Friday Finance Findings for March 18th

Are you ready for the Super Moon? If you haven’t heard, the full moon on Saturday will be super. Really. This will be the largest and closest full moon since 1993. This lunar alignment only occurs once about every 18 years, so if you miss this one you’ll have to wait a while before seeing it again. What makes this full moon so special you ask? Well, due to the orbit of the moon this weekend’s full moon will be at its closest point to Earth. It may not seem like much when you’re talking about something nearly a quarter of a million miles away, but this close encounter actually means the moon will be about 14% larger in size in the sky and be nearly 30% brighter compared to when the moon is at its furthest point in orbit.

So, if you have a chance to step outside tonight or this weekend, take a look up at the sky and take in the super moon. After all, you won’t see one like it until 2029. I’m not sure if the weather will cooperate on Saturday, so I took advantage of the clear skies earlier this week and snapped a few pictures. I’m not sure if I could tell it was any bigger or brighter, but it did look nice.

If you don’t get a chance to see the moon this weekend, at least check out some of these great personal finance reads from the past week.

Protect Your Information With These Types of Paper Shredders – Keeping your personal and financial data safe is important theses days. Identity theft is an increasing problem and it only takes a few scraps of paper to ruin your life. So, investing in a paper shredder can be a good first line of defense.

Vacation Home Shopping Trip – I wish I was in the market for a vacation home. Instead, we own two homes, but one is little more than a financial boat anchor. But if you’re fortunate enough to be in the market for a vacation home, here are some tips.

Saving and Investing on Autopilot – This is one technique I’ve always been a big fan of. You can have the best intentions in the world, but life always seems to get in the way. When you put things on autopilot there’s little opportunity to make excuses.

Free Turbo Tax Software! – I gave away some free TurboTax software a few weeks ago, but you have another shot with Ben’s giveaway. Go sign up!

Buying Foreclosures in Canada ‒ The Process – While Canada didn’t experience the real estate problems to the extend we did, there are still foreclosures on the market. We usually talk about buying American foreclosures around here, but here’s a primer on buying one in Canada.

Revisiting the Costs of Dog Ownership – Pets can be an expensive investment, and Lazy Man asked himself a number of financial questions a few years ago when thinking about getting a dog. So, here he is with some conclusions.

How to Replace Your Income, One DRIP at a Time – There’s nothing better than earning passive income, and one way to accomplish that is to begin creating a portfolio of investments that can generate income. Here’s one way you can get started with.

10 tips to avoid money worries – Money is one of the leading causes of stress today so it makes sense to keep your money problems under control. Here are ten tips to help you overcome some of the most common money worries.

What Does the Average Wedding Cost? – I’m glad we got married about six years ago and received help from family. Weddings can be outrageously expensive, and I’m dreading the day when my daughter reaches that age and is ready to tie the knot.

More great links:

• Safest, Simplest, Cheapest RESP Account
• Roth 401k vs. traditional 401k
• Couple Money’s Netbook Giveaway
• Choose Your Retirement Date
• FREE Microsoft Money Replacement
• Best Credit Cards for Paying Taxes
• Mortgage Aid Programs To End?
• How to Save for a Vacation
• Renting A Car With Debit Card

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