I like getting the daily email.

I’m at the point where I need all the advice possible about investing. I’m starting to put more and more money in mutual funds right now and the uncertaitny of the risk I am taking makes me a bit nervous. So, any information, advice, guidance in these areas are of particular interest to me.

Thanks for the site!

Wayne

I think the number of guest posts is just right- guest posters are sometimes a little too “My Way or the Highway” for my taste. I think you should be careful to consider how you relate to your audience, and make sure guest posters’ posts are written along those lines, too.

[...] iPod Shuffle As I mentioned earlier, your site feedback was so valuable that I’m going to award a second iPod to the commenters on Thursday’s post. The two iPods winners are AnnieJ and long-time reader icup. [...]

I think the number of guest posts is just right- guest posters are sometimes a little too “My Way or the Highway” for my taste. I think you should be careful to consider how you relate to your audience, and make sure guest posters’ posts are written along those lines, too.

- There’s plenty of detail within the frugality stories and I find I understand very well how to shave off pennies and dollars from those articles. But the making-money stories could use more real world detail to really investigate generating more dollars!

- A clearly-written privacy policy that lays out what you’re doing with the email addresses you collect when people comment.

- Interviewing people instead of having guest authors would allow you to preserve the “voice” of the site while covering perspectives that are not your own.

Good Luck

I’d like to see slightly more posts geared to those who are in life (and financial) changing circumstances such as divorce, health crisis, bankruptcy and so on.

Along with some others I also would like to see a greater variety of resources – software (freeware and purchased), tools, websites, in-person services and so on, with informed comments or even reviews. I like the suggestion for on-site financial calculators.

Regarding home ownership, it’s definitely important, but there are many variations that could be discussed such as tenants, selling, land issues and so on.

All that said, if you do nothing at all I’d still be reading this blog daily! Keep up the good work.

I really enjoy discussing finances, and trying to help others succeed with them, so I most appreciate the articles that deal with the logstics of financial success, and the ones that give me opportunity to share with others what I have learned on my financial journey.

The area of finances I know most about is debt reduction, so I would appreciate seeing how-to articles for other things such as planning for retirement (we all know we need to do it – but how do you do it on a limited budget?), and other investing.

I mean, I litearlly don’t have enough income to do everything I’m told I need to do. How does one give 10%, save 10-15%, pay 20% taxes, pay for a mortgage, keep the lights on, buy life insurance, buy disability insurance, save for college, pay for private school (the public schools around here are teh suck), and feed/clothe/entertain oneself? I try not to get overwhelmed, but it can be daunting trying to do all of those things. So far, I’m not sure how I’m going to do it. For now, I’m just concentrating on paying off my last 2 debts (car + college).

Of course, this site cannot be a replacement for a good for-fee financial planner, but it can be a good starting place for the time before a real FP becomes necessary.

I did want to say that I’m on the lookout for information on how best to deal with variable incomes. Such as a sales position. My partner is in such a position and the money ups and downs make budgeting a challenge. I wonder if you have thoughts on that.

Also, I’m a graduate student and consequently face the need to pinch pennies regularly. I’ve seen a few things that have had to do with students, but often it just says – look forward to making more money in the future and hold on until you can get out. As a long term grad student (Phd) it’s a bit of a challenge to figure out how to sustain yourself over the long haul (5-7 years) without feeling like a crazy person.

I’ve really gotten a lot out of your website however – so thank you!

Thank you for coming up with a way to encourage us readers to write you. You give us so much!

Sincerely, I prefer your voice and insights which help me rethink my own relationship to money and values. I don’t really like the guest posts as I come here for YOU!

Thanks for writing and sharing!

Have you ever run an article about online free-to-enter sweepstakes and whether the time to fill them out is worthwhile relative to the potential rewards?
Thanks.

I’m not a huge fan of the guest posts. I realize this allows you to have more content with less work but the quality is not always as high. One of the main reasons I read this blog is I like the way you think and write. Most of your guest posters I do not feel the same way about. I love the posts with real world revelations and experiences with insight into your life. The recent post on your spending plan for example, or when you give updates on how your comic book spending is going. This gives me a connection to how you are doing (and the parallels in my life) around money. These posts to me are more meaningful than the generic financial advice posts.

I also think your blogs about banking were good. It never seems like you’re rehashing the same tired topics, so good job keeping things fresh.

The Bad:
I am really tired of reading about home ownership blogs. I’m a home owner, and I still find it incredibly dull and overly used topic. Jericho’s guest posts about his house are a definite skip as well as pretty much anything with mortgage in the title. The blog on 19-Oct-07 was an exception however since you did a great job of tying some fresh content (like the illustration of rising home sizes).

The ugly:

The only thing that stands out as completely sub-par that I’ve found on your site was the FMF guest post about religion. That blog was a total bucketload of crap which somebody tipped over and vomited on. I won’t say any more since it was pretty extensively thrashed by many others.

Overall, you’re doing a great job and I really like the forums feature. Please get the login problem sorted out though, thanks.

Cheers,

144mph

I never want a car better than the corolla that I have and I have no desire to add onto the home we have, nor do I want to move into a bigger house.

This attitude has helped us get ahead in our finances where our neighbors seem to be going in the wrong direction – with additions to their homes and leased luxury cars.

Want to be more financially stable and happier? Learn to love what you already have. Learn to love a reliable, inexpensive car.
-J

Millions of people are without health coverage involuntarily. When, if ever, would it make sense to go without coverage voluntarily?
Something to think about. Maybe.

Lately, the posts that have resonated most with me have been about living frugally, as many others have commented. In my own challenges towards debt reduction — I find the ideas here (from you and your commenters) very helpful, and would encourage more of the same.

I would like to see a little more about investing. I’m just about to start a Roth IRA and the best posts you’ve had were your roth ira series from over the summer. I’d like to see more stuff like that.

Thanks.

However, I’d like to see more posts written from an ecological point of view. Being ecological is very important and usually goes hand in hand with being economical.
Many blogs about saving and frugal living toss the nature-friendly options aside and tell the readers to shop at Asda, but gladly your blod seems to be more civilized. So more posts about saving the planet!

Many blogs just give the same, obvious answers and I’d love to get some new tips. I love your posts about your garden, though!