Car insurance can be confusing because there are a lot of different options to consider when signing up.  And it can be tough because car insurance is mandatory, so you may not have a lot of time to shop around.  Here is a quick summary of what you need to know so that you can make the most of calling around for a motor insurance quote.

Liability 

Liability insurance is the most basic coverage you can have, and it is what most states require as a minimum to drive a car.  This type of insurance covers your liability for damage and injuries for which you are responsible.  It also usually provides for legal coverage should you be sued as a result of the accident.

It is important to note that this coverage only covers you up to a certain amount (usually $100,000 or $300,000), so you will be on the hook for anything above that. 

Collision 

Collision is the next level of insurance available.  This not only covers liability, but it covers damage to your car if your car is in an accident or is hit by another vehicle.  This insurance pays to fix your car from the damage it received from the accident.  Depending on your coverage, it may also covers a rental car while your car is being repaired.  

Comprehensive 

The most generous insurance plan is comprehensive, which not only covers liability and collision, but it covers other losses as well.  Some common examples of other non-driving related losses include theft, fire, or struck by animal.  Depending on what options your insurance company offers, you can get various other covers as well.  A common one is car breakdown cover, which offers roadside assistance and towing should your car breakdown.

Another cover that is becoming increasingly popular is pet insurance cover.  This provides liability protection for your pet while riding in your car.  Should you get in an accident and your pet is injured, this insurance will help cover the costs.

There are many other options to consider when purchasing insurance, so make sure that you do as much research as possible to get the best price.

Enjoy this contribution from our supporters.

The Facebook IPO is here. This brand new infographic/video explains Facebook, and their IPO along with many facts about the reach of this vast social network. Only time will tell if this will prove to be an investment that deserves a place in your portfolio.

The big question: At $38 per share, how many are you going to buy?

With just over three weeks until our moving company packs our household belongings and ships them to our next duty station we’re rapidly approaching the D.I.Y. deadline. With several home improvement projects yet to be completed we’ve shifted into high-gear.

The good news is that we’re making great progress. The most recent room to be cleaned up and prepared for our renters was the downstairs half bath.

This was our fastest full-room project so far. In just eight (8) days we were able to give this bath a fresh look for less than $500. I understand that a professional crew could have easily done this in a day or two, and possibly for less money. However, I was doing it solo with only the help of my exceedingly capable children.

After gutting the room I worked on the ceiling and walls; patching holes and painting. Using leftover travertine, I had just enough pieces to give the floor a much better look. The toilet was replaced with a dual flush model, saving water and money is just a smart thing to do. The vanity / mirror combo was ordered online, and the light fixture is an off-the-rack option from a local hardware store. That’s pretty much it.

I think the results are just ok. The walls are a little too yellow for me, especially with the cherry furniture, but it will do. Please let me know what you think.

Before

The Crew

Gutted

After

With military orders in-hand we are moving to a new area. Faced with break-even equity at best on our home we’ve decided to put it on the rental market.

Last month I shared some images of various D.I.Y. home projects that we were aiming to complete as quickly as possible. There’s a time crunch; we’re hoping to have our house rented and occupied by the middle of June, but we have a lot of work ahead of us. Ongoing long-term projects were yet to be completed, and desperately needed updates were required in many rooms.

We like doing the work ourselves both for the satisfaction and the cost savings. Sweat equity pays big dividends and it’s a win win if you enjoy doing the work like we do.

While we have made some great progress, there’s still a few projects that need our attention. Today I’m pleased to share with you some of the before and after images to put our hard work into perspective.

Kitchen

Before:

Paint top kitchen cabinets. I ripped the kitchen out 2 years ago and now we only have this task remaining. A solid weekend of painting and well be done.

 After:

Blue Living Room

Before:

Change blue room to beige (Parisian Taupe). We love our blue room but renters don't. This requires taping, patching, priming, and two top coats. Fun!

 After:

Half Bath

Before:

Downstairs Half-Bath needs to be updated. I started pulling this apart just yesterday with the help of my eager young and exceedingly capable assistants. Kids love learning how to D.I.Y. projects!

 Demolition:

 Gutted:

…to be continued.

Have you ever wondered what if? As we’re bombarded with information it’s too easy to just let things go, especially things that are just plain wrong or against good common sense. It’s ok to be appalled by what may try to pass as acceptable when in reality it is not.

