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Happy 4th of July, and A Link Round Up

July 3, 2011 · 12 comments

in Link Round Up

Time is flying so fast.  First, Father’s Day snuck up on me, now it is the 4th of July (weekend).  Next thing you know, my kids will be back in school and I will be heading to the local cider mill.

I currently do not have any plans to watch fireworks, but that is because I am just getting my head back together from vacation and need to find out where the local displays are.  The fireworks in Detroit are always at least a week before the actual holiday, so that obviously is not an option.  I need to find a location that I don’t need to sit and reserve a spot for hours ahead of time, and where I can easily get to my car and drive home without any traffic.  Oh wait, that place does not exist.  However, we almost had the perfect fireworks experience when we visited Boston a few years ago.  Our hotel was in Cambridge, right along the St. Charles River.  We were able to walk to the Boston Pops Fireworks location, and there was a lot of fun entertainment around to keep you busy while waiting for the fireworks to begin.  One thing I will never forget is that we were sitting right in front of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.), and I could see many students working diligently in what appeared to be the computer lab.  I couldn’t believe that kids wouldn’t be tempted to toss their studies aside and join all the festivities outside.  (I know I would have…)

When the fireworks began, I was amazed.  I have seen a lot of fireworks in my life, but I had never seen anything like the display in Boston.  Every 4th of July, I get the urge to jump in the car and drive out to Boston.  It was also great that we were able to just walk half a mile back to our hotel instead of being stuck in traffic endlessly.

Now that I am done reminiscing, I will share some links I have enjoyed over the last couple days.   The list will probably be somewhat abbreviated since I haven’t had much time to read!

101 Centavos plows through a plumbing project while suffering from jet lag (ah the wonders of caffeine).  This story totally reminded me of my dad.  My dad was always working on a project of some sort, and was usually happy doing so.  However, when it came to plumbing, I would run to the other room.  It was about the only time I ever heard my dad swear and get really mad.  I guess this is why plumbers are so valuable.

Adaptu is a great site that I think people should check out.  Didn’t want to highlight any one post specifically, but wanted to get people familiar with the website itself instead.

Barb Friedberg Personal Finance is packing up and moving across the country as we speak.  She shares how the closing of her ‘old’ house went along with other details on her move.  Have fun Barb, and  we will take care of your site for you while you take care of business (and play tennis!).

Budgeting in the Fun Stuff is becoming even more of a blogging mogul that before!  It is amazing how a hobby has turned into an empire for her, and she has found some creative ways to make money.  Great job BFS!

Car Negotiation Coach discusses seven things that can be negotiated for at work besides salary.  I know for me, working from home was a huge perk!

Debt Free by 30 is knocking down goals and making rain barrels.  I wish I had a rain barrel set up in the spring when it actually rained around here.   Great job getting so much done around the house, I am envious!

Faithful With A Few wrote a great article about the growth of the contingent workforce.  I love being  a contingent worker, but I also don’t need benefits like many others do.  The best part of it for me is getting paid for every hour I work.  However, the downside is knowing my contract could be terminated at any time.

Financial Samurai suggests that if you want some job security, then just make yourself invaluable.  This advice applies to many other facets of life.  For example, if you want more playing time in a sport, then make it impossible for the coach to take you off the field. Your future is up to you, and people can see through excuses.

Invest It Wisely now has a Google Page Rank of 4, and extends a thank you to readers.  I would like to echo that sentiment as I so appreciate all the people that stop by and read this blog and even leave a comment.  Blogging has become such a fun hobby, I really missed it while I was on vacation.  I guess that is what time off is supposed to do- rejuvenate!

KrantCents provides a mid-year update on his goals, and is doing a great job.  However, I have found getting into the Wisebread top 100 can be tough since so much of the ranking is based on things out of a blogger’s control.  (For example, Wisebread uses Compete.com’s estimates on traffic.  The amount of traffic Compete estimates for my site is about 20 percent of what it really is.  That really kills my Wisebread ranking.)

