While I scour the internet for coupons I might be able to use at Walmart, here are some of the posts I found interesting this past week:

• My Two Dollars:  Comment From AIG Blog Relations (seriously, hilarious)
• Plonkee Money:  7 Ideas For Maximising Your Career (note the cute British spelling )
• No Credit Needed:  Online Calculator Calculates How Much It Costs To Drive
• My Money Blog:  Does The Stock Market Always Go Up?
• Five Cent Nickel:  Recovering From a Stock Market Decline
• Thrifty Florida Mama:  Tips To Set Aside Money For Christmas
• Chief Family Officer:  Continuing Dilemma - Public School Vs Private School
• My Super-Charged Life:  Debt-Free Is The Path To Financial Success

We are off to the zoo for the last time this year!  Have an enjoyable weekend!

Recommended articles:

“Stay the Course” is Becoming a Hard Pill to Swallow in This Market.

7 ideas for maximising your career.

Back To Basics: Debt-Free Is The Path To Financial Success.

Sometimes it Pays to Talk.

A good home inspection is worth the money.

Be Careful Where You Get Your Investment Advice.

My 401K Is Losing Money, What Should I Do?.

How To Buy Stocks In This Volatile Market.

The “Don’t Panic” Response Is Getting a Little Old.

The death of index investing.

7 mistakes not to make in a crisis.

How Much Does Your Money Matter to You?.

This week’s carnivals:

• 160th Carnival Of Debt Reduction - Bailout Edition was hosted at The Happy Rock.
• Carnival of Twenty Something Finances for October 6 was hosted at lava.
• 33th Money Hacks Carnival Oktober Fest Edition was held at Fix My Personal Finance.
• 19th Finance Fiesta - Oktoberfest was hosted by Living Almost Large.

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• $50-100 - Credit Card Bonuses (credit card sign up bonus money)
• $50 - TradeKing Bonus (details)
• $25 - ING Referral Bonus ($25 ING Referral)
• $10 - Ebates On-line savings! (Save money with Ebates)
• Blockbuster Total Access free trial
• Netflix free trial

In other news this week, Wells Fargo appears to have won the fight for Wachovia. I think it really was best for all parties. I also read a good article on CNN Money which explained why Citi is right to walk away from Wachovia. Not because Wachovia is bad, but the Well Fargo/Wachovia deal is better for everyone.

Kelly of Almost Frugal is giving away French food. This isn’t just your ordinary food, there’s some cool stuff here. So whether you have a curious palate or you just like food in general, check it out!

Back in September, I missed reading this great post by Catherine Lawson on Social Media Leprosy and other problems. If you use e-mail, twitter, blog, comment…basically if you’re reading this post you should read her post too (and the posts it references).

Flexo directed readers to this report on how money professionals are adjusting their own portfolios.

When I read Randall’s article about metal theft soaring, I didn’t think that kind of thing would be affecting me this week. More on that another day. (Not related to my story, I heard from our building/groundskeeper at the library that some valuable platinum parts were stolen off our library’s truck.)

And I can’t not reference another gem from Randall this week: Hiding Bills and Other Stupid “Considerate” Things to Do. If you’ve ever thought that hiding bills so you can take care of them might spare your loved ones pain, read this!

As for the Dreamhost incident, they finally did get back to me with a backup. I’ll write more about that later.

Mrs. Micah has some ideas for the 10 Ideas for 10 Day Give Challenge she is doing. Number 1? Pay the toll for the car behind you.

Dough Roller wants you to learn How to Harness the Stunning Power of Financial Regret. Step 1 is to Stop beating yourself up over past financial mistakes. Amen to that. Look forward, not backward!

Cash Money Life talks about the Pros and Cons of Dollar Cost Averaging. In today’s market, this is definitely something to think about.

Being Frugal has some frugal advice for airline travel. Go see where she jetted off to last week!

Gather Little By Little says “Hey Chicken Little, The Sky Isn’t Falling“. While things are bad out there, they are not as bad as we were led to believe they would be, and we will recover from this.

