Don’t Get Audited: The IRS’s Dirty Dozen Red Flags (AOL DailyFinance).  I recently described generosity as An Irrational Financial Act.  Unfortunately, the IRS seems to agree.

Claiming an Adult Child as a Dependent on Your Taxes (USA TODAY).  Got an unemployed adult child living in your basement?  Here’s what you need to know about the tax implications.

Ensure Those References Help You Land a Job (MSNBC).  They’ve agreed to serve as a reference for you, but do you know what they’ll say?

When Is It Bad to Kill a Credit Card? (Bankrate.com).  There are a lot of misconceptions about the pros and cons of closing a credit card account.  This article does a good job of helping you make the right decision.

Retirement in America is “Endangered” (MarketWatch).  Not exactly a feel-good story, but perhaps a helpful wake-up call.

And from the blogosphere…

Kids & Money: Teach Your Kids About Credit Cards (Bargaineering). Better to have them learn how to use credit cards while they’re still at home than after they leave.

Focus on Reliability and Fuel Efficiency (The Simple Dollar).  Good advice for those in the market for a car.  For more help comparing the ongoing costs of cars, check out this True Cost to Own tool.

Future of Shopping (Wealth Informatics).  Interesting review of retail trends, some of which may actually benefit shoppers, not just the retailers!

5 Kids Expenses to Budget For – Apart From College (Parenting Family Money).  All the more reason to get in the habit of living well within your means before you have kids.

10 Ways to Protect Your Financial and Personal Information When Shopping Online (Bible Money Matters).  Great ideas for staying safe when traveling in cyberspace.

Got a question or a response to any of the above?  Be sure to leave a comment.

Who else would benefit from this post?  Why not forward a link to my site? And if you haven’t done so already, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here.  Two or three times a week, you’ll receive ideas and encouragement for using money well.

Open Low Minimum Roth IRAs for Kids (Kiplinger’s).  Kids who contribute to a Roth IRA will head into adulthood with a great financial advantage.  Here are three companies with kid-friendly requirements.

How to Master the Art of Negotiation (US News).  It’s amazing what you can get if you just speak up.  We recently had a not-so-great hotel experience, so I brought it to the attention of the chain’s customer service department.  I didn’t even make a specific request, but they credited my loyalty account with 50,000 points!

5 Things I Look for In a Great Job Interview (Inc).  Words of wisdom from one who has interviewed lots of candidates.

Job Hunters Still Not Careful on Social Media: Study (MSNBC).  Your resume is a carefully crafted work of art, but what about your social media presence?

Tweet Your Way to a New Job: 8 Twitter Templates (CBS MoneyWatch).  Are you using Twitter as part of your job search?

And from the blogosphere…

What’s Next After Debt Freedom? (The Simple Dollar).  It’s always encouraging to hear about people gaining true financial freedom.  This post also reinforces the importance of Knowing the Why Behind Your Goals.

Financial Goals That Are Easy to Accomplish (Canadian Finance Blog). This list includes several important steps people often put off.  It’s well worth it to review this list and schedule these activities.

A Crash Course in Couponing 101 (One Money Design).  Good advice for getting value from using coupons without making it a second job.

The Ins and Outs of Getting and Using Your Free Credit Report (The Consumerist).  When was the last time you checked your credit reports?  Here’s how to do it and what to look for.

9 Healthy Habits to Help You Manage E-Mail Overload (Lifehack).  It’s so tempting to check e-mail throughout the day, but the advice in this post is consistent with that of other productivity experts.

Got a question or a response to any of the above?  Be sure to leave a comment.

Who else would benefit from this post?  Why not forward a link to my site? And if you haven’t done so already, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here.  Two or three times a week, you’ll receive ideas and encouragement for using money well.

If you’re not familiar with a blog carnival, it’s a showcase of some of the best writing from throughout the blogosphere, with bloggers submitting one of their best recent posts.  This particular carnival, which features rotating hosts, has been in operation since the summer of 2005.

I thought it would be fitting to intersperse this week’s picks with quotes that feature additional words of wisdom or points to ponder.

Editor’s Picks

“The ancient Greek definition of happiness was the full use of your powers along lines of excellence.” – John F. Kennedy

There were lots of great entries in this week’s carnival, but I thought the following two were especially good.

Bob at ChristianPF shares an important idea he calls Get Your Financial Life on One Page, which recasts what can be a tiresome financial chore into an act of love.

Roshawn Watson at Watson Inc asks Do You Have the Courage to be Wealthy?, pointing to a key character trait that can either hold us back in so many areas of life or propel us forward.