Minting Nickels discusses ‘experiences’ vs ‘things’.  I will spend on experiences every single day over things.  Although I do love my Ipad, but that is a discussion for another day.  (Oh wait, I forgot, I bought that for my husband…)

Money Reasons tells the story of a coworker that spends money like crazy and then complains about being broke.  The secret as to why this person feels like he can spend?  He anticipates an inheritance!  Quite the foolhardy way to plan for the future in my opinion.

MoneyCone shares how he uses some extra money for thrill investing.  I too have traded stocks that were about to split. However, I have gotten burned a time or two on high beta stocks!

Retire By 40 got page rank- woo hoo!  It is a great site, so I am glad Google finally figured it out.  Love the new banner, and the photo of the waterfall at Yosemite is gorgeous.  I have been to that waterfall, and it truly is a wonderful sight.

Squirreler’s shares his experience of using Wifi at McDonald’s.  I literally laughed out loud at the thought of the man who was icing his face.  (At first I pictured someone putting vanilla icing on their face.) It is a very entertaining and truthful post.  I have found libraries a great place to get work done, especially if I have my MP3 player (that I can’t find at the moment).

Wealth Informatics shares info about studies done on ‘choice’ (along with her own opinions on choice).  Personally, I like some choice, but too much choice can be overwhelming.  Sometimes I even like when decisions are made for me!

I hope everyone has a great weekend.  I would also love to hear where your favorite place is to see fireworks!

 

 

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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }

Krantcents July 3, 2011 at 11:23 pm

Thanks for the link! When I set my WiseBread goal, I did not realize it may be difficult. Impossible is just an opinion!

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Niki July 3, 2011 at 11:33 pm

Thank you for the mention. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

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retirebyforty July 4, 2011 at 12:41 am

Thanks for the mention & have a great weekend!

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101 Centavos July 4, 2011 at 7:08 am

Thanks for the link and the write up! Happy Independence
day!

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Nicole July 4, 2011 at 7:53 am

Hahaha… I lived across the river from those fireworks for several years and could see them outside my window. Those areas at MIT are actually prime real estate for firework watching– you could get closer to the view there than you could going late to the bandshell (plus it was a quick stop on the redline without a whole lot of walking), so I wouldn’t be so sure the students were there for working. Oftentimes grads and undergrads from MIT and Harvard would congregate in those MIT east campus buildings in order to see the fireworks. The computers were a bonus or were necessary to get the music synched up to the fireworks since sound travels slower than light. Also, air conditioning is a good thing– a lot of those MIT students rarely went outside. (And a few of those buildings are dormitories.)

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Car Negotiation Coach July 4, 2011 at 11:16 am

Hey Kris, Long time no speak! Good round-up and thanks for including me!

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Lindy MInt July 5, 2011 at 11:02 am

We lived just down the road from that fireworks display in Boston for two years. We’d just walk down the street to the Charles River, find a spot to sit, then walk home. I couldn’t imagine the people who drove into town and then had to fight to get out of town afterwards.

Thanks so much for including my link!

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Jenna, Adaptu Community Manager July 5, 2011 at 11:56 am

Thanks for mentioning Adaptu! Hope you had a great 4th of July weekend!

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Squirrelers July 5, 2011 at 1:20 pm

Thanks for the mention!

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MoneyCone July 5, 2011 at 2:57 pm

Thanks much for the mention Kris! You are the best!

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Khaleef @ KNS Financial July 5, 2011 at 4:18 pm

Hey Kris, thanks for the mention!

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Invest It Wisely July 12, 2011 at 10:29 pm

We have fireworks every week around here, so I’m spoiled and have gotten used to it. I just recently walked up with a few friends to watch them up close though, which hasn’t been something I’ve done in a while, and it was a pretty fun experience on a nice warm night.

Thanks for the inclusion! 🙂

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