Personal Finance Week in Review for December 29, 2012

by Sean Bryant on December 29, 2012

2013 is just a couple of days away and it’s time for me to start thinking about what I want to see happen in the new year. As the fiscal cliff approaches it looks like most of us are going to need to budget in a little less take home income. Unless a last minute deal is reached the Bush era tax cuts will expire and payroll taxes will go up.

I want my wife and I to plan at least one large vacation and a couple more smaller ones. I racked up a bunch of airline miles in 2012 with my travel reward credit cards that will allow us to travel for free. The only obstacle is going to be traveling by plane with the baby for the first time. Both my wife and I are a little nervous. She did amazing in the car during a 15 hour road trip home for the holidays so that gave us a little more confidence.

I would like to see the housing market make a little bit more of a comeback so that we can sell our condo in Chicago. Right now we have great tenants however we are only breaking even financially so it’s not worth holding onto longer than we absolutely have to.

I am looking for expand my income opportunities next year. I was approached about teaching a class in Denver about blogging so I might do that. My wife is a Denver public relations consultant, but has been wanting to do a little bit more writing on the side so we are going to work to get her a couple of freelance writing gigs.

Enough about me, let’s get on to some of my favorite personal finance articles over the past couple of weeks.

Six Money Moves to Make in 2013 - Money Smart Guides

Increase Your Retirement Contributions for the New Year - Money Life and More

How to Decide Which Financial Goal to Tackle First - Master The Art of Saving

Ten Financial Red Flags in a Relationship - Mo Money Mo Houses

Mortgage Comparison: Easy as 1 2 3 - Finance Fox

A Love Hate Relationship With An Older Home – Planting Our Pennies

A New Year, A New Opportunity - Frugal Rules

Four Ways to Pay of Your Home Faster Than You Thought Possible - Three Thrifty Guys

How to Ask Your Boss for a Raise - Work Save Live

The Tale of Two Broadband Providers: The Very Best and Very Worst - Reach Financial Independence

Mr CBB’s Thai Fish Cakes – Canadian Budget Binder

The Pros and Cons of Online Dating – Frugal Portland

The Fiscal Cliff Blog Round Up – Your PF Pro

5 Holiday Shopping Tips to Reduce Stress & Save Time - Modest Money

Snowed in and Succumbing to Lifestyle Inflation - Club Thrifty

5 Businesses for Retirement - Eyes on the Dollar

Related posts:

  1. Personal Finance Week in Review for December 16
  2. Personal Finance Week in Review for December 1
  3. Personal Finance Week in Review for December 8 – Snow Finally Arrives
  4. Personal Finance Week in Review for October 28
  5. Personal Finance Week in Review for September 23

Tagged as: personal finance

  • http://www.financefox.ca Eddie | Save Money

    Thanks for the inclusion.
    That’s quite the opportunity for teaching on blogging. Sounds amazing! I hope it works out for ya, keep us posted!!

    • http://www.onesmartdollar.com/ Sean @ One Smart Dollar

      Yeah I got the email a couple of weeks ago, so I will look a little bit more into in the coming weeks.

  • http://twitter.com/PFPro1 Harry Campbell

    Thanks for the mention. I’ll be planning a few trips this year too, I’ve got 100k SW miles and companion status so my fiancee and I have a lot of vacationing to do :)

    • http://www.onesmartdollar.com/ Sean @ One Smart Dollar

      Thats Awesome Harry. All of our miles are with AA and then I have a bunch of points on the Ink Bold. Next January I will probably get the SW card to get the companion pass. A free ticket is always a nice thing to have for a year.

  • John S @ Frugal Rules

    Thanks for the mention Sean! We’re just looking at our vacation plans as well. We’ll be looking at possibly going back to San Diego to see the in-laws sometime this summer with hopefully a side trip thrown in to Vegas. Sounds like a good opportunity to teach on blogging, especially if it were to open up some other possibilities down the road.

  • http://www.moneylifeandmore.com/ Lance@MoneyLife&More

    Thanks for the mention Sean! How’re things going with the baby?

    • http://www.onesmartdollar.com/ Sean @ One Smart Dollar

      Things are going good. We are getting nights where she is sleeping 5-6 hours straight, so that is always good.

  • http://Www.Plantingourpennies.Com/ Mrs PoP @ PlantingOurPennies

    Thanks for including our post. As for traveling with the baby, we’re still kid-less, but I’ve heard from other parents that when they’re infants, it’s even easier than when they’re toddlers. So maybe schedule the vacay sooner rather than later to take advantage of your little one not being able to run away screaming through an airport? =)

    • http://www.onesmartdollar.com/ Sean @ One Smart Dollar

      Thanks for raising my anxiety level. :-) jk

  • http://twitter.com/Eyesonthedollar Kim

    Thanks for the mention. I used to get so stressed when we flew with my daughter when she was a baby, but it was no big deal. Even if they have a bad day and scream for an hour, it’s only one day out of your life. I’d rather sit by a crying baby than a person who has a hacking cough or talks my ear off.

    • http://www.onesmartdollar.com/ Sean @ One Smart Dollar

      That is a very good point Kim.

  • http://twitter.com/CanadianBudgetB CanadianBudgetBinder

    Thanks for the mention mate. That sounds like a great role having to teach about blogging. I would love to do something like that although I’m always learning new things everyday. You’ll have to blog all about it lol.. Cheers

  • http://clubthrifty.com/ Greg@ClubThrifty

    Thanks for mentioning us! We have traveled all over with our young kids are it definitely has its challenges. Good luck on the plane ride. Bring snacks =)

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  • http://www.momoneymohouses.com/ Mo’ Money Mo’ Houses

    Thanks for the link love and have a Happy New Year!

    • http://www.onesmartdollar.com/ Sean @ One Smart Dollar

      Anytime. Happy new year.

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  • FrugalPortland

    thanks for including me :) happy new year! can’t wait to see what 2013 brings.

    • http://www.onesmartdollar.com/ Sean @ One Smart Dollar

      You’re very welcome and happy new year to you as well.

  • Jason @ WorkSaveLive

    That’s pretty awesome you were asked to teach a class about blogging. I bet that would be quite a bit of fun! Were they offering to pay you well?

    I’d also like to see the housing market rebound some more so I can sell my house! Although…it’ll simply be a wash because we’ll feel the price increase when we buy a new home after selling ours.

    • http://www.onesmartdollar.com/ Sean @ One Smart Dollar

      I would be setting my own rates for the class so my income would depend on how many people sign up.

  • moneybulldog

    Thanks for the mention Sean, hope you had a great holiday!

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