This week I have been looking for the best of the best when it comes to the financial blogosphere and this week is all about paying it forward.  Here are 5 article I recommend that you read. 

Also think about paying it forward as well.  Email this post to a friend and share the knowledge and pay it forward and who knows they may pay the favor back to you.

This Weeks Top 5

Money Smart Life with Improve Your Credit Score In 5 Simple Steps.  If you are looking for some general steps to take in order to get a better credit score then this post is for you.  The part on diversification in new to me but it makes sense.  You need to have different types of credit to generate a better score. 

So in other words don’t just use credit cards as your main source of credit.  If you have a car loan and a mortgage that will help diversify your credit a bit more.

Debt Free Destiny with Retired and In Debt – Now What?  Planning on retiring soon?  This post is packed full of tips on how to deal with debt during retirement.  My best advice here it prevention, plan early and retirement will be a breeze, don’t plan at all and retirement will be a disaster.

My Findependence Day with 9 Questions To Help You Choose The Right Credit Card.    This post was actually a big help for me as I am currently looking for a business credit card.  With the different options out their what are the right option for you.  

Stretchy Dollar with Set Your Own Interest Rate.  If your currently looking for ways to save up some extra cash this article make a lot of sense to me.  However I’m not going to spoil it for you.  If want to earn more on your money then take a look at this post.

Enemy Of Debt with 3 Proven Steps To Debt Freedom.    Great post on achieving debt freedom.  The section behavior is really good.  Often times we look at setting up a debt plan, a budget, and all kinds of other things but if we can’t control are behavior we’re doomed from the start. 

Hope you enjoyed this weeks post which were all featured on the Carnival Of Personal Finance by Wisebread.

This week I’ve been reviewing the Carnival Of Personal Finance and seen some great post their this week.  After reviewing the post below make sure you vote on the the best post of the week.

• Money Beagle with Before Working Toward Your Goals, Know What They Are.   Money Beagle makes a valid point that need to be a bit more specific about your financial goals before you can start working toward them.  The truth is most people really don’t know what they really want, or much less how to achieve them.
• From Rags To Riches with Three Rules That Every Beginner Investor Should Follow.  This is a very basic post on investing but also a very important post.  After reading this article I remembered that this is advice most of us should be following.  I say most because some us are well beyond this advice.  The long and short of it is their isn’t any way to cut corners when investing your money. 
• Discover Debt Freedom with A Beginners Guide To Mortgages.  If your in the market for a mortgage or even a refinance check out this post.  I definitely like that last section of the post on making sure you know what kind of mortgage you have.  This how I got into an option arm loan that ended up adding over $5,000 to my mortgage balance. 
• Blue Jeans Millionaire with Debunking Debit Cards.  I have to agree with this article on debit cards to a point.  I think debit cards are great because you aren’t running up a balance that you won’t be able to pay for but their is one this I hate about debit cards, they make accessing your money to damn easy.
• Bargaineering with The Cost Of Filing Bankruptcy.  Jim makes a great point in this post.  It cost a lot to file bankruptcy.  I also have to mention that it’s not just the financial cost but it’s also the emotional cost you will have to pay as well.  I feel this is the real hardship in getting a bankruptcy. 

Vote On The Article Of The Week

Their you have it the best post in my opinion for the week.  Now it’s your turn which post do you think is the best.

[poll id="5"]

It’s that time again.  This weeks top 5 financial post of the week are some of the best I’ve seen in a while.  Take some time and read some of the best of what the web has to offer of finance. 

Enjoy!

• Free From Broke with Credit Cards Don’t Suck, You Suck! I love this post.  Most of us are really good at blaming others for are financial mistakes.  Well, instead of blaming others why don’t we take a good look in the mirror.  I have to agree with these guys here because sometime we tend to take it out on everyone else and not question are own financial habits. 
• That One Caveman with Build A Budget You Can Use.  I am a big fan of budgets because they keep us accountable to are money and where it is going.  Just the simple act of have a budget will make you more aware of where and how your money is being spent. 
• The Sun’s Financial Diary with Make A Budget In 3 Steps.  Again another great post on budgets.  Also take a look at the tools they provide for you to set up your budget.  All free I might add. 
• Credit Card Assist with What Comes First In Financial Priorities.  The ideas presented in this post are great.  When it comes to finances most of the people I know will pay their debts first.  However Credit Card Assist pointed out you should pay yourself first.  Paying yourself should be top priority.  This proves why so many people live paycheck to paycheck.
• Prime Time Money with Common Credit Report Errors.  Recently, I’ve been checking my credit score online and personal I  haven’t  noticed any mistakes on my credit report but after reading PT’s article I wouldn’t mind taking a second look to see if I actually do have some mistakes on my reports.  If you don’t know what’s on your credit report or what your score is you are making a big mistake.  Check them now and check them often, who knows what kind of mistakes you might uncover.

