Before we jump into our favorite articles of this past week, I want to take a second to remind everyone to head on over to GreenSherpa.com and sign up for your exclusive invite to the new, FREE GreenSherpa!  For more information, check out our recent post, Personal Finance, Meet Online Gaming.

Now, here are our favorite articles from this past week.  Enjoy!

7 Frugal Tips For How To Entertain Guests At Your House For The Holidays – The holidays are right around the corner.  Do you know how to entertain guests without breaking the bank? (Money Crashers)

How Safe are Online Banks? – This is a great question.  Find out the answer by checking out this article!  (Ultimate Money Blog)

Are Outlet Malls Worth Your Time? – Most shoppers LOVE outlet malls.  But is it really worth your time to shop at an outlet mall? (Wise Bread)

How To Be A Smart Credit Card User – Do you know how to be a smart credit card user?  If you don’t (or even if you do), check out this article!  (The Digerati Life)

Saving Money By Paying Full Price – Did you know you can actually save money by paying full price? (Money Ning)

Do Movies and TV Shows Affect Your Purchasing Decisions? – You’d be surprised at how much media affects your purchasing decisions… (Money Reasons)

8 Drawbacks of Being a Millionaire – Sure, being a millionaire has its perks.  It also has its downsides too. (Free Money Finance)

Does it Make Sense to Rent Appliances or Furniture? – We have all heard of renting furniture.  But is it a good idea? (Free From Broke)

When To Buy A Stock: Three Signs It’s Time To Load Up On Shares – Stocks are confusing.  Here are some hints on when to buy shares. (Money Under 30)

What Investors Really Want - The world of investing can be complicated.  Here are some hints as to what makes investors want to invest. (Financial Tales)

Now that I’m one day away from being 23, I’ve realized it’s time to start being more financially responsible.  Those that know me best would laugh at this as they see me as one of the most frugal, financially responsible people they know.  But there are a few changes I need to make when it comes to managing my money.  Changes I have been unwilling to make up until now for various reasons (I was too young, I was in school, I didn’t have a steady source of income, etc).

So, since my birthday falls on the 13^th, 13 is my lucky number, and it’s almost my birthday which means I get to choose how many financial changes I want to make, I’ve come up with 13 financial changes for myself to make now that I am 23.  Enjoy!

1.  Get a Credit Card – I have refused to get a credit card until now because I figured it would be financially irresponsible for me to own a credit card if I didn’t have a job.  Now that I have a job, it’s time to get a credit card.

2.  Use My New Credit Card Responsibly – Once I get a credit card, I will have to make sure to pay my credit card bill in full every time it comes in so I can build credit.

3.  Set up a Retirement Account – Now that I have a job, it’s time to start thinking about retirement.  Step one: open a retirement account through Charles Schwab.

4.  Start Saving for Retirement – Once my retirement account is established, I will try to put 10% of my paycheck each month into the account.

5.  Figure Out How Taxes Work – I hate taxes probably because I don’t understand them.  So, it’s time to start figuring out how they work so I can manage my money better and not go running back to my dad every time I need to know about my tax situation.

6.  Budget In The Fun Stuff – Over the last year I have been so concerned about graduating and being in the “real world” that I have barely spent any money on fun.  It’s time to add a “fun” category into my budget; otherwise being in the real world is going to be a total bust.

7.  Create a Healthy Food Budget – Over the last year, I really cut down my food budget to save money.  However, I didn’t do it in the healthiest way.  Now that I have a job, it’s time to beef up my food budget a little bit so I can eat healthier (i.e. no more cereal for dinner).

8.  Start Saving For My Goal – I normally save money so that I have enough in the bank to cover my butt when bills come in.  But, I have a dream of being able to travel before I have kids and settle down.  And I’d like to have kids before I’m 30 which means the clock is ticking!  So, I will have to start saving to take an awesome trip before I reach my late 20’s.

9.  Re-Evaluate My Budget Every 6 Months – Before graduation, I just spent money when I had to spend it and I tried to spend very little of it.  This was not a great way to manage my finances.  Now, I plan to re-evaluate my newly created budget every 6 months to see where my money is going and find budget items I can cut back on.

