Are you looking for information on starting a side hustle? Or investing? What if you need help saving money and reducing spending?
There are scores of blogs that specialize in these areas (and more). Here are some of the best.
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Best sites for overall personal finance advice
When you’re starting your financial journey, it’s good to find sites that generalize. This way you can learn the basics of investing, earning, spending, saving, etc. These are some of our favorite general personal finance advice sites.
Money Crashers
Money Crashers says that the site’s goal is to “provide informative, actionable content to empower you to take control of your finances.” They deliver on that promise, and then some! You’ll find helpful information and advice on saving, investing, money management, side hustles, and more on this site. It’s a great one-stop-shop for personal finance.
Nerdwallet
Nerdwallet is the personal finance site. Known primarily for its product and service reviews, the site also offers advice on everything from credit cards to travel perks. It is particularly handy for helping you weed through information and find advice that is specific to your current financial situation. For example, you can search for which credit cards are best for someone based on their credit score, background, or income level.
Well-Kept Wallet
The Well-Kept Wallet covers everything from choosing a bank account to earning passive income. On this site you’ll find advice for investing, earning money online, how to budget properly, etc.
Wallet Hacks
Unlike a lot of other personal finance blogs, Wallet Hacks isn’t going to spam you with product reviews (designed, of course, to help them earn commission income). Instead, its founder promises that the site offers “no products, no services — just information to help you become better with your money.” The site offers advice for everything from tips for investing your first thousand bucks to cashing a check even if you don’t have a bank account.
The College Investor
Aimed at college students, The College Investor focuses primarily on information about student loan management topics. These topics range from understanding the terms in a student loan contract to setting up a side hustle in your dorm room. FYI, the side hustle information is useful even for people who have left school!
Get Rich Slowly
Get Rich Slowly was started by J.D. Roth in 2006. In addition to providing practical information on earning, saving, debt management, etc., the site also has a suite of useful tools. Those tools include a net worth calculator, free PDF guides, and links to blogs, podcasts, and other sites that are helpful to people who want to get their finances under control.
Financial Samurai
The Financial Samurai is a blog for people who want to take an aggressive approach to money management and wealth-building. There are articles on topics like investing, spending, real estate, etc. It’s important to note that this site is geared toward those who have already built up sizeable net worth.
Best budgeting blogs
Saving money is important. Everybody needs a rainy-day fund, right? Not to mention saving for retirement and new homes. If you want to go beyond the coupon-clipping sites, these are the blogs you should check out.
Budgets are Sexy
Budgets are Sexy, a blog built by “J. Money” in 2008 has changed hands a couple of times. First from “J. Money” to “5am Joel” and now to new owners who are, so far, unnamed. The site has a treasure trove of information and tools: free budget templates, links to financial trackers, information on side hustles, investing, saving, etc.
You Need A Budget
You Need a Budget is a very popular website that has spawned a very popular budgeting app (YNAB). The blog’s goal is to provide actionable information that everybody can use to better manage their daily finances and grow their savings. They also have information on loans, investing, insurance, etc.
Good Financial Cents
In addition to the information about budgeting, saving, and earning money that you’d expect from a personal finance blog, Good Financial Cents also offers a suite of information to help you figure out your taxes! They also offer guides to help you navigate saving for retirement and step-by-step instructions for getting out of debt.
Best options for Millennials and Gen Z
You are never too young to start building your financial future. Here are some of the best financial blogs for people still in college (and the recently graduated).
Money under 30
The earlier you learn how to responsibly manage your finances, the better. That’s why blogs like Money Under 30 exist. This site tackles financial responsibility and success topics that are specifically applicable to people under 30. Topics include figuring out a realistic budget, learning to invest, and financial opportunities for young adults in minority and traditionally underserved communities.
Millennial Money
It’s true: Millennials are in their 30s and 40s now, so continuing to call this site “Millennial Money” might be a bit of a misnomer. This site wants to help younger adults achieve financial freedom as early as possible. They focus on topics like managing finances during the pandemic, how to start saving for retirement early on, etc.
Young and the Invested
The cleverly titled Young and the Invested blog is focused on helping young people build their net worth. Their three primary areas of expertise are: investing, managing, and planning money. They also feature informational posts on choosing the best credit cards when you don’t have much of a credit history, student loan management, passive income investments, etc.
Best frugal living blogs
Frugal living always seems easy in principle. It is much harder to actually practice it. Here are a few sites that will help you live as well and as frugally as possible.
