Awesome Links for a Lazy Sunday

I’ve realized that it’s been a good, long while since I highlighted some truly great writing around the Web. This lazy Sunday morning, I decided to collect the recent awesomeness and share it with you! Woohoo!

If there’s something you really enjoyed reading this week, please share it with us in the comments.

Without further ado:

What Inspires You?

There are plenty of inspiring things in the world, but it’s tough to be inspiring. It takes the right mix of storytelling ability, humility, memory, framing, etc. When it’s done well, it shines.

Christian PF’s Bob tells us his own story through a series of recollections about his past. I best most of you could find something to identify with in this post. It’s most definitely worth a read.

You Believe WHAT?

Money myths are interesting creatures. They’re largely a product of word-of-mouth between friends and family members. Money is still considered taboo to the extent that no one bothers to check or challenge these myths with others. And so the ideas keep on spreading…

Laura Adams shares 7 of these money myths that need squashing at Cash Money Life. One of my favorites:

“Myth #6: A former employer can keep your retirement money. Never turn down the opportunity to participate in a workplace retirement plan, like a 401(k) or 403(b), because you’re afraid you’ll never see your money again if you leave the job.”

Scary Statistics

I did a double-take when I saw this statistic flash across @fmfblog’s Twitter feed:

“84% of employees plan to look for a new position in 2011.” – CNN Money (original article)

That means only 16% don’t! Does anyone else find this staggering? Chances are, in my small company of 5, four of my colleagues are looking for a chance to jump ship (I certainly hope not, though!).

Years of economic pressure have forced millions of people to stay put. As the economy recovers, I’m scared to see how people will react after all those pent-up feelings of resentment, distrust, and job dissatisfaction start to come out.

Peer Influence on Spending

“They” say that our income and/or net worth is usually closest to that of our (insert number here) friends. (My vagueness is only due to the fact that I’ve seen this stat presented 30 different ways).

But when Daniel (Sweating the Big Stuff) presented an interesting, real-life case study of this phenomenon, I was a little shocked. I shouldn’t be though—there are probably millions of people out there who are looking for the same kind of validation when it comes to spending. And when they get it, it’s their wallets that unfortunately yelp in pain.

Starting a Business

If you have any kind of entrepreneurial tendencies, this next post will tickle your fancy. Maren Kate writes about the 7 deadly sins of start-ups at Escaping the 9 to 5. Some of my favorite quotes from this post were:

“So when you start to feel yourself getting lazy, when  you feel yourself starting to quit before it really hurts (or pushes you far beyond your comfort zone) – don’t do it. Keep going, push on until you surprise yourself.”

“Don’t ever think you aren’t good enough for someone and never think you’re too good for another.”

Recovering from the Recession

Finally, Carol Schultz from the In The Trenches blog has released a free e-Book sub-titled “financial survival during times of hardship.” It’s a collection of short strategies and tips for making the most of your money during challenging times.

One of my favorite chapters deals with stocking up on food supplies, something we’re trying to do personally:

“I found that food was the most flexible of all the budget items. No one was going to turn off your service or turn you into a collection agent if you didn’t spend as much this month. And whatever I didn’t use now I could use later.”

This free resource is definitely worth a read.

Photo by Jinx!