On Thursday I’ll be interviewing personal finance columnist Scott Burns. Burns may be best-known for his “Couch Potato” investment portfolio. He’s also the brains behind Asset Builder and the co-author of the new book Spend ‘Til the End, which explores the notion of “consumption smoothing”, or how to maintain a stable standard of living throughout your life. If you have you have personal finance questions you’d like for me to ask Burns, please let me know.

Meanwhile, here are a few recent personal finance articles from around the web.

First, Flexo at Consumerism Commentary believes that the idea of getting rich slowly may be a fallacy. Or does he? In “7 Ways to Lose Your Money”, he takes issue with a recent MSN article that promises seven ways to get rich a little more quickly. The problem? Flexo points out that these methods can also lead to financial ruin.

Meanwhile, Five Cent Nickel notes that cheap is not necessarily frugal. Quality may cost more initially, but in the long term, it usually pays for itself. (But don’t confuse quality with “name-brand” — they’re not necessarily the same.)

Jim at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity recently had his home’s roof replaced, and in the process learned some lessons about finding contractors. One of his tips? It’s not all about price. Kris and I have learned this lesson, too, over fifteen years of homeownership. For us, it’s more important to find quality workers than cheap workers. It’s a balance.

Finally, Love Food Hate Waste recently shared 5 sure-fire ways to save money on your food bill. The average household with children in the U.K. throws away £610 in food every year. This article offers tips for buying and storing food sensibly.