1. This first post is off topic from most of ths stuff we talk about here at AFM, but it’s still intersecting. I can’t say that I agree with the closing paragraphs of the article but it is something we have to discuss. Why John Stewart Mill Matters
2. MoneySavingMom’s grocery savings tips.
3. Ramit has some great advice (with scripts) on how to stop paying credit card fees.
4. Three pillars of charitable giving.
5. Cheap ways to stay fit and healthy.
6. Ask Liz Weston: Don’t buy life insurance if you don’t need life insurance. (Makes sense to me.)
7. RetireBy40 is hosting the 146th edition of the Best of the Money Carnival.
8. Enter Faith and Finance’s Stewardship Bible Giveaway.
9. how to make the most of a liberal arts degree.
10. Finally, my friend, Paul, sold his blog in order to move on and do something different. I wish him the best.

I didn’t write about it Friday, but March 2nd marked the 4 year anniversary of my Dad’s death. Four years. Wow. I think of him often. Usually when I see a cool car or something like that.

Here are this week’s Ten for Tuesday:

1. I bet there’s something to debate in this old article I found on the Crown Ministries’ website: Tough Questions on Tithing

2. Teaching Kids to Save by Making Them Spend

3. Don’t Lie to Your Car Insurance Company

4. Why You Should Check Your Credit Score and Credit Report

5. Viewing Stock Market Changes with Perspective (humorous)

6. Ten Words You Need to Quit Misspelling

7. Budgeting is not Complicated (at least it doesn’t have to be)

8. Turbo Tax vs. Tax Act (a review)

9. Focus on Factors That Help (short and sweet)

and…

10. Tactical Asset Allocation: Another Rip-Off (gotta love Larry Swedroe)

2. 10 Mistakes People Make in Debt
I think a better title would have been “10 Mistakes Made by People Who Are in Debt” – the difference being that people who are in debt are usually in that situation for a reason. My favorites: “Thinking they deserve everything even if they can’t afford it.” and “Continuing with the same behavior and feeling powerless.”

3. How to Protect Your Smartphone from Identity Theives and Hackers
I’m choosing to ignore the misspelling in the title of this post because the tips are right on.

4. This Post Will Save You From a Life of Servitude
Okay, so this might not be the best comparison for those of us in Southeast Texas: “Credit card debt is an inescapable condition of life for most people, as much a constant as snow in winter or the sun rising in the east.” Still, the idea of the post is to catch people before they make stupid choices that land them in debt (aka “servitude”). Worthwhile read.

5. Roberts Assails Hollywood ‘Ageism’
Doris Roberts (Everybody Loves Raymond) spoke in front of a congressional panel to complain about “ageism” in the television and movie industry. My questions: There’s a congressional panel? While complaining about the possibility of going on welfare (NOT a joke), did it never occur to Ms. Roberts to possibly find another line of work if she is unable to find work as an actress? You can’t make this stuff up.

6. Are You a Mental Accountant?
Still not sure what a “mental accountant” is, but this post has some good thoughts on the way you think about what you spend.

7. How You Can Build Wealth
Even though I’m not a “young adult,” I’m still assuming I can put this information to use. Interesting discussion on the difference between active and passive income.

8. 20 Best Ways To Save Money By NOT Being Normal
Who wants to be normal when that means being in debt and living paycheck to paycheck? Some interesting tips to use. My favorites: “Get Rid of Your LandLine” and “Save money on your home entertainment.” My LEAST favorite (or ones that I don’t think are worth the effort put into them) are: “Go out to dinner for half price” (I end up spending more money on eating out if I try to buy from groupon.com or restaurant.com) and “Use Ebates when shopping online.”

9. What to Look for in Mutual Funds – Part 1 and Part 2
Excellent (simple) overview of how to judge what mutual funds will be a good investment.

10. Why Ron Paul Says It’s Ok to Feed Kids
Just because we need something political this week, here’s an interesting look at social programs that feed kids.

Write-offs for sales/state income tax has expired. That means those with state income taxes have to pay tax on that money twice?

2. Stop Buying Stuff & Refurbish Things

Interesting ways to re-use old things. For the author, it serves two purposes: saving money and allowing her to have “new” stuff when that spending money urge strikes

3. I Was in a Facebook Fist-Fight

Who knew extended warranties on cell phones were a controversial topic? “People think there is a 50% chance of them damaging their phone when, in all actuality, it’s closer to 5%.”

4. Credit is Not the Enemy – You Are

Best quote: “People need to stop placing the blame on others, including credit issuers, and recognize that they are their own worst enemy.”

5. 3 Rules for Hitting the Target

“Plan one month at a time.” – Breaking a larger goal into smaller ones has definitely helped us stay on track. 

6. Get Your Children Off to the Best Financial Start

A few good tips for teaching kids to save money.

7. Five Reasons to Give Up Goal Setting

Should you give up setting goals?

8. Additive vs. Multiplicative Thinking About Money

This isn’t the most practice article, but it is an interesting article on the way we think about money.

9. 10 Ways to Protect Your Financial and Personal Information When Shopping Online

Best tip: “Don’t click on links when you don’t know the source of the email, social media message or e-card.” If you’re not sure, don’t click it!

10. Why Aren’t People Applying for Mortgages

With mortgage rates so low right now, an interesting article about why people still aren’t applying for mortgages.

