It really is a shame in today’s society that someone has to worry about the legal downside of giving things away.

I don’t blame you Trent, I just think it is sad.

I completely agree Mark. Trent, your retro post is awesome. I have only been reading your blog for a few months and really enjoy that part of your roundups.

I’m glad to see someone handling internet giveaways responsibly for once. I actually did sit down with an attorney to work up rules for my contests. It was worth every penny because it’s only a matter of time before a reckless blogger gets his or her brains sued out for running an illegal contest.

Though I guess I should actually run some contests now, eh?

Well you are giving away free information :)

Might get sued for that :)

That’s why a well written disclaimer is so terribly important. At the very least it gives constructive notice.

I find the add on your page of someone having dollars placed in their underware offensive. I’m not a prude but I don’t like seeing that when I’m just trying to get some financial tips.
thanks for your consideration.

An attorney friend of mine has mentioned that people who blog for money should create an LLC, and run all blog business through the LLC. This would protect the bloggers personal assets from a lawsuit.

Lol, Raymond and Bones.

I don’t read your site for the giveaways. I do appreciate the copy of Quicken (which my bank has stopped working with—well, there’s more problems than that, but I’m working on them). The legal ramifications of such things could be rather daunting, at least for a popular blogger like you.

I second what Mark is saying and being a lawyer based in Des Moines, I could definitely help you with that Trent:)

What kind of stuff do you usually give away? Books?

“The basic reason is that this site has reached a level of popularity that I no longer feel comfortable with the legal nature of such giveaways.”

So basicaly, when you’re not this popular, you’ll still consider on the giveaways ?

Nonsense! When you want to giveaways, just give. Of course you have to choose the giveaway items properly too.

If you want to run a contest, and give $25 or your ads worth somethin, or a book you own, or anythin’ just give.

I know lotsa popular blogger, still run giveaways.

Your basic reasoning just doesn’t make sense to me.

Dollars in underwear? Too funny. It reminds me of an experience of mine from when I used to blog a while back. I wrote a post regarding someone next to me having stinky odor (really great stuff I wrote, I know) and I had Google ads for feminine odor removal. I, of course, made it worse by blogging about the absurdity of the ads. Made me laugh every time I went on the page.

If you can’t afford a 30 year fixed mortgage, you can’t afford the house. Adjustable rate mortgages are not inherently bad, it’s just that you are willing to take the risk that the rate will probably go up as much or more than it goes down. But I think overall it averages out to what you’d pay in the long run with a fixed. the problem is when you see the low rate and think it’s going to stay there.

Hi,
I encountered your website about 6 months ago. I just love it. I look forward to receiving it in my email daily. I too, have been trying to live below my means. For the past 3 years I have charged nothing on my credit cards. Like you, I have some debt and am trying to apply as much money on it as I can. I am willing to forgo the pleasures of weekly dinners with the girls, and preparing my own food at home. I only buy with what cash I have on hand. And it is not a hardship at all. I look forward to reading blogs like your own to learn new and different ways to save money and put more in my savings account. I even have an emergency fund, of only $1,000, but better than not having anything to fall back on. Thanks for being so honest and sharing the ideas that you have personally experienced and helping others like myself.