Income Tax Info on the MSRRA

Well, my previous post on the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act has generated a lot of comments.  I love it!  Obviously, there are many questions about what this Act is going to mean once it is fully interpreted and the individual states change their laws and practices.

Today, I'm going to talk about the income tax aspect of the Act.  This is the part that has interested me the most.  We've usually kept our cars in my husband's name (to make Virginia happy) and I've always kept my Florida driver's license and voter registration.  This was only a problem one time, when I wanted to take some college classes in Virginia, but it was a long time ago and those issues have been resolved by previous legislation.  However, paying taxes in multiple states is annoying and time consuming!  Any change that makes tax time easier is a good change in my book.

While this act was being written and passed, there was a lot of discussion about whether it meant that military spouses would be able to pay income taxes to their permanent residence state instead of the state in which they lived or worked.  Now that the dust has settled, it appears that is the case.  Based upon my reading of individual state replies and President Signs Military Spouses Residency Relief Act, published in the Journal of Accountancy, it seems that military spouses will be able to pay state income tax to the state that they claim as their residence.  If that state does not tax income, then the spouse will not be required to pay state income tax.  Whooohoooooo!!!!  What a blessing for military families.

So far, most information of the information available has come from individual emails that have been published at the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act's Facebook page.  I'm not going to cut and paste them all here - you can click on the link to see what people have heard from your individual state.  However, I will compile a list of links once the individual states begin to publish their new directions online.I know that we're all excited to learn more, but it will take time for it to be organized and implemented.  Hang tight and I'm sure it will all come clear in the coming weeks.

What? Credit Card Questions

If you have a credit card, you've probably gotten a letter or email notice informing you of changes to your credit card account.  I've gotten one for each of my credit cards.  They both said that my current interest rate would remain the same but the formula was changing to a variable rate instead of a fixed rate.  I knew that I needed to look into this more, but it kept slipping further down on the to-do list.  Then my friend mentioned that one of his cards was changing his interest rate from the single digits to the high 20 percents.  Yowzee!  That got me really interested.  Here's what I found out:

It seems that the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 has a provision that governs how banks and credit unions can change the interest rates on cards.  Previously, a card issuer could change the interest rate on a fixed rate card by giving the borrower proper advance notice.  Under the new law, a fixed rate is a permanent fixed rate - it can't be changed.  A variable rate, which is structured to be tied to an outside rate, like the prime rate, can and will fluctuate as the markets change.

Most of the major banks and credit unions are saying that they felt forced into this change by the provisions of the Credit Card act.  I can see the point that banks can not be tied to offering the current (historically low) rates forever.  At some point, the banks' cost of lending will rise and they will need to raise credit card rates accordingly.

On the other hand, it seems like some banks are using this opportunity to reset their customers' interest rates excessively high.  If you find yourself in this situation, you have a few choices:  transfer your balance to a lower-rate card, pay off your balance, or live with the change.  There are pros and cons to each option.  Obviously, the best choice is to pay off your balance.  Be sure your card doesn't charge a fee for not carrying a balance.  If you decide to transfer the balance, be sure that it has completed the transfer process before you consider closing the old card.  You may want to keep the old account open if it is one of your oldest accounts and you are trying to keep your credit score super-high, such as right before you buy a house.

I hope that this explains why the credit card issuers are changing the way that they calculate rates.  Let me know if you have any other questions and I'll find out the answers!

Military Spouse Residency Relief Act

Good news on the homefront!  The Military Spouse Residency Relief Act was passed by Congress last week and is awaiting the President's signature.

Here is the body of the press release:

Washington, DC –Tuesday, November 3, 2009. A comprehensive military family legislation, the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act (S 475 and HR 1182), which will legally recognize military spouses by providing them the option to claim the same state of domicile as their active duty spouse, passed through the House and Senate with strong bipartisan support, and is now being brought before the President to become a law.

The bill was introduced by Congressman John Carter (R-TX), who represents Fort Hood, the largest military installation in the country. “This is fantastic news for our service families worldwide,” says Carter, who has been pushing the legislation for the last three years.

Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduced the companion bill into the Senate, which passed unanimously in August. The legislation will amend the Servicemember’s Civil Relief Act (SCRA) of 1940 allowing military spouses to share a home state with their spouse, the service member.

