Updates: January 13 – 19

Don’t forget to check out and enter the two contests we are participating in right now. We’re giving away $1000 cash and $100 cash!

Today is my birthday! Things worked out pretty well with the NHL lockout officially ending today – you can’t ask for a much better present as a hockey fan. As if that wasn’t enough, CF and I are also going to the Vancouver Canucks game tomorrow and heading to her employer’s holiday party this evening. The party is ‘spy-themed’, which gives me the license to dress up and pretend like I can pull off James Bond :p.

It should be a pretty interesting party though – the branding includes some very interesting combinations of Austin Powers and James Bond. I am really looking forward to seeing who can pull off Austin Powers – that’s definitely the harder costume. In preparation for the evening, we’re spending the afternoon at the salon, getting CF’s hair done and turning her into a bond girl! It’s going to be a pretty fun weekend, so with that I’m off!

 

You should check out these awesome posts when you get a chance to do some reading!

• Impulse buying can be a big problem when you’re trying to get your spending under control!  CF used to be a big impulse shopper of sale clothing, many of which never got worn very often.  James at Free in Ten Years suggests a few ways you can stop impulse shopping.

• CF is a big believer in personal responsibility.  We’re all adults – why do we expect others to take care of us?  Debt Round Up reminds us that we are still responsible for our own financial future.
• Modest Money covers some basic considerations for new homeowners before signing a mortgage – I just received our 2012 mortgage summary and was pleased that we paid more down in principle than we paid in interest!

• Finance Fox asks would you consider doing business with friends? I think as long as you know your partner well, there is no reason why it can’t work.

• Who knew stealing maple syrup was such a big deal! Freedom Thirty Five Blog explains how the thieves could be affecting maple syrup prices across North America.

• How do you define your ‘wants’ and ‘needs’? My Alternate Life lays out her philosophy and discovers that there are really not that many ‘needs’ in life.

• NZ Muse looks at the good, the bad and the ugly side of internships, from both the intern and supervisory side.

• Reach Financial Independence’s #10 resolution to save money is my personal favorite – Stop buying stuff!

• Vix Money shares her 2013 Financial To-Do list. An asset Allocation review is definitely on my list.

• I was really impressed by Work Save Live’s reader budget review – check out this family of 6 living off $2100/month!

Thanks to everyone who included us this week:

• Master the Art of Saving: Carnival of Money Pros

• One Smart Dollar: Personal Finance Week in Review for January 13, 2013

• Simple Budget Blog: Carnival of Retirement

• My Own Advisor: Weekend Reading – Hockey is Back

• Reach Financial Independence: Friday Recap 17

• My Alternate Life: Friday Link Love

• Finance Fox: Weekend Reading – Game On! Hockey is Back!

• Vix Money: Weekend Links – January 18 Edition

• Saving Advice: Rafflecopter Cash Giveaway Project

• Work Save Live: Personal Finance Week in Review #47