Money Management

“Action expresses priorities.” –Mahatma Gandhi

Laura Edgar from NerdWallet offers some good guidance for Sticking to Your Resolutions, along with a quiz to see which of two approaches may be best for you.

SB at One Cent at a Time says resolutions aren’t enough; you need to become obsessed with what you want.  Read more at 5 Obsessions Towards Financial Freedom and Becoming Rich.

Sustainable PF offers rational ways for Beating Irrational Financial Behavior.

Jon the Saver from Free $ Wisdom shares 3 Financial Lessons I’ve Learned From Angry Birds.  Don’t worry, you don’t need to have played the game to get the lessons.

Jeffrey at Saving Advice provides Money Lessons Learned From “The Firm,” a movie that demonstrates in many ways the old adage: money changes people.

Investing

“October:  This is one of the peculiarly dangerous months to speculate in stocks. The others are July, January, September, April, November, May, March, June, December, August and February.” – Mark Twain

Diva at Diva in Debt covers the latest personal finance controversy with More Bad News for Suze Orman.

Div Guy at The Dividend Guy Blog helps clear the fog from our economic binoculars with If You Want to Know Where the Stock Market is Heading, Read the Following.

Philip at PT Money brings us up to date on 2012 Traditional and Roth IRA Contribution Limits.

FIRE Finance offers Three Good Habits of Successful Retirees, reviewing the traits of successful long-term investors.

Economy

“Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.” – Ronald Reagan

PK at Don’t Quit Your Day Job submitted Another Salary By Major Chart, which may help those headed for college choose a productive path.

Taxes

“Did you ever notice that when you put the words ‘The’ and ‘IRS’ together, it spells ‘THEIRS?’”  – Author Unknown

Glen Craig at Free From Broke encourages us not to pay more in taxes than we have to with 10 Common Overlooked Tax Deductions.

Career

“Work while you have the light. You are responsible for the talent that has been entrusted to you.” – Henri-Frederic Amiel

Mike at The Financial Blogger shows other bloggers what’s made a big difference in his success with This Image Will Make You a Believer.

For business owners, Peter at Bible Money Matters has a helpful reminder on How to Prepare and File A 1099 For Contract and Freelance Workers.

Credit

“Before borrowing money from a friend, decide which you need most.” – American Proverb

Erik at DollarVersity opens up a bit of a debate with Are Credit Scores Still Relevant?

Real Estate

“A man builds a fine house, and now he has a master, and a task for life.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Martin at Passive Income Now has advice for landlords in Maintaining Your Rental Property Once You Hand the Keys Over.

Frugality

“Economy is half the battle of life; it is not so hard to earn money as to spend it well.” – C.H. Spurgeon

Squirrelers offers 12 Expenses to Cut, reminding us of some discretionary spending that we may have re-categorized as essential.

Finance

“Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons.”  – Woody Allen

Roger Wohlner at Chicago Financial Planner offers The Similarities Between Buying Coffee and Choosing a Financial Planner.  A key to choosing well in both cases is knowing what you’re getting for your money.

Budgeting

“Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.” –Alan Lakein

Dan Meyers from Your Life, Their Life explains Why We Use a Cash Budget, backing up lots of research that shows people tend to spend less when they pitch the plastic.

Saving

“In the old days a man who saved money was a miser; nowadays he’s a wonder.” –Author Unknown

Martin at Studenomics reminds us of a classic way to start building savings in What’s the Best Way to Start Saving Money Right Now?

Other

“Plans are worthless.  Planning is essential.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower

Money Beagle has ambitions to get lots of stuff done this year.  Hence, My List of 500 Things To Do This Year.  It may sound overwhelming, but when you break the idea down month by month, it may just help you stay organized, reduce clutter, and avoid buying things you don’t need.

Thanks to everyone who submitted posts for this week’s carnival.

Keeping Your Online Accounts Safe (CNNMoney).  Sure, it takes some extra work to follow these guidelines, but it’s wise to stay vigilant about online security.

Money Milestones: What Kids Should Know About Money and When (Time).  No, your three-year-old doesn’t need to know about Roth IRAs, but there are some things about money kids can learn at that age.  Here’s your guide.

401(k)’s Not Working for Gen Y (MSN). For young people, playing it too safe with your retirement savings is one of the riskiest things you can do.

The Best Ways to Teach Your Kids to Save (Main Street).  Interesting to see the not-so-obvious benefits of opening savings accounts for our kids.

