Personal Finance

Top 10 Personal Finance Articles of the Month — February 2023

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. Up first, we’ll look at the topics of spending and saving. After that, we’ll talk about financial independence followed by minimalism. Then, we’ll close things out with a look at comfort creep, nomad tech items, and treasure!

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 2023, along with their title, author, and the site they originally appeared on.

Saving and Spending

How to Save Money and Eat Out On A Budget — How Much is That in Tacos?

Who doesn’t love dining out? Not only can you indulge in some tasty culinary treats but you also get to skip the hassle of cooking at home. Alas, dining out can also be pricey — and can add up quickly. To help make the dining out experience more attainable on a budget, this post from How Much is That in Tacos offers some tips.

14 Tips for Mindful Spending — Britney DiTocco, How to Money

A major reason why many people end up overspending is that they simply don’t think before going ahead with a purchase. That’s why engaging in mindful spending instead can have a positive impact on your finances overall. Wondering how to be more mindful with your spending? Britney highlights 14 ways to do just that.

The Psychology of Overspending — Time Value Millionaire

Speaking of overspending, beyond mindlessness, there are several psychological factors that lead us to spend our money. Because of this, reversing these habits may not be as easy as simply looking to cut back. This article from Time Value Millionaire shares just some of the ways psychology plays a role in our money habits and how we can use this knowledge to make changes.

Financial Independence

Why Coast FIRE is Better than Traditional FIRE — Andy Hill, Marriage Kids and Money

As we’ve discussed on these Top 10 lists before, there are now several “flavors” of FIRE. One that’s been gaining a lot of traction in recent years is called Coast FIRE. So what makes this particular approach so attractive? Andy breaks down Coast FIRE and why he prefers it to the traditional version.

How to Find Purpose at the Core of Financial Independence — Lawrence Gonzalez, The Neighborhood Finance Guy

The reason people seek financial independence is so that they can relax and do whatever they want, right? While that’s certainly one aspect, there may be a larger truth at play. As Lawrence writes, at the core of FI is our desire to find purpose.

Minimalism

21 Life-Changing Minimalist Experiments to Try in Your Home — Joshua Becker, Becoming Minimalist

Whether you’ve scrolled through documentaries on Netflix or watched your local news, there’s a good chance you’ve encountered minimalism trends that have emerged in recent years. Meanwhile, another emerging trend involves money challenges. Well, if you’ve thought minimalistic concepts sounded interesting but weren’t sure where to start, Joshua not only highlights some tips but also places many of them in the form of experiments or challenges worth trying.

Three Things I’m Glad I Got Wrong About Minimalism — Penny, She Picks Up Pennies

When some people hear about minimalism, they might come away with the idea that it’s an all-or-nothing proposal. Yet, that’s far from the case (no matter what anyone tells you). On that note, Penny shares a few things she got wrong about minimalism that she’s glad to have learned now.

Personal Finance Tips

The Quiet Power of Rejecting “Comfort Creep” — Charlie Brown, Simple and Straightforward

Are you too comfortable? That may sound like a strange question but it turns out that the answer may be “yes” — or, at least, your seeking comfort might go too far. Like lifestyle creep, comfort creep can have a big impact on our lives, as Charlie explains in this article.

Nomad Tech Necessities: A Peek Inside The Bag Of A Full-Time Traveler — A Purple Life

Traveling full-time may not be for the faint of heart. Furthermore, whether you’re working on the road or just want to stay entertained, in today’s society, you’ll likely need to pack a number of tech items with you. As a full-time traveler herself, Purple highlights some of the tech necessities she recommends.

Do You Have a Treasure Map? — Jim Wang, Wallet Hacks

We’ve all seen movies where the main characters set off to find a treasure, often relying on a strange map and some other clues discovered along the way. That might be fun in fantasy worlds but, in real life, you don’t really want to send someone on a wild goose chase when they may need direct access to your financial information. Hence, Jim looks at how to create your own treasure map that could come in handy in the future.

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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.