The Penny Hoarder
The Penny Hoarder has long been a go-to for people looking for tips on how to save money. The great thing about this site is that it goes far beyond the usual “how to save a few bucks by buying in bulk” advice you’re used to. On this site, you’ll find information on how to save money on medical care, tips for making money and side hustles, retirement advice, etc.
Making Sense of Cents
Unlike other frugal living blogs that try to incorporate a lot of different topics, Making Sense of Cents focuses on three primary topics: Making Money, Saving Money, and Blog Monetization techniques. Their advice is practical and straightforward, and they make a point of highlighting tools readers can get for free.
Frugal Woods
Frugal Woods is a great blog for people who want to learn how others manage their money. The site is run by a family committed to being transparent about its financial situation. You can also find “Reader Case Studies” which are stories about financial decisions others have made.
Best debt management blogs
Are you drowning in debt? Do you want to conquer your debt sooner rather than later? Check out these blogs.
Get Out of Debt Guy
The Get Out of Debt Guy blog was started by the original Get Out of Debt Guy, Steve Rhode. After founding MyVesta and a number of other ventures, polymath Rhode decided to start giving advice online. This blog is an extension of that idea and provides news and advice posts about every topic under the “financial success” umbrella.
Disease Called Debt
The Disease Called Debt blog is all about financial education. It primarily focuses on helping readers save money, get out of debt, and make money so they can build their personal wealth. There are also posts about helping your friends and loved ones who are struggling with debt, which is a nice change from a lot of the other blogs out there.
Beating Broke
The tagline for Beating Broke is “personal finance from the broke perspective.” This is a must-read for people who are tired of being told to drink fewer lattes and eat less avocado toast. The blog talks about personal finance of course, but it also delves into the topics that can affect a person’s ability to maintain their finances: mental health, physical health, relationships, etc.
Best blogs for coupons and savings tips
Coupon clipping and deals can be very handy when you know where to find the good ones. There are a lot of coupon/discount code/deal sites out there. Here are a couple that we like the best.
Money Saving Mom
Crystal Paine started Money Saving Mom in 2007. Her goal was to create a site to help people save money and make money — without resorting to gimmicks or other shady concepts like MLM (or multilevel marketing} schemes. In addition to blog posts, Paine has also published a number of guides — all of which are available on the site for free.
Live FabuLESS
Live FabuLESS is the brainchild of Jodi Furman. The blog is currently being refurbished. While it rebuilds, Furman is offering personalized approaches to finance, saving money, earning money, etc.
Best financial planning and money management blogs
Financial health isn’t just about rectifying a bad situation. It’s about preventing one from occurring (or re-occurring). Planning for the future is a key part of that strategy. Here are some blogs you can read to help you on that journey.
Clever Girl Finance
Clever Girl Finance is a site that is packed to the code with useful information. They offer a variety of guides and courses for free as well as a plethora of awesome blog posts. One of their most popular posts is about the difference between being rich and being wealthy. The site also offers readers a community of other women who are also trying to rectify their financial health.
Marriage, Kids and Money
Marriage, Kids, and Money is about—you guessed it! Marriage, kids, and money. The blog tells the story of Andy Hill. Andy Hill was obsessed with the idea of financial freedom, so he started the blog to document his journey and to share what he learned with others. The site features posts about how to live without a mortgage, how to pay off five figures of debt in a year, etc.
Best credit card blogs
Credit cards are here to stay, and credit can be a major temptation. It’s important that you not take the first offer that comes along. Read these sites to find the best credit card information available.
Dr. Credit Card
Dr. Credit Card is a blog dedicated to credit card reviews. The site also has pages for current promotions offered by different credit card companies (like 0% interest for X months, etc.). You can also learn about all of the different travel perks offered by credit card companies. Readers will find information about how to evaluate credit card offers and travel perk offers for themselves in case they can’t find the information they need on the site itself.
Moneytips.com/Credit Card insider
Credit Card Insider has merged with MoneyTips.com and their URL redirects to that site. Money Tips breaks its information down into several main categories: mortgages, loans, real estate, and personal finance. The personal finance part of the site covers credit cards, understanding credit, and financial planning. Readers will find basic information like the difference between debit cards and credit cards, what to do if a card is stolen, etc.
Best blogs to start investing
If you want to be financially successful, you need to invest. Once you’ve learned the basics of investing on the general sites, these are the blogs that will help you invest well.
A Wealth of Common Sense
While A Wealth of Common Sense does have some information for investing newbies, this site is more for people who have some experience. Created and run by Ben Carlson, the site offers market predictions and analyses of stock performances. What makes this site so great is that, while you should have at least a basic understanding of investing, the site doesn’t rely on jargon or lingo to educate readers. Instead, it uses conversational and simple language to help readers keep current on investing trends.