With the power of communication at our finger tips we each have a voice. I highly recommend we all find our voices and call them out, whomever they are. How else will change come about?

Here’s a great example. The people at AFSCME have produced this infographic targeting the taxes that have not been collected from GE in recent years. Whether you agree with their message or not, it’s certainly thought-provoking.

Have you found your voice?

It takes more than money to be truly happy. For me, it’s all about finding balance. Being healthy is paramount, along with a happy family environment where we’re all developing progressively. Beyond this foundation what is life all about?

Benjamin Jenk’s life philosophy is all about living, working, and travelling adventurously. I couldn’t agree more. Meeting people, sharing your ideas and seeing how others view the world will almost certainly leave you feeling connected as an engaged member of the human race.

Enjoy Benjamin’s recent travel adventure (below) and go to www.AdventureSauce.com for ongoing inspiration for living, working, and travelling adventurously.

What are your Spring Break plans?

Welcome to the Carnival of Money Pros, I am very proud to be your host. Final Ride! Not for the Money Pros, we’re just getting warmed up. However, this weekend may be my last opportunity to ride with my mates.

I’m a mad keen cyclist, and there’s very little more important to Aussies like me than mateship. With military orders in hand we’re packing our belongings and heading elsewhere. It’s part of the deal when you volunteer to serve, so please don’t read this as some kind of complaint. Regardless, we pack and move every 2-3 years and say goodbye to the good friends we have made during our stay.

Mates! All except Drew...must get a photo of Drew.

The PCS (Permanent Change of Station) is hectic for a military family. You would think that experience would make each one easier. In reality our lives become richer as we grow, unfortunately this adds complexity and stress to a move. Riding keeps me on an even keel. I’ve scoped out a great place to ride in our new city and I must connect with the LBS (Local Bike Shop) soon after arriving to keep the network expanding. I’m just thinking aloud here, thanks for listening.

When faced with a stressful transition, what keeps you grounded?

Carnival of Money Pros

Steve @ The Loonie Bin writes Predicting The Future Of Your Investments – Will the companies you invest in now be around in the future?

Squirrelers @ Squirrelers writes Giving to the Homeless: Yes or No? – Do you give to homeless people if you encounter them, or do you like to use your charity in other ways? This post discusses my thought process as I decide whether or not to give.

TTMK @ Tie the Money Knot writes When Customers Attack – Sometimes, when it comes to getting what we pay for, things can go too far. This is a story about a customer going after another customer because he wasn’t getting what he paid for. Who was right?

Dividend Growth Investor @ Dividend Growth Investor writes 17 Cheap Dividend Aristocrats on Sale – I identified 17 attractively valued dividend stocks, which offer above average yields and grow dividends over time above rate of inflation.

Ashley @ Money Talks Coaching writes Saving For College; How to do it and why you shouldn’t feel guilty for not – Saving for college is a huge task. Not only does the cost rise faster than inflation you have a very short time frame in which to save.

Daniel @ Sweating the Big Stuff writes Salary vs Commission: Which Do You Prefer? - Do you like working for commission? Do you prefer a salary? There are several compensation options and each has it’s own advantages and disadvantages.

PITR @ Passive Income To Retire writes Why I Prefer Bluehost as My Web Host - Learn why I think Bluehost is the best web hosting company out there. There are many clear advantages to their service over others.

krantcents @ KrantCents writes The 3 K’s of Success – The 3 K’s of Success is the eleventh in a series of articles to help you reach your goal.

Amanda L Grossman @ Frugal Confessions writes Consumers are Sale-Desensitized, and for Good Reason – I have a healthy dose of skepticism when perusing retailer and department store websites and seeing their reported percentage savings on products.

Dr. Dean @ The Millionaire Nurse Blog writes Are You A Scared Twenty Something Investor? – You’re a millennial. You’re investing as if you’ve survived the Great Depression. How will you have the needed money to retire when the time comes?

MMD @ MyMoneyDesign writes Why I Finally Sold My Apple Stock – After its recent rapid price increase, I finally sold my shares of Apple. Was I insane? Or was I just removing emotion from the situation and taking advantage of a terrific opportunity to lock into those capital gains?

