The 7 Personal Finance Articles We Loved This Week

It’s Thursday, and you know what that means: time for another round of awesome personal finance articles hand-picked by ESI of Rockstar Finance!

I just impulse-bought something. Literally 15 minutes before writing this. I was purchasing a pair of flats on sale from J.Crew Factory, which I’d been planning to get for a while — so I thought, Why not get this pair of corduroys, too? I’ll need them when it gets colder!

I know my spending habits well enough to know that this probably won’t hurt my budget…but it could, especially if I have any more impulse buys during this credit card billing period. Impulse buying is something I’ve had to learn how to do in a healthy way (AKA, extremely sparingly). There’s not one right way to cut it out of your life, though, and expecting to never have a treat when it comes to spending is just unrealistic.

That’s why I loved this super in-depth article about how to quit impulse buying once and for all from Goodbye to Broke. As a lot of us probably know, the first step to finding a solution is to truthfully identify the problem — and then get a fix-it system in place. I love what this blogger had to say about getting organized to help you learn what you can buy and when:

I’m all about money mindset, but it’s also incredibly important to find a system for organizing and tracking your finances that works for you. When we feel disheveled and disorganized, we’re more likely to act on impulse.

That doesn’t mean you need to track every single penny, but I recommend at least creating a spending plan and checking in once a week.

Other suggestions for organizing your finances: set up a budget binder, track your savings, and learn how to meal plan.

Read on for the full post, as well as the rest of this week’s articles!

1. Be Rich, Not Famous: The Joy Of Being A Nobody – Financial Samurai

“All this desire for fame and prestige is truly a waste of time. Get your 15 minutes of fame to satisfy your curiosity. Maybe get 30 minutes just to be sure. Soak up the thrill. Then let it go.”

2. How To Go From $22k Per Year To Six Figures. A Real Guide – Chief Mom Officer

“One of the keys to 5x or 10x from a low income is to “lean in” to the change. Embrace it, and seek it out. Not only will you grow, but if you position yourself on the cutting edge of major changes, you’ll stand out.”

3. The Twenty Dollar Swim – Mr. Money Mustache

“‘Okay Mr. Money Mustache, What Are You Taking Away From Me This Time?’ Don’t worry, I’m not necessarily going to strip you of your dreams of that swimming pool, or anything else.”

4. 15 Jobs Where You Can Be Your Own Boss – Fitnancials

“After working a regular job under the authority of others for years, I’ve come to realize the benefits of being your own boss. Though I’ve had amazing bosses that I’m still friends with to this day, I still prefer working for myself.”

5. Children Make Us Rich – Median Millionaire

“But once we had our first kid, we felt richer. After our second kid, we felt richer still. And after our third daughter, richer still. How could we be any richer? I don’t know, but if we have another kid, I imagine we will feel it.”

6. How to Stop Impulse Buying Once and for All – Goodbye to Broke

“One click and two days later $100 worth of stuff you don’t need shows up on your doorstep. (Curse you, Amazon Prime!)”

7. A Tactic from the High Seas: How to Combat Overspending – The Financial Freedom Project

“Overspending can slow your savings goal progress and your journey to financial freedom just like algae and marine weeds slowed ship speed prior to the invention of copper sheathing. If you or your spouse tend to overspend, protect your timeline for obtaining financial freedom by putting your discretionary spending on rations.”

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