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Top 10 Personal Finance Articles of the Month — December 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. First up this month, with the holiday season likely causing many to overdo it, we’ll look at financial setbacks and mistakes. Similarly we’ll then focus on lifestyle inflation once again, including a slightly different take on the matter. Finally we’ll discuss finance figures, FOMO, housing, investing, and of course the holidays.
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 December of 2019, along with their title, author, and the site they originally appeared on.
Setbacks, Screw-Ups, Etc.
How to Deal With a Setback — Erik, The Mastermind Within
When you set goals — or New Years Resolutions, as the case may be — there’s always the chance that you’ll encounter an unexpected obstacle or make an error that sends you off course. While these instances can be discouraging, they don’t have to spell complete doom. In this piece, Erik offers a few tips for overcoming setbacks and moving beyond them.
7 Ways You May Be Sabotaging Your Financial Success — Megan, Goodbye to Broke
Sometimes the money setbacks you endure come at no fault of your own. Yet, in other cases, it’s possible that you were setting yourself up to fail. That’s the type of self-sabotage that Megan explores in this article.
My Worst Financial Mistakes and How to Avoid Them — City Frugal
In case you didn’t know, nobody is perfect. When it comes to money, the saying is even more true as even those who have “mastered” it often gain much of their knowledge through making their own set of mistakes. With that in mind, City Frugal shares some of their financial missteps along with some ways others can avoid repeating them.
Lifestyle Inflation
An Honest Look at My Lifestyle Inflation Over the Past Year — Wrachel Writes
Looking back at 2019, did you find that your budget was bigger than it was before? If so, lifestyle inflation may be to blame. However, as this post from Wrachel Writes points out, there may be another side to such inflation — and is it really so bad?
The Smart Way to Handle a Pay Increase — Andrea Joy, Saving Joyfully
One common occurrence that can lead to lifestyle inflation is getting a raise. While a bump in pay should lead to an increase in savings, it can seem like it just inspires more spending instead. Luckily Andrea has a better and smarter suggestion for how to handle your newfound funds.
Personal Finance Tips
5 Vanity Money Metrics We Care About But Don’t Actually Matter — Jim Wang, Wallet Hacks
When you’re focusing on your finances, there are a few different numbers you can refer to in order to monitor your progress. But how many of these figures are actually meaningful? Jim looks at five metrics that may not actually matter as much as you think.
The 6 Best Ways To Save Money On Housing — Bob Haegele, The Frugal Fellow
For most people, housing ends up being their number one annual expense. Because of this, being able to make cuts to your housing budget could be a gamechanger. If that sounds good to you, then Bob has six ideas for how you can save money on housing.
Financial FOMO Sucks! Why and How To Avoid It — 5 AM Joel
We’re all familiar with the idea of “FOMO” or “fear of missing out.” However have you considered how “financial FOMO” could be making an impact on your money? In this post from 5 AM Joel, you’ll see how why this fear is something you should be happy to miss out on.
17 Investing Tips That All Beginners Should Master On Day One — Todd Kunsman, Invested Wallet
With the new year underway, it’s quite possible that one of your goals for 2020 is to start investing. Although that’s definitely a noble goal, it’s important that you do your research before jumping in. On that note, Todd highlights 17 things beginners should know before they invest.
5 Ways I’m Saving Over The Holidays (While Still Buying What I Want) — Penny, She Picks Up Pennies
Finally, while this holiday season may be over, it feels like the next one is never far away. Therefore it’s never too early to start thinking about how you can save money while still making the holidays merry. If you’re looking for inspiration on that front, then check out the ways Penny was able to save during this past season.
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.
P.S. — Also be sure to check out the Top 25 Best Personal Finance Articles of 2019 post I recently assembled as well.