Currently, military spouses experience impediments in voting and property ownership as well as deterrents in employment and education. The bill offers fair treatment of the military spouse and improves the quality of life for military families by allowing the stability of a single state of domicile to call home.

Over 8,000 military spouses, friends and family members united to support the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Military-Spouses-Residency-Relief-Act/51457362877 They shared their individual stories as they contacted Congressional representatives to ask for support. Initially, Army Spouse, Rebecca Poynter and Navy Spouse, Joanna Williamson, approached Congressman Carter with their request to petition. “It has been a grass roots effort by thousands of spouses across the country, who have campaigned to get this passed, by telling their stories,” explains Poynter.

“The support from Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and the Veterans Service Organizations who testified in our support is greatly appreciated,” said Williamson, “and together we claim this victory for all military families.”

This is exciting news for military spouses and will undoubtedly save us all time and possibly even money.

More info on how the MSRRA impacts your income taxes.

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Used Auto Parts Can Save

Let me start by saying that I'm sure that there are lots of issues around used auto parts.  I don't claim to know much of anything about them.  However, the other day, the window in my car made a funny noise as it went down, and then it wouldn't go back up.  I took it to my favorite shop and unfortunately discovered that my favorite mechanic was GONE!  Ack.  However, I left the car there anyway and figured that I'd use this as an opportunity to discover if I liked these new people.

The verdict?  A blown motor, to the tune of like $450 with labor.  Given that I'm only nursing this car along until we PCS in June, that makes me very cranky.  On a whim, I called a (relatively) nearby auto part recycling/junkyard place to see how much that part would cost if I purchased it used.  $125.  And they could install it for $75.  Hmmm, a $250 savings.  It would take me an hour to get there, plus I'd have to sit and wait, plus an hour back, but I thought that was worth it.

I called the shop and told them that I was going to come pick up the car.  I said that I could get the part at Brandywine and then just get it installed there.  The shop staff countered that I could have the part mailed, then they would install it.  They even offered to discount my labor.  Sounded good to me.  I was ordering the part when the shop called back again, and said that they'd magically found a new part at about the same price as the used part I was ordering.  Outstanding!

Granted, their labor is a little more expensive than the junkyard's labor, but it is saving me at least three hours of driving (with the window stuck down) and sitting.  I will be saving at least $150 off the originally quoted price.

If you need a non-essential part on a car, it seems that used parts would be worth the look, especially if the car is older and you don't anticipate having it for a very long time.  Just looking for the used part could pay off by making your auto repair shop get creative.

Umbrella Insurance 101

Umbrella insurance - what's that?  I can't imagine insuring an umbrella!  Oh, that's not it.  So what is umbrella insurance?

Umbrella insurance is a liability insurance that covers you for liability in excess of the coverage that you already have as part of your existing insurance policies (auto, homeowners, renters or boat insurance.)  If you are found responsible for an accident that has property damage or bodily injury, the judgments against you can accumulate pretty quickly.  And that is just for legitimate claims - what if you are involved in a situation where someone makes a fraudulent claim against you?  One bad accident could wipe out all your savings, assets, and even result in a judgment against your future earnings.

Umbrella liability insurance acts as a broad coverage that is on top of your existing liability coverages (hence the umbrella name.)  Umbrella coverage does not kick in until you have exhausted the limits of your existing coverage, and because of that most umbrella policies require that you maintain certain level of liability coverage on the underlying policies.  The good news is, liability insurance is really inexpensive!  Our family's policy is about $274 a year ($23 a month).

I think that umbrella insurance is part of any good insurance plan, but there are some times when it seems particularly necessary.  If you own a rental property, there are any number of ways that claims could be made against you.  Some property management companies actually require umbrella insurance of their property owners.  If you have any particularly dangerous stuff on your property, such as a trampoline or a swimming pool, your need for excess liability insurance is higher.

USAA's June Walbert does a great video on umbrella insurance.  It doesn't embed, but you can find it here.  I recommend umbrella insurance to my friends and family and you should seriously consider if it is something for you.

Top Three Tips

I just finished a radio interview on the F.R.A.Z.L.E.D. Military Wives Christian Network's Blog Talk Radio Show - wow that is a lot of words.  While I was preparing for the interview, I jotted down the three things that I wanted to talk about during the show.  I didn't exactly get to them all, but I'll share them with you now:

1. Know where you are - sit down and write down every debt, every bill, and every bit of income that you have.  Just making the list is incredibly helpful.  Take some time to look at it, and then begin your planning from that list.