101 Centavos @ 101 Centavos writes Prospect Generators in Mining – The Global Outsourcing Trend Continues – American Airlines is looking for partner airlines to manage flight route out of the U.S. Oil and Gas refining companies outsource their engineering,…

Steve @ Money Infant writes 10 Things You Can Do to Get Out of Debt Starting Today – Are you always wondering why you can’t get off the debt treadmill and live a satisfying life without constant money worries? 10 things to help get out of debt

Wayne @ Young Family Finance writes How Much to Save for College – Determining how much to save for college can be difficult. Find out how much you should save.

MR @ Money Reasons writes Can A Side Blogging Business Help You At Your Primary Job – Can working at a blogging side business help you at your employed day job? I think so and here is my story.

Don @ MoneySmartGuides writes Buy and Hold: The Path to Wealth – It’s no secret that I am all for passive investing.

Kyle @ The Penny Hoarder writes How to Save 10 Percent on Your Grocery Bill Without Cutting a Single Coupon – If you’re someone who won’t use coupons or you’re somebody who uses coupons, but wants to save even more, I’ve got an unconventional way to cut the grocery bill.

Evan @ My Journey to Millions writes What Is the Elective Share? - The Elective Share also known as a Spouse’s Right of Election can make the actual distribution of your estate much different than you originally planned. Here is why:

Kevin @ Invest It Wisely writes The Dangers of Over Diversification - The financial industry makes a mint of throwing buzzwords as people who are financially illiterate. How many times do we see financial planners throw around the term “diversification” as if it were not merely one of the Ten Commandments, but first on the list? Diversification is definitely important, but if you’re not really sure what it means, it can be used to justify selling almost anything.

A Blinkin @ Funancials writes Should Homeownership Still Be The American Dream? - This was initially a guest post I wrote for Sam at Financial Samurai. Let me know what you think. There have been numerous studies performed over the years which clearly outline the social benefits of homeownership. In the mid-2000′s it was nearly impossible to argue against the advantages of owning a home.

Jason @ Work Save Live writes 6 Things You Must Discuss Before You Get Married – As a financial coach I’ve learned that my job involves much more than helping people with their finances. I’m often a marriage counselor, psychologist, and a motivator. Before you need the whole marriage counseling aspect, let’s try to spearhead a few of the most issues couples face.

Kevin @ Thousandaire writes Would You Destroy An Entire Industry? – If you invented something that would benefit consumers immensely but would destroy an entire industry at the same time, would you release your product?

Hank @ Money Q&A writes Obtaining A Merchant Account For Your Online Store – Obtaining a merchant account is a necessary step for an online store wishing to accept payments online rather than having payments mailed to them. If you have an online store and want to accept credit or debit card payments, efficiently, you will need a merchant account.

Crystal @ Budgeting in the Fun Stuff writes Yes, I am a Hunger Games Fan – I am sure you all have heard about the new movie, The Hunger Games, based on the books by Suzanne Collins. I have been a fan since December 2010.

Jeremy Waller @ Personal Finance Whiz writes Infographic: How Much Do People Spend On Coffee, Lunch and Gas for Work? – I’m sure you’ve heard before how quickly things like coffee and lunch can add up if you’re buying them every day. Anecdotally, I’ve talked to a number of people who are making coffee at home and are bringing leftovers for lunch to save money.

Aloysa @ My Broken Coin writes Healthcare: Two Sides of One Story – Not a lot of people realize or know what countries across the ocean offer to their people in terms of healthcare. When a few months ago I went back home, to Lithuania, I was fascinated by some of the benefits people have access to.

Corey @ Steadfast Finances writes 7 Smart Tips For Teaching Your Kids About Money – Teaching your kids about money doesn’t have to be difficult. Learn great tips to teach lessons about money to your children.

Eddie @ Finance Fox writes How Do We Measure Success? – Here’s my two cents. Singularly education, money, cars and the circle of friends do not measure ones success. Success is measured with a combo of all the above four.

Corey @ 20s Finances writes Extreme Frugality – When I first started out this blog, I went through a series of frugal tips. I prided myself with coming up with weekly tips on how to help people save money. I know that cutting your expenses is the first step to financial responsibility. Regardless if you are making more money, if you spend more money than you earn, you will be poor.

