Top 10 Personal Finance Articles of the Month — June 2018

Car Buying and Driving

When is the best time to buy a car? — Jim Wang, WalletHacks

Considering the cost and overall investment involved, the decision to purchase a vehicle is not one that can be taken lightly. Unfortunately adding to the stress of visiting multiple dealerships and haggling over pricing is the fear that you’re spending more than you have to. With that in mind, Jim takes a look at what data says is the best time to buy a car and offers some important rules for negotiating.

6 Important Things You Need to Do After Buying A Lemon Car — Mary Ellen Martin, Dumb Little Man

In some rare cases, even after you make it through the car buying process unscathed, the vehicle-related headaches may just be beginning. Despite your best efforts, there is always that chance that you may end up with what is commonly referred to as a lemon — in other words, a car that just doesn’t function properly. Should this unfortunate turn of events happen to you, Mary shares what your next moves should be.

8 Practical Ways to Save Money on Gas this Summer — Dollar Habits

With road trip season in full swing, many drivers are feeling a bit of an extra pinch at the pump this year as gas prices climb. While there’s little us lay people can do about that, there may some steps you can take to reduce your fuel usage. In fact, Dollar Habits highlights eight ideas for saving money on gas this summer.

It’s Cheaper to Uber Than Own a Car in These Cities —Emily Price, Lifehacker

Beyond the need to fill up with gas (unless you’re driving an electric, of course), there are some other “hidden costs” that come with owning a car as well. These include things like insurance, registration, and parking. As a result, as Emily reports, there are some cities where relying on ridesharing services might actually be more cost-efficient than having a vehicle of your own.

Travel and Vacationing

Airbnb or VRBO? Which is Better for Planning a Vacation? —Josh, Money Buffalo

Speaking of Uber and Lyft, just as those companies have changed the way people get from point A to point B, sites like Airbnb have brought vacationers a different set of lodging options for their travels. Similarly, sites like VRBO also give travelers the opportunity to book rental properties and other accommodations. This led Josh to do a comparison of the two services, sharing what he likes and dislikes about each.

How to Plan a Really Cheap Weekend Getaway — Trent Hamm, The Simple Dollar

For many of us, traveling requires lots of saving, planning, and waiting before the big day arrives. But what if you want to just want to go on a quick getaway without spending an arm and a leg? In that case, Trent offers some tips for planning an affordable weekend trip.

How Much Money Do You Need to Quit Your Job and Travel for a Year? — Katherine Gillespie, Vice

As fun as an occasional short trip can be, have you ever considered taking an extended holiday and seeing the world? What would something like that even cost? In this piece, Katherine runs some numbers and talks to some full-time travelers to get some tips.

Personal Finance Tips

6 Smart Ways to Save Money When Dining Out — Kyle Burbank, Money@30

Something everyone learns in “Being Frugal 101” is that eating in is usually a lot a cheaper than dining out. Of course cooking for yourself each and every night is just not a feasible option for most of us. That’s why, in this post, Kyle shares six ideas for enjoying a night out while still keeping costs down.

Why I Don’t Set up Autopay on My Credit Cards — Zach Honig, The Points Guy

When it comes to automatic bill pay options, there’s actually a bit of a dilemma. On the one hand, such services can save you some hassle and ensure you never miss a bill due date. However, as Zach explains, there is one major downside to autopay that could lead to financial trouble.

10 Repairs That Aren’t Your Landlord’s Responsibility — Mikey Rox, WiseBread

One of the big benefits of renting as opposed to buying is that you’ll typically have a landlord or maintenance department that can take care of certain repairs in your home. At the same time, not every fix will fall under their jurisdiction. That’s why, in this post, Mikey points out ten such instances of household repairs you’ll have to cover yourself.

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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.