Here are my favorite posts and news articles for the week of December 18, 2006.

Looking for the hot stocks of 2007? JLP at All Financial Matters posts Stocks for 2007 (According to Fortune, Kiplinger’s and Smart Money)

Free Money Finance explains how to Save On College Expenses…

Mr Cheap Stuff gives us The Ultimate Procrastinators Christmas Shopping Guide

Fire Finance can save you money with Free International Calls

Shop at Amazon.com? Well Barganeering shows how Amazon’s Price Drop Policy could save you a ton of money

This is part 3 in the series of “How to Succeed in 2007.” This series is about my thoughts on the CNN Money Article “How to Succeed in 2007.” You may want to start with part 1 and part 2.

Jeff Goodby
Co-founder, Goodby Silverstein & Partners
Remake Ad Campaigns for the Digital Age

“Our campaigns are a lot more work now. Our “Got Milk” campaign was based on the fact that milk made you sleep better and rebuilt muscles. So we created TV commercials where aliens came and abducted cows and took them back to their planet, because their bones were weak and they needed more sleep. Then we made a website for angry farmers, Cowabduction.com. We put up notices around the city about the missing cows. And we made another website promoting the aliens’ point of view. The campaign was such a success that we’re releasing it in theaters.”

This one just cracks me up. I loved that commercial series.

While this may seem totally unrelated to finances, I promise you it is. [Read more →]

This is part 2 of the series ‘Budgets for Dummies.’ Part 1 can be found here.

Many people feel that budgets are restricting. The truth is that they are only restricting if you are predisposed to think that they are restricting. However, if you’re willing to put your rose colored glasses down, I can show you how budgets actually free you you spend your money. It leads to better money management and less financial stress.

So how does this actually work? How does a budget allow me to spend my money more freely? Think about this, how often have you wanted to go on vacation, but felt guilty about putting it on a credit card? Ever wanted to go to that exclusive restaurant, but felt like it was to much money? How about wanting a new car? [Read more →]