2. Keep it simple.  Automate your bills whenever possible.  Don't have a crazy number of bank accounts all over town.  Limit the number of accounts that you need to manage.  Simple is good!


3. Figure out what is important to your family, and manage your money to fit your values.  Make room in your budget for the things that you want, and save elsewhere.

This is just a short list that I jotted down before the show, but I think it is a pretty neat summary of the most basic personal finance concepts.

The entire radio show can be heard at the FRAZLED MWCN website.  Thank you to Shannon and Sara for letting me visit their show!

Don't Overlook the Base Thrift Shop

I stopped by a nearby base thrift shop yesterday in search of a particular item for a Halloween costume.  I've shopped at this thrift shop before, and found a few good items, but I had forgotten what an amazing bargain the base thrift shops can be.

Before I get started, I should probably mention that most base thrift shops are open to all ranks, and many allow civilians to shop there as well.  Be sure to check with your particular store, but don't be shy.  I've heard people say that they can't shop at the thrift shop because they are beyond a particular paygrade.  In 99% of the cases, that isn't true.

On to my shopping story!  In addition to the Halloween costume parts I needed, I was able to get through most of the women's pants and skirts before closing time arrived.  I found several nice items, in great brands, and was delighted to discover that they were only $1 each.  Now I won't be wearing the same pair of pants all winter!  I've shopped at thrift shops on five or six bases over the years, and they've always been wonderful.  A few years back, I got nearly my entire summer wardrobe for about $20 at one sale.  Better yet, I redonated the same items back to the shop when my size changed (again!)  It was almost like renting the clothes.

Most base thrift shops are operated by the services' relief society or by the base spouses' club, and proceeds benefit military families.  In addition to clothing, they often sell uniform items, household goods, and children's clothes and toys (Whoohoo!).  I still have a hard time convincing my husband that it is OK to buy uniforms from the thrift shop, but for seldom-worn (and expensive) items, he can be persuaded.  I just can't justify spending a bunch of money on a particular dressy uniform item that he may never need again, or that won't fit right when it is next needed.

Your base thrift shop is a great place to give and shop.  If you haven't been before, I suggest you find out their hours (usually limited) and check it out next time you are in the area.  I think you will be very pleasantly surprised.

Stop Loss Compensation

Were you affected by the "Stop Loss" orders since September 11, 2001?  Do you know someone who was?  Good news!  The Department of Defense has organized the program to compensate former and current service members for the time that they served involuntarily, past an end-of-service, resignation or retirement date.  The payment amount is $500 for each month of involuntary service.  Service members are eligible for the payment even if they later decided to extend, re-enlist or withdraw their resignation or retirement.

Officials predict that the hardest part will be getting the word to former service members who may not keep up on current military issues.  If you know someone who might be eligible, be sure to share this information with them, and keep passing it on so that we reach everyone who qualifies.

The complete press release, with links to the appropriate forms, can be found at DefenseLink.

SaveAndInvest.org's Military Page

You might want to have a look over at SaveAndInvest.org - they've got a great Military page that links to a variety of articles and sites of interest to military members and their families.  I guess it has been there all along but it looks new to me even though I've spent time at their website before.

SaveAndInvest.org is a free service of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and provides all sorts of information to help protect consumers from fraud and provide quality information that helps people manage their money with confidence.  Their military page includes news updates, program explanations and timely tips so that you can make great money decisions.

Staying On Track Can Be Hard To Do

Dealing with your finances in a responsible manner is a lifelong journey.  You don't get to quit paying attention just because you've got things under control; if you do that, you will soon find that you're back in trouble again.

That's why I like this article by NCN at No Credit Needed:  How to Stay on Track.  He acknowledges up front that this isn't always fun but that it is necessary, then breaks down the steps and discussed the ways that you might be deviating from your plans.  Even people like me, who think about personal finance all day, need to be reminded to remain focused.  (Ok, so I think about personal finance and html all day long.)  It is so easy to get distracted!

This article is a good way to renew your enthusiasm.

Don't Get Caught By Credit Repair Deception

Ever wondered about those commercials: "We'll fix your credit! Improve your credit score! Call now!" I've wondered enough that I've actually considered calling, just to find out what they have to say. Fortunately, we've got June Walbert of USAA to help us get past the hype and take positive, useful steps to keep your credit score sparkling.

