Personal Finance

Top 10 Personal Finance Articles of the Month — February 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. First up, we’ll look at FIRE lessons, musings, and resources. Then, we’ll take a look at minimalism — including financial minimalism. Lastly, we’ll discuss the costs of getting a pet, delayed gratification, teaching money philosophies to kids, 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 February of 2022, along with their title, author, and the site they originally appeared on.

Financial Independence

10 Lessons I’ve Learned From 10 Years Pursuing Financial Independence — Aussie Firebug

These days, there are a growing number of people pursuing financial independence. Luckily for them, there are plenty of resources on the topic that can help them along the way. In that vein, this article from Aussie Firebug looks at 10 lessons they’ve learned over the past decade chasing FI.

Top 5 FIRE Books To Read — Kevin Keenan, Just Start Investing

Speaking of FI resources, there are now several books on the topic. But which ones are the best? Kevin shares a list of the top five books that those interesting in financial independence should be sure to check out.

Do You Need Financial Independence to Retire Early? — Joe, Retire by 40

Likely because it makes for a pretty great acronym, the “financial independence” and “retire early” aspects of FIRE have traditionally gone hand in hand. More recently, though, there’s been a bit of a shift away from the “RE” element of the movement as some argue it’s a bit too limiting. Now, in this updated and expanded post, Joe takes things another way by questioning whether the “FI” part is actually necessary for those looking to retire early.

Minimalism

100 Things I’d Say to My 18-Year-Old Self About Minimalism — Joshua Becker, Becoming Minimalist

It is safe to say that we all wished there were things we knew earlier in life or could warn our younger selves about. Perhaps, with such insight, things could have turned out differently and for the better. With that in mind, Joshua highlights many of the things he’d tell his younger self on the topic of minimalism.

10 Steps to Financial Minimalism — Jewels, One Frugal Girl

When we think about minimalism, most of us likely picture tiny homes, sparsely decorated living rooms, and clutter-free bedrooms. However, minimalism goes way beyond belongings, with its principles even impacting the world of finance. For those looking to practice better financial minimalism, Jewels offers some how-to tips.

Personal Finance Tips

Considering a Dog (And Adding Up the Potential Costs) — Kyle Burbank, Money@30

There’s no doubt that adding a pet to your family can be a great experience. Of course, as parents on television often remind their puppy-wanting children, pets are also a major responsibility — and they can cost a lot to take care of. Thus, with Kyle apparently considering adopting his first pet, he takes a look at some of the expected expenses that will come with that decision.

Delayed Gratification vs Delayed Happiness: Are you Lying to Yourself? — Money Flamingo

One oft-cited principle of financial responsibility is delayed gratification. This being the antithesis of “instant gratification,” it’s seen as a virtue that’s employed by those with self-control to their benefit. However, this article from Money Flamingo questions whether some might just be delaying happiness instead.

How We’re Establishing a Family Money Philosophy with Our Kids — Frugalwoods

When it comes to kids, every parent has hopes of what they want to instill in their children, including good habits and other wisdom. Given how important money is in the “real world,” this is another major topic that kids can learn about — whether directly or indirectly. If you’ve ever wondered about how to teach your children about money, this article from Frugalwoods on how they’re establishing a family money philosophy could definitely be helpful.

10 Things I Learned Starting A Vending Machine Business — John, Action Economics

Despite encountering them on a frequent (if not daily) basis, most Americans likely don’t spend much time thinking about the business of vending machines. Thus, they probably don’t realize that there are independently managed machines that may be part of an entrepreneur’s small business. Among these business owners is John, who recently shared his vending machine experience in this intriguing read.

How Frugality Has Improved My Life — Vicky Monroe, Everybody Loves Your Money

Finally, as we’ve discussed before, the term “frugality” often gets a bad rap, with most associating it with deprivation. In reality, living frugally just means shifting priorities and finding what makes you happy. Proving that point once again, Vicky shares several ways that frugality has been beneficial to her life.

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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.