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Top 10 Personal Finance Articles of the Month — January 2026

by Managing EditorFeb 6, 2026

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.

Appropriately enough, we’ll kick things off this month with a series of posts perfect for the start of the new year. Then, we’ll discuss retirement as well as FIRE. Lastly, we’ll look at housing inflation, spending (lots of) money, and more.

Here are our picks for the top 10 personal finance articles for January 2026.

Starting Off the New Year

Getting Started With Your Money Journey: Small Steps That Make A Big Impact — Nadia Vanderhall, The Brands and Bands

They say that everybody has to start somewhere — and it’s true! Although beginning a personal finance journey may sound daunting at the outset, the trick is to take small strides forward and celebrate your wins along the way. To help you on that path, Nadia lays out some steps you can take that will set you on your way.

A Simple Annual Financial Review Template — Harry Sit, The Finance Buff

Of course, the beginning of the year always feels like a good time to look ahead and set a plan for your future. But, before you can go forward, you may also need to reflect back in order to make a plan. If you’re ready to give yourself a financial review and set a plan for the new year, Harry offers some templates for everything from net worth and income to investment allocation and retirement projections.

Year Beginning Tax Planning Tips — Chris Mamula, Can I Retire Yet?

It’s fair to say that most people don’t think much about their taxes until, say, March or April. Alternatively, some may plan end-of-year moves that might impact their tax liabilities. However, as Chris points out, starting off your calendar year with some tax-planning moves can make a larger impact.

Retirement and FIRE

“Optimizing” the Roth IRA — Craig Stephens, Retire Before Dad

In the investing world, it seems that everyone is after optimization. Unfortunately, there are a couple of catches that come with that pursuit. For one, it seems that the optimal strategy always eludes you just when you think you’ve got it nailed. Moreover, as Craig shares here, the lack of future guarantees means that your “optimal” retirement investing approach may not always win out.

How to Not Torture Your Retirement Numbers — Jesse Cramer, The Best Interest

Numbers are numbers and numbers don’t lie… right? Well, as it turns out, the way we look at and express data can sometimes be misleading, even to ourselves. In this post, Jesse looks at some of the ways we may be “torturing numbers” when it comes to retirement and why that can do you a disservice.

FIRE Is the Right Answer to the Wrong Question — Jordan Grumet, The Purpose Code

Over the past several years, the FIRE movement has grown both in terms of participants and in media coverage. In turn, there are plenty of opinions on whether or not this approach is a good idea overall. Dr. Grumet’s take on the matter boils down to this: those seeking FIRE may be mistaken about what problem or question they are solving for.

Personal Finance Tips

Housing Price Inflation — Ben Carlson, A Wealth of Common Sense

Even before inflation became a hot topic, many were familiar with the concept thanks to the useful tag “adjusted for inflation.” However, why is it that some things (such as housing) rise even faster than inflation? Ben takes a closer look at that question and the perhaps surprising answer.

Why Some Lives Feel Rich and Others Only Look It — Jacob Schroeder, The Root of All

What do you picture when you think of wealth? Odds are you imagine extravagant expenses exemplified by the ultra-rich. Yet, as Jacob notes, there’s a big difference between looking wealthy and actually being rich.

How To Know When To Spend A Lot Of Money — Tim Maurer and Tony Welch, Net Worthwhile Weekly

For those who are “good with money,” the idea of spending on top-of-the-line items may immediately be out of the question. But while that knee-jerk reaction may make sense in some situations, there might also be times when the value of spending more is actually greater. So, how do you know when the situation is right to spend a lot of money? Tim and Tony share some insights.

A Few Things I’m Pretty Sure About — Morgan Housel, Collaborative Fund

Finally this month, best-selling author Morgan Housel highlights a few things he’s “pretty sure about.” These include the reality of “below average,” housing affordability issues, and even nostalgia. These thoughts may be random, but that doesn’t make them any less fascinating.

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.

Author

Managing Editor

Managing Editor ~ Fioney

Toren Ajk is the founder of TAC Marketing Group, the parent company of Fioney. Toren has over 15 years of experience in the digital publishing space and has worked with a number of FinTech clients over the years, including LendingClub, Upgrade, and Able Lending, among others. He has a BA in Business/Economics from the University of California at Santa Barbara and earned Beta Gamma highest academic honors for his MBA work in Finance and Marketing at Loyola Marymount University.