Thanks, USAA, for continuing to provide the information we need.

Coke Rewards: Worth Your Time?

Have you heard about these Coke Points?  If you drink any Coca-Cola products, including Powerade sports drinks and Dasani bottled water, you've probably noticed the codes inside the caps or boxes.  The Coke Rewards program is set up to let you enter your codes into an online account and then redeem them in various ways.  You can use a small number of points to enter a sweepstakes, or accumulate a bunch to get free stuff

.A bottle of coke is 3 points, a 12 pack of cans is 10 points, and a case is 20 points.  You may enter only 120 points worth of codes per week.  Entering the codes is pretty quick, about 30 seconds per code if you are a decent typist.

Once you've entered your codes, you have six ways to spend your credits.  You may redeem them for merchandise, use them to enter contests, donate them to a school, donate them to another type of charity, participate in an instant win game, or use points to pay for a portion of a purchase that uses cash for the rest of the purchase.  The merchandise selection is small and much of it is Coke related:  tees, cooler bags and ball caps.  Other offerings include various magazine subscriptions (my favorite) and a few useful gift cards.  There are some decent offerings but you really have to pick through the useless stuff.  I'll admit, I've never done anything but get magazine subscriptions (they have Smart Money!) so I can't report my experiences with the rest of the choices.  I'm considering getting the Omaha Steaks gift cards to use at the local store, or perhaps a Nike gift card to pick up some new workout gear.

Is it worth it?  I wouldn't start drinking soda just to collect the points, but it you (or someone in your family) is drinking it anyway, you might want to start saving those points.  If you have a child who is capable of entering the codes, even better.  It does take a little time to enter the codes, and more time to sort through the rewards to find a good choice.   Most importantly, it is free!

The Paycheck Chronicles Main Page

Three Ways To Avoid Library Fees

I've written about the many benefits of using public libraries, but there is certainly a negative aspect:  late fees.  My family regularly pays late fees to the library and though I can justify them as a contribution, I do try to eliminate the fines as much as possible.The best way for me to avoid late fees involves several parts:

• First, designate a single location for library books to live.  We use a drawer in the dining room but you also might use a particular bookshelf, a tote bag, or a pile on your bedside table.  Keeping library books centrally located makes it easier to find them for returning. If you have kids, train them to return their books to that place. (Easier said than done, I know!)


• Second, sign up for electronic and/or telephone reminders.  Most library systems offer automatic phone calls or emails a few days before your books are due.


• Third, use your library's internet services to renew books before the due date.  Most libraries allow you to renew two or three times, allowing you a few days to make it to the library.

Using these three things together has dramatically decreased the fines we pay.  I try to make a habit of renewing our books as soon as I see the reminder email from the library.  If I fail to do it the first day, I still have another day to remember!

Putting together a plan to avoid fines is an important part of using the library to save money.  If you are paying $20 in fines on borrowed books isn't very cost-effective!

The Paycheck Chronicles Main Page

Pump Up The Savings

Sometimes it seems that body wash, shampoo and conditioner just disappear in this house.  I'm sure that the children are using huge amounts, and I find the occasional open bottle on its side.  Even when I find great prices, it is really annoying to see such waste.  Well, I have found a solution!  Mega-sized bottles, while not always the most economical, often come with a pump that controls the amount of product being used.  I tried this as a test, beginning in May, by purchasing a big bottle of both shampoo and conditioner.  I am amazed - it has been four months and even with five people using it, the bottles aren't empty yet.  I have been so impressed that I've been searching for body wash in a pump bottle as well.

It seems that body wash isn't offered in a pump bottle very often, but I did manage to find it on clearance at Bath and Body Works. I was talking to the employees about how glad I was to find it in the pump and they said that it was a very popular product.  The also suggested that I hold on to the bottles after the body wash was gone so that I could refill them with another product.  Brilliant!  (I know, I should have thought of it first, but I didn't.)

So far, I've seen the big bottles of shampoo and conditioner several places, including the commissary, warehouse clubs, and at the hair cut place.  While I might be able to find these products cheaper by using coupons and doing some super shopping, moving to the big bottles has made my bathroom more tidy, has eliminated the cries of "Can someone please bring me some shampoo?" and has freed up some space in the bathroom cupboard.  I think it has been a win all around.

If anyone knows where to buy body wash in pump bottles, please share.  I'd love to know.