10.  Maintain an Emergency Fund – Before I graduated, I created a “post college survival fund” to get me through until my first paycheck (I figured a month or two of funds would be enough).  Now it’s time to turn what’s left of that fund into an emergency fund and build it up to the point where I could survive without a job for at least 6 months.

11. Establish a Will – Alright, so yes this one is a bit of a downer and may sounds a bit absurd given my age, but we all know that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed and it’s better to be prepared.  In the unlikely event that I should die, I want things to be as easy on my loved ones as possible, so writing a will makes sense.

12. Find a Consistent Additional Source of Income – I am a strong believer in having more than one source of income and ever since graduation, I have found odd, sporadic jobs to bring in a little extra money on the side.  The problem with this is that whatever side job I have isn’t consistent.  So, I will find a consistent additional source of income that brings in at least $200 per month.

13. Implement a New Money Saving Technique Every Week – Yes, I write about money saving tips all the time.  But that does me no good if I don’t actively implement them.  Each week, I will take one tip from an article I write and implement it into my life in order to save more.

There they are, the 13 changes I plan to make after I am done celebrating!  Are there any changes that should be on this list that I missed?  If so, please share them in the comment section!

Before we get to our favorite articles from this week, I wanted to remind everyone to please vote for GreenSherpa in the Amplify Business Pitch Competition.  This is the last weekend to vote and we need all the support we can get.  Please take a couple minutes and click here to vote!  Thank you!

Now, here are our favorite articles from this past week.  Enjoy!

Co-Signing for a Loan: 4 Things to Consider First – Are you thinking about co-signing for a loan?  Read this article before you sign!  (Wise Bread)

Should you Move Back Home with your Parents? – If you are graduating soon, consider the upsides of moving in with your parents after you graduate. (20 Something Finance)

The Benefits of Being Debt-Free – We all know that being debt free is ideal.  But do you know about the benefits that come along with being debt-free? (Being Frugal)

Owning A Home – Be Prepared For The Expenses – Are you considering buying a home?  If you are, be aware of all the expenses that come along with it!  (Canadian Finance Blog)

Should You Drop Out Of College? – If you are thinking about dropping out of school, read this and think again. (Consumerism Commentary)

A Little Disappointment Never Hurt Anyone – This article has some amazing lessons we should always keep in mind.  Check them out!  (PF Firewall)

Always Keep $100 in your checking account – Having a cushion in your accounts is vital, so this is great advice that everyone should follow.  (Budgets Are Sexy)

5 Examples of How Multitasking Can Be Bad – Everyone seems to think that multitasking is a great thing!  But here are some examples of how it can be bad. (Money Crashers)

Make More Money: Sell Your Crafts Online – I am all about having multiple sources of income.  Check out this article to find another way to bring in more money!  (Ultimate Money Blog)

What Are You Really Teaching Your Kids About Money? – Teaching kids about money is highly important.  But do you know what you are really teaching them?  (Moolanomy)

So how do you go about asking for a raise?  Here are 5 steps to follow if you are considering asking for a raise.

Do a Little Research

Go online and figure out how much someone in your position makes yearly.  By having this information in your back pocket, you can come up with a reasonable number to give to your boss.  You can use Salary.com to research the average salary for someone in your position with your level of experience.

Timing is Everything

There are good times to ask for a raise and there are bad times to ask for a raise.

Here are some bad times to ask:

• Your company is downsizing
• Business is slow
• Your boss is under a great deal of stress
• You did something wrong

Here are some good times to ask:

• You contributed to a major company success
• You saved the company money
• You have taken on more responsibilities
• Business is good
• You did something good

Make sure you time your request right.  The right timing can mean the difference between getting a yes and getting a no.

Prove Yourself

Have a list of everything positive you have done for the company.  Have you increased sales?  If so, by how much?  Did you help the company cut costs?  If so, by what percentage?  Did you help the company land a big partnership?  Write down everything you have done to help the company succeed and have that ready to go when you meet with your boss.

