The Carnival of Personal Finance for Sept. 8 was hosted by BankerGirl. Here are some of the posts you’ll find on all things financial:

• Beyond Paycheck to Paycheck presents How saving is like football: “When you have friends who have a lot more financial resources (or at least they appear to), don’t readily and repetitively agree to meet them for dinner at a really expensive place of their choosing. Instead, play a different game. Meet for dessert, a movie, or invite them over to your place.” My home is small. But I keep it clean and neat and presentable. And because our decor preference is different than what is currently popular — visitors admire our design and don’t comment about the low budget.
• My Dollar Plan presents $7,500 first time home buyer tax credit is not a credit: “The money will be given to you via a tax credit. You will then repay the loan over the next 15 years through increased taxes.” There’s also some follow-up links for further details.
• Harvesting Dollars presents Do you really think you’ll spend less in retirement?: ” What about new hobbies? Trips to Vegas? And lunch out with the Bridge Club*? And what about medical costs?” Our retirement plan includes having our home paid off by that point, which will help quite a bit with new or additional expenses.

The Festival of Frugality for Sept. 9 was hosted by Frugal Babe. Here are some of the posts you’ll find on frugal living:

• Sound Money Matters presents It’s time to start planning your Thanksgiving travel or party: “Recently I attended a party where someone said she was considering flying home for Thanksgiving, but wanted to see if airfares would come down. I advised her to book now.” I would ditto that if you plan to use train or bus … it’s quite likely that high air prices will encourage travelers to look for other options.
• Funny About Money presents Ikea – better than bricks and boards?: “Most of our fellow shoppers were twentyish-to-thirtyish adults who had the harried look of working parents. When I was that age, my husband and I had bought a house whose $350 mortgage payment stretched our income to the max. We had zero dollars with which to furnish the place.” Yeah, a mixed review is pretty much my thinking on Ikea too. If the Ikea in Canton, Mich., been open when I was in my early 20s, I would have certainly made a trip from Ohio with my parents’ minivan to load up on some furniture. My main furnishings in those days were hand-me-downs that were breaking down. I have a mix of better hand-me-downs and newer pieces now.
• Happy to be at Home presents Samaritan Ministries – Christians Helping Christians. “Samaritan Ministries is a wonderful ministry, but it’s not for everyone. Yet for many Christians in today’s economy, it can be a real answer to prayer—as it was for us.” I heard about this organization about the time it got started. I’m glad to hear that it’s still around.
  
• Monroe on a Budget presents Funeral calls and condolences on a budget: “Think about what one would normally do when a friend or relative dies. There will be expenses incurred on short notice, but you can mitigate the out-of-pocket expenses.” Yes, I have had an exhausting week with funeral calls for two family friends so close together. But the assumption my husband and I always start with is that we will participate as much as possible in send-off ceremonies for people we know and respect.