KT @ Personal Finance Journey writes Quick Meals for Week Nights – Many people are so busy, they don’t have time to meal plan. When they leave work at 5 p.m., they start thinking about dinner and either go through the drive thru out of desperation or stop by the grocery store haphazardly putting food in their cart because they are hungry and don’t have a plan.

Suba @ Broke Professionals writes Our House On The Market: Month One – My husband and I have our house on the market. We’re learning firsthand what sells a house, and passing our experiences on to you.

Jeffrey @ Money Spruce writes Can We Stop Gushing Over Our Self-Affirming Financial Bullshit? – Did the title make you uncomfortable or defensive? Good. It’s probably not new news to you that everything likes to read things that simply back up what they already think and do. Finances are no different. We like to have all the answers, and we like to be on the right track. Sure, there are little tweaks here and there but not too much to rock the boat.

Miss T. @ Prairie Eco Thrifter writes Portfolio Protection with Covered Calls – Options investing strategies are usually not for beginners. If you are a buy and hold investor though, it is important that you know the basics of options. There are levels of options trading and usually your broker has to approve you to be able to trade those strategies. Each level requires more education on options and more capital. The first level is the one that I will talk about today and that is covered calls.

Lazy Man @ Lazy Man and Money writes SigFig-The Best Way to Track Your Investments - What is Sigfig? They are like Mint for investments, but built for the serious investor. I know that Mint does investments, but it is very basic. SigFig gives you a lot more data and to analyze your total portfolio.

Justin @ Budget Snob writes What Should You Try Before You Take Out a Loan? – There are some situations in which taking out a loan is appropriate, such as buying a house or a car. However, in other situations, loans may not be the best choice. Before you take out a loan, it’s important to look at your options.

Steve @ Brip Blap writes What Message Are You Sending? – Could you imagine what kind of values that little girl is going to have if she continually sees her parents whipping out the credit card to buy her every little toy (now) or shoes or makeup (later) when she demands it? She’s going to be a financial wreck when she finally goes out on her own. The saddest thing is that her parents probably think they are being nice. There is a saying that “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” If a parent thinks they are being nice to a child by g

Beating Broke @ Beating Broke writes The Struggle with Enough – Enough is an arbitrary measurement. What you think enough is today isn’t necessarily going to be enough tomorrow. So many factors go into what we believe enough is, and many of them change regularly. A few years ago, if you’d have asked me what enough was, I would have told you that it was having a good paying job, a nice house with room for my family, and enough leisure time to enjoy the benefits of having those things. Today, my answer is a bit different.

Justin @ writes What Should You Try Before You Take Out a Loan? – There are some situations in which taking out a loan is appropriate, such as buying a house or a car. However, in other situations, loans may not be the best choice. Before you take out a loan, it’s important to look at your options.

John @ Passive Family Income writes How to Accelerate Debt Repayment – If you are just starting your debt repayment journey, there are several things you can do in the beginning to accelerate your debt repayment progress.

John @ writes How to Accelerate Debt Repayment – If you are just starting your debt repayment journey, there are several things you can do in the beginning to accelerate your debt repayment progress.

YFS @ Your Finances Simplified writes 30 Tips For First Time Home Buyers - Buying a home for the first time can be an exciting experience, but there are a lot of things that can go wrong if you don’t do your due diligence first.   Before you even begin the house hunting process it’s essential to stock up on some words …

Grand Per Month @ Grand Per Month writes Turning Your Side Income into Your Main Income – The idea of working for yourself is exciting and motivating. However, before you make the leap, make sure your financial situation is strong as well as your social connections. This can help you make a smooth transition from employee to self-employed entrepreneur.

Tushar @ Start Investing Money writes What Does Investing in Kids Really Mean? - This Post was Originally published at What Does Investing in Kids Really Mean? on Start Investing Money When we talk about investing we typically think about money. This is understandable but when it comes to kids, money is not the only way we can invest in them.

Cash Flow Mantra @ Cash Flow Mantra writes Is the Housing Market Scraping the Bottom? – Investing in real estate makes sense for investors who have the money and can turn around and charge rent to those who are unable to get mortgages. Mortgage rates are near record lows which is another good reason to purchase a home.

