Best of the Web
Top 10 Personal Finance Articles of the Month — July 2019
It’s time again for one of my favorite features here on Dyer News: a look at the top 10 personal finance articles of the month. To start things off we’ll look at what it means to be frugal and how to be a more savvy consumer. Then we’ll focus on setting and achieving big money goals. Lastly we’ll explore everything from newbie investor mistakes and FIRE principles to anti-budget budgeting and buying a used car from a vending machine (yes, really).
As usual, this month’s list includes a couple Dyer News Top 10 mainstays as well as a few first-timers. Without further ado, below is my list of the top 10 personal finance articles published in July of 2019, along with their title, author, and the site they originally appeared on.
Everyday Frugality
What is Frugalism? — Money Saved is Money Earned
Frugality is an often misunderstood term that can even carry some negative connotations. However being frugal doesn’t mean being cheap but actually amounts to much more. In this post from Money Saved is Money Earned, you’ll learn what frugalism is really all about and why shifting from a consumerist to frugalist mindset can make a big difference in your financial life.
Become a Smart and Savvy Consumer Every Time — Andrea Joy, Saving Joyfully
One aspect of being frugal is knowing how to save money by looking for the best deals possible. Such practices, while seemingly small, can not only help you stretch your dollar further but will also free up capital for saving and investing. From specific retailer recommendations to some useful apps to try, Andrea shares some of her best tips for shopping with savvy.
Everything is Temporary; Nearly Everything is Reversible— David, CityFrugal
Regardless of how frugal you may pride yourself on being, there may be some life changes that intimidate you even if they are better for you financially. While this is natural, letting these roadblocks halt your progress could be doing you a disservice. That’s why, in this post, David points out that these changes can often be reversed and, thus, don’t need to be as scary as you think
Money Goals
How to Create Strong Financial Goals That You’ll Want to Stick With — Invested Wallet
If you want to make a big change in your financial life, you’ll definitely want to set goals for yourself to achieve. Of course there is a right way and a wrong way to go about this, and failing to properly set your goals can cause you to fall short. That’s why Invested Wallet offers a few tips for drawing up your future plans and goals in a way that will set you up for success.
3 Secrets to Rank Your Financial Priorities With Ease — Brittany Kline, The Savvy Couple
Another major aspect of setting financial goals is figuring out what your priorities are. Furthermore, once you set your goals, you’ll want to find ways to emphasize achieving them and working them into your larger plans. For her post, Brittany looks at a few ways you can determine your financial priorities and be on your way to living the life you want.
How Much Should be in Your Emergency Fund — Just Start Investing
One popular financial goal is to build a proper emergency fund. But what exactly does that mean? Just Start Investing explores what experts say your fund should consist of as well as a few different options you have for making the most of your emergency money.
Personal Finance Tips
3 Common Mistakes Made by First-Time Investors — Michael Dinich, Your Money Geek
For as much as we’re told about the importance of investing, it’s not often clear how to go about that. As a result some newbie investors may fall victim to some common mistakes. Michael highlights some of these first-timer errors and, more importantly, how to fix them.
The Financial Independence Principles We Live By — Ms. FireMum, A Family on Fire
As we’ve discussed several times in previous installments of this round-up, the FIRE movement has been one of the most popular personal finance niches in recent years. Interestingly, while many pursuing financial independence and/or early retirement may have similar end goals, their paths are often quite different. With that in mind, Ms. FireMum shares some of the things her family is doing as they work to attain FI that you can adopt for yourself.
3 Budget Tips for People Who Hate Budgeting — Natalie,
For many, “budget” is a dirty word. Not only do most people associate budgeting with scarcity and deprivation but might also be turned off by the amount of work they perceive goes into maintaining a budget. If you’re among those who hate the idea of budgeting but want to manage your money more effectively, Natalie has a few tips for you.
Carvana Review: My Experience Buying a Used Car Online — Kyle Burbank, Money@30
Finally, we all know that the best way to get a good deal on a car is to buy used and to shop around. At the same time, the process of visiting multiple dealerships and haggling over pricing can be both exhausting and time-consuming. That’s why I found it fascinating to read about Kyle’s experience shopping online via Carvana, including picking up his vehicle from a vending machine!
Thanks for checking out our top 10 personal finance articles published last month and congratulations to all of the bloggers who made the list. To find more of these great articles on a daily basis, be sure to follow us on Twitter @fioneymoney and of course visit Fioney.com.
