The Internet community of financial bloggers is at it again. In addition to the hugely popular Carnival of Personal Finance on Mondays, and the Festival of Frugality on Tuesdays … there’s a new home for a blogger discussion on money matters.

It’s the Money Hacks Carnival on Wednesdays. And it’s just as excellent as the CPF and FF roundups.

My blog has a local geographic focus, so my chit-chat doesn’t always translate to a national audience. But it’s been a reasonable goal for me to submit two or three articles a month to the financial carnivals. And even when I don’t have a contribution, I enjoy reading what the other bloggers are saying!

Be Thrifty Like Us is hosting the April 16 Money Hacks Carnival. Here are some of the posts you’ll find this week:

• Our Fourpence Worth presents The Frugal Literate’s Guide to Affordable Reading: “Most libraries have a Friends of the Library group that collects donated books and organizes regular sales to raise funds for the library.” As examples, the Dorsch Memorial Branch Library in downtown Monroe has a used book rack in the lobby, and the Friends of Milan Public Library host outdoor book sales in downtown Milan on a regular basis in the summer.
• Think Your Way to Wealth presents Lower Your Medical Bills through Negotiation, Cost Comparison and Haggling: “Not surprisingly, paying in cash was the number one incentive to offer a discount, according to doctors questioned.” About three months ago at my eye doctor’s office, I overheard a customer who had no vision insurance negotiate a cash deal on her new eyeglasses.
• Destroy Debt presents All I Really Needed to Know About Managing Money I Learned from Music: “Personal finance knowledge didn’t come from school or family – it came right from the song titles of some of the most popular songs of all time.” Ah, more music titles to add to my iPod.
• Your Finish Rich Plan presents 6 Assistance Options if You’re Unemployed: “When laid off, most people expect to bounce right back and find a new jobs within a couple of weeks. If the current economic climate is any indication, they might have to brace themselves for a slightly longer stint in the ranks of the unemployed.” When my husband was not working, he did get unemployment checks. We were above the cut-offs for the many other formal assistance programs because I was working. What can families do instead in those circumstances? If you live in Southeast Michigan, check out my very extensive blogroll. I created this blog with families like you in mind.
• Free From Broke presents Ben Bernanke wants Personal Finance Blogs out of Business: “Bernanke stated that only eight states require a personal finance class for graduation and that more states should consider it a requirement. Imagine more people required to take a personal finance class? There might not be a need for all of the personal finance blogs out there!” Even college prep kids need basic financial training at the high school level. My daughter learned frugal living concepts from our family’s experiences at home; but, being a freshman in college, this is the first year she’s had to sign loan agreements, use a checking account and budget money for routine expenses on her own.