Credit Information That’s Really 100% Free (MSNBC).  I agree with the author of this one – if you’re going to try one of the free credit score services, go with the one that doesn’t require your full Social Security number.

And from the blogosphere…

Five Resolutions for Aspiring Leaders (HBR Blog Network).  Good career management advice – whether you’re young or…more experienced.

How I Fed My Family for $100 a Week (LearnVest).  Proof that it’s possible to manage the grocery store tab without superhuman effort.

What Easter Island Can Teach Us About Money (Wise Bread).  No quick tips on how to save a buck or two in this post – just a great, thought provoking read about the dangers of short-term thinking.

8 Frugal and Fun Martin Luther King Day Activities for Kids (Money Crashers).  Make Monday more than a day off from school for the kids with these free or low-cost ideas for helping them understand what this important holiday is all about.

Frugality Advice From Millionaires (Get Rich Slowly).  I don’t really consider this to be frugality advice (you probably know I’m not crazy about the idea of frugality); it’s simply good solid money management advice.  Just as was shown in the book “The Millionaire Next Door,” most of the habits and practices of those who win with money are those that most of us can practice.

Got a question or a response to any of the above?  Be sure to leave a comment.

Who else would benefit from this post?  Why not forward a link to my site? And if you haven’t done so already, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here.  Two or three times a week, you’ll receive ideas and encouragement for using money well.

Patient People Have Higher Credit Scores (US News).  Just one more of the many benefits of delayed gratification.

Five Tips for Raising Money-Smart Kids (Bankrate.com).  Which one is toughest for most parents?  I vote for “Don’t bail them out.”

Five Commonly Asked Resume Questions (US News).  If you’re polishing up your resume in preparation for a job search, here are the answers to questions that may be on your mind.

Five Overused Resume Phrases (Forbes).  Are you an innovative thinking, effective communicating team leader?  Uh-oh.

New Study Shows Architecture, Arts Degrees Yield Highest Unemployment (Washington Post).  The idealist in me says students should still follow their passions.  Someone who’s exceptional at a job where there’s not a lot of hiring should do better than someone who’s mediocre and not passionate about a job where there is a lot of hiring.

And from the blogosphere…

Four Online Secrets for Getting Amazing Flight Deals (Mashable).  Chicago to NY for $54 roundtrip, anyone?

5 Unusual Ways to Raise Successful Children (Get Rich Slowly).  Not the usual advice.  Some really good ideas here.

11 Things That Are Worth the Money (Wise Bread).  Like home maintenance, which is on the list, I would add vehicle maintenance.  As the old commercial used to say, you can pay me now or you can pay me (a lot more) later.

How to Manage Common Productivity Traps For Improved Productivity (Stepcase Lifehack).  Good ideas for getting more done with less stress.

Avoiding Lifestyle Inflation (The Simple Dollar).  The points about maintaining friendships with people who have similar values and living in a neighborhood where people have a similar standard of living as you do are huge.  Our environment impacts our finances more than we realize.

Got a question or a response to any of the above?  Be sure to leave a comment.

Who else would benefit from this post?  Why not forward a link to my site? And if you haven’t done so already, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here.  Two or three times a week, you’ll receive ideas and encouragement for using money well.

Arsenic in Your Juice (Consumer Reports).  Getting the best deals at the grocery store means more than finding the best prices.  It means finding the best prices on food that won’t kill you!

Christmas for Less Than $100 (MSN).  Regular readers know I’m not crazy about the word “frugal.”  But this writer does frugal well.

Black Friday’s Deals May Not Have Been The Best (New York Times).  Scientific research says the best deals are yet to come.

Holiday Shipping Deadlines: Time Your Purchase Right (Main Street).  Here’s what you need to know to make sure your gifts arrive on time.

How to Live Happily on Less (US News).  An ode to slowing down and enjoying some of life’s simple pleasures.

And from the blogosphere…

7 Small Gifts That Can Make a BIG Impact This Holiday (Money Ning).  You don’t have to spend big to make the recipients of your gifts smile big.

The Best and Worst Things to Buy in December (Wise Bread).  Some of this advice will help for this year’s holiday gift buying, some of it will help for next year.

MasterCard Launches Contactless Payment Wristwatch (Money-Watch).  In this case, time truly is money.

Where to Buy Cheap Checks Online (Dough Roller).  By now, checks were supposed to be so yesterday.  But lots of us are still writing them, so we might as well stop paying so much for them.

