Top 10 Personal Finance Articles of the Month — July 2018

Spending and Savings

How to Stop Impulse Buying Once and for All — Megan Robinson, Goodbye to Broke

One of the biggest threats to any budget is the infamous impulse buy. While these spur of the moment purchases may be small on their own, they can certainly add up quickly and cause you to overspend significantly. That’s why Megan offers some advice to those looking to cut out impulse purchases for good.

35 Simple Ways to Save Money Every Month — John Schmoll, Frugal Rules

Just as overspending on small splurges can be all too easy, saving money can be relatively painless as well. From money challenges to cutting out unnecessary expenses, there are plenty of ways you boost your budget and divert your income toward more important things. In fact, John shares nearly three dozen ways you can save money each and every month.

How to Rebound From 3 Money Setback Scenarios — Kyle Burbank, Money@30

Even after you rein in your spending and up your savings, there are many incidents that can throw a wrench into your financial plans. While these setbacks can have a long-lasting effect on your finances if left unresolved, taking action can help you to bounce back ASAP. For his piece, Kyle looks at three such money setbacks and what you can do to ensure you overcome them.

Investing and Retirement

This is the Simplest Way to Start Investing — Anita Hamilton, Vice

When is the best time to begin investing? And where should you put your money when you’re just starting out? These are questions that many money newbies have asked over the years and now food pyramid-inspired charts can help provide answers. Additionally, Anita looks at some important tips that investing newcomers should know about.

How to Tell if Your Company’s 401(k) Plan is Any Good — Alicia Adamczyk, TwoCents

Incidentally, even if workers may not take an active role in managing a portfolio, chances are they still have some money invested thanks to the popularity of 401(k)s. Although these accounts can be a great way to save for retirement, not all 401(k)s are created equal. Enter Alicia and her advice on which questions you should ask to determine if your employer’s 401(k) plan is a good one or not.

Money Mistakes

10 Common Money Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Financial Future — Kelan Kline, The Savvy Couple

These days, personal finance resources and advice are typically just a couple of clicks away. Despite this wealth of knowledge, far too many people remain in the dark about some top money topics. Unfortunately, in some cases, this ignorance can lead to long-term damage that cannot be easily reversed. In this article, Kelan highlights several often made mistakes that could have some dire consequences.

12 Major Mistakes People Make With Travel Rewards Credit Cards —Eric Rosen, The Points Guy

On a slightly lighter note, some of the financial errors people make won’t exactly hurt them too badly in the long run but can still amount to lost opportunity. Among these mistakes are various ways that consumers misuse travel credit cards, leading them to miss out on some perks and bonuses that they could be taking advantage of. If you’re looking for a crash course in maximizing your travel rewards credit card, Eric shares a dozen things to watch out for.

Personal Finance Tips

How to be Smarter with Money: 8 Simple Secrets — Eric Barker, Ladders

Being good with money isn’t typically just a born talent. Instead, being proficient in personal finance requires knowledge, practice, and perhaps a change in mindset. In this wide-ranging piece, Eric exposes some simple secrets that could help you be better at managing your money.

7 Financial Accounts You Need for a Richer Life — Laura Adams, Quick and Dirty Tips

Although many Americans receive their money from a singular source (e.g. a paycheck), that money soon gets spread among several different bank accounts and other locations. Furthermore many may not realize just how many types of accounts they should have in order to make their most of their finances. Thankfully Laura is here to point out all of the different places you should be keeping your cash.

What Is Escrow and Why Is It Needed? — Brian O’ Connell, The Street

Speaking of accounts, while many prospective homebuyers may be somewhat familar with the concept of escrow as it relates to closing a deal, it seems escrow accounts are discussed far less frequently. Despite this, understanding these accounts may prove important when it comes to purchasing and financing a home. With that in mind, Brian answers all of the questions you may have about escrow accounts and realted topics.

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.