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Another Friday the 13th, and the only bad thing that happened to me was getting terrible cards in our poker tournament. Nothing but nearly unplayable cards. And when I did get a playable hand, it seems like everyone else at the table did as well and I ended up getting beat with some BS card on the river. Nevertheless, it was a pretty good time and my wife won some of our money back since she was having much more luck than I.

But for the remainder of the weekend, my attention turns to golf. This weekend marks one of the best events of the year, and Tiger Woods made an amazing run yesterday to put him in a tie for second place. Even better, is that they are trying something a bit new and putting golf in prime time this year, and the final group tees off at 6 pm ET, placing the finish later at night for us eastern time folks. It should be great!

Understanding the Different Types of Mutual Fund Fees – I put together a brief blog post over at my other financial site that touches on the different types of mutual fund fees. Knowing what you’re being charged for can help you make better investing decisions.

Associating With the ‘Appear-to-be-Rich’ Folks -They always say you should surround yourself with similar people, and people that have what you aspire to be, but what about those who only appear to be rich? Can you learn anything from these folks?

What’s Your Neighborhood’s Walk Score? -Flexo highlights a fun little tool that ranks your neighborhood’s ‘walk score’ on a scale of 0-100. The higher the number, the easier it is to get around by foot. Not surprisingly, we scored a big fat 0. Of course, we live in a very remote and rural location. There are hardly any people around us, let alone things like stores, coffee shops, or even gas stations. We can’t walk anywhere unless we want to brave about 5 miles on a busy state highway. No thanks!

Direct Sales: Good Way to Make Extra Money or Fast Way to Lose Friends? – I personally haven’t had much exposure to direct sales, but I know my wife goes to a lot of Pampered Chef and Tupperware parties. Depending on your personality, I think it can be an effective tool, but I know I wouldn’t want a friend of mine to bug me about a product they are selling.

Create Your Own Dollar Plan: Step 6 – If you have been following this series, Step 6 focuses on tracking your progress. Setting goals doesn’t mean anything if you aren’t tracking and measuring your progress.

How To Protect Your Job and Career During an Economic Slump – As you may have heard, times are tough for a lot of people right now, and even some careers perceived as safe may be in jeopardy. SVB has a list of 12 great tips to help you make it through a downturn.

The Opportunity Cost of Having an Emergency Fund – Frugal Trader shares a reader’s comment about the opportunity cost of having an emergency fund. It is true, because every dollar you apply to something means you’re giving up that dollar to go to work elsewhere. It doesn’t matter if it is an emergency fund, invested in your IRA, or spent on a candy bar–spending money on one thing takes away another opportunity somewhere.

Economic Stimulus Payment Directly Deposited into IRA Accounts? – This wasn’t a widely discussed topic, but you are able to have your rebate check deposited into your IRA. What I have heard, was actually a caution that it can create a problem if you make a habit to max fund, or significantly fund your IRA early in the year. The rebate could end up contributing over the limit, and then you have to fuss with the process of excess contributions.

Capital One Hates the Environment – No truer words have been spoken. I loathe Capital One, and as Lazy Man points out, they are the kings of tree killing. I get so much crap from them that it drives me insane.

Taxes Killing Michigan – If you want an example of everything not to do financially, just follow Michigan’s (my state) governor, Jennifer Granholm. If you do the opposite, you’ll be on the Forbes richest list in no time.

Do Your Own Melon Slicing And Save Some Serious Money -Not only does this work for Melon, but any fresh food. Buying produce, vegetables, or meat that has been already cut up, you’re paying significantly for someone else to make a few cuts. There are times where you can benefit from the convenience, but usually it is worth it to buy something whole and take a few minutes to prepare the portions yourself.

Leftover Calendar: Reduce Food Spoilage -Continuing with the food tips, Jim has an idea for a leftovers calendar to help you keep track of your leftovers. This can come in handy, since I know how easy it is to forget when you had that bag of chicken sitting in the fridge. It can not only save you from throwing away food, but it can keep you from accidentally putting a piece of funky food in your mouth.

What Goes Into the Price of Gas? – What goes into a price of gas? This is actually a post I’ve wanted to put together for a long time, but Nickel did a good job, so check it out. It has a nice chart that breaks down the components of your typical gas price.

Tightwad Tuesday: Frugal Summer Fun -It doesn’t take a lot of money to have a great time this summer. Here are some ideas that can help you find something enjoyable to do without draining your wallet.