Kay Lynn @ Bucksome Boomer writes Taking Advantage of a Disaster to Invest – We’ve experienced cruises on three of the Costa Cruise lines and I have been bugging my husband to invest in the company so we can get the shareholder benefit of on-board credit each sailing. He always ignored me until the Costa Concordia disaster.

Everything Finance @ Everything Finance Blog writes Play Your Credit Cards Right - As a certified credit counselor I spend the majority of my day helping people that have gotten in over their heads with credit cards. I am typically not a proponent of credit card use, however when used responsibly you can actually use credit cards to your advantage.

LaTisha @ Financial Success for Young Adults writes How to Save in Your New Home – Despite good intentions, it’s often hard to stretch a paycheck for the duration of a full month. Over the years you learn certain tricks to make your budget budge that little bit further, but when you set up home for the first time it can be hard to know just where to start.

John @ Married (with Debt) writes Wage Slavery and Money Myths – Wage slavery, for some, is an everyday reality. For others, there’s no such thing and work is a pleasure.

Jon the Saver @ Free Money Wisdom writes What Should You Do With Your First Pay Check in College? – When you get your first paycheck in college you often wonder what to do with it. Use these tips to spend your first paycheck in college wisely.

Shaun @ Smart Family Finance writes What to Do If You are in a Car Accident – While being a party to a car accident might be outside your control, knowing what to do after a car accident will help keep you safe and potentially avoid you legal headaches down the road.

Kanwal @ Simply Investing writes The Biggest Investment Mistakes Canadians Are Making - I was recently interviewed for this article by Cindy Waxer (she writes for publications including Technology Review, The Economist, TIME, Fortune Small Business, and CNNMoney.com). Have a look…. Many Canadians are falling short of their investing goals.

Ken Faulkenberry @ AAAMP Blog writes Solutions to Manage Investment Risk and Market Returns – Investing requires a risk management process to identify potential risks, develop solutions, and mitigate or control risks that have been accepted.

Luke @ Learn Bonds writes A 14.34 Percent YTM Opportunity in James River Coal Company Bonds - James Rivers’s senior unsecured note, CUSIP 470355AG3, is asking 72 cents on the dollar (14.34 Percent yield-to-maturity before commissions).

Peter @ Bible Money Matters writes How to Determine Your Risk Tolerance – My best suggestion for determining your willingness to take risk is to keep a record of how you have actually responded to market declines in the past. For example, what did you do when the investment banks started failing in late 2008 and the market began to crash? How did you feel? What about a few months later, by which point the market had fallen by roughly 50%?

Daisy @ Add Vodka writes Ridiculous Things I Do to Save or Make Money – Sometimes, the things I do blow even my own mind. I’m really not even all that ridiculously frugal; I believe in quality over quantity, and completely understand the value in spending more to get a better item.

Jen @ Master the Art of Saving writes Make Money While Drinking Beer? – I started thinking about it – can you really make money while drinking beer? Yep, I’ve decided that it is quite possible for somebody to make money while drinking beer– though most of these things can also been done by sober people.

Mr. Money @ Smart on Money\ writes A Traditional IRA or a Roth IRA: Which Is Best? - Below are just a few of the factors you need to take into account when trying to decide whether you should invest your hard-earned money in your Traditional IRA, your Roth IRA, or some combination of both.

Dividend Ninja @ The Dividend Ninja writes Recent Buy: Husky Energy (HSE) - Today the bad news on markets caused the TSE to slip nearly 80 points in midday trading. Commodity prices sank on reports of slower growth in the euro zone and China, which fueled concerns over the demand for Canadian resources. This was exactly the good news I was waiting for, as my order for 100 shares of Husky Energy (HSE) was filled at $25.49 per share.

SFB @ Simple Finance Blog writes Sorry, Dave Ramsey: I Still Use Credit Cards – I’d heard about financial guru Dave Ramsey’s envelope system for using cash instead of credit cards. Why a cash only lifestyle isn’t for me.

Jester @ The Ultimate Juggle writes Three Tips to Increase Efficiency – Find out how to stay productive as the year progresses.