4 Things That Keep You From Your Goals (Pick The Brain).  Words of wisdom for all who like to set goals at the start of each New Year.  And if you’re really serious about achieving your goals, it’s impossible to overstate the importance of clarity.

Got a question or a response to any of the above?  Be sure to leave a comment.

Who else would benefit from this post?  Why not forward a link to my site? And if you haven’t done so already, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here.  Two or three times a week, you’ll receive ideas and encouragement for using money well.

Think Black Friday Has the Cheapest Prices?  Think Again (Time).  Worried that you might have missed something by not camping out in front of Wal-Mart after Thanksgiving dinner?  This will make you feel better.

Should I Hire a Financial Advisor or Go It Alone? (CNN Money).  Good guidance as to when you might want or need help with your investments.  I have some additional ideas on how to find a good advisor.

Credit Cards Make Shoppers Less Likely to Focus on What Items Cost (Main Street).  Just one more reason why we all need to follow the four essential rules to using credit cards wisely.

10 Ways to Stay Safe While Shopping Online (US News).  Do you know the difference between “http” and “https”?

Use or Lose Your Flexible Spending Account (Bankratre.com).  It’s tougher to use those FSA dollars for over-the-counter meds these days, but there are still plenty of healthcare expenses that qualify.

And from the blogosphere…

How Making a Gratitude List Can Change Your Life (LearnVest).  Sure, Thanksgiving is over, but now’s the perfect time to start stocking your blessing box.

The $50 Christmas Budget (One Money Design).  How to have a blast finding creative, meaningful gifts that don’t cost a ton.

The Best Way to Be Broke for Life (Bucksome Boomer).  A good reminder to choose wisely when buying a home.

7 Ways to Clear the Clutter and Find Your Life (Stepcase Lifehack).  I’m a firm believer that an organized life and wise money management go hand in hand.  If you’re buried in clutter (or just not as organized as you’d like to be), this article offers simple ideas for taking small steps in the right direction.

25 Ways to Communicate Better Today (Wise Bread).  No matter what you do for a living, a key to getting ahead is communicating well.  A 26^th tip is to ask questions.  This is a lost art.  If you cultivate it, people will enjoy being around you.

Got a question or a response to any of the above?  Be sure to leave a comment.

Who else would benefit from this post?  Why not forward a link to my site? And if you haven’t done so already, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here.  Two or three times a week, you’ll receive ideas and encouragement for using money well.

In this first installment of my brand new video feature, Two-Minute Money Toolkit, I’ll introduce you to a simple online tool, Unbury.me, that’ll help answer that question.

Watch the Two-Minute Money Toolkit

Whether you have debt or not, please let me know what you think of this new video feature.  Every other week, I plan to spend two minutes introducing you some of the best web sites, apps, books, and other tools that’ll help you win with money.

Who else would benefit from this article?  Why not forward a link to my site? And if you haven’t done so already, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here.  Two or three times a week, you’ll receive ideas and encouragement for using money well.

While I can’t say I agree with their demands (at least, as I understand them), and I could do without all the name-calling that’s swirled around the discussion, I like the passion they’ve stirred up.

If we can clarify and unify around some actual solutions to our country’s economic woes (some big ifs, to be sure), maybe – just maybe – some lasting good can come from our economic tough times.

But before we’ll have any hope of that, we have some work to do at home.

Taking An Honest Look in the Mirror

Among the articles I’ve read about Occupy Wall Street, a sympathetic one in the Chicago Tribune claimed the protests were “hitting home with everyday Americans.”  The writer said, “Many people…feel like they’ve done all the right things: worked hard, tried to save a little money in 401(k) accounts, put a roof over their families’ heads, and paid the bills, even if they weren’t as careful about debt as they now know they should have been.”  And then they had the rug pulled out from under them by corporate greed and governmental missteps.

Please don’t shoot the messenger, but I have issues with that article.

It’s true that many corporate leaders have been outrageously and even criminally greedy.  And many generations of elected officials have put our country on shaky financial ground.

However, many people on Main Street have not done all the right things.  In fact, they’ve shunned the use of a household budget, saved far too little, bought way more house than they could afford, and been reckless in their use of debt.

Reforming Our Own Finances

Before we can credibly demand governmental or corporate change, many of us need to make some changes.  Here’s my three-step “platform” for household financial reform:

Use a budget to guide the use of your household income.

Avoid all debt other than a reasonable mortgage.  That means using credit cards responsibly and breaking the habit of financing vehicles.

Consciously set your financial priorities, putting generosity, savings, and investing ahead of spending.