Practice

Do not just “wing it.”  Be prepared and polished.  Know what you are going to say and how you are going to say it.  Practice what you are going to say a few times.  Asking for a raise can be intimidating and by practicing, you will have more confidence when you ask.

Do it!

Request a meeting with your boss and ask!  Be prepared for both a yes and no answer.  If you get a yes, be sure to express your gratitude. If the answer is no, ask if your boss would be willing to discuss a raise with you in a few months so you can keep the door open.  Then keep working hard to prove you are an asset to the company and that you deserve a bigger paycheck!

If you are thinking about asking for a raise, use these steps to make the processes a little less scary.  My fingers are crossed for your success!  Good luck!

Do you have any tips for asking for a raise not listed here?  Share them with us in the comments section!

Here are our top article picks from this past week. Enjoy and have a Happy Halloween!

Last-Minute DIY Halloween Costumes – Halloween is on Sunday!  Do you have a costume yet?  If not, check out these last minute DIY costumes! (Wise Bread)

The Case for Buying a New Car - I have seen article after article on why you should not buy a new car.  But there are reasons why buying a new car may be a good idea.  (Money Under 30)

Beware of IRS Scam Emails for Tax Payments – I had to include this article because I have gotten a few of these emails myself in the last week.  If you get a random email from the IRS, read this article to educate yourself about this scam before you open the email!  (My Two Dollars)

Credit CARD Act and Its Affect on College Students – Do you know how the CARD act affects college students?  If not, check out this informative article! (Free From Broke)

Going From Two Incomes to One – If you and your family currently live on two incomes, do you know what you would do if you suddenly had to survive on just one income?  If not, check out this article!  (Generation X Finance)

Early Retirement Portfolios – Everyone would love to retire early.  But do you know where you should put your money in order to give yourself a good shot at an early retirement? (Early Retirement Extreme)

Giving Stuff Away: Things Come and Go, but Memories Last Forever – Sometimes it is ok to let things that remind you of good times go; you will always have the memories. (Frugal Dad)

Getting to “no” with a child’s buying habits – This is an interesting approach to teaching your kids about money.  Check it out!  (Mighty Bargain Hunter)

Deciding If You Should Have a High Deductible Health Plan – Figuring out which health insurance plan to use can be a pain.  Check out this article to figure out if you should have a high deductible plan!  (Five Cent Nickel)

Opt For A Deferred Payment When You Can’t Pay Your Bills – What happens if you can’t pay your bills?  Here is a solution!  (The Digerati Life)

But how can you convince your boss to let you work from home?  If you can do most of your work from home (meaning the majority of your work is done on your laptop and all you need is an Internet connection), you have a decent shot at convincing your boss to allow you to work from home at least one or two days a week!

Here are 5 potential talking points for you to discuss with your boss when trying to convince him or her to let you work from home.

Saves the Company Money

Office space is not cheap.  By allowing you to work from home, your boss will save money on the office space you occupy, your utility expenses, parking costs, and any other expenses associated with you working onsite.  The less your company has to spend, the more they can make each year.  When money is the name of the game, this is a great point to bring up to your boss.

Working From Home is Environmentally Friendly

If you work from home, you don’t have to drive to work.  That reduces the pollutants your car puts into the environment every time you drive to work!  If you have a boss who is into protecting the environment, this is a great point to bring up in your work from home discussion.

Fewer Distractions

Every office has its “Chatty Kathy.”  Simply put, this person is a distraction who keeps you from getting your work done.  They want to talk to you about your weekend, the latest movie release, the weather, and anything else that pops into their mind.  By working from home, you can bypass the distraction of “Chatty Kathy,” as well as any other distraction that reduces your ability to be productive (including but not limited to other people’s phone calls, conversations between coworkers, etc).  No distractions equals increased productivity.

