Personal Finance

Top 10 Personal Finance Articles of the Month — June 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. First up this month, following the outrage and hard conversations that have arisen following the death of George Floyd and other Black people in this country, we’ll take a look at what some reactions from the personal finance community — including what said community can do to fight systemic racism and injustice. Then, we’ll look at some thoughts on investing and retirement, followed by a round-up of some other personal finance tips.

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 June of 2020, along with their title, author, and the site they originally appeared on.

Black Lives Matter, Injustice, and More

This Has to Be Said… — Chonce Maddox, My Debt Epiphany

There is a lot that led to up to this past month’s awakening and reckoning — years, decades, and centuries of oppression, discrimination, and injustice. However, now is when we may finally be able to start righting these wrongs. In this post, Chonce shares her truth, provides a much-needed history lesson, and offers some active steps we can take to start moving forward.

Personal Finance is Political — Melanie Allen, Partners in Fire

Among the discussions that have been taking place in the past month, one involves whether or not the personal finance community should strive to remain apolitical. Is talking about politics turning off half of your audience or is not addressing certain matters doing readers a disservice? As Melanie points out, in many ways, personal finance by its very nature is political.

How the Personal Finance Sphere Upholds Systemic Racism — Tanja Hester, Our Next Life

One thing that recent events have made clear is that it’s critical for us to speak out. Otherwise, we could be enabling systemic discrimination and allowing it to continue. With that in mind, Tanja looks at a few places where the personal finance community can improve, learn, and grow — becoming more inclusive and tearing down these racist systems in the process.

List of African American Personal Finance Bloggers — My Money Chronicles

Closing out this section, while it wasn’t originally published last month, this list of more than 90 Black finance bloggers and influencers is an incredible resource. For each entry, My Money Chronicles details the person behind the site, shares a bit of their story, and what money topics they mostly cover. Be sure to check out this fantastic list and give these great creators a follow.

Investment and Retirement

Picking the Best Brokerage Account: What Really Matters — Steven, Trip of a Lifestyle

When it comes to investing, one of the first steps to take is to find the right brokerage account. But what does that actually involve? To help you find the best brokerage account options, Steven highlights what you should be looking for and shares a few specific suggestions.

The Complete Guide to Withdrawing Funds Early From Your 401(k), IRA and Roth IRA — Adam, Minafi

Given the financial challenges that many Americans are currently facing, some may be considering turning to their retirement accounts for immediate relief. While this is possible in some cases, there are plenty of rules to consider along with some potential downsides. To help you navigate the option of tapping your 401(k) or IRA, Adam takes a deep dive and looks at several aspects of retirement account withdrawals.

Personal Finance Tips

Why Spending Plans are the New Budget. Are They Right for You? — A Fun Sized Life

For many, the term “budget” is a dirty word and something they don’t want any part of. So, what if you tried something different instead: a spending plan. This post from A Fun Sized Life details the strategy behind spending plans and why they may be more effective for you than a traditional budget.

I Ditched My Car Payment and Here’s Why — Mr. Jamie Griffin

One of the largest monthly expenses that most Americans endure involves their vehicles. On top of the gas, maintenance, and insurances required to own a vehicle, some may be spending $300 to $500 a month to own their cars — only to do it all again when the vehicle is paid off. However, there may be a better way as Jamie explains why (and how) he’s ditching his car payment altogether.

Living Stingy Pros and Cons: Is it Worth it? — Kevin, Just Start Investing

Does anyone really like to be cheap? While there are advantages to being stingy or other such adjectives, there are definitely downsides as well. That’s why Kevin takes a look at the pros and cons of cheapskate living and shares a few ways to be stingy in a more successful way.

How to Successfully Budget and Win the Mental Battle of Saving — Albert Fang, FangWallet

As recent months have shown us, the ability to save money and set it aside is imperative. Yet, that doesn’t make it easy to do. For his post, Albert looks at a few tips for saving money and staying on budget.

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.

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