(If you don’t care for NBA basketball at all, then just skip down to the couple of posts I had a chance to read and think on this week.  For the rest of you awesome basketball fans, here is my commentary on the NBA Finals.)

The winds of change are upon us.  What looked to be another championship by the Miami Heat has turned around right on them, as they stand on the brink of elimination down 3-1 to the Spurs.  I don’t think anyone envisioned this, especially the talking heads on ESPN.  Most thought Miami would cruise to another title or that this would go down to a Game 7 for sure.  While coming back down 3-1 to win the Finals is certainly possible, it has never happened before.  And I find it hard to believe a team as experienced and well prepared as the Spurs would let that happen.  But stranger things have occurred.

This could also be the end of this Heat “dynasty” of they end up losing.  Lebron, Wade and Bosh are all free agents and they won’t keep all 3 of them.  Lebron might leave, Wade is looking like an old man once again and Bosh has forgotten how to be a big man.  This will be a very interesting off season because there are a number of possibilities about where these guys might go as well as some other stars in the league (Please stay Carmelo!!).  I’m enjoying this Finals so far because I absolutely loathe the Miami Heat starting in the 90’s when the only way they could beat the Knicks was by getting half the team suspended.  Add Lebron deciding to go to Miami instead of New York a few years ago and my hate grew even more.  So it’s nice to see the possibility of this team being broken apart.  It may not happen, but a guy can dream right?

–The Average Savings Rate by Income by Financial Samurai:  The average savings rate in America is 4%.  That is astonishingly low considering Social Security will probably pay out less and less as time goes on.  Some very interesting data on saving in this post.

–All or Nothing Thinking is Holding You Back by Student Debt Survivor:  Perfection is the enemy of the good.  Many people have been brought down by this by abandoning a goal because of one hiccup.

The intro to my roundup posts have started to become sports commentary.  Which is fine by me because I was a sports fan before I became anything else.  Looks like this Finals will be as exciting as last year.  A memorable Game 1 with the A/C not working and everyone having to suffer through the heat.  Kind of surprised they played the game since basketball players aren’t used to playing professionally with those temperatures but it was a great game.  Ginobili and Duncan both played great games, and that needs to continue for them to have a chance to win.  And here are some great posts for the week:

–How Big Should Your Emergency Fund Be by Mom and Dad Money:  Emergency funds are an essential part of everyone’s financial picture, but the question lies in how big should it be.  Some gurus swear it should be 6 months.  Others say 3 months.  Some say a year.  Again, it all depends on different factors and this article does a good job of going into those.

–We Paid Off My Student Loan!-and then got a $1,000 bill by TrendyCheapo:  In our never ending quest of debt repayment, there are always bumps along the way.  You just have to be ready for them.  This post provides a good example of that.

–Better to be rich than poor by Bankrate.com:  Short post that talks about an interesting study which finds that the health of those over 65 is correlated to their income.

–Dieting and Financial Freedom Have More in Common Than You Think by YoungFinances:  A lot of times we get caught in our own negative mindset when trying to accomplish things.  Whether it’s money or health, it takes a new approach in order to see improvement.

–Expense Value as Time Worked by 20somethingfinance:  This post gives a sobering look at just how much expenses REALLY cost (A $5 frappuccino doesn’t cost $5)

What a crazy week.  Got home from vacation 2 days later than planned because of cancelled flights due to weather.  Traveling is fun but can really test your patience.  Thankfully we got home safe and sound.  The baby is gonna need some time to recover.  Here are some great posts I caught up on:

–Why You’ll Never Be Rich:  The American Dream is Dead by Money After Graduation:  I never bought the idea of the “American Dream” since everyone has different dreams and goals.  But wealth inequality is making it harder as of late for a lot of people to even buy a house or get health insurance.  It’s a different world we live in compared to 30 years ago.

–Account For Depreciation by Frugaling:  This laptop I’m typing on will die at some point.  I’ve had it for about 3 years and it’s starting to show signs that the end may be near.  To counter this, I try to budget $25 or so a month so when it’s time to replace it, the money will be there.  Everything will meet its end.

–This is America, Right? by Broke Millenial:  America has a lot of problems, but it’s also a country that most people will find success in if they work smart and hustle hard.  It takes some luck too, but luck usually finds those who work at it consistently.

–Sacrificing a Small Trip Today for a Big Trip Tomorrow by Budget and the Beach:  Vacations can be a real money sink but we all need one once in a while.  Sometimes the question comes down to fighting the urge to take a vacation now or waiting to save up cash and points for a big vacation later.  This article has some good tips at the end to save money while on vacation.

