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Top 10 Personal Finance Articles of the Month — November 2024

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.

We’ll start things off with some holiday thoughts related to personal finance. Similarly, after that, we’ll talk about planning for the end of the year and beyond. Lastly, we’ll discuss paycheck budgeting, homeownership, types of income, and more.

Here are our picks for the top 10 personal finance articles for November 2024.

Holiday Thoughts

6 Things That Belong On Your Holiday “Yes” List — Karen Trefzger, No Sidebar

As magical as the holiday season is supposed to be, it can also be quite stressful. In fact, there are plenty of instances during this time of year when you should probably say “no.” However, as Karen shares, there are at least a few things you should be saying “yes” to while embracing this holiday season and beyond.

Wealth = Have ÷ Want — Derek Sivers, Budgets are Sexy

Thanksgiving (as the name implies) is a time for reflection and gratitude. On a similar note, it’s also worth remembering what wealth truly means. That’s what Derek explores in this short but sweet post.

Year-End and Looking Ahead

2024 Year-End Tax Planning — Sean Mullaney, The Fi Tax Guy

There’s no denying it: the end of 2024 is upon us. Amid the holiday celebration, those concerned about their tax situation may need to do some planning. Luckily, Sean is here to help, offering reminders, commentary, and more.

5 Year-End Financial Planning Tips — Jesse Cramer, The Best Interest

Zooming out, in addition to tax planning, there may be some other financial tasks you should consider as the new year approaches. Plus, if you’re nearing some specific ages, the year ahead could mean some financial milestones you’ll need to be aware of. To see those significant ages and more, be sure to check out this article from Jesse.

Personal Finance Tips

What is Paycheck Budgeting? — Jim Wang, Wallet Hacks

The term “living paycheck to paycheck” definitely has a negative connotation. But, the truth is that many Americans do need to keep their paycheck schedule in mind when it comes to budgeting. In fact, for some folks, operating on a paycheck-based budget rather than a traditional monthly one may make more sense. If you’re interested in learning more about the concept, Jim has you covered — and even provides a handy template.

Lessons From a First-Time Home Buyer: One Year as Homeowners — Kyle Burbank, Money@30

In terms of experience, buying a home is one thing but owning a home is another. Therefore, as time goes on, you can learn a lot more about the joys of homeownership. On that note, as Kyle celebrates one year since closing on his house, he shares some of the lessons and takeaways he’s gained during that time.

Understanding the 3 Types of Income: Adjusted Gross, Modified Adjusted Gross, and Taxable Income — Dr. Jim Dahle, White Coat Investor

For most people, “income” just means the money they get in their paycheck. However, when it comes to Uncle Sam and some other situations there are different types of incomes and various mathematic equations used to determine them. To clear up any confusion, in this post, Dr. Dahle looks at three often-used income types: AGI, MAGI, and taxable income.

Retirees, a Rich Life Does Not Require Spending More Money — Harry Sit, The Finance Buff

When it comes to retirement (and especially early retirement), there’s a lot of focus on spending. This includes topics such as safe withdrawal rates and the like. While this may be important overall, as Harry points out, there’s more to retirement life than spending money.

14 Lessons About Money & Life From 40 Years of Living — Aaron, Mr. Stingy

With time and experience comes wisdom. We, as humans, are always learning, changing, and growing. Now at age 40, Aaron highlights some of the lessons about money and life he wished he’d known even a decade earlier.

Optimism — Noah Pepper, Allocator Mindset

These days, optimism often gets a bad rap. After all, many might associate optimism with naivete or accuse optimistic thinkers of wearing “rose-colored glasses.” Yet, as Noah explains, there is plenty of upside in seeing things more positively.

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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.