The Simple Dollar (Blogroll Spotlight Series)

I’m going to do a continuing series of posts here, highlighting blogs on my blogroll and explaining why I like that site enough to feature it on my site, in an effort to build more community in the true blogging spirit. I will try to link to all the posts in the series at the end of each one.

This first post is about a blog I started reading relatively recently: The Simple Dollar, a single-author blog written by an Iowan named Trent, who’s married with a kid and has chosen to make personal finance and frugality his guiding passion as a writer. And I’m really glad he did, because I thoroughly enjoy his blog.

Even before the current financial crisis, my thoughts on finance had been turning towards how to build and maintain a more frugal lifestyle. There are several personal reasons for this switch, but none of them are a lack of money– we are in the best financial shape we’ve ever been in, a fact for which I am truly thankful. But as my girls get older, I’m more and more cautious about how to model the kinds of choices we want them to make, and the kinds of ideals we want them to see us putting into action. I also want to instill good financial habits in them, and want to be able to afford some of the dreams on our wishlist, like traveling, finishing our basement, and whatever other great experiences we all want to have.

I’m interested enough in frugality to clip coupons, but not enough to sign up for a coupon clipping service. I’m interested enough in personal finance to comparison-shop for banks, but don’t need sophisticated investment information (yet). Also, I’ve made enough choices already to need tips and advice past, “Give up lattes and manicures”. If you are me too, The Simple Dollar may be for you.

Trent’s also a great blogger for anyone to model. His voice is straightforward without being simplistic, direct and honest without being blunt, and his writing is just the right mix of philosophical and practical. He posts at least once a day, and his posts are well-written, concise and engaging. He also does a good mix of topics, from DIY posts, interviews, book reviews, tip lists or posts spurred by his own experiences or conversations. I don’t always agree with everything he says, of course, but I’m always intrigued enough to keep reading (except for his book reviews, because I never read personal finance or investing books).