Plonkee Money wants you to know that you can have a job you like. I could not agree more! The best decision I have made in my adult working life was to quit my corporate gig that was making me sick and to strike out doing exactly what I wanted to do. It has paid off handsomely!

Moolanomy has some advice for those of you looking to buy stocks in this incredibly volatile stock market. If you are thinking of scooping up some bargains, this post would be a good thing to read first.

Paid Twice has just paid off her husband’s student loans. What an accomplishment! Need inspiration for paying off your debt? Go check out this article!

Single Guy & Money just spent some time working on Hurricane Ike damage in Houston and wants to share what he learned from his experience.

a

Sunday Money Roundup - First Snow Edition.

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Related Articles at My Two Dollars:

• Sunday Money Roundup - Fall Is Definitely Here Edition.
• Sunday Money Roundup - The New Look Edition.
• Sunday Money Roundup - Rest And Relax Edition.
• Sunday Money Roundup - Gifts Arriving By Mail Edition.
• Money Quote Friday - Bargains You Don’t Need Edition.
• Sunday Money Roundup - Hot As A Mother Edition.

Make no mistake about it, a recession is here. While we do not know how long or painful it will be, we do know that it has the potential to be the worst financial crisis any of us have ever lived through. The stock market has lost more than 20% in the last 10 trading days. Retirees and those nearing retirement have seen their nest egg eroded, some by 30% or more. And the banking system is under severe stress in the United States and globally. That’s the bad news. Now for some good news.

There are steps we can take now to better prepare us for potentially difficult financial times ahead. There is no silver bullet that can insulate us from any financial crisis, of course. But there are some basic things we can do to make sure we are as ready as we can be to weather the coming financial storm. My family and I are implementing many of these suggestions, which I’ll share with you now. I’ve organized these suggestions into three categories: (1) Income, (2) Expenses, and (3) Savings and Investing. But before we get to these categories, there is one overarching reality we must come to terms with–

Don’t Panic: I am simply amazed at the panic selling on Wall Street that we have seen in the last week or so. We read book after book that tells us that selling out of fear is the worst thing one can do, but we do it anyway. People are afraid. I’m not immune to fear myself. But you can be afraid without panicking. If there was ever a time for clear, rationale decision making, it’s now.

Protect Your Income During a Recession

1. Protect Your Job: In a recession, for most people keeping your job should be the number one priority. This may mean putting in a few extra hours, working a little harder, and improving your skill set. Those that stay employed during a recession generally weather the storm just fine. While the unemployment rate is still relatively low, it is very likely to go up. And the last thing you want is to be looking for a job with an unemployment rate of 8%, 10% or even higher.

2. Be Ready For Layoffs: While we should do everything we can to keep our jobs, some number layoffs are inevitable. And they may happen to me; they may happen to you. No matter how secure you think your job is, be ready for the unthinkable. This means having your resume updated, knowing what friends and colleagues you’d contact for job opportunities, and knowing where you would apply for a job. Some time ago I published an article with some tips and online resources on what to do if you lose your job. It’s worth checking out.

3. Earn Extra Money: I’ve long preached the benefits of earning a second income. I make extra money blogging, but that’s just one of many, many ways. The beauty of extra income is that it goes right to the bottom line. If you need $5,000 a month to live on, even $1,000 a month in extra income extends your emergency fund by 20%. It can make a huge difference if you ever lose your job. Here are some ways you can earn extra money.

Reduce Your Expenses During a Recession

1. Evaluate Your Mortgage: One of the positive elements of our current financial crisis is that interest rates are low. I’m old enough to remember the late 70’s and early 80’s when we had double-digit inflation and interest rates. Today, interest rates are still at historic lows. If you have an adjustable rate mortgage, it’s time to see if you can refinance to a fixed rate loan. Notwithstanding what we all hear on TV or read in the papers, those with good credit can still get mortgages. I know this won’t apply to everybody, but if you can lock in a low, fixed rate mortgage, you eliminate the risk of rising interest rates.