2. What Makes Debt Socially Acceptable?

3. 6 Step Plan to Dominate Your Debt
Not a whole lot of new information here, but sometimes it’s good to have a list.

4. I Think I Figured Out Why Frugality Is So Popular
Perfectly sums up the reasons “getting out of debt” and “weight loss” are our favorite topics to read about…but never actually do.

5. 3 Steps to a Quick Turnaround
Another “get out of debt” article. I like that he doesn’t gloss over the difficulties, but outlines some good steps to get started.

6. How to Organize Your Pantry and Save Cash

7. 5 Ways to Slowly but Surely Become a Millionaire

8. 7 Surprising Facts About Roth IRAs

9. Voluntary Slavery

10. 10 Steps to a Happier Life
Favorite: #1. “Lighten up! Don’t get your panties in a wad about every little thing thathappens.”

1. College graduates need to handle student loans wisely.

2. The best college values.

3. Holidays . . . Money . . . Love . . . and the budget.
Larry: don’t buy electronics!

4. VIDEO: Should I save for retirement or my kids’ college? Uhhhhh…RETIREMENT FIRST!

5. Bernanke: More fed easing possible…

6. Here are 5 stocks to put in your kids’ stockings. Interesting idea.

7. Take Kiplinger’s Holiday Tipping Quiz I got 8 out of 10 correct. See!…I’m a good tipper!

8. Why a high-dividend stock strategy isn’t a good approach. I would like to see the returns for the strategy. This article basically addresses volatility.

9. Scrooge’s take on the stock market.

10. Could inflation be a good thing?

1. A shoppers guide to Black Friday.

2. The true cost of bottled water versus tap water. We buy Ozarka water because the water has no taste. Water should not have a taste.

3. Five ways to spruce up Thanksgiving without messing up your budget.

4. Cap from Stop Buying Crap: I like my bank because they haven’t screwed me over yet.

5. Planning your budget and the benefits of forward thinking.

6. How much debt is too much? In my opinion, if your carrying a balance on your credit card, then it’s too much.

7. State minimums for car insurance.

8. Nouriel Roubini talks, people listen. “The problem with economic and market forecasts is that there are no good forecasters. Yet, every day the financial media broadcasts and prints forecasts from the latest gurus — forecasts that are the financial equivalent of astrology.”

9. Allan Roth is the best: Annuity Industry Gets Name Makeover.

10. Reality TV meets the job search. It’s sad that looking for a job can be considered entertainment.

2. The 50/30/20 Budget. Needs/Wants/Savings. They left out tithing/charity.

3. Here are six frugal tips from billionaires. A billionaire driving a 15-year old truck. Why?

4. Financial advisors show poor market timing.

5. Investment pitches to avoid. General advice but for the most part, I agree. I do like her question to ask advisors: “…how much will you make by selling me this product and what are my cheaper alternatives?”

6. Seven costs to eliminate if you’re getting ready to retire. Jean’s practical.

7. Does your spending reflect your values? Always (whether you like it or not).

8. A good discussion with Kyle Bass concerning worldwide debt.

9. Older workers are losing faith in their 401(k) plans. This quote related to younger workers made me scratch my head: “Younger workers, however, report that their 401(k) will eventually hold enough to finance 39 percent of their retirement expenses. They expect Social Security to pay for just 20 percent of their retirement costs.” Hmmm…what about the other 41% of retirement needs? Where’s that money going to come from?

10. FMF: Why I buy new cars. I like new cars too. I know, I know…

1. Why Economy’s Growth Isn’t Easing Unemployment. “A growth rate of 5 percent or higher is needed to put a major dent in the nation’s 9.6 percent unemployment rate.”

2. Kirk Kinder: Why My Wife Will No Longer Shop at Target. Regardless, I can’t imagine going to Walmart over Target. Our Walmart is disgusting.

3. Meg: Projected Long Term Stock Returns: 5.2%.

4. Here are Six events that could trigger your retirement.

5. What’s better: a cap-weighted or fundamental-weighted market index?

6. The true cost of being your own boss.

7. How to cut $343 billion from the federal budget (via Don’t Mess with Taxes).

8. 4 expert tips on how to write a résumé. The left out the part about keeping it short and simple.

9. Is International Diversification Worth the Costs? Yes, as long as you keep expenses low.

10. College Tuition: What Students Are Paying Today. “College tuition prices continue to stubbornly increase, according to new statistics released today by the College Board, but here’s the semi-good news: you probably won’t pay these sticker prices.” This is what’s so frustrating about college.

Enough about me. Now it’s time for this week’s Ten for Tuesday.

1. Here is Morningstar’s moderate ETF portfolio for retirees. I might dedicate an entire post to this one.

2. Kirk Kinder asks: Could the mortgage mess crater the economy?

3. 8 Crucial Money Lessons for Teens. I like this article.

4. While we’re on kids and money, check out this interview with Jean Chatzsky over at WalletBlog.

5. Larry Swedroe writes: Stocks rallied in September but many people missed it.

6. Is a master’s degree really worth it?

7. Thomas Sowell on government greed.

8. Kimberly Palmer has 5 best ways for young people to give back. Kimberly sent me an email last week to let me know about her new book, Generation Earn: The Young Professional’s Guide to Spending, Investing, and Giving Back*.

9. How fee disclosure will impact your 401(k).

10. 7 myths about Roth IRA conversions.

*Affiliate Link