Kip Tips

Great Advice From Around the Web

A weekly look at personal finance tips and insights others are offering.

By Cameron Huddleston, Contributing Editor, Kiplinger.com

November 30, 2011

Truth be told, I'm having a hard time thinking about personal finance today. I'm expecting my third child any day now -- and I'm hoping today is that day.

While I'm out on maternity leave, some of my favorite personal finance bloggers will be filling in for me and writing guest Kip Tips. Below you'll find a roundup of what they've written recently on their blogs to give you an idea of what sort of advice to expect from them when you see their bylines on the Kip Tips column over the next couple of months.

Flexo from Consumerism Commentary: How to Spend Money for Fun
"Paying attention to price and value plays a big role in everyday and occasional spending, but the usual goal in this type of frugal philosophy is ending the day with the most cash left in your pocket. I offer a different goal: ending the day with the experiences that shape you as a human being."

G.E. Miller from 20Somethingfinance: The Cheapest College Towns to Live in and Why You Should Consider Moving to One
These cities offer great value and plenty of things to do.

David Ning from MoneyNing: 7 Simple Adjustments to Make to Save More and Retire Early
"There are plenty of tricks we can employ to improve our finances by adjusting how we view the steps needed to achieve financial freedom."

Len Penzo from Len Penzo dot Com: Save Thousands and Look Like a Genius With Bimonthly Menu Planning
"Smart menu-planning not only virtually eliminates those expensive last-minute fast-food runs and quick trips to the grocer to get ingredients for one measly meal, but it also frees up cash for the other important things in life."

Emily Co from Savvy Sugar: How to Get Jobs You Didn't Know Existed
"Diligently looking for jobs online is helpful, but using your network of friends, family, and work buddies will help you see results faster."

J. Money from Budgets Are Sexy: Gigs for Goals: My New Favorite Mindset
"I’m starting to separate out my own streams of money, and attaching certain jobs to specific bills and goals of mine so I can easily determine what’s WORTH doing so, and what’s not!"

John Ulzheimer from Mint.com: What Happens When I Close a Credit Card
"If you carry a lot of debt, then the closure will likely be significant."

Reyna Gobel from Mint.com: Should You Consolidate Your Federal Student Loans?
"What if the interest rates of your individual loans vary by several percentage points? Should you avoid consolidating in order to concentrate on paying off the higher rate loans first?"

David Bakke from Money Crashers: The Only Skill You Need to Get Out of Debt
"You buy things for two reasons -- because you want them or because you need them. The key is figuring out the difference between wants and needs in your life."

Matt Breed from Money Crashers: 6 Reasons You Should Have Your Own Business
"It’s a lot easier than you might think. Start small and simple, using your own sweat labor to execute the idea."

Justine Rivero from Credit Karma: The Most Money I've Every Spent
"Don’t forget that the whole point of financial security is to be secure enough to pursue the life we want."

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