2. Refinance high interest credit cards: If you are paying high interest rates on credit cards, consider moving the balances over to a 0% APR balance transfer card or a low interest credit card. When considering this option, keep in mind three things:

• The interest rate after the introductory offer: Zero percent introductory rates do not last forever, so make sure you know what the interest rate will be once the 0% expires. You don’t want to end up in a worse situation than when you started.
• Balance transfer fees: Today, virtually all balance transfer credit card offers charge a fee for the transfer. Typical is 3% of the amount transferred, but many offers cap the fee at either $75 or $90. Make sure to avoid unlimited fees if at all possible.
• Don’t use the card for anything else: One of the big gotchas of credit card balance transfers is that if you use the card for purchases in addition to the balance transfer, your purchases usually get charged interest. The problem is that any extra payment you may make will go to your 0% balance first, not the portion that is being hit with interest. Currently pending credit card reform legislation would change this practice. But for now, don’t use your balance transfer cards for any other purchases if at all possible.

3. Reduce Spending: This is obvious, but it is important to recognize that there are many ways to cut spending. Did you know that most internet services come with different internet speed options? I switched to a slower speed, saved $10 a month, and have not noticed the change. There are literally thousands of ways to save money. Pick those that work for you, and start saving now. As part of this, seriously consider a cash back credit card. If you pay off your balance every month, these cards are a great way to reduce your expenses by getting as much as 5% or more back on your purchases. One of my favorite cash back cards is the Blue Cash from American Express, a Consumer Reports pick.

Saving and Investing During a Recession

1. Don’t stop saving for retirement: I have not changed one thing about my investments during the market decline. I’ve not sold any of my investments. I’ve not reduced the amount of my 401(k) contributions. As Warren Buffett would say, I’m trying to be “greedy when others are fearful.” I won’t kid you; it ain’t easy keeping my money in the market during a free fall. But I am convinced that what we do with our investments now and in the immediate future will dictate more than anything else how much we have at retirement. Of course, I have 25 years before retirement. Your situation may be different. But selling out of fear is a sure way to lose buckets of money. Whether you invest in a 401k or IRA, or even an SEP IRA, keep investing.

2. Rethink your emergency fund: It is more important now than every to have an emergency fund. How much is always the question. I think 6 months is reasonable, but it depends on many factors. If you are married, do you both work? If so, you might get by with 3 to 4 months. Do you have assets you can sell if you had to? We have two cars paid off and could sell one if necessary. Whatever your situation, building up your emergency fund is critical, and I would keep it in a high yield FDIC insured online savings account.

3. Don’t rely on a home equity line of credit: This point is critical. You may have available credit on your home equity, but did you know the bank can eliminate that credit? Go find your home equity line agreement, and you will see that if the value of your home falls or your financial situation changes, the bank can reduce the amount of your available credit.

In the end, our motto should be this, home for the best, but prepare for the worst. A-men.

If you have any other suggestions for preparing for the worst, please leave a comment.

This is a guest post by Chelsey who blogs at only help my unbelief.  If you enjoy this post, make sure you subscribe to her blog!

Some people find motivation to handle money wisely from their families. Others from experience. Still others have ambitious, worthwhile futures they’re working toward.

My motivation is a 9-year-old in Peru named Lisbet.

I first “met” Lisbet last December, on a table in the lobby of a concert hall.

The table for Compassion International had dozens of packets, all including a picture of a child in a foreign country who needed a sponsor. I pored over the packets for a long, long time.

In the end, it was a picture of a little girl with a somewhat stern look on her face that captured me.

It costs me $32 a month (about a dollar a day) to sponsor Lisbet. Eighty percent of that money goes directly to her care, which includes food and clothes, school supplies, and the ability to take part in Biblical studies at a local church in her home country of Peru.

I’m in the middle of looking for a job after graduating from college four months ago. When I’m tempted to give up the long and arduous search, I remember Lisbet.

I live in the suburbs of a large town, so it’s a 20-mile drive to see friends, my boyfriend and to go to church. When I’m tempted to waste gas unnecessarily, I remember Lisbet.

When I ponder whether I should stop and grab fast food for dinner or find something in the cupboards, I remember Lisbet.

It isn’t easy, especially because I’ve never met her face-to-face. We don’t even speak the same language.

