Summary Sunday is a weekly post where I put out a short list of the personal finance blog posts and articles I liked the most throughout the previous week. Links to each post are in the headers. I hope you enjoy them too!
A Different Way of Looking at Spending?
Written by J. MONEY – Published April 10, 2017
This post by J. Money came at the perfect time. Just a few days ago, I was talking to one of my friends about where she shops. She mentioned that she buys a fair amount on Etsy and loves working with small vendors. She particularly likes supporting stay-at-home military spouses. This article reminded me of that conversation. It’s about how rather than looking at shopping as handing over your money when you buy something you can think of it as supporting the business and the employees, instead. It’s a good reminder, I think, and one I’ll try to practice more.
8 Ways Minimalism Helps Put Money In Your Pocket
Written by Joshua Becker – Published April 13, 2017
Oh boy. I knew the second I saw this title that I was going to like this post. I’ve been slowly downsizing for about two years. Well really, I’ve been barely downsizing at all for months at a time and then giving away/selling massive chunks of my belongings a week prior to my last two moves. Since 2015 I’ve moved from a 4-bedroom 2700 sq ft house, to a 3-bedroom 1400 sq ft house, to a 1-bedroom 900 sq ft apartment. It has been difficult, but rewarding Along the way, I’ve experienced everything listed in this article. I’m still working on #4. If I can get rid of enough stuff to lose my (small) storage unit, I’ll keep another $110 in my pocket each month. It’s a work in progress.
Why I’m Investing Even Though I’m Still in Debt
Guest Post by Kayla at Frugal Rules – Published April 13, 2017
I was part of a conversation recently about whether you should start investing before paying off debt. One person said yes so as not to miss out on growth over time. Another said no, it was important to pay off debt. I took the middle ground. I wouldn’t recommend anybody start investing before paying off high interest revolving debt like a credit card, but I think investing while still holding debts like mortgages is fine. An important caveat is Kayla’s first point – generally, you shouldn’t turn down free money. For military members thinking of investing in the TSP, this will become especially important as more and more people join the new Blended Retirement System (BRS). Since the BRS includes matching contributions, it’s important to carefully consider whether paying down debt is more important than capturing the matching funds. In many cases, it is probably best to get the employer match.
Did you come across a great personal finance article this week? If so, please share the link in the comments!
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