The 7 Personal Finance Articles We Loved This Week

Last week, Holly wrote about her thoughts on turning 25 — landing smack dab in the middle of her twenties. I, on the other hand, am about to turn 27 and am starting to inch into the rounding-out-my-twenties portion of my life. (For those of you who are slightly older, you’re probably thinking, “Jesus Christ this sounds lame,” and I’m fully aware that it does.) 30 is still young as hell, and many would argue it’s one’s foray into the best years of life, which are typically defined by having more confidence, financial flexibility, career options, and stability. For me, age 30 no longer feels AS monumental as it once did because I now know a lot of smart, talented, creative women who are well into their thirties. I see them still passionately working toward their respective life goals — they don’t have it all figured out, and I don’t have to either.

But for me, getting closer to 30 means I only have a few years left to tackle (or at least make serious headsway on) some big career, financial and personal goals I’ve set for myself. For me, goals that are spread out over every aspect of my life are best, and will ensure I stay balanced. Some goals are to:

• Pay off over half my student loan debt balance (on my way!)
• Master a hobby totally different from my day job, like jewelry making, baking, or learning a language
• Make it through half the books on this list
• Meet with a financial advisor to plan long-term financial goals for the next decade
• Hike on Mount Rainier
• Make headway on retirement savings
• See Fiordland, New Zealand
• Run a half marathon
• Tackle my fear of speaking in front of a large audience for work

This is not an exhaustive/comprehensive list, but it’s a start! For some of these, I simply want to cross them off my bucket list because they’re things I’ve wanted to do for a long time. Putting a time stamp on goals makes them more likely to happen because I can’t say “I’ll get to it.”

Each week when I read J. Money’s roundup of personal finance articles, I’m floored at how much there is to learn. The articles below can directly help me achieve the goals I’ve set out for myself  (especially the one about doing one Right thing at a time.) Take a look at the awesome personal finance articles he has to share with you this week!

1. How To Become A Financial Stud Overnight — Freedom Is Groovy

“There are basically two steps to becoming an overnight financial stud: Get out of debt and save half your income for ten years.”

2. You Only Have To Do One Right Thing At A Time — Money After Graduation

“We don’t have to feel bad about ourselves for not instantly mastering all the financial skills possible… Even if your finances are all wrong, start by doing one thing right.”

3. 10 Money Revelations In My 30s — A Wealth of Common Sense

“One of the best things about a fixed rate mortgage is the fact that you know exactly what your payments will be every single month of every single year you remain in that house. This is a great thing for financial planning purposes. And paying down your mortgage offers a guaranteed return based on the after-tax interest rate on your mortgage.”

4. When Is Frugality Too Extreme? — Massive Debt To Mogul

“You can cut your expenses all day long, but what do you do with the extra cash flow? That is the more important question.”

5. 17 Staggering Stats About Our Shopping Habits — Becoming Minimalist

“2. Americans spend more on shoes, jewelry, and watches ($100 billion) than on higher education.”

6. Maximizers VS Satisfiers — Money Boss

“All of this maximizing in pursuit of perfection actually leads to less satisfaction and happiness, not more….Train yourself to be a satisfier.”

7. How Frugality Bought My Freedom — Coach Carson

“Every dollar you spend is really a choice between the object you purchase and increased life options. Frugality, or deliberately spending less, is actually a conscious choice to purchase more freedom.”

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