Van Beek @ Stock Trend Investing writes My Current Savings and Stock Investing Allocation in March 2012 – One of our members asked me after our latest long-term trend signal update, what my current stock investing allocation is for my savings. In his own words: “What is the percentage of your money that you are now allocating for the US & Europe? What % is still in savings?” Till now I never shared this type of details. But when someone asks a question like this, others probably would like to know the same. Thus here is it as it looks for me at this moment

Investor Junkie @ Investor Junkie writes Mutual Funds vs. ETFs - Mutual funds and ETFs are both linked to the investments held in the funds, and they provide the opportunity to purchase a number of investments at once, in a sort of lot. It is important to note, however, that there are differences between the two.

Echo @ Boomer & Echo writes A Lifetime Plan For Managing Your Money – As your life changes, so do your money needs. Here’s a money plan you can use every step of the way.

Sicorra @ Tackling Our Debt writes Let’s Talk Money – The Series – With Ashley  - Ashley is the author of the well known PF blog Money Talks. She agreed to do this week’s interview to share her personal view points on money.

Mike @ Rewards Cards Canada writes Capital One Aspire Cash World MasterCard Review – The new Aspire Cash World MasterCard is now available and Capital One is now offering this product with no annual fee. Cardholders will still receive the same World MasterCard benefits as before, including travel medical insurance.

Mike @ Rewards Cards USA writes US Airways Dividend Miles Program – US Airways sports a frequent flyer program called Dividend Miles, that can be redeemed for free flights, upgrades, and other perks.

Linsey @ 1099 Mom writes Tips for Getting Your Online Loan Approved - I don’t often talk about loan products here, but I know that starting a small business (and keeping it running) can be a challenge. One site that really caught my eye recently was Weemba; I have done a large majority of my consumer credit activities online, so I always like to stay current on this trend. I also know what I look for when I am ready to work with a lender, and this inspired me to share what I think are the best tips for getting the loan you need:

SB @ One Cent at a Time writes How to Handle Your Credit Cards, From Applying to Paying – A credit card is the best money earning vehicle for some. Also, credit cards are main reason for debt. The primary difference is knowing how to use them to your advantage.

SB @ Finance Product Reviews writes Credit Karma Review, How Reliable is Credit karma? - Creditkarma is a tool which let you see your Transunion credit score for free, but how reliable it is? read the review and make informed judgment about using it.

Lina Zussino @ Baby Alerts writes Should I be giving my child an allowance? – Financial literacy, which is a fancy way of saying being smart about money, cannot start too soon. One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is an understanding of, and a respect for, money. This can be a tough concept for some – in many families and cultures it is taboo to talk about money. Kids need to understand where money comes from and how it is used.

Paul Vachon @ The Frugal Toad writes Saving Money for a Home Down Payment – Buying a house is a huge undertaking – it will probably be the biggest purchase you make in life. Saving up for a down payment can take years. Here are some ideas that can boost your savings.

Steven Zussino @ Canadian Personal Finance writes Are Financial Advisors and Financial Analysts the Same or Different? – The investment industry has many professional designations, each designed to communicate a level of trust when dealing in financial matters. A financial planner is more a generalist, and a financial analyst is more a specialist at his craft. Many salesmen are something different, often cloaking their pitch in an air of respectability.

Jeremy @ Modest Money writes Starting A Side Business – Have you ever considered starting a side business to earn some extra money. Read Jeremy’s story of what led him to start his own side business.

Steve Zussino @ Grocery Alerts writes Where to find the cheapest drug dispensing fees in Canada? – If you take prescription medications in Canada and do not have health insurance with your employer, this will save you some money. It will be a surprise to some readers that some private insurance does not cover all of the prescription drug dispensing fees – depending on the plan.

Michelle @ See Debt Run writes Debt Dieting – Controlling spending habits can be a lot like trying to diet from food, and can lead to similar cravings.

Kraig @ Young, Cheap Living writes Are You Personally Accountable? - I take a look at a tough subject to a lot of us, personal accountability and do an honest analysis of myself. I give myself a C+. I also reference my favorite book on the topic, QBQ by John G. Miller and wouldn’t you know it, he stopped by to pay this post a visit!

Kari @ Small Budget Big Dreams writes I Use Credit Cards: I’m bad – Credit card use is often a hot topic among personal finance bloggers. Educated people from both sides of the “argument” usually disagree about whether using credit cards makes good financial sense. I use credit cards for everything, am I “bad”?

Earth and Money @ Earth and Money writes Can Frugality Trump Honesty? – Have you ever lied to get a deal? Even just a little white lie or a fib? In the end, human nature sets us up for self-preservation.

