Personal Finance

Top 10 Personal Finance Articles of the Month — November 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, although the Thanksgiving holiday has now passed, we’ll start with a look at both gratitude and generosity. Then, we’ll highlight two articles about small things that can have a big impact (for better or worse) followed by a pair of posts related to housing. Finally, we’ll close things out with tips for recovering loaned funds, staying on budget while holiday shopping, and more.

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

Generosity and Gratitude

Beyond One Day of Gratitude: Shift Your Perspective and Focus on Your Values — Amanda, Why We Money

For most people, while the food may be a notable bonus, Thanksgiving is all about gratitude. While it’s nice to have this annual day to reflect, it doesn’t have to be limited to November. In fact, as Amanda shares, practicing gratitude can help you focus on your value and have a positive impact on your life.

5 Ways to Be More Generous (When You Can) — Kyle Burbank, Money@30

Along with gratitude, the holiday season is also a time of generosity. Of course, with so many people struggling this year, anything you can do to help is more important than ever. In that spirit, Kyle shares a few ways you can be more charitable, from giving to forgiving.

Small Changes, Big Impact

Little Things Add Up: 22 Small Ways to Save — Melanie Allen, Partners in Fire

Trying to be frugal can seem overwhelming at times as your expenses still far exceed the amount your saving. While that can be frustrating, the truth is that small savings and smart money decisions really can add up in the long run. With that in mind, Melanie provided 22 examples of ways you can save money in small ways.

Enjoy the Small Things in Life (Avoid the Connoisseur Effect) — Chris, TicTocLife

Just as small savings can add up to much more, making seemingly minor adjustments and “upgrades” to your lifestyle can end up costing you a big way. As you start allowing yourself little luxuries, suddenly the simple things you used to love may no longer do the trick. This is what Chris calls the “Connoisseur Effect” — which, as he explains, should be avoided at all costs.

Housing

How Much Rent Can I Afford? — Money Saved is Money Earned

For many people, the largest monthly expense they endure is rent. Because of this, determining how much they can actually afford to spend on housing each month can make or break their financial lives. To assist you in determining how much rent you can afford, this post from Money Saved is Money Earned will help you break it all down.

We Paid Off Our Home in Five Years. I Blame Minimalism — Emma, Mum’s Money

As great of an expense as rent can be, having a mortgage can amount to even more. And while a typical home mortgage has you making payments for 30 years, some people are able to pay it off much faster by making adjustments to their spending or finding other ways to save. In Emma’s case, she and her husband were able to pay down their home in just five years, which as she explains is thanks to their minimalist ways.

Personal Finance Tips

How to Politely Claim Borrowed Money — Brock Kernin, Clever Dude

They say you should never lend money to a friend — but what if you already have? Asking for repayment can be awkward while attempting to ignore the debt can lead to festering resentment. Instead, Brock has a few tips for requesting borrowed funds as politely as possible.

Start Meeting Your Money Goals with a Yearly Budget Plan — Melody, Cash for Tacos

At this point, most people are familiar with the concept of a monthly budget. Although these may work well enough for some people, there are a few notable downsides to them as well as some financial elements they inadvertently overlook. That’s why Melody recommends utilizing a yearly budget plan to help you reach your money goals.

Beam App Complaints: Frozen Bank Deposits and Lessons Learned — Jonathan Ping, My Money Blog

Over the past decade, dozens if not hundreds of FinTech apps have popped up, offering new twists on several financial products. One more recent example is the app Beam, advertising a unique structure that could increase APY. Unfortunately, as Jonathan details, Beam’s story holds important lessons and reminders for consumers exploring such seemingly enticing options.

Stop Overspending Around The Holidays — Jen Smith, Modern Frugality

Last but not least, with the holiday shopping season now underway, the struggle to avoid overspending is becoming all too real. Each year, millions of Americans end up blowing their holiday budgets — but why? In her article, Jen not only offers tips for preventing yourself from overspending but also looks at why the issue is so common to begin with.

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