No Office Politics

It seems that no matter where you work, there is always some form of office politics.  When employees are forced to deal with the drama associated with office politics, it can really put a damper on staff attitudes.  By working from home, you won’t be subjected to office politics.  This will result in a more positive attitude towards work because you won’t get weighed down by the drama.  From personal experience, I’ve found that a more positive attitude results in increased productivity.  So, if your boss knows that there is some office politicking going on, this may be a good point to bring up.

Document Home Successes

Most bosses like to have solid proof that what you are proposing (no matter what it is) is a good idea.  When you leave the office, do you keep your computer at home on and answer emails as soon as they come in?  Have you had any major successes with business partners or clients working after hours from home?  Have you shown your dedication to the company by continuing to work from home after normal business hours?  If so, document your accessibility and the successes you have had working from home and present them to your boss.  If you can show that you have been productive, benefited the company, and been accessible when at home, your boss will be more inclined to allow you to work from home a few days each week.  Additionally, be sure to provide solutions for your boss in regards to how meetings will be conducted when you are working from home.  Offer solutions such as calling in for a conference call or using Skype for voice or video chat.

By presenting any (or a combination) of these points when discussing the possibility of working from home, you will be able to make a convincing case to prove to your boss that allowing you to work from home is a good idea.

Do you have any tips to convince your boss to let you work from home not listed here?  If so, share them in the comment section!

Before we delve into our favorite articles from this week, we wanted to let you know about another contest we have entered: Vator Splash NY.  We would really appreciate your support, so please head over to the competition homepage to vote for GreenSherpa!  Also, if you haven’t already voted for us in the Amplify Business Pitch Competition, please do so!  Thank you!  We appreciate your support!

Now, here are our favorite articles from this past week!

Natural Cold Treatments – 10 Ways to Treat Your Cold Naturally – Colds are the worst!  Check out these natural treatments to help alleviate your cold symptoms.  (Out of Debt Again)

Job Hunting: Electronic Communication Tips – If you are looking for a job, do you know how to manage your “electronic impression?”  If not, check out this article!  (Bucksome Boomer)

4 Habits of Millionaires – Everyone wants to be a millionaire.  But do you know what the 4 habits of millionaires are?  (Christian PF)

20 Favorite Dirt Cheap Meals – What are some of the cheapest meals you can make?  Check out this list!  (Simple Dollar)

My First Credit Card – And The High It Gave Me – Credit cards can give you an amazing high.  But don’t forget to be responsible so you don’t end up with buyers remorse! (Free From Broke)

Things not to do when sad… – Unfortunately, being sad is an inevitable part of life.  However, do you know what you shouldn’t do when you are sad? (Budgets Are Sexy)

Consider Your Current Spending: Does It Meet Your Needs and Desires? – Have you recently evaluated whether your spending habits meet your needs and desires?  It not, check out this article! (Money Crush)

4 Reasons Everyone Needs Side Income – Chances are you only have one source of income.  But take a look at this article and find out why you should have more than one!  (Wise Bread)

Structured Settlement Terms You Need to Know – Do you know what the common structured settlement terms mean?  If not, check out this article!  (Little House in the Valley)

Simplify your personal finances by building a financial fortress – Protecting your finances is important.  Do you know how to build a financial fortress?  (Simple Financial Lifestyle)

Fact 1: You have had many birthdays, celebrated many holidays, and gotten many gifts.

Fact 2: Some of these gifts have been gift cards.

Fact 3: You will never use some of these gift cards.

Fact 4: Some of these gift cards will have to go to waste.

If you answered fact 4, you are correct!  Just because you have gift cards you will never use doesn’t mean they have to go to waste!  If you have a gift card you will never use, you can sell it online and get cash!

What are some of the best sites for selling gift cards online?  Here are 4 sites that will turn your gift cards into cash.

Card Pool

Gift Card: $50 to Albertsons

Sell for: $42.50 cash or $44.63 to Amazon.com Gift Card

This site allows you to sell your gift cards and get cash or an Amazon.com gift card (which is worth more than the cash option).  What sets it apart from the other sites is that it allows you to donate your card to charity if you choose.  Right now it only has two charities to choose from, but you can suggest a new charity.  So if you are feeling generous and would rather give your unwanted gift card to charity, Card Pool is the site for you.

