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Top 10 Personal Finance Articles of the Month — February 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 here. This includes a mix of sites that have become staples of our lists as well as many first-timers.

To start things off this month, we’ll look a some thought-provoking articles related to budgeting and spending. Then, we’ll discuss “stuff” and clutter. Finally, we’ll talk about paying for college, buying health insurance in early retirement, and more.

Here are our picks for the top 10 personal finance articles for February 2024:

Budgeting and Spending

A Few Thoughts on Spending Money — Morgan Housel, Collab Fund

Everyone thinks about spending money from time to time, both in terms of what we should buy and what spending our money even means. Alas, none of us are the author of the outstanding, bestselling book The Psychology of Money. Luckily, Morgan is — so his random thoughts on spending are definitely worth reading.

The Fundamental Misunderstanding About Budgeting — Jim Wang, Wallet Hacks

For many people, the word “budget” leads to an instant cringe. That may be due to the connotation that the word and concept have gained over the years. Yet, as Jim argues, budgeting has been severely misunderstood — and it’s something you really should try.

The Problem with “Long-Term” Financial Thinking — Dr. Cory S. Fawcett, Financial Success M.D.

It’s fair to assume that we all understand the importance of saving for our futures. But what happens when all we think about is our future selves? What does that mean for us in the present? As Dr. Fawcett notes, there’s a major problem with focusing exclusively on “long-term” financial thinking.

Stuff and Clutter

Our Complicated Relationship with “Stuff” — Jacob Schroeder, The Root of All

In recent years, movements such as minimalism have preached the gospel of living with less. Because of this, you may feel compelled to part with as much of your “stuff” as possible. Although that can be a noble goal, it’s also an oversimplification. As Jacob shares, in many cases, your stuff isn’t just stuff.

9 Ways to Minimize Your Digital Footprint in 2024 — Renee, The Fun Sized Life

When we talk about minimalism, we often speak in terms of physical items. However, digital clutter is still clutter. With that in mind, Renee offers some tips for reducing your digital footprint — including some that just might save you a bit of money.

Personal Finance Tips

How To Pay For College: The Best Order Of Operations — Robert Farrington, The College Investor

Everyone knows that the cost of college has been on the rise for some time. In turn, student debt continues to be a major issue for Americans and the economy at large. So what is one to do? In this post, Robert not only looks at different options when it comes to paying for college but also puts them into an “order of operations.”

The Most Overrated Things in Personal Finance — Nick Maggiulli, Of Dollars and Data

When it comes to personal finance, there have been plenty of topics that have gained hype as more people write about them and word spread. But are they all that they are cracked up to be? According to Nick, at least a few of these trends are overrated.

Everything You Need to Know About Flying Allegiant Air in 2024 — Kyle Burbank, Money@30

Whether you’re traveling for Spring Break or summer vacation, flights can be expensive these days. Because of this, you may find yourself looking into budget airlines such as Allegiant. But is it actually worth it? Kyle takes an updated look at everything you need to know about flying Allegiant Air and answers the question of whether or not the airline can truly save you money.

Unveiling the Pros and Cons of ACA Healthcare in Early Retirement: Our Story — Jim, Route to Retire

For those retiring early, one major concern is health insurance. After all, many Americans rely on employer-sponsored health coverage and Medicare doesn’t kick in until later in life. That’s why Jim, having tried some other options, turned to the ACA (colloquially known as Obamacare) Marketplace for insurance and is now ready to share the pros and cons of that approach.

Why Do Some People Get Paid More And Promoted Faster? — Accidentally Retired

We’ve all known people who seem to have a golden touch and are able to succeed at everything they do. At the same time, you likely also know those who seem to be perpetually stuck where they are. So what’s the difference? Looking to their own experience of going from intern to CEO, Accidentally Retired shares some possible reasons for this dichotomy and how to be on the right side of it.

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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.