Top 10 Personal Finance Articles of the Month — December 2018

It’s time again for my favorite feature here on Dyer News: a look at my top 10 personal finance articles of the month. Considering that December marked the end of 2018, it seems only fitting that this month's round-up starts with some New Year's money resolutions. Similarly the fresh start is a great chance to get back to basics when it comes to budgeting and savings, with several bloggers offering their best tips on those subjects. Then, rounding out the top 10, we'll look at gig economy workers saving for retirement, the risks that come with traveling off-peak, and a look at why your net worth and self-worth shouldn't be synonymous. 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 2018, along with their title, author, and the site they originally appeared on.

Money Resolutions

New Years Resolutions – How to Make Yours Successful in 2019 — Andrea Joy, Saving Joyfully These days New Year's resolutions have practically become a running joke given how frequently they fail. Of course it doesn't have to be this way — success is possible as long as you change how you think about resolutions themselves. That's what Andrea explores as she looks at why so many resolutions are doomed and how yours can avoid such a fate. 19 Practical Ways You Can Save Money in 2019 — Kyle Burbank, Money@30 Sure there are plenty of ways to save money, but where do you start? More importantly, what frugal plans actually work and which amount to a waste of time? In this post, Kyle shares both large and small changes you can make in 2019 to finally achieve your "spend less, save more" resolution. The Top 10 New Year’s Resolution Ideas To Save You Thousands — Money Bee, The Land of Milk and Money If you have bigger financially goals in mind for 2019, there's a lot of work to be done. From building a proper budget and emergency fund to scheduling money check-ups and furthering your financial education, there are plenty of resolutions to make and many ways to achieve them. The Land of Milk and Money looks at these goals and suggests several others that can help make 2019 a fiscal turning point. Create Your 2019 Financial Plan — Military Dollar The key to reaching your goals is to have a plan. That's why, if you really want to take control of your spending and savings this year, you'll need to do some soul searching and lay out some challenges for yourself. Not only does Military Dollar offer some advice for getting this done but even includes a helpful worksheet to guide you through the process.

Back to Basics

How to Get Out of Debt and Save Money — Jamie Griffin, Mr. Jamie Griffin

Who doesn't want to defeat their debt once and for all? Of course, making this happen is easier said than done. Luckily, Jamie is here with a few ideas to assist you along the way and shares some of the real-life ways he put these tips to use. The Best Free Personal Budget Templates For Every Type of Person (and Budget) — R.J. Weiss, The Ways to Wealth When it comes to budgeting, there are several different plans of attack. From different money situations to various mediums utilized for keeping track of your spending, there's hardly a "one size fits all" solution. With that in mind, R.J. highlights several different budgeting templates you can use and explains who each template is likely best for. 7 Ways to Organize Your Finances — Evan, Punch Debt in the Face Another major aspect of succeeding at finance is to be organized. This doesn't just mean you straighten up your money matters once and leave it alone. Instead, as Evan notes, you'll need to regularly be analyzing your spending and keeping things in order.

Personal Finance Tips

5 Ways Gig Economy Workers Can Save for Retirement — Emily Guy Birken, Wisebread Depending on who you talk to, the gig economy has either been a blessing for workers or a "race to the bottom" curse. Part of the criticism that has been lobbed at the freelance revolution is that gigs come without some of the classic benefits associated with employment such as a 401(k) retirement savings plan. Since all individuals should still strive to save for their retirement even if they don't have one built into their job, Emily gives some guidance on how gig economy workers can properly prepare for their futures. The Downsides of Off-Peak Travel — Tanja Hester, Our Next Life As you start to ponder the possibilities of 2019 and where your travels may take you, those looking to save money may be tempted to visit certain destinations during the "off-peak" season. After all, this is when flights and hotel bookings can be nabbed for sometimes a fraction of their top price. Alas, Tanja points out some of the downsides and risks that come with off-peak travel that you'll want to consider. Your Net Worth Is Not Your Self-Worth — Bob Haegele, The Frugal Fellow In personal finance there's often an emphasis on increasing your net worth and accumulating wealth. While they are usually intended to be aspirational, such "how I saved up $XXX,XXX by age XX" stories can sometimes have the opposite impact on people and make them feel lesser as a result. Enter Bob's important reminder: "your net worth is not your self-worth"

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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.

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