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Top 10 Personal Finance Articles of the Month — January 2025

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 (or updated) 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.

To kick things off, we’ll once again look at a major financial topic: investing. Then, we’ll get a couple of quick takes related to money resolutions and credit card hacks. After that, we have a pair of posts from bloggers recapping their financial journeys. Lastly, we’ll talk about taking chances, the ins and outs of mortgages, alternatives to car ownership, and more.

Here are our picks for the top 10 personal finance articles for January 2025.

Investing

Three Strikes and I’m Out — Lazy Man and Money

When it comes to investing, it’s easy to look back and wonder “what if?” Moreover, when you do miss out on a potential opportunity, it’s only natural to kick yourself a bit. Alas, these things happen to all of us — which is why this post from Lazy Man and Money highlights three of his biggest misses along with a few hits.

The Oldest Bad Joke on Wall Street — Jesse Cramer, The Best Interest

With the start of each new year, it’s common for brokerages, investors, and others to announce their expectations for what’s ahead. At first blush, these prognostications may seem useful in some way or at least interesting. Yet, as Jesse explains, they may be better ignored.

Quick Takes

The Super Easy Financial Resolution You Should Make Right Now — Kyle Burbank, Money@30

As we discussed last month, New Year’s resolutions tied to finance are among the most popular. Of course, just like most other resolutions, many of us fail at them (and quickly). With that in mind, Kyle offers a simple money goal you can surely achieve: go on a subscription cancelation spree.

A Good Credit Card Hack — J. Money, Budgets are Sexy

The Internet is filled with different types of “hacks” — some real, some fake, and some less-than-legal. You’ve also likely come across various credit card hacks, such as those involving points and miles. But, in this article from J. Money, we learn about a couple of interesting hacks you probably hadn’t thought about before.

Real Life Recaps

How Absurdly Wealthy Did I Get Selling Graphic Designs In 2024? — Dave, Accidental FIRE

As someone who is semi-retired, Dave’s had an interesting graphic design side hustle. In turn, he’s documented what he’s made from this business each year. Incidentally, the 2024 installment of this update is especially fascinating as Dave looks at the state of this particular business, shares some setbacks, and reaches a new milestone.

10 Years Into My FIRE Journey: From $53K To $912K — A Purple Life

Last month marked a decade since Purple started her FIRE journey (and her great blog). In that time, her life has changed tremendously — most notably including her reaching early retirement. So, if you missed any of her story in the past 10 years, this post will help you catch up quickly!

Personal Finance Tips

No One Cares: Take a Chance — Derek Hagen, Meaningful Money

If you ask someone why they’re afraid to take a chance, they’re likely to say that the thought of failure is what frightens them most. But what about failure itself is so worrying? In some cases, the answer may just be “embarrassment.” For those fearing what others might think of them, Derek offers some simple advice: don’t.

How Mortgages Work — Tiffany B. Brown

While millions of Americans have mortgages, how many among us actually understand them? For example, although you may know what you pay each month, you might not understand the math behind it or how that money you pay is divided up. Luckily, this great deep dive from Tiffany helps shed some light on these ever-popular financial tools.

7 Alternatives To Owning A Car That Might Be Better For You — Robert Farrington, The College Investor

For many of us, having a car is a necessity… but what if it wasn’t? Today, there are actually several alternatives that might just allow you to live without the expense or stress of owning a vehicle. Even if you’re still skeptical, it’s worth hearing out Robert’s thoughts on this premise.

5 Top Regrets of Retirees (and How to Avoid Them) — Fritz Gilbert, The Retirement Manifesto

No one wants to live with regret — and retiring with them might be even worse. Yet, unfortunately, this is a common experience. So what are these regrets, specifically? Fritz looks at some of the top answers among retirees.

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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.