Here are some of the best personal finance and fintech posts from January 2019. Before getting into the articles I wanted to first share an excellent podcast from Planet Money: (Brilliant vs. Boring) which in many ways honored the life, work and tremendous impact that Jack Bogle created for all individual investors. Jack passed away on January 16th, 2019.
Another post that I really liked from the NYTimes covering 52 Places to Go in 2019 is beautifully laid out and descriptive!
Banking & Budgeting
What is the Average Household Budget? – WalletHacks
A great look at the average spending in American households. If you don’t have a budget you can easily create one today!
50 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Get for Free – Vital Dollar
An excellent list covering the things you can get for free! Many are free thanks to the advancement in technology! Give this one a good scan! You will not be disappointed!
30 of the Best Freebies We’ve Ever Found Online – The Penny Hoarder
Continuing the trend of free great stuff online! There is some overlap between this and the Vital Dollar list above but also has a number of additional freebies making this article well worth a read.
400 free Ivy League university courses you can take online in 2019 – QZ
The exponential growth in the cost of higher education is insane! I believe the greatest gift any student can gain is “To Learn How To Love How To Learn” because when you achieve this anything is possible!
The Buyerarchy of Needs – Budgets Are Sexy
Okay, so this one was published back in July but I love the post!
Credit & Debt
Visualizing the Snowball of Government Debt – Visual Capitalist
Something we simply cannot ignore! To learn more about the U.S. Government debt load visit the Concord Coalition.
The government shutdown spotlights a bigger issue: 78% of US workers live paycheck to paycheck – CNBC
We have featured the 78% statistic before but it still hard to grapple with even has the economy has been growing steadily since 2008. Also, Government Shutdown is Every Reason You Need An Emergency Fund.
24 Best Personal Loan Companies in 2019 – Well Kept Wallet
If you are in a position where you need a loan this article is a great resource.
Should We Start A Christmas Revolution? – Ms. Fiology
As Christmas has become more about the gifts and materialism instead of focusing on the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus and spending time with the ones we love. Great article!
FinTech & Tech
Abby Johnson – Future of Finance
Interview by Patrick O’Shaughnessy with Abby Johnson. Abby is the Chairman and CEO of Fidelity Investments. Great interview covering the major trends developing in the personal finance space.
Blockchain – The Complete Guide For Beginners 2019 – Daytradingz
If you have been curious about the Blockchain this the article for you! It is written in a way that makes it easy to understand not only what it is but also how it can be applied in everyday life.
Investing
Updating My Favorite Performance Chart of 2018 – A Wealth of Common Sense
If you have never considered the importance of diversification this chart will be the straw the makes you a diversifying machine!
The Magic of Compound Interest – Mint
Always a good reminder about just how important the magic of compound interest can be for your finances.
Best Investment Apps – Good Financial Cents
A good description of some of the best investments apps available today.
Real Estate
Have We Reached Peak Home Bloat? – Accidental Fire
The average house floor plan in the United States in 1951 was 874 square feet carrying with it an average family size of 3.34 persons per household. In 2015, the average square footage reached 2,740 square feet with an average of 2.54 persons per household. Have we finally reached the peak? Great article!
Clever Tips Every Home Buyer Needs To Know Before They Buy – Money Smart Guides
If you are in the market to purchase a home this is a great resource!
Taxes
Above The Line Deductions You Can Take Without Itemizing Your Taxes – The Simple Dollar
The new tax law will be a big benefit to those filing their 2018 tax returns before April 15th.
For a look at other amazing content from the personal finance, community check out Rockstar Finance.
To see previous months I have listed the top picks from all months on the top posts page.