Money Management

Top 10 Personal Finance Articles of the Month — December 2020

It’s time again for one of my favorite features here on Dyer News: a look at the top 10 personal finance articles of the month. With December hosting numerous holidays —including New Year’s Eve — we’ll start things off with posts related to these events. Then, we’ll take a look at the gig economy and some tips for workers. Next, we’ll glance at some first-hand spending reports and tips. Lastly, we’ll round out the year with everything from helping small businesses to 401(k) rollovers and beyond.

As usual, this month’s list includes a couple Dyer News Top 10 mainstays as well as a few first-timers. Without further ado, below is my list of the top 10 personal finance articles published in December of 2020, along with their title, author, and the site they originally appeared on.

Holidays and 2020

When the Holidays are Hard — Andrea Joy, Saving Joyfully

Surely the 2020 holiday season will not go down among the happiest of all time. Of course, even outside of unprecedented years such as the one we all just experienced, the holidays can be tough on many individuals for a variety of reasons. With that in mind, Andrea shares a few ideas for how those who lost a loved one, lost a job, or are feeling financial stress can still find joy around the holidays.

Why My Family Stopped Giving Christmas Gifts — Rachel Slifka, Saving Advice

For many children, the best part of the holidays is receiving and opening presents. Alas, in adulthood, gift giving can become more of a chore and obligation than a joyous tradition. In this post, Rachel shares what led her family to do away with their holiday present exchange and offers a few alternatives.

A Reflection on 2020 – The Year That No One Could Have Predicted — Nicola, The Frugal Cottage

Did you manage to meet you financial goals in 2020? If not, you’d definitely have an understandable excuse. In any case, in this post, Nicola reflects on her 2020, including the goals she accomplished and those she didn’t.

Gig Working

How to Meet Your Financial Goals While Working in the Gig Economy — Josh, Money Buffalo

Gig economy jobs have certainly grown in popularity in recent years — likely due (at least in part) to the flexibility that they offer. At the same time, the nature of these positions can sometimes make managing your money a bit more difficult. If you’re finding that freelancing is affecting your finances, Josh offers a few tips for meeting your money goals while gigging.

How to Prepare for Your First Uber Eats Delivery for First-Time Drivers — Albert Fang, FangWallet

Throughout the pandemic, one industry that’s seen a boost has been food delivery. As a result, there may be newcomers looking to make extra money or replace lost income by driving for Uber Eats. For those would-be drivers, Albert shares some advice about getting started and making the most money at it.

Spending Reports and Tips

How I Lived on $15,886 in 2020 — A Purple Life

There’s a good chance that your spending habits changed some way during the past year — for better or worse. Yet, few people could probably recall exactly what they spent their money on. That’s why seeing an example of a year in spending can be so fascinating. On that note, A Purple Life breaks down exactly where her money went in 2020 and how she managed to spend only $15,886 for the year.

How We Minimize Our Big 3 Expenses — Joe Udo, Retire by 40

For most people, there are three main expenses they endure on a monthly basis: housing, transportation, and food. Therefore, if you can make changes to keep spending in these categories down, you’ll likely see your budget improve greatly. For some inspiration, Joe shares how he and his family have managed to minimize their “big three” expenses.

Personal Finance Tips

How We Are Hoping to Help Small Businesses — Penny, She Picks Up Pennies

Not only did many individuals take a financial hit in 2020 but thousands of small businesses did as well. In turn, if Americans want their favorite local businesses to survive, they’ll need to do all that they can to support them during this challenging time. For those hoping to help small businesses in any way they can, Penny shares a few ideas for doing so.

How to Use SMART Financial Goals to Take Control of Your Money — Natalie Graham, Go From Broke

A new year often means setting resolutions for the months ahead. Unfortunately, while many Americans say they want to improve their finances, “resolutions” rarely do the job as they lack some important components that make them attainable. That’s why Natalie takes a look at SMART goals and how to put the concept to work if you really want to take control of your money.

4 Steps to Properly Handle a 401K Rollover — David Ning, MoneyNing

Whether you’ve recently left a job or are planning a change, one thing to consider is what you’ll do with any existing 401(k) you might have. While you’ll have a few options for the funds, it’s important to know what these actually mean in order to determine what’s best. To help you out, David highlights four steps you’ll want to follow when rolling over a 401(k).

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.

Also published on Medium.

Other Articles by Jonathan Dyer