On Leif Erikson Day, conquer the seas ... or maybe your debt

Today is Leif Erikson Day. Erikson was a Viking and, according to today's historical consensus, the first European to venture to the continent of North America. The Nordic explorer came here nearly 500 years before Christopher Columbus.

A 1968 U.S. postage stamp honoring Leif Erikson and his expeditions.

The day is marked by a presidential proclamation, which was issued in 1964. There is also a Leif Erikson Day Celebration today held in Philadephia that honors the explorer and aims to promote knowledge and a realistic history about the Viking culture and people.

Today's date is actually not related to Erikson's life, which is a shame, because it gives us one fewer reason to mention (and torture our spell-checkers with) the names of his father and mother, Þorvaldr and Þjóðhildur, or his great-grandfather, Úlf Øxna-Þórir, who discovered Iceland.

No, today is Leif Erikson Day because it coincides with the first organized immigration from Norway to the United States, which happened on this day in 1825.

Vikings are remembered as bold, adventurous explorers and warriors. In that vein, while it might not be as adventurous as sailing the ocean and discovering new continents, go out and celebrate Erikson by conquering your debt, aggressively saving and fight off the urge to spend those hard-earned dollars on frivolous purchases.

To begin your journey, read these posts from the past week by some of the best personal finance bloggers on the Web.

1. Bullying isn't just for schoolchildren. The Simple Dollar explains how subtle bullying can lead to financial problems.

2. Master Your Card discusses the results of a new consumer study and explains how it makes Bank of America look like the good guys.

3. Are your credit card interest rates creeping up? The Digerati Life offers tips for bringing them back down.

4. WiseBread describes the lessons that can be learned about debt and money management through a new reality television show.

5. Five Cent Nickel lists several ways you can wisely use a college windfall, one of which is beginning to pay off debt.

6. Are you having trouble paying off debt or saving money? Get Rich Slowly explains the importance of setting goals when it comes to personal finance.

7. Money Under 30 voices his opinion on a new stipulation in the Credit CARD Act that puts age restrictions on credit cards.

8. Mrs. Micah reflects on an article about debt freedom and ponders why attaining it really matters.

9. My Two Dollars explains why he made the unpopular decision to close a credit card account that wasn't paying off.

10. We all started somewhere! Single Guy Money recounts how his credit history began.

See related: Icelandic travel paid for with credit card, kronur, Iceland trip preparation provides education on travel, money