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Top 10 Personal Finance Articles of the Month — December 2024
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 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.
With December marking the end of another year, we’ll start off with articles looking back at the year that was and/or looking ahead to the next. Then, we’ll look at a pair of posts focused on cars. Finally, we’ll talk about lowering credit limits, the ACA marketplace, hidden traps of retirement, and more.
Here are our picks for the top 10 personal finance articles for December 2024.
Looking Back and Ahead
How I Lived On $21,499 As A Global Nomad In 2024 — A Purple Life
Imagine retiring early and traveling the world full-time as a digital nomad. Well, that’s exactly what Purple has done for the past several years. Plus, as has become tradition, she shared the details of how she was able to do all of this and still come in under budget (spending just over $20,000 for the year!).
12 Things That Probably Won’t Happen in 2025 — Ben Carlson, A Wealth of Common Sense
The end of the year means many experts want to look forward to the next year and predict what will happen. Normally, these involve events or trends they believe are likely to come true. But, in a twist, this article finds Ben looking at a dozen things that probably won’t happen in 2025 — ranging from money matters to bad news for Detroit Lions fans.
The Year Narrative Ate Reality — Kyla Scanlon
When we’re in a given moment, it can be difficult to see it for what it truly is. Luckily, zooming out sometime later (like at the end of the year) can help us gain some more perspective. In this intriguing deep dive into the narratives and realities of 2024, Kyla looks at everything from AI and meme coins and much more.
Cars
Cars
Lessons From Driving My Old Car — Aaron, Mr. Stingy
Automobiles are not only one of the largest purchases Americans will make in their lifetimes (second to houses) but they’re also objects that we rely on the most. Because of this, many of us also feel the need to upgrade our rides — either for greater comfort or just to impress others. However, as the proud owner of an old but drivable car, Aaron shares what he’s learned from the experience.
Confession: I Leased a Car — Jesse Cramer, The Best Interest
In the world of personal finance, buying a new car is frowned upon, financing a car in general is shunned, and leasing a car is considered downright ludicrous. Yet, as Jesse confesses, he recently did the unthinkable by signing a lease for a vehicle. So why would he do it? Well, he lays it all out in this article.
Personal Finance Tips
Why is Capital One Trying to Kill Our Spending Limit? — Kyle Burbank, Money@30
Even if you don’t need a large credit limit, having one can be beneficial to your credit score thanks to the way utilization ratios work. Thus, when a credit card company randomly wants to lower your limit due to a lack of usage, it can be frustrating. That’s what recently happened to Kyle — although, in this case, he was able to avoid it actually happening.
Choosing our ACA Health Insurance Plan for 2025 — Go Curry Cracker
When the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, it created health insurance marketplaces where those not eligible for employer-sponsored plans could shop different coverage options — and potentially earn a subsidy on their premiums. While it’s good that these marketplaces have plenty of options for consumers, it also means that finding the right plan can take some legwork. For example, this post from Go Curry Cracker breaks down the different ACA options they encountered and how they ultimately landed on the best option for them.
7 Hidden Traps of Retirement — Fritz Gilbert, The Retirement Manifesto
Seeing as the vast majority of us are looking forward to retiring one day, it should be an easy transition, right? After all, you just stop working. Alas, it’s not so easy — and there may be some traps that get in the way. In this post, Fritz puts his own spin on a Harvard Business Review article and offers his own take on these traps.
Don’t Forget The Personal Side of Financial Decisions — Bill Hines, Can I Retire Yet?
As evidenced by this list alone, there’s a lot of financial advice to be found in today’s world. Oftentimes, this advice is presented in terms of what makes the most mathematical sense for those looking to optimize. But, as Bill reminds us, personal finance means that there are other factors that could (and should) influence each individual’s money decisions.
You Can’t Get Rich by Saving Money — Darius Foroux
Each year, millions of Americans resolve to save money in the new year. While this is a great goal overall — albeit one that lacks the necessary specificity or a plan — it’s likely not good enough to make you wealthy. As Darius declares, if you’re only saving and not investing, you’re truly missing out.
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.