Mr. Money Mustache
Mr. Money Mustache promises “financial freedom through badassity.” This blog feels a lot like an old-school blog: one author, talking directly to their audience. The blog was started in 2011 when “Mr. Money Mustache” got frustrated watching his friends spend too much money and then complain about how hard it was to afford stuff. Since its inception, the blog has grown and now it includes “Reader Case Studies”, market news analysis, and practical advice on living frugally so that the money you make stretches as far as possible. The blog also contains a forum where readers can interact with each other.
My Money Blog
The first thing you see when you visit My Money Blog is a disclaimer. The disclaimer tells you that the site has paired with Card Ratings and Credit-Land for “select credit cards.” This means that the author could receive a commission if you click on the links on this site. Before you worry that the promise of a commission has compromised the information on this blog, relax. Even if you skip the credit card reviews, you’ll find information on different banks, investing topics (including cryptocurrencies) and retirement.
Best retirement planning blogs
Do you want to have to work full-time every day for the rest of your life? Of course not! Most of us plan on retiring eventually. Unfortunately, retirement is far from free. Here are some blogs that will help you plan and save well for your post-employment life.
Real Deal Retirement
Real Deal Retirement breaks retirement information down into four main categories: saving for retirement, investing for retirement, retirement income, and lifestyle planning. The site also contains an extensive “toolbox” with links to a variety of calculators, guides to Social Security, pensions, annuities, etc. The blog itself goes over tips for using the money you make via investments to make even more money for retirement by re-investing your money. Readers can also send in their questions because the site has an advice column.
The Retirement Manifesto
The Retirement Manifesto is a magazine-style site that covers retirement-related topics like real estate, inflation, saving, commodities investing, and more. The site is run by Fritz Gilbert, the author of Keys to a Successful Retirement. Readers should know, though, that this site’s intended audience is people who are within ten years of being able to retire. Gilbert assumes that people reading the site have been thinking about and doing at least basic prep work for a while. He wants to take what people are already doing and help them kick it up a few notches to have the best retirement possible.
Best blogs for financial independence
Financial independence is something to which everyone should aspire. Here are a couple of blogs that will teach you how to reach that goal.
Physician On FIRE
Physician on FIRE is a blog created by “Leif,” a physician who managed to obtain financial independence and the ability to retire early. The site he built is for physicians — as well as their patients — who want information on how to follow his example. The site contains information on student loans, personal finance, estate planning, finding a financial advisor, etc. It also has a special section of articles for “physicians’ issues.” If you work in the medical field, that is where you’ll find specialized information for those in your profession.
The Fioneers
The Fioneers want you to enjoy your journey to financial independence. That’s the whole point of their site: to make sure that you save and make as much as possible without neglecting the parts of life that make you happy or help you feel fulfilled. In addition to the usual posts about saving money and navigating areas with a high cost of living (HCOL areas), you’ll also find posts about lifestyle design and happiness. The Fioneers know that racing toward financial independence can feel more like a slog, so they prefer to go slowly and purposefully. And they want to show you how to do that, too.
Best stock market blogs
A successful investment portfolio should include at least a few stocks. But which ones? These are the blogs that will help you figure that out.
Seeking Alpha
If you are just starting to learn about investing, Seeking Alpha may appear intimidating. This is because the site is designed for investors who have experience and who understand the stock market. The site offers insight and analysis into stocks, efts, dividends, and market behavior. The site boasts that its stocks are outperforming by more than 10% so it’s a fair bet that you can trust their advice, right? And if you need help building your portfolio, don’t worry — the site has you covered there, too!
Beware: There is a video on the site that will play automatically as soon as the site loads. So, if you’re reading at work, make sure your speakers are turned off!
Wall Street Survivor Blog
The Wall Street Survivor Blog isn’t really a blog. It’s more of an educational portal for people who want to learn about investing. The site has an extensive library of articles to help new investors learn the basics. There are also articles about how to get creative with your investment portfolios to maximize your returns.
The most interesting part of this site, however, is its market simulator. The simulator offers users the chance to put together a mock portfolio and learn how to track it as the market fluctuates. They get practical experience before they have to deal with any real consequences. It’s like driver’s ed but for stocks!
Best blog for small business owners
Small businesses are tricky financial beasts. Whether you want to start one or need help increasing your profits, these blogs have you covered.
Small Business Trends
Small Business Trends is designed for, you guessed it: small business owners. They also have advice and analysis for people who are hoping to start their own small business. Beyond the starting and running your own business categories, the site offers posts in lifestyle, marketing, tech, and breaking news topics. Readers will get tips on business expansion techniques, taxes, and public relations.
