Money Obedience

This is our weekly roundup, where we share some interesting posts written by personal finance bloggers we follow. This week we have come across a few interesting reads on “Children and Money.” We’ve also found a number of posts on insurance, and we list some of these in this roundup. Other than these finds, the entries here stick with our favorite themes: setting up a budget, household expenses, lower debt, and general personal finance topics that can aid in reaching financial goals. We hope that you enjoy the insights of these blog posts!

Children and Money

How much do your kids know about money? - Stew gives us some money concepts simple enough that even young children can grasp.

Helping Children Cope with Financial Stress - James points out that a family’s financial problems impact children more than we may realize. He gives us ideas how we can help children cope better.

Never Say We Can’t Afford It - Pinyo suggests a better way to say no to children when it comes down to buying things for them. He thinks “We have not budgeted or saved for it yet” is a savvy answer.

Setting up a Budget and Household Expenses

Failed Frugality: 5 Clues You’ve Gone Too Far - Linsey thinks that people can take frugality too far sometimes. She gives us 5 warning signs that indicate we may have gone too far.

Make Brown-Bagging Efficient and Fun - This post is a tribute to brown-bagging. Not only is it cheaper than eating out, but it can also make the experience fun – all you have to do is make something especially for the brown-bag lunch.

Track Your Spending: The First Battle In The War On Debt - Baker recommends that you need to track your spending if you want to get rid of your debt. Commit to 30 days of tracking your spending and you’ll make it into a habit.

Lower Debt

At What Cost Credit? And What It Is Worth? - Paidtwice let us know how the new credit card rules may affect his use of credit cards.

Should Father Open Line of Credit To Help Son? - Joe answers this question with “no” and gives three reasons for his answer. First, lending money within the family can cause tension. Second, if you incur debt it is your responsibility to pay it off. Third, you need to ensure the debtor will be better with money in the future, and the best way to do this is to start with a plan to get out of this debt.

Investing

How Should Households Invest? Sharing My Asset Allocation - Dorian points out how important proper asset allocation is. If you don’t think about asset allocation, “investing” is much like gambling.

Personal Finance Advice: One Size Does Not Fit All - Flexo highlights the fact that personal finance is indeed “personal,” which is why cookie-cutter solutions may not be suitable for everyone’s personal finance.

Insurance

The insurance that you need - This post lists the six types of insurance everybody should have: car insurance, homeowner’s or rental insurance, term life insurance, health insurance, disability insurance, and long term care insurance.

Naming Beneficiaries: Are Your Ducks In A Row? - Finance Girl reminds us that we need to make sure that we name the right beneficiaries for our life insurance policies.

Researching Life Insurance - Jim shares with us his thoughts on how to buy life insurance, which will become an issue for him in year or so down the road. He is educating himself on the topic early so that he is prepared when the need for life insurance arises.

Miscellaneous

7 Money Mistakes Newlyweds Make - Kristy writes a good read for all newlyweds, but it can also apply to married people who wish to enjoy better finances as a couple.

Wealth Banes: 3 Habits That Will Ruin Your Finances - Pinyo lists three addictive habits that can ruin your finances and a whole lot more in your life: overspending, gambling, and substance abuse.