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Top 10 Personal Finance Articles of the Month — August 2020
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 kick things off, we’ll turn to the topic of minimalism. Then, we’ll look at both money and time, followed by some personal accounts that could only have been written in 2020. Finally, to close things out, we’ll look at milestones, mistakes, and more.
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 August of 2020, along with their title, author, and the site they originally appeared on.
Minimalism
How To Be Happy With What You Have — The Wallet Moth
Often times, we are led to believe that having more will make us happier. But what if, instead, we simply learn to be happy with what you already have? That’s one of the basic ideas of minimalism and is what this article from the Wallet Moth explores.
9 Ways We Used Minimalism to Increase Our Income — Renee, The Fun Sized Life
Beyond helping you to be happier, there are several other benefits to being minimalist as well. This includes some financial advantages that could further improve your lifestyle. In her post, Renee explains how her family’s minimalism has allowed them to increase their income and save more money.
Money and Time
How We Develop Our Beliefs About Money — Michael Quan, Financially Alert
Whether we realize it or not, we all have personal associations with money and our own beliefs about it. More often than not, these feelings are tied to specific experiences and events in our lives. However, as Michael notes, being aware of where these beliefs come from can help you to confront and change them for the better.
The Value of Time: A Telling Tale of Spending vs. Living — Chris, Tic Toc Life
It’s a classic question: would you rather have more money or more time? Yet, the actual relationship between the two is more complicated than that. With that in mind, Chris dives into some math and presents an intriguing look at what time actually costs.
Life in 2020
How I’m Putting On My Own Parachute — Penny, She Picks Up Pennies
There’s no question that the current pandemic has changed the lives of many Americans. This is especially true for those of certain professions, including (but certainly not limited to) healthcare workers, grocery store employees, and teachers. With Penny belonging to that lattermost category, she shares some of the specific challenges she’s been facing in recent weeks and how she’s preparing herself for what’s ahead.
Life as Digital Nomad House Sitters and the Global COVID-19 Pandemic — Screw the Average
If you happen to read FIRE and digital nomad blogs, you may have heard about different hacks you can use to lower or eliminate what is often your largest annual expense: housing. One method is to become a full time house sitter, removing the need to pay for a place of your own. Although this might sound great, what happens when a global pandemic gets in the way? Luckily, this post from Screw the Average is here to give us a first-hand look at such a scenario.
Personal Finance Tips
Basic Money Milestones to Achieve by 40 — Kyle Burbank, Money@30
When you’re young, it can be difficult to know things such as how much you should have saved for retirement, how much to have in savings, etc. However, as you approach age 40, it’s probably a good idea to assess your standings and have a few money milestones under your belt. To help you accomplish that goal, Kyle highlights five tasks you should strive to complete by the time you turn 40 (if not sooner).
How to Recover After a Money Mistake: 7 Tips — Kristen, The Frugal Girl
From time to time, we’re all bound to make some mistakes. Despite this, it seems that mistakes involving finances can often hurt worse than other missteps — but that doesn’t mean you can’t bounce back. If you’re looking for some inspiration to recover from a money mistake, Kristen offers seven tips to help you get back on track.
Price is What You Pay, Value is What You Get— The Escape Artist
All too often, certain financial terms lose some of their meaning or get conflated with other ideas. For example, one might assume that something with a low price means it offers a good value. While that may be true in some cases, it doesn’t actually explain the real relationship between “price” and “value.” For those needing to be set straight, The Escape Artist lays out what true value is all about and how to get the most of it.
What Is Rent-to-Own and Is It Right for You? — Amanda Pell, Money Crashers
Depending on your situation, renting a home may be your best bet. In other cases, buying might make more sense. So what about the concept of renting to own? Amanda explains what rent-to-own offers entail and looks at whether or not they may be a good option.
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.