Households that operate by these principles will be in the best position to stand strong no matter what happens in corporate America or Washington.  And they will be the most credible voices calling for corporate or governmental changes.

Changing the World With Our Dollars

Every dollar that we give away, save, invest, and spend, is a vote.  It’s a vote in favor of the organizations we support, those where we keep our checking, savings, and investment accounts, those that we invest in, and those whose products we buy.

These are very important votes that stand a better chance of bringing about change than the slogans on a placard, so let’s place them thoughtfully.

If you believe your financial institution is greedy, take away your vote by taking away your business.  At last count, that’s what more than 60,000 people have said they plan to do.  They’ve joined a movement called Bank Transfer Day, a grass roots effort to get people to leave their banks by or on November 5^th and move their business to non-profit credit unions.

This is a powerful example of voting with your wallet.

Changing the World With Our Votes

In national elections, less than two-thirds of eligible voters typically vote.  If we have issues with our politicians, the best way to bring about change is with the votes we place on Election Day.  In between elections, we can be in touch with the politicians who represent us, letting them know why we favor this issue or that.

Do you typically vote?  Do you know who represents you in your state and at the national level?  Do you know how they’ve voted on issues that matter to you?  Have you ever sent them your thoughts on the national deficit or other issues?

Celebrating Our Freedoms

I love this country and am thankful for the freedoms we enjoy, including the freedom of speech and the right to “peaceably assemble” that the Occupy Wall Street protesters are exercising.

But perhaps the greatest freedom in the U.S. is the freedom to make something of ourselves – the freedom of opportunity.

Those who are best at tapping into that freedom are those who take personal responsibility.  They don’t feel entitled; they feel empowered by the opportunities around them.  They don’t blame others for their difficulties; they blame themselves.  And when they make it, they don’t take all the credit and they don’t keep all the cash; they share.  Not because they have to, but because they want to.  It’s the best way they know to express their gratitude for the freedoms that gave them the potential for success.

I’ll say more about that last point – generosity – next week when I take up one of the Occupy Wall Street protesters’ central issues: wealth inequality.

For now, what are your thoughts on the Occupy Wall Street Movement?

Who else would benefit from this article?  Why not forward a link to my site? And if you haven’t done so already, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here.  Two or three times a week, you’ll receive ideas and encouragement for using money well.

Myths, Misperceptions About Credit Scores Rampant (USA TODAY).  Does your income impact your credit score?  What about your age?  Read on to find out.

Six Networking Tips for Your Job Search (U.S. News).  You’ve heard it before – networking is a far more effective job search strategy than sending in lots of applications where you don’t have contacts.  Here’s how to network well.

Five Simple Ways to Get Your Resume Noticed (Main Street).  Good ideas for making your resume rise to the top of the stack.

The Kids May Be Alright, but Parents May Retire in Poverty (MassMutual News Release).  An easy but dangerous mistake to make – putting our kids’ college savings ahead of our own retirement savings.

How Your Income Stacks Up (Kiplinger’s).  Curious to know how your income compares with others across the country?  This simple calculator will help you put things in perspective.

And from the blogosphere…

The Emergency Fund From 1939 (Consumerism Commentary).  Don’t be deceived by the boring headline (sorry, Flexo!).  This article contains an instructive letter Warren Buffett’s grandfather sent to his uncle’s family.  Your reserve will probably never be as big as Warren Buffett’s, but look for the words “Forget it” and let the letter guide you in building an emergency fund.

Can You Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half By Shopping Only Once a Month? (My Dollar Plan).  Interesting food-buying strategy that might just be worth a try.

Nine Things You Can Do Today to Improve Your Life (The Simple Dollar).  Articles like this often come across as hokey or trite, but not when they come off the keyboard of Trent at the Simple Dollar.  There’s something about his wisdom that I trust and his tone that I like.

The 10 Best Interview Tips (From a Real Interviewer) (20 Something Finance).  You got your foot in the door at the place where you’d like to work.  Here’s to put your best foot forward.

Bank Transfer Day: November 5, 2011 (Consumerism Commentary).  Now this is a protest backed up by action.  If you’re thinking about switching to a credit union, do consider Christian Community Credit Union.  Yes, they’re a sponsor of my work, but I wouldn’t work with them if I didn’t fully believe in them.  Of course, my wife and I are also very satisfied members of CCCU.

Got some feedback on any of the above?  Be sure to leave a comment.

Who else would benefit from this article?  Why not forward a link to my site? And if you haven’t done so already, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here.  Two or three times a week, you’ll receive ideas and encouragement for using money well.