Everything Finance

Black Friday 2011 was marked by earlier store openings, more violence among consumers seeking out sale items, and an increase in sales over last year’s Black Friday by more than 16%.  Cyber Monday 2011 was also a success.  Does all of this shopping represent an increase in consumer confidence and the beginning of a strong economic rebound we have all been waiting for?

Around the web, there are plenty of excellent personal finance articles.  Here are some of my favorites:

Squirrelers offers a tricky topic that is becoming more common in our age of frequent divorces in the post, Inheritances and Blended Families: Who’s the Priority?

Ask the Reader: Best Income Streams is what My Multiple Incomes asks of his readers.  Read through the more than 40 responses for some interesting earning ideas.

101 Centavos dips into morality and business in his post, Career Tip #14–Right vs. Wrong when he asks, “When is there a right time to do the wrong thing?”

DQYDJ risks readers’ ire with the post, Should Engineers and Business Majors Pay Higher Tution?

 Money Crush documents her new dishwasher purchase in Shiny, New and Feeling Guilty.  She has the right idea; if you are going to have to replace an item soon, Black Friday may be the best place to get the deal.

This strategy definitely isn’t for everyone, but Tight Fisted Miser explains how he makes money gambling despite losing at poker and slots.

Retire by 40 outlines his 2012 Annual Enrollment Time.  He probably expresses the sentiment of most of us when he states, “It’s annual enrollment time. Yay, how fun, NOT!”

Broke Professionals explore What Does Suze Orman Know about Money Management.

About Melissa Batai

Melissa is a freelance writer and mom to three children ages 7, 2 and 1. She blogs at Mom's Plans where she shares how her family is learning to live a fulfilling life on less.