Steve @ The Loonie Bin writes Man Can’t Invest By Yield Alone – While yield does play an important part when making an investment decision, there are many other important factors to consider.

Glen @ Parenting Family Money writes Opening a Roth IRA for a Child – Help Your Child Get Ahead in Retirement – Opening a Roth IRA for a child is a great way to get them started investing as well as starting them saving for retirement. There are other great reasons as well.

J.P. @ Novel Investor writes Google Play! Investing in Digital Distribution - Google Play is the new competitor in the digital distribution service area. An area that offers some interesting long term investment opportunities.

Glen Craig @ Free From Broke writes Student Loan Debt Bubble – Is This Our Next Economic Crisis? – Student loan debt is growing rapidly. Graduates are crippled by payments their new jobs can’t support and that’s if they get a job. Is this the next bubble?

Melissa @ Fiscal Phoenix writes The Dangers of Investing in Individual Stocks – There are several dangers and risks that investors take, especially new investors, when you invest in individual stocks instead of mutual funds. Here are some of the biggest dangers of investing in individual stocks.

Karl @ CultOfMoney writes Can snowboarding help you master your money? – Learning to snowboard and managing your money have many similar aspects. Both require dedication and effort in order to master. At times, you’ll fall in both, and it will hurt. You need some equipment in both cases, and may not know what is best when you’re starting out. Both have ways to protect you in case of an emergency or catastrophe.

America’s Fat Future is a new infographic created and developed by the Medical Coding Career Guide. The troubling trends identified below are powerfully motivating for me. The team that created this infographic are keen to get your feedback. Good, bad, or ugly, please share your opinions in the comment form below.

Created by: MedicalCodingCareerGuide.com

Doodling is a polarizing topic; most people are firmly against it or strongly for it. Whatever your position might be on the fine art of random marks there is strong evidence that this helps our brains connect the dots.

First, a disclaimer: I’m a mad doodler. One of my earliest birthday gifts as a child was a doodle art set. I used it virtually non-stop until the psychedelic markers ran out of ink. My old school books are filled with seemingly random lines, notes, and scribbles. My desk has always had a large calendar pad where I make endless notes and then cover in doodles. I’m firmly in the pro-doodle camp.

The Incident

I’ve never thought to psychoanalyze my doodles and never really aware of what others may have thought if they happened to glance at my workspace. However ,I will never forget one workplace incident early in my career.

Working in a call center environment I spent most of my time speaking with finance customers. My desk pad was filling up with doodles. I took notes as I listened to clients and always had a pen in hand filling in the space on the large sheet of paper.

A senior manager stopped by and examined my doodles. Pointing at the page he remarked that this was clearly a sign of extreme stress and something I needed to work on. Clearly, he was not a doodler. I’ve been known to take things too personally, but I was devastated by his 15 second psycho analysis. Anyway, I’ve never stopped doodling.

Doodlers Unite!

I was really happy to see Sunni Brown’s recent TED conference presentation on the many benefits of doodling. The action of mixing notes and marks with visual and audible stimuli enhances the learning experience. Doodling helps the brain organize and store our thoughts. In short, it’s an amazingly productive mechanism for efficient memory and understanding. I’ll let Sunni explain in the video below.

 Do you doodle?

Installing a toilet is a fairly simple project. With a little confidence you can do it yourself and save money. We upgraded our throne in under 30 minutes with no further instruction than those printed on the box.

It really is as easy as choosing a new toilet from your favorite hardware store and bolting it on. We chose an inexpensive model, however we think it looks pretty sharp. The oval-shaped bowl is an improvement from the round unit it replaced.

The new throne also has a dual flush option; half-flush for light duty, and full-flush when required. This really is a great feature as most of us underestimate the cost of water. Water is our single most expensive utility so any savings are a welcome bonus to the bottom line.

This was one of the final D.I.Y. projects to be completed before we vacate our house and put it on the rental market. I hope our future tenants will enjoy their comfortable new commode.

Before…

Toilet to be installed here!

After…

Sleek new toilet!

New toilet, from another angle.

New toilet from above. We also installed new baseboard trim to finish this project.

Dual flush! Save water, save money.

We have several more D.I.Y projects underway and I look forward to sharing those before and after photos with you very soon.