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Museum Day 2009

Looking for something different to do now that summer is winding down?  On Saturday, September 26th, obtain free general admission to hundreds of museums and cultural venues nationwide as part of Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day.  There is an interactive map that can help you find participating locations in your area, including the Fascinate-U Children's Museum in Fayetteville, North Carolina, the Queen Emma Summer Palace in Honolulu, and the Birch Aquarium at Scripps in La Jolla, California. 

You will need to print out an admission card to take with you and it is good for two admissions.  There are restrictions, of course.  From the website:

The following Museum Day restrictions apply: One time use on September 26, 2009 unless otherwise specified. Card must be presented for free general admission. Admission Card will be collected upon entry. General admission only. Does not include entry to special exhibits or IMAX screenings. Admission Card is good for general admission for you plus one guest. One Admission Card per household. Not for use with any other offer. No rain checks. Some participating museums may already have a free admission policy year round and are participating in the "spirit" of the day.

I love free museum days, as it allows me to enjoy all different kinds of cultural activities without spending all of our family's entertainment budget.  Even if you have to pay for a few people, this pass can offer substantial savings over the usual admission fees.

 

September: Tracking My Spending

I keep saying that I'm going to write down every single cent that I spend.  And I need to, because I clearly don't have a very good idea where all my money is going.  For some reason, unfortunately, it seems like something that I have to start at the beginning of the month.  (Yes, I know that this is irrational.)

Anyway, today is September 1st and (due to a great sale at Five Below) I am the owner of a snazzy new psychadelic looking notebook and I am going to write down my spending this month.  Every darn cent of it.  I challenge you to do the same thing.  I think it is going to be either fascinating or discouraging to see where I'm spending money.  Either way, you can't make changes unless you know where you are beginning, so here is the start.

Note:  You certainly don't have to go out and buy something new for this, in fact, I encourage you not to for I'm sure that you have something adequate in your house.  I have this thing for office supplies and I always succumb when shopping for the new school year.  I'm just glad that I have made up a use for this notebook that I purchased.

Three Steps to Moving Past Financial Mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes sometimes (see my post yesterday), and mistakes will happen in your financial life.  It is unpleasant, often expensive, and most of all, utterly inevitable.  Here's the important part:  looking at them, seeing what you need to learn or change, and then letting it go far, far away, never to haunt you again.

What do I mean?  Surely there has been some time in your life where you've messed up with your money.  Whether it is the medical bill you had to pay because you didn't get it properly cleared through Tricare first, or the late payment fee on your credit card, or the snazzy new car you paid too much for, mistakes happen, even to really amazingly savvy people.  Of course, no one wants to make these kind of mistakes and we're all striving to avoid them (as we should) but there is a strategy for learning without obsessing or beating yourself up unnecessarily.

First, look objectively at what happened.  What could you have done differently to prevent it?  (Disregard the actions of anyone or anything else - just analyze your own behavior.)

Second, see how you could change your financial systems to prevent this from happening again.  If necessary, set up overdraft protection, find a better filing system, or do whatever else you need to do to make it hard to make the same mistake in the future.

Third, move on!  This is hard for me (I'm still stewing over a medical bill from several years ago, one that could have been prevented if I'd followed Tricare's rules in the first place).  Time helps, but you can also try more active techniques such as writing it down and ripping it up.  It also helps to remember the times that surprise money has fallen into your life - assuming your financial mishaps aren't a regular occurrence, they're probably being pretty balanced out by the windfalls.

Just knowing that no one manages money perfectly should help you feel less guilty when things go awry.  If you can look at the expense as tuition in an educational experience, and use your knowledge in the future, it should lessen the blow a little and let you move on.

Click here to find the main page of The Paycheck Chronicles.

Sorting Out Charitable Giving

Charitable contributions are a challenging issue for many people.  Sure, we all want to be generous and help others, but sometimes we don't know how much to give, who should get our money, or where to start.  Admittedly, military folks have a small advantage, as we are encouraged to give to the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) and our service's aid society through payroll deductions.  Even that can be hard:  how much should you give, and which agencies should you choose for CFC?

The religious tradition of tithing states that you should give 10% of your income to the church.  Many people hear that 10% number, believe that they can't afford it, and then just give up on the idea of charitable giving altogether.  Alternately, many people don't choose to give to a church because they don't worship regularly and that isn't a comfortable place for them to give.  However, there are so many other ways to look at giving and I encourage each of you to consider fitting charitable giving in your budget.