But I see her in the letters she writes me that in near-perfect cursive, telling me how happy she is that I’m her sponsor and how she prays for me.

And I see her in the beautiful pictures she draws for me and sends in every letter.

And so I have her picture posted where I can see it, to remind me why it’s important to be wise with my money.

There’s a little girl thousands of miles away from me who is fed physically and spiritually because of what God has given me, and I can’t imagine wasting that on things that don’t really matter.

Whether it’s your family, your dreams or a 9-year-old who loves monkeys, parrots and the color pink, find your “Lisbet” who will remind you of what’s most important.

Give that some thought for a minute - who exactly is complaining the loudest in this economic crisis that we are paying attention to and who’s quiet complaints do we ignore on a daily basis?

Have a nice weekend.

a

Money Quote Friday - Unfortunate Human Failing Edition.

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Related Articles at My Two Dollars:

• Money Quote Friday - Going Hungry Edition.
• Money Quote Friday - Fair Weather Friend Edition.
• Money Quote Friday - Gotta Get Rid Of My Car Edition.
• Money Quote Friday - Red Sox Win Again Edition.
• Money Quote Friday - Inflation Screwdriver Edition.
• Money Quote Friday - The Gandhi Edition.

The challenge is not a contest, or another item to guilt you if you don’t follow through. It’s simply a challenge to do your best. The goal is to:

1. Change the lives of those around you.
2. Change your own life by better understanding the joy of giving.
3. Make the world a better place one gift at a time.

Whether you believe in God, karma, or just helping out your fellow humans, I encourage you to take part in this and make some small changes for the better in the world. Consider visiting the 10 Day Give forums to share your experiences and ideas.

Btw, one gift I didn’t mention in the earlier post is the gift of commenting. Maybe that sounds weird, but most bloggers feel that (almost) every comment is a gift. It’s an encouragement, another reason to continue. So for if you’re looking for ideas, why not start by leaving a few thoughtful comments around the blogosphere?

What you should do with your 401(k) in this market

Don’t panic. Panic is never a good thing. Panic causes people to make irrational and often detrimental decisions. Look at your situation and assess your options.

Look at your asset allocation. If your retirement holdings are properly allocated, you are in a good position to weather the storm. Generally, the closer you are to retirement, the more conservative you want to be with your investments. The further out you are, the more flexibility you have in regard to risk. You may find that you need to make a few adjustments after the dust settles, but maintaining a good allocation will make it easier to get your portfolio back on track.

Don’t withdraw your funds. Even though you may have lost money in your account, it’s  better to leave your money in your 401(k) plan, otherwise you may face stiff early withdrawal penalties that will compound your current losses. Rebalancing your portfolio now and moving assets from equities into fixed return assets could be a case of selling low - which is the wrong thing to do.

Continue your contributing to your 401(k). If you are uncomfortable putting your money into the stock market right now, then consider making your contributions into a cash or money market fund if you have one available. You can also consider maintaining your contributions in their current funds. Remember, with dollar cost averaging you will buy more shares when prices are low which is a good thing when it comes time to sell. It’s true that the markets may continue to drop, but you never now when or how much. The more money you get in at lower prices, the more money you can potentially make when the markets increase.

I’m holding steady

I’ve lost quite a bit of money in the last few weeks - and it hurts to look at accounts that are 40% lower than they were just a couple months ago. But I’m looking at my 401(k) account (and my IRAs and other accounts) for what they are - retirement accounts. I have 30 years before I will be eligible to make withdrawals and I know that between now and then the markets are bound to recover. My job now is to make sure I stick to my game plan and maintain a solid asset allocation. The more money I pump into my retirement accounts now, the easier my life should be when I reach retirement age. And I know that old me will thank young me for sticking to the game plan, even when it looked like the sky was falling.

~/~

• $50-100 - Credit Card Bonuses (credit card sign up bonus money)
• $50 - TradeKing Bonus (details)
• $25 - ING Referral Bonus ($25 ING Referral)
• $10 - Ebates On-line savings! (Save money with Ebates)
• Blockbuster Total Access free trial
• Netflix free trial

Here are some ideas, plus how I’m currently trying to apply them to my own career.

