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Top 10 Personal Finance Articles of the Month — March 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.
We’re going to start things off this month by zooming out and going beyond money to focus on other parts of life. Then, we’ll talk about financial independence and investing. Finally, we’ll discuss impulse shopping, lazy budgeting, and more.
Here are our picks for the top 10 personal finance articles for March 2025.
More Than Money
True Status Symbols: Things That Need Reps — Aaron, Mr. Stingy
We can all make a list of material items that we (or society at large) view as “status symbols.” But, while these items might be flashy, they’re hardly ever actually important. Instead, Aaron points out some true status symbols to strive for.
A Lesson on Purpose from LeBron James — Darius Foroux
In March, NBA star Lebron James achieved a record-breaking milestone (50,000 career points). Although that accomplishment is specific to the game of basketball, there are some lessons that we laymen can take away from James’ career.
‘Time Affluence’ Is a Different Way to Think About Wealth — Jeff Somers, Lifehacker
We’ve all heard the phrase “time is money.” So then, if we associate being affluent with money, doesn’t that also mean you can be affluent with time? As Jeff explains, the answer is absolutely “yes” — and he shares how to become more time affluent overall.
35 Lessons from 35 Years — Jesse Cramer, The Best Interest
When you’re young, you might feel as though you know everything. Yet, as we get older, we find out just how much we don’t know about life, love, money, and more. In an update to his “31 lessons in 31 years” post, Jesse shares more of what he’s learned in his lifetime.
FI and Investment
How to Avoid the “Middle-Class Trap” — Chris Mamula, Can I Retire Yet?
In the sphere of financial independence, a concept has cropped up known as the “middle-class trap.” In short, this describes a scenario where individuals may be able to achieve a high net worth but can’t take advantage of the true freedom provided by financial independence due to penalties such as early retirement withdrawals. But is this truly a trap? Responding to a recent podcast episode, Chris takes a closer look at the “middle-class trap” and what can be done.
FI Tax Strategies for Beginners — Sean Mullaney, The FI Tax Guy
For those pursuing financial independence, tax optimization can be a big topic. Alas, it can also be a confusing and complicated subject with many moving parts. So, to simplify things, The FI Tax Guy offers some top tips for beginners.
Personal Finance Tips
Breaking Free From Overconsumption: How I Stopped Shopping On Impulse And Built A Mindful Money System — Nadia Vanderhall, The Brands and Bands
Let’s face it: we all know how easy it is to impulsively spend. Not only can such instances lead to financial issues but also contribute to overconsumption. Luckily, as Nadia highlights, there are some key steps you can take to help stop yourself from such actions and be more mindful about your buying.
The Lazy Budgeting Guide (That Actually Works) — Lazy Man and Money
Budgeting may be necessary, but it also takes work. So what if you could set up a system that takes a minimum amount of effort as possible but can have a positive impact on your finances? That’s exactly what this post from Lazy Man and Money presents.
Investing in “Uncertain” Markets — Craig Stephens, Retire Before Dad
Looking at the stock market from day to day, it’s easy to see why novice investors might be intimidated or anxious. However, when you have a larger understanding of investing, it might not be as scary as you’d think. In a truly timely article, Crag looks at what you should know about investing during times of high uncertainty.
Bilt vs. Mesa: How the Two Housing Credit Cards Compare — Kyle Burbank, Money@30
Finally, in recent years, some unique credit card offerings have hit the market. In particular, Bilt made a splash when it debuted its card that rewarded customers for rent payments. More recently, the Mesa Homeowners card brought a similar concept to mortgages. So how do these two products compare? Kyle takes a closer look at both options.
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.
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