I believe that people who are able to help have an obligation to do so, and I also believe that there is good karma generated from charitable giving that will bless you in other areas of your life.  You don't have to agree with either of those statements, they are just my thoughts.  Plus, you get a nice tax deduction if you itemize.

Let's start with the amount.  Depending on your current financial situation, anything from 1% to 10% might be appropriate.  I think that you start where you think you can, while also challenging yourself to increase the amount in the future.  I find that it works better if I do it at the beginning of the budget, just like savings.  If we wait until the end of the month to give, somehow it seems that there isn't any money left.  In some sense, it isn't the amount that matters, it is the thought behind it.  You need to decide if you are working with a yearly, monthly, or weekly giving budget.  We chose to set aside a certain portion of each paycheck for charitable giving, but other ways will work as well.

Now, where do you want to give?  If you are religious, your place of worship is a good place to start.  How much would you like to contribute to their activities.  Keep in mind that if you worship in a military chapel, your contributions are being used differently than those of a civilian congregation.  Either way, you might want to be proactive and ask how your church/synagogue/mosque uses their offering money.  You might be surprised to learn where your money ends up.

Out in the community, there are innumerable opportunities to give.  Think (with your family if appropriate) about what is important to you.  Our family often contribute to military causes, family support activities and environmental groups (but not the wacko ones.)  In just a quick brainstorming session, you can probably think of several dozen groups that you would like to support.  Once you've made the decision to give, narrowing it down to your budget is usually the hardest part.  Be sure to check on the charity's records before giving, which can be done easily using charity rating websites such as Charity Navigatoror Charity Watch.  You can learn all sorts of interesting information there, but many people choose to focus on the portion of the fundraising that is used for administrative expenses.  Keep in mind, however, that some charities might have higher administrative expenses than others because of the nature of the charity, not just because someone is spending poorly.

Charitable giving is an important part of American culture and helps support millions of valuable projects every year.  Think about how you can contribute and then go out and do it.  I think you will be glad you did.

Click here to reach the main page for The Paycheck Chronicles.

Carnival of Pecuniary Delights, Edition 21

Aha, it is my turn to host the Carnival of Pecuniary Delights and I get the lucky 21st edition.  Originated by my friend Penelope at Pecuniarities, the Carnival features some of the best personal finance reading available.  Due to a lack of sleep and some less-than-sound thought, I decided to dissect the carnival name and group the articles that way. We'll see if it works!

But first, the Editor's Pick. I've only chosen one because I think this is such a fantastic post and it deserves star billing. The Happy Rock from The Happy Rock presents A New Stage In My Financial Journey. I don't want to give away too much (I like that the title is enigmatic) but I think he's on to something here and he's given me a new goal.

All definitions from Merriam-Webster.com:

• Main Entry: car·ni·val
• Pronunciation: ˈkär-nə-vəl\
• Function:  noun
• Etymology:  Italian carnevale, alteration of earlier carnelevare, literally, removal of meat, from carne flesh (from Latin carn-, caro) + levare to remove, from Latin, to raise
• Date: 1549

1. a season or festival of merrymaking before Lent
2. a: an instance of merrymaking, feasting, or masquerading, b: an instance of riotous excess <a carnival of violence>
3. a: a traveling enterprise offering amusements, b: an organized program of entertainment or exhibition: festival <a winter carnival>

Carnivals can be expensive - it seems like the money just falls right out of your pockets. Unfortunately, real life can seem that way, too. J. Money from Budgets Are Sexy helps us get a handle on the lost money with his post Find Out Where Your Spending Leaks Are, and Fix Them.

Once upon a time, when I was a child, my father was working at home one night and I asked him what the project was about. He told me that they were mapping out the world so that they could put up satellites to cover most of the earth's surface, and someday everyone would be able to carry a phone around in their pocket instead of using phones at home. I was pretty sure that he had enjoyed the 70s a little too much - phones in pockets? Crazy. Well, 20 some years later, Wojciech Kulicki from Fiscal Fizzle presents The Days of Land Lines are Numbered. I guess that my dad wasn't so crazy after all.

Whether you love him or hate him, Dave Ramsey has certainly had a huge impact on the world of personal finance education. jim from Bargaineering.com (plus his commenters) offer an excellent overview and discussion at Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover Review.

