Presidents and Prison

Since yesterday was a holiday, I opted not to post and take the day to celebrate the presidents. Or to go running and enjoy the beautiful weather. Either way, that means that today, you get a recap of both the Carnival of Personal Finance and the Festival of Frugality!

This week, The Financial Blogger is hosting the Carnival of Personal Finance, Prison Break Style! My entry about Emotions and Money is included, and following are some of the entries that I enjoyed:

• Lessons I Wish I Learned Earlier - I'm in the middle of my late 20's (it sounds better than my late 20's), and a lot of these things really rang true to me as things I should be doing or things I should have been doing already
• Breaking Down the Details of the 2008 Economic Stimulus Plan and Your Tax Rebate Check - There has been a lot of talk about the economic stimulus plan, and Money Blue Book does a great job of breaking it down and giving you the information you need. And helping you figure out if you're getting anything from the plan.
• What One Area of Your Personal Finance Management Would You Like to Improve? - This is a call for responses. I plan to write a post on this in the upcoming week, I just need to figure out which area I would most like to improve

The Festival of Frugality is being hosted by Mighty Bargain Hunter, and in true holiday style, features the U.S. Mint's new dollar coins. My entry on "necessary unnecessaries" is included. Lots of great content here as well, but here are some of my favorites

• Do's and Don'ts of Choosing a New Cookbook - I am so easily suckered in by new cookbooks, and yet ask me how much I actually cook. I always say I'm going to cook more, but essentially, what I need are cookbooks that have recipes that are easy, fast, and make good leftovers. Or ones that come with a free chef.
• No More Deprivation in the Name of Being Frugal - I think this is an important point. While frugality is great, and saving money is wonderful, if you have the money to spend, and you want to spend a bit more on groceries one week, why not? You've earned it.
• How Americans Spend Their Money - A link to a very interesting post about how people spend money, broken down by income. It's not what I would have expected.
• My Clutter is Making Me Fat! - I also dream of cutting back on the stuff I own and buy.
• Five Inexpensive Things You Can Buy Today That Will Help the Environment - I struggle to balance saving money, saving the environment, and staying healthy. This is a great list!
• Ode to the Humble Handkerchief - I've been thinking of going this route. No more destroyed tissues in the bottom of my purse and no more bits of tissue all over the laundry after accidentally leaving one in a pocket.