you maintain a balance between your current and future happiness.

Jerry @ Repaid.org writes The Heartbleed Bug: How to Protect Yourself from Credit Damage – With such sweeping access to the world’s log-in and password information, many of us are wondering what we can do to protect ourselves from credit problems related to identity theft.

Dorethia Conner @ The Money Chat writes How to Protect Your Credit During Divorce – Getting a divorce? Here are some simple tips that you can use to preserve the credit rating that you’ve worked so hard for

Erastus @ Sprout Wealth writes How to Start Investing in the Stock Market – Investing in the Stock market is vital to building wealth though can be overwhelming for those just begging. Following these few simple tips, you can start investing confidently.

Jeremy @ Modest Money writes Realizing the Importance of Side Income – Building up a full side business might not be for everyone, but it’s worth considering if you’re struggling to get ahead. If you can fit in the time, pretty much everybody has the ability to bring in extra income one way or another.

John @ firststepfinance writes 9 Things To Remember When Buying Life Insurance – Of course, dying can happen at any time, unfortunately. You need to make sure that your family will be taken care of, and not left destitute and devastated. This article can help you make important decisions about life insurance. Take your family’s specific needs into account when determining what kind of life insurance you need. Each person will have different individual needs that need to be taken into consideration in case of a family member’s death. When something like this does happen,

Thomas @ i need money ASAP! writes Busking For Money – Busking for money is easy if you have a talent to share. Do you know how to play an instrument? Make people laugh? Do you have any unique skills like juggling, magic, sleight of hand? Are you artistically gifted? Then busking could be the solution if you need money asap.

Mario @ Debt BLAG writes Financial literacy gave me hope! – Facing a daunting debt paydown, I thought I didn’t have a chance; financial literacy gave me the hope I needed to power through.

Mr.CBB @ Canadian Budget Binder writes The money box inspired my passion for finance – The money-box I had as a child is a memory that has inspired my love for finance which has continued to broaden as I get older.

Stephanie @ Six Figures Under writes Teaching Kids Through Debt – For us, it’s not just the two adults sharing the load of (what used to be) six figures of debt. We have the kids involved too. This becoming-debt-free thing is a family affair. Here are some of the ways we involve the little ones!

See, not to shabby huh!