Understand the bottom line

Whatever organisation and department that you work for, it has an underlying motive and key task. In the private sector this is usually making money by… [fill in the blank]. In the public sector, it is usually providing value for money by….. In the voluntary sector, the aim of the organisation is always stated explicitly.

1. work out how you contribute to the bottom line

In what way does your work assist with the task and fulfil the motive of your organisation? How do you make money? How do you provide value for money? Understanding why someone should employ you is key to working out why they should pay you more money, or develop you further.

How I’m applying this: I work for a private sector company so I need to try and make money. When I pitch ideas to my bosses I make every effort to think through the commercial angles as much as possible.

develop skills

Skilled employees are paid more providing they have the skills that employers want. The easiest way to work out which skills employers want in your area is to look at job ads in the trade press. Get a pen and paper and make a list of all the skills that are mentioned at which levels of employment, and you’ll see the skills you need.

2. develop sought after skills

Some skills pay well because they are scarce. Often these are skills in software packages, and usually employers want you to demonstrate experience in them. The best way to develop skills like these is to get your employer to pay for a course, or to wangle an opportunity to develop through on the job training. Be prepared to put in some of your own time though.

How I’m applying this: Well, this is something that I did previously. I noted that skills in statistics were going to become more important in my business area, and put myself on an Open University course in statistics. It’s certainly paid off in terms of getting my name known within the company (in a good way).

3. develop transferable skills

These are all the soft skills that are not directly related to your job, but that all employers want. Half the battle here is working out what you’ve already got. Stuff that translates to anywhere includes finance and budget management, people management, report writing, giving presentations, project or programme management, training others. Some analytical skills are also transferable, as are some software skills (Java programming for example).

These are important skills because you may well need or want to move sideways at some point in the future and your transferable skills are what will make this possible.

How I’m applying this: Mainly, I’m trying to improve my finance / budget / project management skills.  Not what I think is fun, but something that should help me get to where I want to be in the future. I’ve put my name down for a couple of courses at work, and flexing my mentor network with help whenever I’m thrown in the deep end.

market yourself

It’s absolutely no good having great skills and stupendous results if no one knows about it. At least from the point of view of maximising your career. Without marketing, Heinz wouldn’t be the *best* brand of tomato ketchup, and without marketing yourself, you won’t be considered the *best* widget seller (or whatever it is that you do).

4. make friends

You know that happiness at work is greatly enhanced by having a friend. In addition, having people that you will help because you like them and who will help you because they like you can be invaluable. They will act as your advocates because they believe in you. They will suggest ideas to you because they think you might be interested in the ideas. And you will do the same for them. Friends are to be cultivated for their own sake - it will work out in your favour in the end.

How I’m applying this: Currently I’m trying to keep up with the friends that I’ve made that have moved into different companies, or different areas of my company. I’m also on the look out for ways in which I can help other friends around the place - passing on bits of news, or contacts that I pick up.

I usually acquire new friends slowly, I’m not going to force the pace, but just try and remember to be nice and friendly to everyone regardless of whether they obviously can help me or not.

5. share knowledge

In the information age, knowledge is power. But, the power comes in the sharing of it. No one will know that you know things unless you start sharing the stuff that you have now. Take advantage of any forums offered for passing on knowledge - maybe through an intranet, through discussing trade news with colleagues, writing papers for conferences, organising or presenting at lunchtime seminars.

You know stuff that other people don’t - share it.

How I’m doing this: I have an active goal to write papers for conferences - it’s usually a matter of identifying a suitable conference and then targetting it. I’ve also organised and presented at a lunchtime seminar, and joined a couple of in-company technical networks. Finally, I’ve actually contributed to wikipedia on work-related topics. Every little helps, right?

6. tell people about your work

Having an description of whatever it is that you do, in a way that people who work in related areas will understand is useful. You stick in their minds more (especially senior management). It also forces you to edit your role into the most useful soundbite.

If you are small cog in a large wheel, it’s helpful to demonstrate that you understand the big picture as well as your own contribution (see also 1 above).

