Hi and welcome to the 180th Carnival of Debt Reduction. My name is LAL and I’m a 20-something DINK searching for financial freedom. I dream of one day being able to Live Large. Meaning that I can do what I want, when I want, and cost isn’t an issue. I hope to not work, provide for my family, and enjoy life!

Please subscribe to my RSS or Email Feeds.  If you subscribe, I’ll be giving away a 1 year subscription to Money Magazine this month through a secret word in my feed.  You have up to 5 entries for the month, as the secret word changes weekly!  Also leave a comment for a chance to win the Book High Wire.

Have a look around and here are few of my more popular posts recently.

• From Rags to Riches
• Can you be too frugal?
• My Personal Finance Journey
• A reason not to pay off the home

But onto the carnival.  I tried to focus on debt reduction posts and posts relating to debt.  A big thank you to all participants!  Please link back or submit the carnival to a social networking site!

Editor’s Picks

These are my favorite posts of the carnival.  I think they cover a couple of different topics.

• David explains Ohio Cash Advance Stores Skirting Law with Payday Clones? posted at Payday Loans Review. I don’t follow Payday loans but I had no idea Ohio was trying to crack down or the measures payday loan companies would go to circumvent the law.
• Scott Crawford talks about How Debt Impacts Your Employment posted at DebtGoal. I agree, that being in debt can definitely weigh heavily on someone’s psyche.
• FMF tips us off about How to Postpone Foreclosure posted at Free Money Finance. I had read this same article, but I hadn’t watched the video.
• Junior gives us a tip about  What To Do If You Can?t Make Your Car Payments posted at Car Commentary. I think selling the car and perhaps using a CC cash advance to cover the balance if it’s worth less than the loan would be a good idea.

Debt Reduction

These posts focus on debt reduction, either tips on how to reduce debt or debt free success stories.

• Madison talks about the emotions involved in Get Out of Emotional Debt posted at My Dollar Plan. I think that listing everything you bought with debt would definitely be motivational.
• Personal Finance Analyst talks about Packing a Little Extra Snow on Your Snowball.  I think his analysis is good, but I wonder, if you come in under budget category if sometimes depending on the category it’s better to roll it over?  His gas example, I wonder since gas prices fluctuate so much if it’s not better to let it ride for an extra month?
• Leave Debt Behind breaks down the 2 choices You Have Choices for Consolidating Your Debt posted at Leave Debt Behind.   I think this is a good method for people who can’t do it alone.
• Green Panda Treehouse talks about  How We Paid Off Our Car Loan. Congratulations and great job!
• Stephanie talks about her debt reduction decision in Cutting Even Deeper posted at Stop the Ride!.  I think that cash for groceries can be a good way to manage expenses.
• Consolitdator talks about how debt steals your life away in Debt Consolidation Loans For Beginners posted at Debt Consolidation Loans For Beginners.  The story is funny, but the title needs changing.

Credit Cards

These posts talks about credit cards.  Either discussing how to use them to get out of debt faster or rewards available from using credit cards.

• Sun gives us the heads up on AMEX promotion in Got AMEX Credit Cards You No Longer Need? Turn Them into $300 Cash posted at Earn More Invest Wisely at The Sun’s Financial Diary.  My DH has an unused Blue AMEX, too bad we didn’t get the deal.
• Think Your Way To Wealth talks about College Students and Credit Card Debt.  I think it’s most of the trouble starts in that Parents don’t talk to their children about how credit cards work before college.  College is not where they should learn, if you charge something and can’t pay it off, it accrues interest.  This is a lesson to be learned before kids go to college.
• DR suggests A 12-Month Balance Transfer Offer with No Balance Transfer Fee posted at The Dough Roller. Nice deal for those with good credit.
• David tips us off about Chase Platinum Credit Card Review posted at Credit Card Offers IQ.  This 0% offer could be used to help lower costs while paying off credit card debt.
• Apply4-credit talks about Credit Cards and Their Dirty Little Secrets posted at Apply4-Credit.com. Did you know any of these secrets? I knew about the universal default, and no limits on interest and fees.
• CreditCardAssist.com talks about Too Many Credit Cards? 5 Tips to Keep it Simple posted at CreditCardAssist.com. I changed statements to the same day so I can pay my bills all at the same time.  The 1st of the month.
• Finance Tips 101 talks about credit card Cash Back, Award Points, and Gas Cards posted at Finance Tips 101.  He discusses the benefits and the potential pitfalls.

Others

These posts are just talking about debt in general, but don’t fit in the other categories.

• The Smarter Wallet ask an important question in Downsize and Cut Costs, or Work at a Second Job? posted at The Smarter Wallet.  Personally I’d be doing both.
• M is for Money talks about his debt free journey in Deliverance from Debt: The Series.  It’s a series wrap up of 7 parts.
• Shaun Connell gives us reasons Why You Shouldn’t Get a Short-Term Payday Loan posted at Short-Term Loans. I have to wonder, which is really worse, Credit Card cash advance or Payday loan?
• Christian Debt Help gives us a chance to win the book Finish Rich Dictionary Review, by David Bach.
• Bargaineering.com asks the question Do You Use Money Management Software?.  Jim says when he started, he began with an excel budget bible to get out of debt.  What about you?
• NH asks us Can You Qualify for a Car Loan? posted at Car Loan Tips. He says with the current economic state, many will find it difficult to buy a car unless you have little consumer credit card debt.  My thought is a car loan better than CC debt?

Thanks to everyone for participating in the carnival.  Hope you had a fun time reading all these tips and ideas about debt reduction!  Be sure to enter the giveaway for the book High Wire and Money Magazine.