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Top 10 Personal Finance Articles of the Month — July 2023

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 right 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, with back to school around the corner, we’ll talk a bit about college (as well as comparisons to it). Then, we’ll look at matters of work and hassle. Lastly, we’ll discuss what retail price really means, what to know about donor advised funds, why doing nothing may be the best option, and more.

Here are our picks for the top 10 personal finance articles for July 2023:

College

Should College Be Free? — Jim Wang, Wallet Hacks

With the costs of higher education continuing to rise, many have suggested that a major change is needed. In fact, politicians and everyday Americans have suggested that, perhaps, college should be free. But is this actually a good solution? In this post, Jim looks at some pros and cons that such a plan might have.

How Retirement Is Like College (And Why I Love Both) — A Purple Life

On the surface, college and retirement couldn’t seem further apart. That’s because, for most people, they happen during completely different times in our lives, taking place decades apart. However, as Purple explains, there may be more similarities between these two life stages than you might realize.

Do I Really Need a College Degree? — Kyle Burbank, Money@30

Another debate that’s emerged in recent years is whether or not our society should put as much of an emphasis on college as it currently does. Along with that, how does experience compare to having an actual degree? These are matters that have been on Kyle’s mind as he attempts to navigate future opportunities as a college dropout.

Work and Hassle

Lazy Girl Jobs: Gen Z’s Alternative to Financial Independence? — Millennial Revolution

What are the youth of today looking for? According to new trends, the answer is apparently “lazy girl jobs.” To find out what that means and how Gen Z is thinking about work, you’ll have to check out this article from Millennial Revolution.

The Return on Hassle Spectrum — Nick Maggiulli, Of Dollars and Data

When looking at returns from an investment, one set of numbers might not tell the whole story. Furthermore, beyond the money, the amount of work put in to earn those returns can also paint a very different picture. With that in mind, Nick highlights the Return of Hassle Spectrum that aims to take all of this into account.

Personal Finance Tips

The Hidden Truth Behind Retail Pricing: What’s A Blender Really Worth? — Joshua Becker, Becoming Minimalist

We all know that there are plenty of mental tricks that retailers play on us in order to get us to spend more. One of the most effective examples is using sales to entice us to buy, while also making us feel like we’re saving money. But, have you ever wondered where the retail price — which the “sale price” is based on — comes from? Joshua takes a closer look at this trick and how to resist its power.

Pros and Cons of Donor Advised Funds — Joel, How to Money

Given the challenges we’ve all faced over the past few years, many Americans may be looking to be more charitable going forward. On the one hand, this may seem simple as consumers can just give directly to non-profits of their choice. However, there may be another way: donor advised funds. If you’re curious about what that is, Joel has the answers along with some pros and cons.

Make Doing Nothing the Default — Joe Wiggins, Behavioural Investment

When it comes to investing, we often feel like we need to do something when major moves happen. Alas, that’s often not the case. In fact, as Joe explains, investors should actually make doing nothing their first instinct in most cases.

Visualizing How Investment Fees Impact Your Portfolio — Time Value Millionaire

Something that many novice investors may take for granted is the impact of fees. Even if the numbers associated with these expenses may seem small, they can really add up over time. To help illustrate this, this post from Time Value Millionaire takes a closer look.

Keep Financial Independence in Your Back Pocket — Your Money Blueprint

Are you turned off by the idea of financial independence because you love your job? Considering how often the “retire early” part of FIRE is harped on, that’s understandable. Nevertheless, Your Money Blueprint argues that, even if you’re not interested in FI now, it may be an idea to hold onto just in case.

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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.