Lifestyle Carnival 27th Edition: Holiday Stress

Welcome to the twenty-seventh edition of the Lifestyle Carnival!  I'm so excited that I'm able to host this week.  As we bid Halloween farewell, the reality of the holiday season starts to set in.  It's full of anticipation, good-will, and STRESS.  Enjoy the fun pictures and learn a few things from this week's amazing contributors!

TRAVEL

Young @ Young And Thrifty writes Using Groupon, Living Social and Other Sites Like Them To Check Out a New City - One of our most popular articles on this blog is the one Young wrote concerning sites like Groupon and Living Social, as well as lesser-known sites that offer similar discounts. We expand on it.

HEALTH

Jessica Moorhouse @ Mo' Money Mo' Houses writes Exercising on the Cheap a.k.a. I've Starting Running! - Maybe it's because I think gyms are evil money stealers, but me and working out haven't always been friends. That is until I finally discovered the joy and frugality of running!

Miss T. @ Prairie Eco Thrifter writes 6 Indulgences that Lower Your Blood Pressure - But everything in moderation, as some say, and I’m a big fan of allowing myself indulgences. When you allow yourself to indulge in little things, you’ll be more productive, happier, and less stressed.

Lazy Man @ Lazy Man and Money writes Seven Things You Must Do to Prepare for an Emergency - The threat of an earthquake always looms in San Francisco. We know we need to be ready in the case of an emergency. If you want to succeed at any venture, the first step is to have a plan. Here are some steps we are taking to be prepared:

WEALTH AND RETIREMENT

harry campbell @ Your Personal Finance Pro writes Build Credit for Someone by Adding Them as an Authorized User - When I first purchased my condo three years ago, I was not offered the lowest rate due to my insufficient credit history. Even though I had a credit score in the high 700′s, the bank considered me a slight risk because my credit history was so limited(I was only 22). I thought my mom was doing me a favor during college by opening a credit card for me in her name but once I canceled it and opened my own card, all that history was gone.

Grand Per Month @ Grand Per Month writes Make a Grand Per Month with Some Wood and Nails - Since the lumber company manufactured large desks and tables, there were often scrap pieces of wood that still measured 1’x2.5’. Rather than having these hunks of wood thrown away, I decided to nail them together in a simple square, and then put a shelf in the middle. Voila, it was a bookshelf, and I priced them at a cost of $10 at the local flee market. I bet that I sold 40 bookshelves that summer and earned an easy $400. That’s pretty good for an 11 year old kid.

Jason @ Live Real Now writes Mortgage Race, Part 2 - As I mentioned last month, Crystal and I are in a race to pay off our mortgages. The loser (henceforth known as “Crystal”) has to visit the winner. Crystal’s projected payoff is July 2013, so I’ll have to hustle.

Colin Williams @ humble savers writes Divorce and Your Finances - 5 Steps To get Back On Track - How to get your finances back on track after a divorce

John S @ Frugal Rules writes Are Rich People Really That Different From the Rest of us? - You can be rich in many things, but in order to be rich with cash it takes being passionate and living within your means. Being frugal alone will not bring you riches, but along with increased income can be a powerful combination.

Little House @ Little House in the Valley writes Post and Beam Houses - Open floor plans are perfect for most families because they bring family members together by keeping the main action of the house in the central room. Families nowadays spend a majority of their time in the kitchen, so combining the kitchen and living room helps families spend more time together as they go about their daily tasks.

Melissa @ Bargaineering writes How to Avoid Purchasing Your Own Haunted House - Do you want to make sure you don’t move into a former crime scene? There are some steps you can take.

TDB @ Tax Deduction Blog writes How to Do A 401K Rollover - A step by step guide - A 401K retirement plan follows employees all through their careers and it is a noteworthy benefit of this plan. But when an employee has to change jobs, there comes an important decision to be made - what is to be done with his/her 401K?

Jason @ Modest Money writes 10 Tips to Get Your Finances In Order Before the New Year - While most families wait until the New Year - presumably after setting goals for the upcoming year - to get their finances in order, there is no reason to waste precious months when you can get tackle them now!

HOBBIES

Michelle @ Making Sense of Cents writes Top Pet Products Not to Skimp On - I first adopted my dog Molly, I was so excited. She was the first dog in the first kennel at the SPCA, and the only dog in the group not barking. My fiance and I were instantly drawn to her.

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GOOD EATS

eemusings @ NZ Muse writes Review: The Conservatory - Good food but mixed service at one of Auckland's newer restaurants.

Penny Thots @ Penny Thots writes Sharing Your Bounty - A lot of people think themselves too “busy” to take the time to preserve or they have the misconception that the ready-made products of today are as beneficial. I won’t go into the scientific reasons why fresh, organic products are better for your health as you can research it for yourself – that is, if you’re interested. But I can say there is nothing better than a package of corn that you froze during the summer and you open it for your dinner mid-winter.

Beating Broke @ Beating Broke writes Five Foods You Shouldn't Waste Your Money On - If you go to a grocery store, you are likely to find several other shoppers with convenience foods in their cart. From cans of soups to packages to frozen dinners, I wonder if these “convenience foods” really make life that much easier. I do know that they can waste a big chunk of your grocery bill. These five foods not only cost more but are not the best for your health.

Steven @ Grocery Alerts writes How to Save Money on Meat - Meat is one of the most expensive portion of any meals and knowing how to put together a frugal meal will make meal planning easier. Here are 10 great tips to help save money on meat.


Thank you so much to all who contributed!  Interested in contributing in the future?  You can do so by using the carnival submission form at Blogger Carnivals.  There are a couple of other topics you can submit your blog article under that didn't receive any submissions this week:  fashion and entertainment.  I know quite a few of you who write almost exclusively on those topics---I'd highly encourage you to participate!