Recommended Reading Roundup

by joeplemon on March 13, 2010

in Weekly Roundup

a beautiful sight
Creative Commons License photo credit: raleighwoman

Again this week, lots of good stuff being posted.  If you are interested in reading what I have been reading, check out the following:

Life’s Meaning and Stockholm Syndrome at Christian PF

What Should Christian Retirement Look Like at Provident Planning

Is There Such a Thing as Good Debt? at Fiscal Geek

A Family Photo Shoot With The Roses at Good Financial Cents

Wills and Children: Who Will Get Your Money? at Money Help for Christians

Saving Money – An American Virtue Reborn at Debt Free Adventure

The Hidden Cost of Spending While in Debt at Get Rich Slowly

Joe on the web:

If you haven’t read enough of my writing here on Personal Finance by the Book, check Financial Premarital Counseling: Questions to Ask posted at Christian PF

I also showed up on Zimbio, a web site that boasts of 20 million readers a month!  Woo Hoo!

Update on March Madness contest hosted at Free Money Finance

I made it through round two this week!  Thanks for your vote.

Carnivals I have participated in this week:

Christian Carnival 318, hosted by Rodney Olsen

Baby Boomers Blog Carnival hosted by Baby Bo0mers US

Festival of Frugality hosted by Fire Finance

Also, some of my posts are considered “recommended reading” at Fiscal Geek, Kick Debt Off, The Smarter Wallet and Bible Money Matters

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How to Breathe Spiritually and Financially

by joeplemon on March 12, 2010

in Biblical Thoughts On Finance

Breathe
Creative Commons License photo credit: Alex Campos ?

Hyperventilation is defined as over breathing. Hypoventilation is the opposite: under breathing. The first will result in abnormally low levels of carbon dioxide in the blood. The second will result in too much carbon dioxide in the blood. Normal breathing maintains the perfect balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your blood, resulting in good health and energy levels.

My hunch is that far too many of us either over breathe or under breathe in our spiritual and financial lives. Let me explain:

[click to continue…]

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Reverse Mortgages Part Three: What are the Disadvantages?

March 10, 2010

photo credit: aturkus
Jacqueline Marshal* and her husband Tom* were comfortably retired when Tom died unexpectedly. Because both of them had been drawing a Social Security pension, Jacqueline’s monthly income was reduced by $700 a month (the smaller of the two pensions) upon Tom’s death. Jacqueline considered replacing the bulk of that [...]

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Short Term Mission Trips, Vamonos Ministries and Us

March 8, 2010

“If you follow instructions, you will have little problems with your house. If you take shortcuts, you will be taking it apart and doing it over. Now. Are you ready to listen?” George Waterman was never one to sacrifice clarity for tact, and, as we slurped water in the 100° heat, we decided that we [...]

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Love of Reading Roundup

March 6, 2010

photo credit:
My 6th grade reading teacher challenged our class to a contest…we were to keep track of all the books we read each quarter to see which student read the most.  I already loved to read, so this extra incentive simply pushed me to do more of what I loved.  My favorites were [...]

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Seven Ways God Works Through Our Finances

March 5, 2010

“Wait, Joe.” you may be thinking, “Doesn’t the bible say that ‘Money is the root of all evil’? Are you implying that a holy God would stoop so low as to work through something as vile as our finances?”
My answers, to those two questions are “No” and “Yes”. The correct bible quote, from [...]

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Reverse Mortgages Part Two: What Are The Advantages?

March 3, 2010

photo credit: Maxwell GS
When Donald Franklin became a widower he wasn’t prepared for the financial consequences. He and his wife Wilma had become accustomed to both of their pensions and both of their social security incomes. However, his survivor benefits paid him only half of her pension and none of her social [...]

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People Are Begging for Financial Help. Five Things You Can Do

March 1, 2010

photo credit: vtdainfo
The Recession is having some positive spin offs.
A report from Mintel Comperemedia revealed that, because of the current economic crises, three in four adults are trying to increase their financial know how.
Susan Menke, VP at Mintel Compermedia, comments: “The recession was a wake-up call for many Americans. They now feel [...]

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Baseball Addiction/ Weekly Roundup

February 27, 2010

photo credit: SNAKPhotography
My name is Joe and I am addicted to baseball.   In spite of  player strikes, steroid cheaters and spiraling ticket prices, I am still in love with the game.
How did it start?  When our family bought our first TV in the fall of 1957, my dad invited me to watch the [...]

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When Does Saving Turn To Hoarding?

February 26, 2010

photo credit: tallkev
The bible clearly states that saving is a good thing (Prov 21:20) and that hoarding is not (Luke 12:20-21). But is there a clear distinction between the two? And how can we know if we have crossed the line?
This post will first examine the spiritual aspect of hoarding, then give [...]

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Reverse Mortgages Part One: Digging Beneath the Surface

February 24, 2010

photo credit: LordFerguson
A great financial principle is “Don’t buy anything you don’t understand.”
If everyone lived by that adage, I have a hunch that very few reverse mortgages would be sold.  Regular mortgages are confounding enough without being challenged to think in reverse.  Just the term “payment” in a reverse mortgage can mystify the most savvy among [...]

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Carnival of Money Stories 2 Bob Gibson 1968 Season Edition

February 22, 2010

Welcome to the February 22, 2010 edition of Carnival of Money Stories 2.  Thank you for all of your great writing!
After the severe winter most of you have experienced, it is nice to realize that baseball season will soon be upon us.  Major leaguers are already in spring training, and, as a baseball nut, I [...]

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