Weekly Roundup

Blog Round-Up: Week of September 22, 2014

blog roundup: week of September 22, 2014

There was a part of me that worried it was a little early to start talking about the holidays this week. But I knew people needed time to both prepare and save money for the fun, but often spendy holiday season. It was then that I realized we are only 3 short months away from Christmas. Where does the time go?

Of course, it was blistering hot in LA last week, which made it hard to reconcile 90+ degree weather with Santa Claus. Granted in Southern California, he is more likely to wear board shorts and surf than wear a big red suit, even in December. 🙂

Weekly Recap

On Monday, I shared How To Create Your Holiday Budget and Avoid Debt. The holidays come around every year at the same time and yet for so many of us, it’s a budget buster and we start the new year with new debt. A little bit of planning, saving and prioritizing can help you have the magical holidays you desire without breaking your piggy bank or giving your credit card a workout.

Tanya shared 7 DIY Holiday Gifts that Your Friends and Family Will Love on Wednesday. From bath salts to custom spice blends, homemade gifts can be a way to tailor presents without spending a fortune. It’s also a great opportunity to involve your entire family too. Your kids will be incredibly proud to give these gifts to their teachers, grandparents and more.

A Few Good Reads

These are my favorite posts from the past week. Enjoy!

Travis from Enemy of Debt announced that Credit Cards Are Not For Me. Travis and his wife decided to test the waters and see if they could handle credit cards again after eliminating more than $100K in consumer debt. The verdict? No, they can’t. I applaud Travis and Vonnie for both attempting and recognizing that credit cards are a gateway to mindless spending and return to bad habits for them. Credit cards are not evil, but they are also not for everyone.

Kassadra at More Than Just Money had a great a-ha moment in Ground Stop Reminder. Circling in the air while waiting for her plane to have permission to continue to LGA, Kassandra realized how easy it is to get stuck in holding patterns financially and in general. We complain about our situation but do nothing. Kassandra is challenging herself (and by extension us) to implement positive action and get unstuck.

Holly over at Club Thrifty asked Could You Survive on SNAP Benefits? Holly was challenged by a friend to see if she could feed her family for two days on $22. While she did, she also noted that her access to transportation and stores with fresh produce and great prices aided in her ability to do so and is a luxury not everyone has. An interesting exercise and to me, a reminder about the importance of teaching our kids how to shop smart and cook. Holly already had those skills and sadly many kids do not.

Stefanie from The Broke and Beautiful Life shared some of learnings from FinCon in Pursuit of Millionaires: Secrets to Success. Inspired by keynote speaker, Jeff Goins, Stefanie shares a thought-provoking post on how real success is achieved.

Michelle from Making Sense of Cents shared How to Become Financially Stable and Keep the Job You Love. People may say luck got Michelle to where she is today but she shows the specific steps she took to create both the financial stability and job she loves.

Well, that’s a wrap for this week. What are your plans this weekend?

Shannon

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September 26, 2014  •  21 Comments  •  Weekly Roundup

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Comments

  1. Friday, September 26th, 2014
    It is unbelievable that Christmas is nearly upon us! Thanks for sharing your tips with us this week and including me in your weekly reads this week. Have a good weekend Shannon :)
    • Shannon Ryan
      Sunday, September 28th, 2014
      You're welcome, Kassandra! I hope you had a great weekend too!
  2. Friday, September 26th, 2014
    Great posts you have listed there! I haven't read Enemy of Debt's yet--I'll have to head over there next. I am thrilled the holiday season is upon us! I decorated the house for fall/Halloween last weekend and this weekend, we're planning to go apple picking! It's been quite chilly here, so I'm really getting into the season. Hope you have a great weekend!
    • Shannon Ryan
      Sunday, September 28th, 2014
      Apple picking sounds like fun and I hope you had a great time. :)
  3. Friday, September 26th, 2014
    Thanks for the link love Shannon. I really need to start thinking about the holidays myself, but more importantly, getting my resolutions and goals done before all that craziness sets in!
    • Shannon Ryan
      Sunday, September 28th, 2014
      You're welcome, Stefanie! Sounds like a good plan - it's easy for goals and resolutions to be put on the back burner with all the holiday activities.
  4. Friday, September 26th, 2014
    I really enjoyed Michelle's article as well! Have a great weekend, Shannon!
    • Shannon Ryan
      Sunday, September 28th, 2014
      You too, Natalie! :)
  5. Friday, September 26th, 2014
    I can't believe we're already talking about Christmas either! This year just seems to be flying by, especially this summer. We've got a pretty packed weekend, but that always seems to be the case this time of year. Have a great weekend Shannon!
    • Shannon Ryan
      Sunday, September 28th, 2014
      Summer always seems fly by. So much going on, although it seems like there is never a dull moment. :) I hope you had great weekend too!
  6. Friday, September 26th, 2014
    I can't believe 2014 has flown by this quickly and that Christmas is right around the corner. Just crazy to think about!

    Thanks for mentioning my article. I hope you have an awesome weekend.
    • Shannon Ryan
      Sunday, September 28th, 2014
      You're welcome, Michelle. This year has really has flown by. I can't believe it will October in just a few days!
  7. Friday, September 26th, 2014
    All great posts Shannon!! We have soccer on our calendars for this weekend and just chilling out as a family since I was in New Orleans last weekend. I am looking forward to the family time. I hope you guys have a great weekend!
    • Shannon Ryan
      Sunday, September 28th, 2014
      Nothing beats family time, especially when you've been away from them for a few days! Enjoy your time together!
  8. Friday, September 26th, 2014
    Thanks so much for the mention!!!!!!!!!!!

    Holly
    • Shannon Ryan
      Sunday, September 28th, 2014
      You're welcome, Holly!
  9. Saturday, September 27th, 2014
    Great reads, I have a lot of catch up on (not that I don't already with my list of PF blog posts to read) :P
    • Shannon Ryan
      Sunday, September 28th, 2014
      I hear you, so much good stuff out there to read. It's hard to keep up. :)
  10. Monday, September 29th, 2014
    I'm definitely NOT ready to start talking about the holidays...but I should be. :) Thanks for the shout out!
    • Shannon Ryan
      Tuesday, September 30th, 2014
      You're welcome, Travis! I hear you. It seems both so far away and yet it will be here so soon! :)
Shannon Ryan SHANNON RYAN, CFP®
  • Meet Shannon

    "As a Certified Financial Planner, it is my passion to help individuals and families build a healthy relationship with money. I look forward to helping you raise financially confident kids.” - Shannon Ryan