Photo courtesy of ClaresCupcakes.co.uk

It’s been a while since my last roundup. One thing roundups give me the opportunity to do is discuss a topic on here that may not have otherwise come up. This week, one freelance writer and one blogger wrote about subject matters I’m deeply passionate about. Another blogger simply reminded me of the value in periodically analyzing your spending behaviors.

Get Paid to Save Money by Donna Freedman at the MSN Money column Living With Less – Donna does an excellent job explaining how Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) work. Of all the different savings vehicles, IDAs are my favorite. I’m absolutely, unequivocally, in LOVE with them.

If your income is in the low to moderate range OR you know someone in the low to moderate income range OR you might meet someone in the future who’s in the low to moderate income range, then read this article. Tell anyone who’ll listen about IDAs. Pretty please?

I first learned of IDAs when I signed up as a financial education volunteer for an organization that participates in them. Every time I go near that place I wish I’d known about IDAs when I qualified. I’m not ready to tell you which organization I volunteer for, but participants receive a $3 match, up to $1,000, for every $1 saved in their IDA. *Excitedly jumps up and down* That’s $3,000 just for saving your own money! Don’t you know I’d sell everything but my organs to get that match.

Well, there are a few more things I wouldn’t sell, but my point is, if you qualify, do all you can to sign up and come up with as much money as you can to get the maximum match.

Why You Probably Shouldn’t Hire Outside Help by Wojciech Kulicki at Fiscal Fizzle – I’m so glad Wojo poked big ol’ fat, gaping holes in a stupid and widely distributed argument about money. It’s the one about paying someone to do something for you if what you pay them is less than what you could make while performing the job yourself. With the exception of child care, I can’t think of anything people do on a regular basis where they actually use the extra time to put this glorious principle into practice.

I’m not saying you should try to do everything yourself. I fully intend on hiring a night nanny when the day comes for me to have a baby in the house. These points fully capture my logic for wanting to do so:

1. I don’t want to do it myself.
2. I can afford it.

Should these two points cease to be true, guess who’ll be crawling out of bed in the middle of the night to check on their baby.

Friday Frugal Tip – Pizza Delivery by Jeff Kosola at DeliveryAwayDebt – Jeff gives a rundown of the annual cost of pizza for three of his regular customers. The graphic demonstration of the money their spending on pizza alone is enough to make you wonder if you have any habits that cost you as dearly. Whatever you’re spending your money on, whether it be pizza or makeup, try to identify ways to reduce the cost either through elimination or reduction.

Whew! Wasn’t that fun?

So here’s why I decided to associate this Weekly Roundup with Valentine’s Day even though I currently have no man and no prospects.

I’ve been taking naps off and on all day. I’m in D.C. and the city pretty much shuts down when we get this much snow.

I just had a dream I found a 50% off bottle of Valentine’s Day themed sparkling wine after February 14th. I was so excited. In the dream, I’m waiting in line when the cashiers switch registers. Some hubbub ensues, and my fabulous find goes missing for what felt like an eternity. We finally reconnect, then I wake up.

I don’t know what’s sadder. The fact that I dream about getting steep discounts or that I dream about getting steep discounts on wine.

Don’t forget to enter the $50 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway sponsored by Buxr.com.

Regular readers of You Have More Than You Think know my opinion of the “I deserve it” mentality. A few days ago, I was reminded of another line of reasoning that caused my neck muscles to tense up. While reading the Wall Street Journal article “Saving Again? Here’s a Way to Do It Right,” I experienced an involuntary spasm when Harvard economist, David Laibson, cited a startling statistic. Approximately 10% of Americans save too much.

Wow! Ten percent, huh?

The patriotism of the 10% who refuse to adequately participate in our consumer driven economy isn’t the issue here. The problem is one-tenth of my fellow Americans are at risk of *gasp* leaving an inheritance to their children (or their favorite charity or whoever).

Now, I don’t know how Mr. Laibson arrived at this figure, but let’s assume his methods are reliable. When I came across his claim, I had to stop reading the article immediately and take a deep breath. I was overcome with flashbacks of previous warnings from concerned loved ones, colleagues, and random people I meet on the street to be careful not to be too frugal. As Mr. Laibson suggests, an epidemic is under way.

There’s a segment of the population that’s all too eager to worry about an affliction of absolutely no threat to their financial well being. If you’re 30 years old with $60,000 of student loan debt, $22,000 of car loan debt, $7,293 of credit card debt, and zero savings, then don’t you worry about a looming case of obsessive frugality. Clearly, you’re not predisposed to cash hoarding.

It’s like when you’re trying to lose weight. Happily out of shape people love to bring up the risks of developing a food related obsessive compulsive disorder. Not that these sorts of things can’t happen, but how many people do you know are at a serious risk of not eating enough or exercising too much? Personally, I like food too much, and I’m too lazy to hit the gym more than 3 to 5 times a week to worry about such things.

Even if your memory banks can produce someone who’s suffered from over occupation with their weight, I’ll bet you can think of 100 times as many people who are under occupied with it. Do you know anyone whose overdosed on a medley of broccoli, squash, zucchini, and carrots? I don’t. I have, however, almost eaten myself into a cupcake coma. On more than one occasion.

My point is excessive consumption of vegetables isn’t a real threat to my health. Likewise, I’m not the least bit concerned I’ll fool around and amass too much wealth. Those of us made in America, constantly have to stay on our toes so we don’t succumb to the deep seated desire that lies within all of us: consumption.

Too often, I stumble upon articles warning of the perils of extreme frugality. But I don’t know anyone who saves too much. You? Please let me know if you’ve ever been pulled aside by a concerned and destitute loved one who cautioned you against stacking up too many millions. I couldn’t possibly be the only one who’s suffered the misguided pity of broke people.