I'm including this one in the carnival section because it is starting to seem like the entire investment world is just one big celebration of excess.  Fortunately, Natalie MacLellan from Before You Invest presents Choosing a registered financial adviser - one step in fraud prevention.  Hopefully her tips will help you to chose wisely.

Finding just the right rewards credit card can make you feel like you've hit the jackpot, or at least fill you with a happy feeling. david from Credit Card Offers IQ presents 10 Super Cool Credit Card Offers (You’ve Never Heard Of).

• Main Entry: >pe·cu·ni·ary
• Pronunciation:\pi-ˈkyü-nē-ˌer-ē\
• Function: adjective
• Etymology: Latin pecuniarius, from pecunia money
• Date: 1502

1. consisting of or measured in money
2. of or relating to money

Online bank accounts can be useful tools for many reasons. CPF from Christian Finances presents Where to open a free online bank account?

No one wants to talk to a collection agency, but talking is probably your best strategy. Fortunately, Ray from Financial Highway presents Dealing with Collection Agencies- Tips on Handling Collection Agencies.

I'm not much into investing outside my retirement accounts, so this subject is pretty foreign to me. The Digerati Life from The Digerati Life presents Best Online Stock Brokers For Cheap Stock Trades and helps a newbie like me to understand a little more.

As the worlds financial markets change, some people are finding that their access to affordable, prime credit is shrinking. As a result, the sub-prime credit market is reaching out to more people. There are plenty of things to know about sub-prime credit. The Smarter Wallet from The Smarter Wallet presents Credit Crisis and Subprime Card Traps.

Ever wondered what this "dollar cost averaging" stuff is? Learn from Investing Toolkit, who writes Dollar Cost Averaging Basics. Not a glitzy and exciting post, but certainly important, Banker Saver from Banker, Saver presents Living With Low Interest Rates and Poor Investment Performance. 

• Main Entry: de·light
• Pronunciation: \di-ˈlīt, dē-\
• Function: noun
• Date: 13th century

1. a high degree of gratification: joy; also: extreme satisfaction
2. something that gives great pleasure <her performance was a delight>
3. archaic: the power of affording pleasure

A great reminder from Baker at Man Vs. Debt: What Money Can't Buy: Share Your Priceless Moments. What a lovely combination of lighthearted-fun and a serious prompting to look around and enjoy the gifts that life has given.

The comments fmd included with this submission sum it up better than anything I can say: "It is easy to make a budget. It is harder to make a budget that works. Read this article and get some help." He's right, so click on over to My Findependence Day to read Making a Budget that Works.

A different sort of delight: a good credit score! If you are striving to improve your score, DR from DoughRoller presents 11 Simple Ways to Improve Your Credit Score Today I found it interesting and I hope you find it helpful.

First time homebuyers are a huge part of the current upsurge in sales. PT Money from Prime Time Money presents $8000 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Details. Don't forget that you must close by November 30th in order to be eligible for the credit - time is running out!

I keep a separate line item in my budget for pet supplies, and sometimes the numbers make me wonder about pet expenses. Even so, I was amazed by the analysis that Darwin from Darwin's Finance presents in How Much is that Puppy? The Most Detailed Dog Cost Analysis You’ve Ever Seen. Wowsers - that is a lot of money.

Some people may find this odd, but I delight in checking out new personal finance software. Chance from Personal Finance Software Reviews presents New Personal Finance Software Review - Weekly Envelope. (Just so you aren't confused, Weekly Envelope is the name of the software being reviewed.)

For many people, a small business or work at home job sounds positively delightful. Check out this article where Buck Weber from The Buck List presents Nine Ways to Find a Job or Work at Home.

I was so impressed with the quality of submissions in this week's Carnival of Pecuniary Delights. Thank you for joining me and be sure to check out next week's edition hosted by The Canadian Finance Blog.  Submit your articles here for consideration.

Test Your Credit Savvy

Thanks to Carrie Davis, who has put together a short, fun quiz at Moolanomy:  10 Questions that Test Your Credit Savvy.  I got 9 right, but I sort of had the answer to one of them given to me, so let's call it an 8.  Good, but honestly, I should do better.  I learned the difference between educational scores and lender scores, and I didn't know that lenders could construct their own scoring criteria.

How did you do?  What did you think?  Did you learn anything new?  I'd like to know!