The 279th Carnival of Personal Finance – 80′s Music Lives On Edition

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Growing up primarily in the 90′s, I was accustomed to turning on the radio and listening to bands named N’Sync, Ace of Base, and Hootie and the Blowfish.  Now some of you may think that childhood was no picnic, but there were few things I dreaded more than the two hour car ride to the beach, listening to this crap.  That meant four hours, where “I saw the sign” could be heard three or four times.  I still shiver thinking about those days.

Thankfully, I have a large family, made up of aunts and uncles that were growing up in the 80′s and I was introduced to real music.  And if you’re thinking I’m limited to one decade, the 70′s and 60′s will do just fine too.  There’s just something about 80′s music and 80′s videos that set’s that decade apart from the rest.  The lyrics actually made sense and could be understood and the performances were based on vocals and talent, not looks and effects.

So this carnival of personal finance, we’re going to run through some of the best 80′s songs and videos.  This article would be 100,000 words if done properly, but I’ve shortened it just a bit.  Enjoy!

Journey – Separate Ways

The first (and probably best) video on our 80′s list comes from Steve Perry and Journey.  Separate Ways always brings a smile to my face and I’m sure if you watch it, it will do the same for you.  Look at that sideways keyboard play.  Notice the mole on Steve Perry’s close up.  Watch that girl walk like she’s never walked before.  The highlights just keep coming!  So with our favorite 80′s video, let’s look at my favorite picks for this weeks carnival of personal finance.

• J Money talks about his hustling days as a chicken farmer.  It’s even crazier than it sounds!
• Before You Invest makes a comparison I should have made long ago.  Football teaches everyone about investing!
• YesIAmCheap blames YOU for being unemployed.
• The artist formerly known as the Credit Card Finder illustrates what happens when you take extra jobs.

Heart – Alone

Now that you know who my favorite male vocalist of all time is, you should know that my favorite female vocalist is Ann Wilson.  Even today, Ann can belt a note like no other.  The band Heart was well known for the allure of the Wilson sisters as well as their rock ballad hits like “Barracuda”, “Crazy on You” and “Never” but this particular video will always be my favorite.  I wonder if I could get away with wearing a black trench-coat everyday?  Where can I even buy a black trench-coat?   Anyway, here are our credit card themed articles for this week:

• My Dollar Plan discusses their ever changing credit card arbitrage strategies.
• PT Money shows interest about the best low interest credit cards around.
• You’ve seen fake emails, now our friends at Credit Cards Canada say you might see fake credit card statements.
• Cash advance from a credit card? Smart Balance Transfers suggests to JUST SAY NO!
• Musings of the AA shows you how to get the most out of your credit card rewards.
• If you haven’t heard of the BankAmericard, you will after checking out the post from Credit Card Forum.

Lionel Richie – Hello

There are people that know how to properly say hello, and then there’s Lionel Richie.  I’ve watched this music video a hundred times, never quite understanding why this man moves his body forward every time he says hello (most notably at the 1:23 mark).  “Hello” is a video about a professor who is in love with one of his students, who happens to be blind.  The song itself has done a fantastic job surviving the times and when you watch the music video, you can’t help but be enthralled by Tony Billy Boy and his chances, now that he’s out of prison.  Moving along, here are our best investing articles:

• Money Smart Life breaks down options trading, on a College 101 level.
• Provident Plan suggests that investing isn’t about what you believe, it’s about what you know.
• Balance Junkie talks about how you should strategize (not a word … huh) while investing in a GIC.
• The Intelligent Speculators alerts everyone that if he could buy Facebook stock right now, he’d buy it all!
• Don’t be oblivious when the Oblivious Investor discusses the risk with target date funds.
• If you want 12 secret stocks that offer awesome dividends, check out the article published by Dividends Value.
• Dividend Monk has 7 more stocks for you with huge dividend moats.

Cameo – Word Up

Yo pretty ladies, around the world, you’ve got to love this song and video by Cameo.  If you haven’t heard of Cameo outside of this one song, you’re not alone because I haven’t either.  There’s a pretty good sax solo about 3 minutes in (only lasts for a few seconds)  and if you find yourself having to do your dance, do your dance, do your dance quickly, just make sure you do it alone.  Some people might get the wrong impression.  Filling your need for the best Real Estate articles, I’ve added the following:

• Spruce up Your Finances thinks you should spruce up your house by utilizing these five tips.
• Second verse, same as the first, except when you’re explaining what a reverse mortgage is.  Free From Broke is up to the task.
• Passive Family Income thinks that refinancing your mortgage can lower your total costs of owning a home.  I think that’s what we call “Fuzzy Math”.
• Mrs. Nespy knows the bigger the house, the bigger the bill.

Golden Earring – Twilight Zone

Everyone knows the black and white Twilight Zone TV series but few know the 1982 Golden Earring hit.  The music video isn’t quite as good as the song itself, but if you’re looking for a literal music video, this is the one for you.  Every word spoken matches the visual and like many 1980′s classics, this group wasn’t American.  If it ain’t Dutch, it ain’t much and Golden Earring would agree with you.  Are you up for talking about debt, because I am!

• Rule number 1 as stated by Studenomics: Pay off your debt with the income you have.
• Borrowing Money comes with a ton of risks.  Just ask the Financial Blogger.
• If you’re having trouble figuring out why you have debt, as Dinks Finance.  They’ll gladly help you out.
• Gen Y Wealth makes an astute observation.  If you don’t want debt, just avoid it.  Easier said than done my good man.
• Hope to Prosper imagines a life without debt.  My phone battery would absolutely love that life.

