Friday Finance Findings for March 19th

Here we are, it’s March Madness! I’m not sure if you follow college basketball or not, but if you do, I hope your brackets are holding up. Mine is in bad shape with all of the early upsets. Not that it matters since my bracket is just for fun, but it stinks to do so poorly right out of the gate. Now my focus shifts to the Michigan State Spartans. I’m really hoping for a final four bid, but that’s probably just a little ambitious.

Also, you may have noticed a lot of guest posts in the past few weeks, and that’s because we’ve been doing a little traveling. We drove down to Florida and spent some time at a Disney resort. Unfortunately it was mainly for business, not pleasure. I did learn one valuable financial lesson while down there, and it’s expensive! I now know that if we ever take our kids to Disney it will either be some sort of package deal, or we’ll make sure to just get discount tickets and make sure we have a rental car so we can drive a few minutes away from the park to do all of our dining and pick up food at the grocery store. I’m sure not going to pay $2.19 for a single serving milk again!

Here are the links for this week:

The Secret to Saving Money – Having a hard time saving money and looking for the secret? Well, there isn’t exactly a hidden secret out there, but there are a few little tips that you can use to find money to save. Even if it feels like you’re broke.

The 5 o’clock Test – Can you work like an entrepreneur while punching a clock from 9 to 5 every day? It’s possible, and the times of being chained to a desk for eight hours every day might be begging for change, but unfortunately that isn’t usually the case with most employers.

Get Cheap Clothes Online or Elsewhere With These Tips – I just had a guest post about how to look like a million bucks without spending hardly anything, so this post is a great followup. You can get some great clothes online for real cheap.

SunTrust $150 Bonus – Want some free money? Here’s your chance. SunTrust is offering a $150 bonus. Get the details here.

Breaking Up is Hard to Do: Transitioning Well from One Job to Another – If you’ve ever had to change jobs you probably remember the stress of the situation. Especially if you’ve been with your prior job for any length of time. Breaking up is hard to do.

Tax Refund Loans �’ Costs & Alternatives – As people anticipate their tax refunds, some go one step further and get a tax refund anticipation loan so they can get their hands on the money even faster. Bad idea. Here’s why.

Four Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss Reviewed – Lazy Man reviews this great book. I’ve read it and have tried to apply many of the teachings to my own life. It’s not easy, but it’s something I’m still working on.

16 Ways Not To Blow Your Tax Refund – Getting a tax refund this year? Don’t blow it. Remember, this isn’t found money and it’s actually your hard-earned money that the government borrowed without paying you any interest. So, here are some smart ideas for your tax refund.

Five Pitfalls to Avoid When Buying or Selling A House – Buying or selling a home in this market can be a nightmare. Just ask me. We bought a house back in September and have still not sold our first house! Here are a few things to avoid if you’re looking at a real estate transaction.

Additional Reading

What Is That On My Credit Card Bill?

The High Price of “Low Cost” Payday Loans

5 Ways to Hurt Your Credit Score Without Using Credit

Affordable Health Insurance When You are Self Employed

Related posts:

1. Friday Finance Findings for February 19th
2. Friday Finance Findings for March 26th
3. Friday Finance Findings for March 11th
4. Friday Finance Findings for March 18th
5. Friday Finance Findings for March 25th