As far as possible, discuss your work. Just because the connections to someone else aren’t obvious to you, doesn’t mean they aren’t there, or that they won’t be there in the future.

How I’m applying this: At the moment, I have no major brainwaves, I’m am literally telling as many people as possible about some of the things that I’m involved in. Will the scattergun approach pay off? Who knows, but it is fun.

7. dress to impress

The rule of thumb is to dress at the level of the job you would like, rather than the job you are in. Smart, tidy, and with at least some sense of current fashion is probably the minimum, how far you need to take this depends on your industry and job.

How I’m applying this: Where I work, men wear shirts but not necessarily ties, women wear tops and trousers or skirts. I’ve taken to wearing a suit most days with a fitted t-shirt top.

I normally take the jacket of the suit off when I get in, so I don’t stand out too much from other people, but I put it back for a meeting or any other time that I need a little false confidence. Dress down Friday I wear smart dark blue jeans and try and avoid slogans on my tops.

Does anyone have any opinions or ideas? Is there anything I’m obviously doing wrong?

Earlier today, AIG announced an important policy change - one that we wanted to be sure you knew about.

A short time ago, our Chairman and CEO Ed Liddy said that he has ordered the immediate cancellation of all outside meetings, conferences, and recognition events across AIG, except those that are required by law or that are deemed absolutely critical to sustain our ongoing business needs.

Given AIG’s commitment to our customers, business partners, regulators, and American taxpayers, coupled with the new and very different challenges our company now faces, we take these responsibilities extremely seriously. Their trust is critical to our success. We recognize the need to be sensitive about all company expenditures.

As we move forward, we will continue to focus our efforts to pay back the $85 billion loan from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as quickly as possible.

Can’t get much funnier than that, huh? It’s a little late to act concerned about those of us who are saving your ass.

a

Comment From AIG Blog Relations - Funny Stuff.

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Related Articles at My Two Dollars:

• Money Quote Friday - Is That A Fire I See?
• If This Isn’t Enough To Make You Stop Eating Fast Food, I Don’t Know What Is.
• Favorite Blog Wednesday - Hunting For A Mighty Bargain.
• Favorite Blog Wednesday - Opening Her Wallet
• Giveaway - Tax Cut Software From H&R Block.
• Favorite Blog Wednesday - Life Of A Digerati.

News of Note

There’s still time to enter my contest for the FLIP digital camcorder!  Keep those frugal tips coming!  And you’re not going to want to miss the chance to win.  The FLIP is so convenient.  Just Tuesday night, my daughter was a speaker at “Author’s Night” at her school.  I forgot my camera, but my FLIP was in my purse, and I videotaped the whole thing!

The Frugal Roundup

Since I’m hanging out with the other mom bloggers from Walmart’s “Eleven Moms” Campaign, I thought I’d bring you some great posts from the ladies I’ll be meeting with today!

• Coupon Stigma is Contagious? at Keeping the Kingdom First
• Gardening for Fall at Mom Advice
• Why We Bought the House? at From Dates to Diapers
• Wordless Wednesday:  Babies and Remotes at Classy Mommy (This picture is just too cute!)
• Freebies and Deals at The Centsible Sawyer
• Scarily Frugal Halloween Tips & Tricks at Coupon Cravings
• Arnold Grains & More Bread:  French Toast Recipe at The Domestic Diva
• Avoid the Takeout and Drive-Thru Trap at Frugal Upstate (I think Jenn must have written this just for me)
• Lay Your Drinks to Rest:  Dinah Coops Paperstone Coasters at Green Your Decor.  If you’re looking to go green, this site has tons of product reviews for you!
• When Commenters Crash Your Party…Celebrate! at Jessica Knows
• And They’ll Tell Five Friends…and so on…and so on at Geekmommy
• 5 Great Coupon Resources at Deal Seeking Mom
• Frugal Fall Family Fun at Common Sense With Money
• Medical Bracelets, IDs, and Other Precautions Parents Need to Take at Skimbaco Lifestyle

For those of you who are counting, you probably noticed there are 15 moms, including me.  Our Eleven Moms group is growing, and it’s very exciting!

