Monthly Link Love – January Was Hot Edition

© by redplasticmonkey

After posting my Best Reads of 2011 post, and getting some good feedback from it, I decided to re-work how I track articles and sites I follow.  Basically I am going to assign points: 1 for each of the first 10-15 in this list, 2 points for the Editor Picks and 3 points for the EDITOR CHOICE article.  The results of my quirky desire to rank things will be published next year.  Stick around our site and you’ll enjoy the results.

So January wasn’t hot per se but it sure hasn’t been cold as we are accustomed in Canada for this winter month.  Usually we’re dealing with frigid temperatures and snowfalls that exceed 1 foot on a regular basis.  Not this year.  So the reason I mention the month being “hot” is that there were so many great articles over the last month.  I had over 30 on my list and spent far too much time reviewing them and trying to whittle down the list.  So instead of 10 articles to start i’ll use 15 this month.  And i’m saving the other 13 that didn’t make it into my favourite reads for other months if so needed.

So here goes!

• This article was great but the content within it ticks me off.  Rudy, Rudy, Rudy.  Over at My Journey to Millions.  If you’ve seen the movie ‘Rudy’ about the small kid who got to play football @ Notre Dame you likely won’t be happy about what he’s been up to.
• We buy SO many things from the grocery store out of convenience.  Thing is, many of these items can be made at home.  Canadian Doomer started an Ungrocery List and others left more items in the comments.
• Using the microwave is convenient as well.  Thing is it isn’t always the best to use for a few reasons that Betsy Jabs discusses in Alternatives to Microwaves.  Some great ideas here.

• If I am going to highlight Women Investing from Thirty Six Months in the Best of Money you can rest assured it will make my monthly link love too!
• Million Dollar Journey explained why he doesn’t hold dividend ETFs in his leveraged portfolio.  Good to know for those thinking about the Smith Manouvre.
• Many of us think that dividends are tax friendly.  They are in a way but Canadian Couch Potato tells us that dividends aren’t as tax friendly as we think.

• Len Penzo took some time to look at pizza delivery fees over the years and has learned that we’re to blame for the major inflation on the fees.
• We think canceling cable is a good idea.  Canadian Personal Finance tells us about some legal and free ways to watch movies in Canada.  Woot!
• Buying a home is expensive.  So is maintaining it – those large items eventually need to be replaced and come with a large price.  Budgets are Sexy points out the stuff new home owners never think about.

• Starting next month you’ll see more of My University Money here @ SPF.  Teacherman will write a few times per month for us.  I’m a big fan of his site and really enjoyed Afraid of Life? Grad School Isn’t the Answer.
• Another writer on our site, Miranda Marquit (who blogs at Planting Money Seeds – read it!) wrote a really thoughtful article over at Moolanomy, How do you Handle Being a Stay at Home Dad in a SAHM world.  Not easy.
• Are there signs you are stuck in a dead end job?  Invest It Wisely takes a close look.

• Mrs. 20s Finance discussed why there is so much unemployment these days.  It comes down to skills.
• The topic of travelling, and whether it is over rated was a hot topic at Prairie Eco Thrifter.
• A site I discovered a while ago and am happy to promote again: Green Stay at Home Mom, wrote about 4 ways to cut back on your meat consumption. N not cut it entirely, but strategies to reduce.
• Check out the mega giveaway @ The Extra Money Blog!

Editor Picks!

We know that the majority of our readers are women and we couldn’t be more proud to have such a great following here @ SPF.  An article by Suba who writes amazing articles at her site, Wealth Informatics, should interest many of you.  Perhaps you have dealt with this decision or perhaps you might face it someday … if you become a mother.  Suba provides information and data like no other writer I read and she tackles the question: Stay at Home or Work – What is the Professional Price.  Expect to see Suba in these monthly round ups regularly – she has been a mainstay for a few months now. (another article on her site was in our original 33 …)

Fantastic guest post by Forest Parks (who writes @ Frugal Zeitgeist) over at Retire By 40.  Forest lived in Canada for some time and writes about Canada a lot – so I take interest.  He lived in Montreal, Quebec, where Mrs. SPF was born and raised so his insights take particular interest for us.  Forest looks at frugality and the perception of self and others toward our financial habits and asks Are You Falling Down the Frugality Rabbit Hole?

On the topic of frugality, Nelson Smith who writes on our site, but also over at his site (obviously) Financial Uproar, thinks he has figured out why frugality is so popular.  Worth reading the detail as you will get to learn about being frugal is easier than other ways to improve your situation.  You also get more insight into Nelson’s Subway habit.

When our pal Jeff from Sustainable Life Blog decides to write a how to post based on his experience brewing his own hard apple cider I was excited.  I used to make my own beer (pre back injury) and I know just how tasty home made booze can be.  Cheap too – I used to get a pint for $0.75 and the quality was outstanding.

EDITOR CHOICE!

Ok folks, this article is quite possibly the least promoted and least commented quality, A grade, thoughtful article i’ve come across in some time.  Finance Fox deserves your attention.  In early January Eddie wrote about how Bullying is a Past Childhood Memory.  This isn’t an anti-bullying advocacy piece.  This is a reflection on the experience of different types of bullying growing up and how people evolve: those who bully, are bullied and who don’t experience much bullying.  Remember the “cool” kids in school?  I do.  Were you ever the small kid? Or the new kid?  I was.  So much of this article resonated true to me and as such Finance Fox is the best article I read this month.  Please read it – I think it hits home for, likely, 99% of us.