Best of the Web
Top 10 Personal Finance Articles of the Month — October 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.
To start off, we’ll feature some money thoughts and explorations. Then, we’ll cover investing followed by a pair of articles on minimalism (and more). Lastly, we’ll talk about having a creation mindset, what to do when you have a windfall, and more.
Here are our picks for the top 10 personal finance articles for October 2024.
Money Thoughts
Love or Confusion? — Mark Newfield, The Uncertainty of it All
In some cases, the terms “financial independence” and “financial security” might be used to represent similar concepts. Yet, those two terms are actually quite different. Mark drills down on what each of these sentiments really means — and why a balance of independence and security is ideal.
Good Enough Beats Great — Derek Hagen, Meaningful Money
You’ve probably heard the phrase “Jack of all trades, master of none.” While this is often used as a negative, is there really anything wrong with just being competent if not extraordinary? In this post, Derek argues that, in fact, “good enough” can actually be better than great.
Investing
Investing
5 Investment Lessons From the Best Investing Books — Darius Foroux
From bookstore shelves to Amazon, there’s certainly no shortage of investing books to be found. And while many may have overlapping advice, there are some lessons that stand out from the pack. That’s the case for the five key concepts that Darius features in this round-up.
Always Invest, Never Speculate — Dr. Cory S. Fawcett, Financial Success M.D.
In recent years, the lines between investing and gambling have often been blurred (look no further than the recent news of Robinhood adding presidential election event contracts to its app as proof of this fact). However, despite what some might think, speculation and investment are not the same thing. And, as Dr. Fawcett points out, it’s much better to invest.
Minimalism and More
Is Underconsumption the New Minimalism? — Renee, The Fun Sized Life
While minimalism has been a hot topic over the past several years, more recently, a different but similar concept has come into fashion: underconsumption. Apparently, “underconsumption core,” as it’s called, caught fire on TikTok earlier this year and encourages people to only use what they need. For those interested in this new trend, Renee takes a closer look at underconsumption core and how it compares to minimalism at large.
The Long-Term Costs of Buying More Than We Need — Joshua Becker, Becoming Minimalist
We all know that the temptation for impulse buying is all around us. Thus, it’s extremely easy for many of us to buy more than we need. Unfortunately, even in times when we don’t think we’re spending much, the true costs associated with those decisions can add up. What are those costs, you ask? Well, that’s exactly what Joshua highlights in this article.
Personal Finance Tips
The Creation Mindset: Accelerate Your Wealth Trajectory — Craig Stephens, Retire Before Dad
In our world, there are two types of people: consumers and creators. Okay, so most of us are really both — but the proportions aren’t all the same. For those looking to build their wealth, it’s important to have a creation mindset, as Craig explains in this post.
You Received a Windfall: Now What? — Jesse Cramer, The Best Interest
Coming into unexpected money should be a great thing. Alas, a windfall could actually come with stress and big decisions. With that in mind, Jesse looks at some common pitfalls as well as some better options for those wondering what to do with their newfound funds.
Do Groups Make Good Decisions? — Joe Wiggins, Behavioural Investment
Coming to your own decision can often be tough (at least for some). In turn, we may seek group input to help walk us through these choices. But, this begs the question: are groups even any good at making decisions? Joe dives deep into why the answer, in some cases, may be “no.”
FinCon 2024 Recap: Returning to the Conference After 5 Years — Kyle Burbank, Money@30
Finally, last week, FinCon 2024 took place in Atlanta, Georgia. This marked the 14th year for the conference — and was Kyle’s first one in five years. So how was the experience this time around? Check out his post for what he learned, what he could do better, and whether the conference itself is worth it.
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.
