Personal Finance

Top 10 Personal Finance Articles of the Month — August 2022 

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 look at a trio of posts about various aspects of retirement — from planning for it to living it. After that, we’ll discuss spending on essentials. Lastly, we’ll close the month out with lessons from millionaires, the truth about the “best” credit cards, Series I bonds, and more.

As usual, this month’s list includes a couple of 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 2022, along with their title, author, and the site they originally appeared on.

Retirement

8 Common and Costly Retirement Planning Mistakes — Physician on FIRE

Planning and preparing for retirement can seem like a tall task. Because of this, many of us are inclined to make mistakes along the way — with these mistakes then potentially costing us greatly. To help you avoid these errors before you make them, Physician on FIRE looks at some common examples.

How to Take a Life-Changing Mini-Retirement — Money Flamingo

If you’re like most people, you probably spend at least some time imagining what it will be like once you are able to retire. But what if you could get a taste of that lifestyle much sooner? This article from Money Flamingo looks at the concept of “mini-retirements” and how life-changing they can be.

How My Definition Of ‘Optimal’ Has Changed In Retirement — A Purple Life

Just as our priorities change throughout our working lifetimes, they can also shift significantly once we reach retirement. That’s exactly what happened to early retiree A Purple Life. As she details, her definition of “optimal” has evolved post-retirement as she balances convenience and happiness with cost.

Essential Spending

Top 5 Tips For School Shopping on a Budget — Dana Wolk, The Frugal Expat

Every year around this time, many Americans find themselves spending hundreds of dollars as they prepare their children for another school year. And while back to school spending trends continue to go upward, there may be ways to save. In this post, Dana looks at five money-saving tips that could come in handy this year and beyond.

The Cost of Pet Ownership: Our Actual Expenses with a New Dog (So Far) — Kyle Burbank, Money@30

Whether it’s a new child or a pet, adding a member to your family can certainly come with a number of costs. Furthermore, even if you prepare and budget, there’s always that chance that unexpected purchases may arise. With Kyle recently adopting a dog, he details some of the expenses he’s facing so far, how he’s managed to save in a few places, and how accurate his financial expectations were.

Is Geo-Arbitrage A Financial Fairy Tale? — Mr. Tako Escapes

For those unfamiliar, geo-arbitrage is the idea that, by moving to an area with a lower cost of living, you can save more money. In many cases, that may be true. However, as Mr. Tako explains, there are also plenty of things that can go wrong — and the math might not work out quite as you’d think.

Personal Finance Tips

Use These 6 Unsexy Money Lessons To Become a Multi-Millionaire — Michael Lim, The Making of a Millionaire

In our society, those who are wealthy are often seen as being wise, with the ability to bestow tips that will make us rich as well. Alas, it’s unlikely that stock tips from these individuals will suddenly lead to a flood of money for you. Instead, Michael looks at some decidedly “unsexy” and evergreen money advice that could actually have an impact on your finances.

Why There’s No Such Thing as the ‘Best’ Credit Card — Madison Blancaflor, The Points Guy

When most people learn about the benefits of rewards credit cards, they immediately want to know what the absolute best card is. Unfortunately, answering that question is never easy. In fact, as Madison notes, there really isn’t any such thing as the “best” overall card.

Everything You Should Know About Series I Bonds — Amaka Chukwuma, Wealth of Geeks

With inflation fears continuing, Series I bonds have been an increasingly popular topic. That’s because the interest rates on these bonds are tied to inflation. But how do these bonds work and how can you purchase them? Amaka goes through all of the details.

Sustainable Funds: How to Invest Without Killing the Planet — Kara, Bravely Go

Something that most investors may not realize is that, by putting their money into certain indices, they may be investing in companies that they may not exactly see eye-to-eye with. For example, some consumers have been surprised to learn that they were supporting corporations that were among the top pollutants. Luckily, as Kara explains, sustainable funds can help investors grow their wealth while also protecting the planet (or at least not doing as much harm).

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Thanks for checking out my 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 me on Twitter @jondyer9 and of course visit DyerNews.com.