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Well, it’s not the end of the month yet, but I’ve already spent more than I intended to this month. For some reason, early on in the month I felt like I had lots of extra money and would surely make my goal, so I went ahead and spent more money than I otherwise would have. Oops.

I would have liked to have made my numbers this month, but missing them has taught me the importance of not giving up if that happens. It would be easy to say “oh well, I’ve missed my goal so what are a few more purchases?” — but I know that this is exactly the time to tell myself that even though I’ve missed the numbers, I can still keep the damage to a minimum. I guess I can always read pfblogs until I get a new chance next month. Here are some of the articles I’ve enjoyed this week:

MoneyNing debates about what to do with his 401k after he quits. This is a great thing to be thinking about since there are so many options (with “get cash now” being the worst of the bunch.) I once cashed out a little 401k. Definitely not my smartest move.

Well-Heeled points out that personal finance shouldn’t make you miserable. It should help you lead the life you want, in my opinion.

Clever Dude change gears on their debt repayment plan. They’ve decided to switch from paying down car and school debt to paying down the second mortgage. Why the change? Hint: he has an adjustable-rate mortgage.

Brunette on a Budget discusses the difference between private and federal student loans. She points out that “it’s always important to know exactly what you’re getting into when you sign your John Hancock to the bottom of that loan contract.”

Canadian Capitalist makes me feel a little better by saying that flexibility is key in investing. I’d been getting a little discouraged watching my investments decrease, but keep contributing nonetheless. This post reminds me that even if the market doesn’t shoot up the way I hope, I will still adapt and do fine.

It’s Lovely! I’ll Take It! is a prime example of how NOT to list your home for sale. Yes, real estate sales are down. No, you don’t have to completely eliminate your chances of selling your house with listing photos like these!

Quest For Four Pillars likes being unusual. He points out that working in area where your skills are rare makes your work more valuable to the people around you.