Plastic Jungle

Gift Card: $50 to Albertsons

Sell for: $42.50 cash or $44.63 to Amazon.com Gift Card

This site also allows you to sell your gift cards and get cash or an Amazon.com gift card (which is worth more than the cash option).   The good thing about Plastic Jungle is that it accepts the highest gift card balances of all the other sites, $9,500.

Gift Card Rescue

Gift Card: $50 to Albertsons

Sell For: $38.50 cash or $40.42 Amazon.com Gift Card

As with the other two sites, you can sell your gift cards for cash or an Amazon.com gift card.  However, you won’t get as much money on this site as you will with the other two.

Swapagift.com

Gift Card: $50 to Albertsons

Sell For: $35 Cash

This site is the only site on this list that offers to buy your gift card for cash instead of giving you the option to take a more valuable gift card option.  While the payout is less than all the other sites, I like that it doesn’t try to buy your gift card with another gift card.  The whole point of selling your gift cards is to get rid of your gift card, not accumulate new ones.

Next time you have gift cards you will never use, turn them into cash!  There is no point in letting them go to waste, so sell them!

Do you have any great sites for selling your gift cards online not listed above?  Share them in the comments section!

From ten year olds to 70 year olds, everyone has a cell phone now.  And everyone is looking for ways to cut back on their cell phone bill.  Let’s face it, being able to stay in contact with your professional and social network is vital to success.  What we did before cell phones is beyond me; I don’t know how to survive without my phone.  But now that cell phones are practically a necessity, how can you cut costs on your monthly bill?

Here are my top five tips for saving money each month on your cell phone bill.

Do Your Homework: Before you sign up for a cell phone plan, make sure you have researched EVERY cell phone company and plan on the market so you get the best plan for you.  If you know you text more than you talk, make sure your plan reflects that.  If the majority of the people you talk to are in your network and you talk to very few people outside your network, don’t get an unlimited talk plan.  Compare your options and find out what is the cheapest option for you.  Sites like billshrink.com and myrateplan.com can help you do your homework.

Know Your Plan: Completely understand your cell phone plan.  If you don’t know what your overage charges are, if you don’t know how many texts you get each month, or if you don’t know when your free nights and weekends start, you will have overages and pay more money on your cell phone bill.

Instant Messaging Services: There is NO excuse for texting when you are sitting in front of your computer especially when you have Internet access.  Texting costs money.  Instant messaging does not.  The majority of people you text have one or multiple instant messenger services, be it Yahoo Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, Windows Live Messenger (formerly MSN Messenger), etc. Get the cheapest text messaging package you can on your cell phone and download these instant message for free.  Save your money, limit your texts.

Skype: Skype is a free online messaging service that is not only like normal instant messaging services but can be a substitute for your cell phone.  You can make calls to other Skype users and have real time voice conversations with them.  All you need is a built in or attachable microphone on your computer.  If you have a webcam or the person you are “skyping” with has a webcam, you can see each other while you talk.  The cost for this service?  FREE.

Email: For conversations that aren’t urgent or don’t need to be done in real time, use email.  Almost everyone has an email address nowadays.  You can sign up for a free email address from Yahoo, Hotmail (from MSN), and AOL.  Don’t waste your valuable cell phone minutes on conversations that aren’t urgent.  Save your minutes, use your email.

There is no reason to spend an arm and a leg on your cell phone bill when there are many other options out there for communicating with friends, family, colleagues, etc.  Utilize these options and watch your monthly savings add up fast.

Do you have any tips on how to save money on your cell phone bill?  If so, share them in the comment section!

Here are 5 easy ways to reduce the amount of money you spend on your car.

Carpool

If you and one of your coworkers live close to each other, why not carpool to work?  Having a coworker drive one week and you drive the next can cut both your gas bills in half!  Better yet, if you live nearby to 2 or 3 of your coworkers, carpooling can make it so you are only paying for commuting gas about once a month.  Just think of how much you could save by not having to spend money on gas each week.  You are looking at hundreds of dollars in savings each year (maybe more depending on how high gas prices are)!