What’s great is that the site isn’t just for small shops or office-based businesses. There’s information for people who want to work with their hands, run their businesses out of their homes, and monetize their hobbies.
Best Canadian Blog
Americans aren’t the only people who want to achieve financial success. Here’s a blog that can help all of our Canadian readers:
Million Dollar Journey
Founded in 2006, Million Dollar Journey was created to help Canadians learn about investing, banking, credit, etc. Readers will find tips on retirement, and guides for achieving financial independence. The site’s founder, who goes by Frugal Trader or FT, believes in practicing what he teaches. He invites readers to follow his own financial journey through personal posts about his net worth, his experience trying to follow the Million Dollar Journey, etc. Readers can also read the success stories of others who have followed the site’s advice and are the better for it.
Best side-hustle blog
Side hustles are as common today as…well, there probably aren’t any good historical comparisons here. Just know that side hustles are currently the norm. If you’re not sure how to get yours started, read these blogs.
Side Hustle Nation
These days everybody has a side hustle. Side Hustle Nation is the go-to for practical information on how to turn your side hustle into a real money maker. The founder has created several of his own income streams and teaches readers how to replicate his success. What makes this site great is that the advice offered is literally spelled out in step-by-step instructions. These instructions are easy to follow. If you aren’t sure what kind of side hustle you should start, there’s a section called “Ideas” that’s just for you!
Best personal finance podcasts
Not everybody wants to spend hours staring at screens. This is where podcasts come in! Here are a couple of amazing financial podcasts that are definitely worth your time.
Choose FI
Choose FI is shorthand for “Choose Financial Independence.” The podcast is run by Jonathan Mendonsa, Brad Barrett, and Ed Tee. Their goal is to create a one-stop shop to help people figure out what they need to do to become financially independent. You’ll find links to podcast episodes on the site as well as articles and a pretty great toolbox. The Toolbox includes calculators, courses, eBooks and even recipes!
The Clark Howard Podcast
Clark Howard is the expert behind the Clark.com, ClarkDeals.com, and the Consumer Action Center. People have been trusting his insights and advice for years. It’s only natural that he would have a podcast, too. The podcast is free and covers the same topics you’d find on Clark.com — personal finance topics like payroll advances, and how stuff like concert tickets, airline travel, and energy price points work.
Best government resources
Having a financially sound citizenry is in the best interest of any federal government. The US government has created a few free resources to help you manage your money.
Money smart (FDIC)
Money Smart is a financial education program offered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC—you know, the folks who insure your bank accounts). The site is to help readers learn how to be financially responsible, build good banking relationships, and improve their financial skills. They do this via articles, games, and simulators with virtual coins.
Consumer resources page
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has a consumer resources page to help people learn the skills they need to make informed financial decisions. It has guides for buying a house, retirement planning, paying for school, etc. This is also the page where you can submit a complaint if you think a company has committed fraud or if you’re being harassed by a debt collector.
MyMoney.gov
MyMoney.gov is a site put together by the Financial Literacy and Education Commission (FLEC). The site has resources for people who want to learn about financial topics, people who are teaching financial topics and even people who are simply researching financial topics. The site’s toolbox has calculators, sample budgets, and a variety of checklists you can use to help manage your money.
FTC Scam alerts
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) wants to help consumers protect themselves against scammers. Their scam alerts site has information on how to figure out if you’re dealing with a scam artist or if the person contacting you is legit. They also have lists of the most common scams, organized by category. You can also learn about reporting scams here.
Best personal finance websites
Blogs are great, but what about financial journalism? These are some of the best personal finance sites that are currently publishing on the web.
Bankrate.com
Bankrate.com does more than review bank accounts. They also offer information about debt, home buying and refinancing, loans, credit, and insurance. Bankrate even gives visitors the option to create a free account to gain access to a variety of useful financial tools and resources.
Kiplinger.com
Kiplinger is a mainstay of financial reporting and journalism. The site is an extension of their popular magazine and covers everything from current events to choosing a college major based on that major’s income potential.
Credit Karma
Credit Karma is a one-stop-shop-styled site that will help you monitor your credit score/report. The company offers this service for free! Credit Karma also offers financial education tools and a pre-screen tool that will help you find out if you are likely to qualify for a loan or line of credit. They even offer spending and savings accounts!
The Bottom Line
There are a lot of sites that promise to give you the best financial information out there. Not all of them can deliver. The sites listed here are some of our favorites to help you stay up to date on financial news and increase your chances of achieving financial success.
