Money Management

Top 10 Personal Finance Articles of the Month — November 2016

It’s now been over a year since I started Dyer News to serve as a hub for my views on personal finance, small business, FinTech, and the economy at large. In that time I’ve not only been active posting on here and other sites often but I’ve also been reading a ton of great finance articles all around the web. So today I’m excited to present the first of what will become a monthly feature where I highlight some of my favorite pieces I’ve encountered over the past few weeks.

Below is my list of the top 10 personal finance articles published in November of 2016, along with their title, author, and the site they originally appeared on.

Saving Money

Common Myths That Can Lower Your Credit Score — Marvin Dumont, ValueWalk

While there’s a wealth of great personal finance information out there, there are also some unfortunate myths about money and credit that people continue to believe. For example one startling statistic that Marvin cites is that 15% of Americans believe that bad credit scores can’t be fixed! This falsehood and two other similarly harmful myths are further explored in this great article. 

5 Reasons I’m Skipping Black Friday This Year — Holly Johnson, Club Thrifty

Lest we forget November marks the kick-off to the annual holiday shopping season, starting the day after Thanksgiving. While Black Friday might be a cultural institution at this point, the hype and hysteria surrounding the event may be overblown. That’s the position Holly takes as she explains why she skipped the shopping holiday all together this time around.

9 Ways to Survive Being Stranded in an Airport Without Going Broke — Susan Shain, The Penny Hoarder

Heading home for the holidays may not always be as pleasant as it sounds. Thanks to winter weather and an increase in traffic there may be times that you’re travel plans get derailed, leaving you stranded at the airport. To prepare you for such an event, Susan shares a few tips to help you survive your nightmare layover without succumbing to expensive alternatives.

Making Money

5 Apps That’ll Pay You To Do Your Daily Shopping — Edwin C., Cash the Checks

Mobile applications are already changing the way consumers research products, search for coupons, and complete transactions. On top of that there are now several applications that actually reward users for shopping with them. Edwin highlights five such apps, a few of which I admittedly hadn’t heard of until now.

10 Sites That Pay You Money (for things you’re already doing anyway for free!) — Jim Wang, WalletHacks

Of course mobile apps aren’t the only ways to earn rewards when shopping — there are plenty of desktop-centric sites that could net you some extra cash as well. Additionally some sites will pay will pay you for completing other tasks, such as taking surveys or using a search engine. For this piece Jim shares 10 legitimate sites in this vein.

What You Need to Know About Taxes If You Make Money from the Gig Economy — Kristin Wong, Two Cents

As we’ve discussed here often, the sharing economy or gig economy — titles that encompass companies such as Uber and Airbnb — continues to grow at a rapid rate. In addition to more consumers utilizing such services, more workers are giving up their full-time jobs or supplementing their income by joining these operations. If that applies to you, Kristin offers a few tips for what you should know about how your taxes, business expenses, and much more when you’re pursuing these endeavors. 

How to Find Time to Start a Side Hustle — Miranda Marquit, MoneyNing

Speaking of the making extra money, having a side hustle is now becoming a popular pastime as budding entrepreneurs attempt the turn their hobbies into monetary gain. But how can you fit a side business into your busy life? Miranda offers a few suggestions including an evaluation of how much time you actually waste in a given day.

Personal Finance Tips 

Term vs Whole Life Insurance: Here’s How to Choose — Dan Rafter, Wisebread

At one time or another you’ve probably been told about the benefits of life insurance and why you should have it. However not nearly as many people realize that there are multiple types of life insurance, each with their own set of pros and cons. That’s what Dan discusses in this article as he explores the differences between term and whole life insurance.

What to Do When You Get a Debt Collection Notice for an Account You Don’t Recognize — Nicholas Pell, The Simple Dollar

No one likes getting letters from debt collectors but it’s even worse when you’re not even familiar with the alleged debt they’re referencing. So what do you do in such a situation? In this piece Nicolas not only provides a road map to take should this happen to you but also includes other tips that could save you from a costly battle.

Venmo App vs. Square Cash App: Which Is Better? — Terence Loose, GoBankingRates

With competition heating up between companies in the mobile payments space, inevitably many consumers are wondering what the best option is. Two peer to peer apps that are getting the most buzz at the moment are Venmo and Square Cash. With that, Terence takes a closer look at both services to determine which one is right for you.

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.

Other Articles by Jonathan Dyer