Call Your Insurance Company

Many people just pay their auto insurance bill without asking themselves, “I wonder if I can get a better rate.”  Next time your insurance bill comes in the mail, call your insurance company and see if you can reduce your rate.  Insurance companies have all sorts of discounts, from good student discounts for your kids to good driver discounts for you.  Make sure you are getting all the discounts you can get before you pay your next auto insurance bill.

Get a Car with Better Gas Mileage

If you are driving a gas-guzzler, chances are you are spending an arm and a leg on gas.  Why not sell your gas-guzzler and instead purchase a car that gets better mileage?  Or sell your gas-guzzler and get a hybrid or an electric car?  Just think of all the money you can save by getting a more fuel-efficient car!

Telecommute

I know the majority of my gas goes towards my work commute.  For many professionals, as long as you have a computer you can do your work from virtually anywhere.  So why not ask your boss to allow you to work from home one day a week?  Be sure to provide proof that you are a hard worker so that your boss will be more inclined to allow you to telecommute once a week.

Get a Second Opinion

If there seems to be something wrong with your car, by all means take it to a mechanic to get it checked out.  But before you shell out the money to get it repaired, make sure to call a few different mechanics and get quotes from them on how much they charge to fix whatever is wrong with your car.  Then, take your car to the mechanic with the lowest price.  This may only save you a few bucks, but it could save you a hundred bucks too.

There you have it, 5 easy ways to save money on the various costs associated with car ownership.  Guaranteed if you implement even just one of these tips, you will save money on your automotive expenses!

Have any tips on how to save money on your car expenses not listed here?  Share them with us in the comment section!

Before we break down our favorite articles of the week, we wanted to let everyone know about a new personal finance blog ranking system developed by our partners over at Money Crashers!  They have developed a ranking system that is not just based on Alexa ranking but also Twitter followers, Technorati, Compete Rank, Google PageRank, Feedburner subscribers, and inbound links!  I absolutely LOVE this ranking system because it is not just based on Alexa rankings.  To check out Money Crasher’s awesome ranking system, click here!

Now here are our favorite articles from this last week!

How To Avoid A Holiday Spending Hangover – With the holidays right around the corner, chances are you will be forced to spend more money than you want to.  Here are some tips to make sure you don’t break the bank!  (Not Made Of Money)

How Do Groupon Daily Deals Work?  Where To Find One Day Deals – I’m sure you have all heard of Groupon.  But do you know how it works and where to find deals?  (The Digerati Life)

10 Pantry Essentials – There are certain products you should always have in store in your pantry.  Do you know what they are?  (Bucksome Boomer)

How Much Life Insurance Do You Really Need? - Do you know how to figure out how much life insurance you should have?  If not, check out this article!  (Dough Roller)

Where to Find Cheap Fun Family Activities – 6 Places – If you have a family and are tight on money, check out these places to see if you can have fun for cheap!  (Free From Broke)

Going to Vegas – And Getting a Tax Deduction! – Sometimes being self employed has its perks.  Check out this article to see some common self-employed tax deductions!  (Cash Money Life)

What To Do When Two Incomes Turns Into One – Have you or your spouse recently been laid off and now you are dealing with trying to live on one income?  Here are some tips on how to adapt successfully!  (Moolanomy)

How to Maximize Your Salary – Negotiating a salary can be tough.  Check out this article to learn some interesting facts and tips about negotiating your salary!  (Get Rich Slowly)

Is $75,000 The “Perfect” Salary? - Do you agree with J. Money’s agreement with The Wall Street Journal’s conclusion that $75,000 is the perfect salary? (Budgets Are Sexy)

10 More Essential Skills You Didn’t Learn in College – Here are 10 skills you should have that you didn’t learn in college.  Which of these do you have and which don’t you have?  (The Simple Dollar)

Also, I would like to thank Wise Bread for publishing my article, 5 Ways to Spend Less on Fido and Fluffy.  If you haven’t seen it yet, please check it out!