Emily's list: Mayflower edition

On this day in 1620, 102 Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower landed in what is now called Plymouth, Mass. Their grueling journey from England to America took 66 days. They left their country because they sought religious freedom and they hoped to find it in North America. It was hard for them to leave their homes, but they did not want to be a part of the overbearing Church of England. While it took a ton of courage, they left everything they knew to be free and start their own settlement.

The Mayflower, depicted above, transported the Pilgrims from Southampton, England, to Massachusetts in 1620.

The journey to debt freedom is not quite as grueling as that of the Pilgrims, but it is emotionally challenging and can be highly inconvenient. It's frustrating, and can sometimes feel unending, too. Some of us give up and slide back into our old habits. But we have to depart the familiar and give it all we have. We have to remember that on the other side of all the hard work is sweet, beautiful freedom from the shackles of debt.

Read on and enjoy some of the best personal finance blog posts from the past week, many of which explore the path to debt freedom.

1. When creditors make unauthorized inquiries for your credit report, it can adversely affect your credit score. Bargaineering explains how you can get those hard inquiries removed.

2. Realm of Prosperity reveals that some naughty purchases can cause your banking institutions to be concerned about your creditworthiness, and lists several things you should avoid purchasing with your credit card.

3. My Next Buck explains how his relationships with some of his credit cards have mimicked real-life romances.

4. Gifts aren't the only things that can put a big dent in your credit card during the holidays; traveling to see your family can also leave you with a nasty balance. My Dollar Plan lists 9 ways you can save money while traveling this winter.

5. The Finance Buff sets the record straight about how credit card grace periods and double-cycle billing work.

6. Debt Kid says outsourcing your debt problems is only a temporary solution, and that in the long run, the only person who can get you out of debt is you.

7. Carrie at Money Under 30 explains the hard work and determination it takes to undergo debt reduction, including cutting unnecessary expenses that you deem necessary.

8. MoneyNing discusses why he wants his kids to have credit cards as soon as possible and stresses the need for proactive teaching of responsible credit card use.