Chris

This week I read a ton of great post on finance but their were only 5 that deserved to be shown here.  If you have a post that you would like me to read and consider for my weekly top 5 list drop me an email let me know.

• Sound Money Matters with Six Ideas For Summer Vactions.  I like the ideas presented here.  Altogether the first idea on the timeshares is a good one be careful of the timeshare sales reps, they will do about anything to get you to buy a timeshare.  As long as you can hold your ground you could score a sweet vacation out of the deal.
• 401k Planning with Common 401k Mistakes And Tips To Avoid Them.  If you have a 401k or other defined contribution plan you definitely want to read this post.  The tip on botching the rollovers was probably the biggest for most of my client when I was in financial services because most of them were not aware of the 60 day rule. 
• Free Money Finance with One Reason The Rich Get Richer.  I would have to agree with these guys.  The rich are rich for many reasons but I think this one tops them all.  This is why I study rich and successful people, they can teach you a lot of stuff and as a result helping you make less mistakes.
• Passive Family Income with 18 Passive Income Opportunities To Use Your Tax Refund On.  Tons of ideas in this post.  In fact I’m already doing a few of them like starting a niche blog and saving money in a high yield savings account.  I’m sure they’re more than 18 if you get creative. 
• Sectormatic Money Journal with 10 Really Fun Things You Can Do Today On The Cheap.  Sometimes we just don’t appreciate the finer things in life.  Before the days of Internet, cell phones, and texting, we did a lot of these things like flying kites and reading books.  This post was a definite reminder of that for me. 

This week in the financial blogosphere their have been some killer post out there.  Below are the top 5 post of the week that I feel contain the best saving money advice around.

My Top 5 For The Week

• The Paycheck Chronicle with Ten Ways To Shop Safely Online.  I am a big fan of top ten list. When it comes to shopping on the Internet you have be cautious of the people you by form and these ten tips are definitely some rule you should abide by.
•   Suburban Dollar with Budgeting 101-Know Your Spending.  This post isn’t nothing new but it is a good back to basics on the subject on budgeting.  This post is also the first of 3 in a series.
• Christian Personal Finance with 6 Things You Can By That Will Pay For Themselves In A Year.  This article is packed full of great tips that will save you some bucks around the home.  They some of them will even add a little bit of green around your house as well. 
• Good Financial Cents with 7 Questions To Ask Your Financial Planner.  I added Jeff to my top 5 last week but the truth is writes some great stuff.   The reason I say this is because Jeff is working the front lines actually helping people with their finances.  I can personal relate to this as well because that’s where I came from. 
• FIRE Finance with What Is The Rule Of 72.  If don’t know this rule you must read this post.  I say this because not many people including financial professional know it either.  How do I know this?  When I was in financial services one of my jobs was to interview people to hire and some of them had finance degrees and the whole nine yards and most of them never heard of the rule of 72. 

Next Weeks Top 5

Does your post belong on the top 5.  Email me with a link to your post and a brief summary of why you think your post should be considered on are weekly top 5 list.   Who knows maybe you’ll be end up on the list.

Till then,

Chris

This week I have decide to touch on a few blogger who I felt wrote some great post.  Check out their work and let me know what you think.

1. Smart Money Daily with Learning From the Recession.  I like this post because if we don’t learn from are mistakes we made in this recession how will we be able to withstand the next.
2. Discover Debt Freedom! with How To Recognize Credit Counseling Scam.  I like these kinds of post.  With so many scams out there even the people who look like they are trying to help you may even be scamming you.
3. Automatic Finances with The Once In A While Fund.  This is great idea and I wish more people would do this.  With a once in a while fund instead of making big payments up front you can break them down into easy money payments.  This is an article you will definitely want to read.
4. Good Financial Cents with What Would Happen If Don’t File Your Tax Return.  If you cut the line close on April 15 and had to file an extension you will definitely want to know what you are up against.  With penalties as high a $600. 
5. The Big Dreamer with Managing Your Money The Rich Way.  Do you ever wonder how the rich handle their money.  You might think they just have proffesionals who do it all for them.  Nope, they know something we don’t.  They have different habits than we do with handling money. 

Are you interested in building up your back links for your finance blog?   Stumble Forward is now looking for people who would like to contribute their articles to the site.

Any articles about getting out of debt and saving up money are welcomed.  They can be news articles, content articles, or even a list of tips you would like to pass along.

Stumble Forward has been steadily growing in traffic and would be a great way to attract visitors to your site.  However not all post will be excepted.  Your post will be reviewed by are editing team and only the best and most unique content will be chosen.

If you are interested in more details check out the guest post page.