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Top 10 Personal Finance Articles of the Month — February 2026

by Managing EditorMar 6, 2026

Welcome to Fioney’s look at the top 10 personal finance articles of the month. On the first Friday of each new month, we look back at some of our favorite posts published (or updated) in the weeks prior and highlight them right here. This includes a mix of sites that have become staples of our lists as well as many first-timers.

To start things off this month, we’ll discuss budgeting matters. Then, we’ll talk about kids, parenting, and money. Lastly, cover inflation, the difference between “cheap” and “frugal,” online passport renewal, and more.

Here are our picks for the top 10 personal finance articles for February 2026.

Budgeting

Why There Is No Perfect Month in Budgeting — Jackie Beck, The Debt Myth

Alas, building a budget isn’t a magical fix for your finances. That’s because life is still life, and the unexpected can always occur. Thus, as Jackie explains, you shouldn’t feel bad if you don’t have a perfect budgeting month.

Why I’m Budgeting for Peace (Not Impressing Anyone) in 2026 — Hope, Blogging Away Debt

These days, there are countless approaches and methods of budgeting. The reason for this is that different strategies work for different people. Moreover, just as budgeting emphasizes spending that’s important to you, the budget itself should reflect your values. With that, Hope introduces her budget built for maximum peace.

Kids and Parenting

How to Not Spoil Your Kids With Money — Christine Luken

One of the ongoing debates that comes up regarding children and money is how to walk the line between independence and support. At the heart of this issue is the worry about spoiling children by allowing their money to come too easily. For those with such concerns, Christine offers some helpful dos and don’ts.

You Aren’t Giving Enough Money to Your Kids and Grandkids — Elliott Appel, Kindness Financial Planning

As your children grow older (and so do you), a new set of financial questions may pop up along the way. Once again, you may wonder whether it makes sense to take care of your kids financially or hold your funds back for yourself. Well, as Elliott declares in this piece, you probably aren’t giving enough money to your children or grandchildren.

What FIRE Really Gave Us: A Path to Parenthood — Chris, Tic Toc Life

Rounding out this section is a post with a different angle on the relationship between kids and money. Specifically, Chris shares how his family’s FIRE achievements allowed them to (soon) become parents!

Personal Finance Tips

Is Inflation Higher Than We Think? — Nick Maggiulli, Of Dollars and Data

For the last few years, inflation has been a major concern for many Americans. In fact, while it has “cooled,” it’s something we still hear about on a nearly daily basis. This has led Nick to ask, could it actually be higher than we think?

The Fine Line Between Cheap And Frugal — 1500 Days to Freedom

No one likes to be called “cheap.” That’s led to an outcry from personal finance writers who have declared that they’re not cheap, they’re just frugal. So what’s the difference, exactly? This rant from 1500 Days to Freedom offers some examples that can help answer that question… while admitting that there is a fine line between them.

Renewing Your Passport Online: What You Need to Know — Kyle Burbank, Money@30

While having a passport is great, the process of getting one or renewing one hasn’t always been so fun. But, as it turns out, you may now be able to renew your U.S. passport online. That’s something Kyle just learned and is happy to detail in this guide.

How Happy Do You Need to Be to Be Happy with Money? — Jacob Schroeder, The Root of All

“Money can’t buy happiness.” That’s a fact we are all well aware of. Then again, though, there has to be some connection between the two, right? Jacob explains how money can indeed make you happier, but only if you’re happy first.

There Actually Is A Free Lunch — Tim Maurer and Tony Welch, The Net Worthwhile Weekly

Finally, speaking of sayings we’ve all heard, here’s another: “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.” Well, that’s a notion that Tim and Tony take issue with. As they note, there are several ways to give and get (metaphorical) free lunches when you think about it.

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/X @fioneymoney and of course visit Fioney.com.

Author

Managing Editor

Managing Editor ~ Fioney

Toren Ajk is the founder of TAC Marketing Group, the parent company of Fioney. Toren has over 15 years of experience in the digital publishing space and has worked with a number of FinTech clients over the years, including LendingClub, Upgrade, and Able Lending, among others. He has a BA in Business/Economics from the University of California at Santa Barbara and earned Beta Gamma highest academic honors for his MBA work in Finance and Marketing at Loyola Marymount University.