–Why It’s So Hard To Get A Mortgage: A Loan officer’s Perspective by Financial Samurai:  Fascinating thoughts by a loan officer about getting a mortgage.  He says not to blame the banks or people that work at them but to blame the borrowers who didn’t pay.  Borrowers certainly had a hand in this, but so did top executives at the banks who allowed the money to be lent out.  Many people lost their jobs, but the bank executives only get richer.  It seems more important than ever to have a steady income and a great credit score in order to secure a good mortgage.

The NBA Conference Finals are finally set.  We will probably see a rematch of last year’s match between Miami and San Antonio but I’m hoping the Spurs can pull it off this time around.  I should start a sports blog.  Here are some great posts from the week:

–Retail Stores Are Seductive Seriously by The Broke and Beautiful Life:  Many people go into a store with the intention to browse but end up buying one thing or another.  Why does this happen?  Because retailers know what we look for.  They know how to present things to make us want them more and more.  It’s their job to make is buy something impulsively.  It’s up to us to know when we’re being played.

–Why I Love Vanguard and You Should Too by 20somethingfinance:  I’ve been using Vanguard for a few years now and they’re great.  Low costs, great customer service and great performing mutual funds.  You really can’t go wrong by going with them.

–10 Things Every Millenial Should Do to Get Rid of Student Loan Debt by Claire Murdough:  Many new grads are clueless about their student debt.  You need to know how much you owe and find ways to get rid of it quickly.

–Want to See Italy?  Do This… by Holly Johnson:  Using credit card rewards strategically can get you a nice close to free trip every year or so.  This post maps out how to get to Italy.

I’m really loving these NBA playoffs.  And by that I mean the Western Conference playoffs.  A lot of drama (some of it unnecessary) but some great basketball as well.  The East looks atrocious as the #1 seed Pacers look lost and Miami looks like it will cruise to another NBA finals.  Only 2 posts this week, but they come from two of the premier financial bloggers on the web.  And they are chock full of good info and can be referred back to every so often.  Enjoy:

–Portfolio ideas to build and keep your wealth by jcollinsnh:  This post was written 2 years ago but the advice is timeless.  Investing is fun, especially when it’s easy.  And this post pretty much breaks down all the investing you will have to do for the rest of your life.  If anyone tries to make investing complicated for you, they’re probably trying to make money off of you somehow.  Do yourself a favor and read this post in its entirety, and then read it again.  It will serve you well and your future self will thank you profusely.

–Zero your cerebral inbox by Johnny MoneySeed:  A really great idea to try .  I know when I’m at work I’ll think of this or that and then get interrupted and it will just repeat.  This causes stress and with the method outlined in this post I can hopefully reduce that.

Ready for Zero really is a great website.  Using their tools I found out I will save $25,000 in interest payments over the life of my student loans by just contributing $300 extra per month to my highest interest rate loan.  This has motivated me to find even more ways to add to that extra monthly payment, allowing me to save even more interest and be debt free sooner.  If you have student loan debt, use their tools to find out the exact day you will be debt free.  Don’t worry they’re not paying me to say this.

–Is College Still a Wise Investment? by Modest Money:  While I don’t agree with the conclusion that college isn’t a good investment, I do agree that it’s not a GREAT investment anymore.  Gone are the days of just getting a bachelor’s in anything and finding a well paying position.  If you want to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth, know what you want to do early and scope out the employment/self employment prospects early on.

–I Just Paid Off a $25,000 Student Loan by Frugaling:  I really enjoy reading about stories about people quickly paying off student debt.  Because that means the banks are getting a little less and people are getting a little more.

–Would You Let Your Insurance Company Monitor Your Movement to Save Money? By Green Money Stream:  Insurance companies putting trackers in your car is probably going to be a normal offering soon.  If it saves me money and forces people to drive safer, why not?  I would use it if my auto insurance offered it.

–The Secret to Getting Out of Debt by Personal Finance Utopia:  Great article on the various ways debt ruins your life.  Most people embrace debt and go on their merry way.  It really must be despised so you can take firm action against it.

–Why Your Net Worth Matters by Miranda Marquit:  I’ve always been a fan of net worth (see my post here).  You shouldn’t live and die by it, but it’s a good number to look at once in a while.  The best way to increase your net worth?  Find expenses to cut and then out those savings right into your investments or debt repayment.

I’m saddened that the New York Knicks didn’t make the playoffs this year, but at least I can watch the other games without prejudice.  Except for Miami.  They must lose.  Here are some must win articles I came across this week:

–My Biggest Money A-Ha Moment by Are Ya Gonna Eat That?:  Recognizing we have a problem and what triggers that problem is an essential part of getting your finances together.  Then we just have to figure out how to outsmart ourselves so we don’t fall prey to those triggers again.

–Put Your Whole Heart into Your Debt Repayment by Girl Meets Debt:  Paying off a large amount of student loan debt really puts you in a long term point of view.  You really have to have your heart into it, make an audacious plan, and execute it every single month.  It will be worth it.