Duran Duran – Ordinary World

If you were a teen girl in the 80′s, I bet you knew who Simon Le Bon was.  Probably ranking second on my greatest vocalists of all time list, Simon and Duran Duran is most well know for hits like “Rio” and “Hungry Like the Wolf.”  For me however, it’s all about “Ordinary World” and “Come Undone”.  While Duran Duran was a sensation in the 80′s it’s actually this 1995 video I’ve shared with you because how often do you get to see a rock singer paired with the greatest opera singer of all time.  The late and great Pavarotti is singing (in Italian) with Simon and the two of them take an Ordinary World and make it extraordinary. What I wouldn’t give to be in Italy watching these two perform.  With youth and experience all in one, let’s dive into retirement, family and student finances.

• Go To Retirement discusses asset retirement correlations.  Sorry no quip for this one … not really sure what that is!
• Those two girls in the morning, Nicole and Maggie of course, know just how much you should pay for graduate school.  One penny over and you’ll lose your showcase.
• Everyone should learn from their mistakes, but if you can, avoid these five financial retirement mistakes, as stated by Personal Dividends.
• You shouldn’t wait to plan your retirement.  With a blog name like Do Not Wait, he knows what he’s talkin’ about.
• Saving to Invest knows that your life will change after marriage.  But their more concerned with your financial life after marriage.
• That green piece of mail you get once a year is called your Social Security statement.  Money Help for Christians knows all about it.
• How young is too young when reviewing your child’s credit report? Not young enough according to Identity Theft Wall.
• If I were playing the $25,000 pyramid, I’d win every time.  Kids; Money; “Things that I don’t have!”.  Well if you do have them, read up on the post from Wallet Blog about, well, kids and money.

Foreigner – That Was Yesterday

If there was song that I could relate to personal finance, it would be this one.  Lou Gramm sums it up best when he says that was yesterday and today life goes on.  Reliving your mistakes over and over is going to lead to a life of doom and gloom.  You won’t find him in yesterday’s world, because yesterday’s gone.

Now, the video isn’t up to the standards that the previous videos on this list are (IMHO) but I’ve tried to play a tambourine for four minutes straight, and I just can’t do it.  Sadly, if you go see Foreigner in concert these days, Lou Gramm isn’t there.  So goes the tragedy of great 80′s groups … Steve Perry, Denis DeYoung, Lou Gramm … all gone.  Time to brighten up spirits with frugality articles!

• Totally Money talks about frugal super-foods.  Think inexpensiveness combined with functionality.
• The Prairie Eco Thrifter can count the ways to save with travel expenses on one hand.  Unless your a Simpson, of course.
• Good Financial Cents wonders if you’re getting the real deals when it comes to comparison shopping.
• Grocery expenses can add up fast, especially if you have a sweet tooth like me, so follow these 20 money saving tips on groceries from The Canadian Finance Blog.

REO Speedwagon – That Ain’t Love

REO Speewagon is loaded with a ton of hits like “I Can’t Fight This Feeling” and “Take it on the Run” and although you may never have heard of this song,  I assure you it’s a goody.  REO Speedwagon is actually the only private concert I’ve ever been to, and boy does Kevin Cronin still put on a show!  I could do without the belly shirt next time, especially since there were only about 100 people there and everyone had a good seat but it was a small price to pay.  Man can that guy work a grand piano.

Pay close attention to this video, as you may never see anything like it again.  Gongs have been outlawed in most countries and I haven’t seen one of those strobe globe thingies in a long time.  One of the later songs REO Speedwagon produced, “That Ain’t Love” was introduced in 1987.  Let’s go nuts with some more random PF articles shall we?

• Are you middle class or are you wealthy? Interesting questions, asked by the good people over at Watson Inc.  Suppose you could be neither.
• The Digerati Life sports a list of bank accounts for people with bad credit. I can tell you that it was torture trying to find a bank that wanted my money when my credit was in the tank.  Could have used this list.
• Know what you’re getting before you pay for it.  Seems simple but complicated and the Realm of Prosperity has more details.
• Making a million dollars is easy.  Just ask the Suns Financial Diary.  He’ll show you how to do it!
• Free Money Finance thinks you’re first bill payment should be to pay yourself.  Do you agree?
• Investor Junkie has a secret, secret, he’s got a secret.  The secret is to building wealth and you should pay attention.

Madonna – Like a Prayer

The 80′s wouldn’t be complete without Madonna would it? The most controversial singer of the decade (and that says a lot with someone like George Michael in the group) Madonna has #1 after #1 hit to her name and my personal favorite is Like a Prayer.

When Madonna tells the choir to sing, you better believe the Choir sings.  Rounding out this weeks list of awesome personal finance articles, we have:

• A Modern Gal shares the best advice she ever received from her mentor.  Every time I hear the word mentor, I think of Seinfeld and Kenny Banya.  Cracks me up.
• Living the high life would be awesome, but living within your means is more important.  Green Panda Treehouse can explain what I mean.
• If you ask the right questions, you’ll usually find the right answers and Christian PF has the right 8 questions to ask about your finances.
• Accumulating Money explains annuities.  Short, sweet and to the point.
• Canajun Finances takes you through the finer points of overdraft fees.

And that ladies and gentleman, sums up this round of the Carnival of Personal Finance.  You may be thinking to yourself where are the guys like Michael Jackson or Jon Bon Jovi (I’m from Jersey) but everyone knows those guys.  My goal was to give you some of the lesser known 80′s music that you may not have heard of.  And before you go, I’d like to leave you with a 10th music video, courtesy of Mr. Eddy Money.  Even though it looks like his face is paralyzed, I assure you he is singing this song.  Enjoy!

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Michael Pruser

After amassing more than $255,000 in debt on a math degree from the University of Miami, Michael now enjoys spending time at home and writing about personal finance.

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