Weekly Wrap-up - Week 2

Another week, another Weekly Wrap-up. This week was HUGE for me, as my student loan consolidation became final and I found $2200 in a forgotten retirement account.

In semi-related news, my office had a chili cook-off for Halloween, and I won! My prize was a free pizza from a local pizzeria, so I'm forgoing the diet tonight in favor of a free meal, a tasty treat, and a sense of accomplishment.

Before the rest of the linkage ensues, I'd like to say a huge thanks to Paid Twice for hosting the Carnival of Debt Reduction, which featured my Financial Revolution as an editor's choice. Thank you!

I'd also like to say welcome to all the new readers who have come over in the past week. It's good to have you here! Feel free to comment on any entry or email me with questions.

And now, my favorite posts from around the blogosphere:

• The Baby Steps @ Debt Free in the Ozarks - This is an excellent summary of Dave Ramsey's baby steps from someone who organizes his Financial Peace University at her church.
• Should Parents Try to Influence Their Children's College Applications? @ Grad Money Matters - This is an interesting discussion, but I disagree with many of the points made. Yes, parents are there to guide their children and should point out if they think the kid is making a huge mistake, but in the end it's the kid's life, and they have to do what they feel is right for them. As long as the kid is approaching the decision maturely and has the information they need, they should be able to make the decision themselves.
• Why Are Some People So Ignorant About Money? @ Money Smart Life - Another interesting discussion. For me it was mostly denial and intimidation.
  
• The Eternal Question: Am I Doing the Right Thing? @ The Simple Dollar - Ah, the eternal question. I've been listening to Dave Ramsey's show a lot lately, and it's really helped me confirm that I'm doing the right things. I think it's important to surround yourself with influences that will help you answer this question.
• Old Habits Sure Do Die Hard @ Gather Little By Little - Yes they do. Lately for me it's been hitting the snooze on my alarm clock and skipping my morning walk. I really need to get back into the habit of going every morning.
• You Will Not Believe This - Prisoners Found My Wallet by the Side of the Road - And All Is Well @ No Credit Needed - Wow! Nice to know that there are still lots of decent people in this world.
• Seven Wonders of the Personal Finance World @ Blueprint for Financial Prosperity - My favorites were the 401(k) Employer Match (because I only recently learned what these are and how they work) and Personal Finance Blogs (because they're a huge reason how and why I turned my financial life around).