I can’t wait to get back and tell you all about my trip!  See ya Monday!

Copyright © 2008 Lynnae M. For more great content, visit beingfrugal.net.

The trees here in the South are just now starting the change.  Thus begins my favorite time of the year!  It’s also T-minus 12 days and counting until we close on our mountain house.  I’m sure you guys will be glad when we finally get moved so you don’t have to hear about it anymore!  Everything is going on schedule, the inspection was completed this week and only a few minor issues were found.  The seller’s have confirmed they will fix everything identified during the inspection before we close.  The appraisal came back yesterday and the house appraised for $22,500 more than we’re paying for it.  That means we’re walking in day 1 with $22,500 in equity plus the amount we put down, which at this point should be about 10% or so.  We had hoped to do more, but are keeping some reserves since our current house still hasn’t sold.  I faxed off all of our bank statements to the underwriters yesterday.  The mortgage company has everything they need at this point and will completing the final paperwork.

We decided to go with Two Men and a Truck for our moving company.  I called about 5 different companies overall.  One of them never returned my call.  One gave me a really low ball quote over the phone and was hesitant to send anybody out the house.  Another came out, but their quote was really high and they just didn’t seem very professional at all.  The two final candidates were Mayflower and Two Men and a Truck (TMT).  Mayflower was more expensive, but agreed to match and/or beat the TMT quote, which was about $1,000 lower.  I asked Mayflower to just provide their lowest bid and they wouldn’t do it without seeing the TMT quote.  Since TMT was very professional and came in with the most competitive price, I decided to go with them.  They also provide a 15% discount on moving supplies from their store.

I picked up the boxes I bought on Craigslist Monday afternoon.  It was well over 130 boxes and included about 10 dish boxes, 6 wardrobe boxes, and 4 or 5 picture frame boxes.  All for $125!  That’s $1.04/box!  My Expedition was filled from top to bottom with boxes.  They all just barely fit.  Given this deal, we decided to do our own packing.  We’ll begin getting serious about packing weekend.

Lots of stuff to do yet, but we’re getting there.  The whole process is stressful but exciting.

Important stuff

A few miscellaneous important things I’d like to mention:

• I’ll be hosting the Carnival of Debt Reduction on Monday. Anyone with a blog post on their personal debt reduction or advice on how to reduce debt is welcome to submit.  The deadline is 5:00pm on Sunday.  If you have a blog and aren’t submitting to carnivals, you’re missing out on a great way to get a free link and some visibility for your blog.
• Speaking of carnivals. I participated in the Carnival of Money Hacks, Carnival of Money Stories, Festival of Frugality, and the Carnival of Personal Finance.  Thanks to all the of hosts and make sure you head over and read them.
• October 15th is Blog Action Day 2008. This year’s theme is poverty.  More than 7,000 sites and 9.5 million readers will be participating either through writing articles or by reading them.  I’ll be participating along with my M-Network buddies and many other blogs on my blogroll.  I really enjoyed participating last year.

The gathering

I’ve gathered up all of my favorite articles this week.  Lots of great stuff, especially with the economy the way it is.

• An Open Letter To The Readers Of My Two Dollars. - You know, this is really a shame. Personal attacks just for expressing his opinion???? I thought this was America.
• Is Now A Good Time To Buy A House? - Uh, I sure hope so…
  
• Sometimes it Pays to Talk - I completely agree.  My problem is that I’m fairly introverted, so I really have to work at this.
  
• Changes You Can Make - Trent shared his article with me via twitter thinking I might enjoy it. He was right. Great article and what a great memory.
• Dear Congress, Wanna Help Your Country? Cut the Fat
• I don’t dream anymore
• My 401k Is Losing Money. What Should I Do? - Seems next to the economy, this is the subject of interest on the internet
  
• Think this is the end? Write yourself a new beginning
• Get Out Of Debt: PearBudget Spreadsheet Hacks
• Retro Gather Little by Little - I thought I’d begin sharing an older post with you, so here’s the first: 10 ideas to help you teach kids to save money published by me on July 8th 2007.  Note how different my writing style and quality is in these older posts!

Photo by: seeks2dream