–You Can Make Money Quick! by Sprout Wealth:  There are lots of ways to make money beyond the regular 9-5.  Diversifying your income is a great idea because it keeps more income coming in besides your regular paycheck obviously, but if one area dries up, you can focus more energy on another stream and hopefully not lose too much.

–Forget About Credit Card Debt:  Americans are Worried about Medical Bills by Miranda Marquit:  The health insurance system in America sucks.  There are no two ways about it.  Costs are so high that even people with health insurance can’t afford many medical procedures.  It’s a shame that profits are the driving force in the healthcare system.

The sun is finally shining and the cherry blossoms are blooming.  I’m enjoying these temps in the 70’s and looks like we’re finally out of winter.  Check out some of these equally refreshing articles I came across.

–A Realistic Look at Ideal Days in Our Future Financially Independent Life by RichmondSavers:  Great thought provoking post on how we would spend our days if finances weren’t an issue.  It’s something we need to think about as we all only have a limited amount of time on this planet.

–How to Recover from a Financial Mistake by Stefanie O’Connell:  Everybody makes a dumb financial move here and there.  It’s important not to beat yourself about it, learn from it and move on.

–Should I say Something?  A PF Enthusiast’s Dilemma by Cash Cow Couple:  It’s always tough to see or hear a loved one about to make a not so smart financial move.  Is it always smart to tell them or is there another way?  A thought provoking situation.

–The power of profit margin by Get Rich Slowly:  Being in charge of your finances is like being in charge of a business.  If you start thinking of your transactions as personal profit or loss, it can put a new spin on spending recklessly.

–How Much Do I Have To Make As An Entrepreneur To Replace My Day Job Income by Financial Samurai:  Really fascinating post comparing the different aspects of being employed to being self employed.

Big shout out to Daraius at Million Mile Secretes for including me in his Interview Series.  Check it out here.

The Sweet 16 is upon us.  I hardly watch any college basketball during the regular season, but something about March Madness brings out the college basketball fan in me.  Here are some sweet posts I stumbled upon this week:

–17 Things That Will Push You From Middle Class to First Class by Johnny Moneyseed:  This post is pretty much the blueprint to a good life.  Read it and save it.

–How to Kick Ass at Work by 1500 Days:  It really is worth the effort to reach out to people in your company and form relationships.  Any increase in compensation will stay with you for the rest of your life.

–Has Luxury Lost its Luster? by SeeDebtRun:  I’ve often thought of this myself as luxury seems like an “old” thing now.  Having nice luxury cars and a big home used to be a status of wealth, but nowadays it can seem like the sign of insecurity.  Not having that attachment to luxury will ensure a good life.

–Save Half Update: $4000 Student Loan Paid in 6 Months by TrendyCheapo:  I love reading stories about people paying off student loans.  That’s because I hate student loans.  When people sacrifice or find cheaper ways to do things and then apply those savings to pay down student loans, it’s a wonderful thing.

–Avoid Student Loans by Living Like a College Kid by Student Debt Survivor:  During optometry school this message was given to us the first week of school, “Live like no one would now, so you can live like no one can in the future.”  Basically saying be frugal as possible in school so you don’t have to take out student loans.  I’m glad I followed this and minimized the amount of student loans I needed.

It’s March Madness time!  Already some big upsets with Harvard and Dayton winning yesterday.  Here are some winning articles I came across this past week:

–A Guide to Freaking Out About Retirement Planning by Green Money Stream:  While freaking out in itself is not fun, knowing that retirement is inevitable is a strong dose of reality for everyone.  With this in mind it’s important to start saving early and often.

–Why Having Student Loans Sucks by Student Loan Sherpa:  Student loans are unlike any other loan in that you can’t directly sell them and they don’t disappear if you declare bankruptcy.  They’re not a fun thing to have so get rid of them as soon as you can!

–Cheating on Taxes:  It’s More Common thank You Think by Personal Finance Utopia:  Very interesting article about the prevalence of cheating on tax returns in America.  It might be tempting to fudge a number here or there, but if you’re audited or caught, the results are not pretty.

–How to Become a Leader for Your Company by Modest Money:  It really takes a proactive approach to get noticed in a company.  If you work hard and don’t promote yourself, it is unlikely your work will get noticed.  This is a good post on some things to keep in mind if you would like to advance within your company.

–Is a Backdoor Roth IRA a Good Move by Barbara Friedberg:  A backdoor Roth IRA can be a good way to reduce taxes for some people.  Who doesn’t want to pay less taxes?

Thanks to NZMuse for featuring my article on smart ways to spend your tax refunds in the latest Carnival of Personal Finance.