10 “Un-Boring” Financial Blogs You Need to Read

Everywhere you turn these days, people are droning on and on about money and the economy.  Should you pay off your credit cards or start an emergency fund?  Is it better to pay off high-interest debt or focus on those with lower balances?  How does the unemployment rate correlate to the national foreclosure numbers?

Have your eyes glazed over yet?

If talk of interest rates and stock options leaves you less than enthusiastic, you’re not alone.  Still, the conversation is an important one – perhaps now more than ever.  That’s why I’ve done some digging to find the most un-boring financial blogs floating around the Internet.

Reviewing so many personal finance blogs offers a lot of insight into just what topics are really relevant to consumers right now.  Credit cards and credit card debt is a major concern, and many of these blogs have advice on how to handle lenders and pay down balances.  Retirement plans and other methods for saving for the future are also of major importance, although they do seem to take a back seat to getting out of from under consumer debt.

Surprisingly, most of the “un-boring” financial blogs aren’t actually written by finance experts.  Instead, they are written by “regular” people who have been in the trenches. Whether they’re chronicaling their own families’ journeys out of debt or sharing their best frugal shopping tips, they have a lot of great ideas that we can all apply to our own lives.

I’ve taken the liberty of offering a great post from each of the blogs to help get your feet wet…

1. Bargaineering – This blog offers a down-to-earth approach through which the author shares tips for saving, investing, and simply enjoying your money more.  Check out their post “Roth IRA Account Explained.”
2. Budgets Are Sexy – With posts ranging through a variety of topics, this somewhat irreverent blog gives personal finance advice and encouragement for those who are trying to create and stick to a budget.  A good example of what they have to offer is “Budgeting in style: Exploring the Envelope Method.”
3. The Consumerist – This blog covers all types of money-related topics, and some that don’t seem to have anything to do with money at all.  They work to protect consumers from various scams and “policies,” too.  Check out “The Article Cash4Gold Doesn’t Want You to Read” to see how far they’ll go.
4. Frugal Dad – Taking a look at ways to be more conservative with a family budget while still enjoying yourself and living the life you want.  FrugalDad has a few things to say about “The Difference in Being Frugal and Being Cheap.”
5. Get Rich Slowly – This blog is both a personal story of getting out of debt and getting ahead, as well as a roadmap and inspiration for those who want to do the same.  Written from a first-person perspective of someone who got sick of the “get rich quick” schemes out there and wanted to do things right.  One way to get rich slowly is to apply “The Balanced Money Formula.”
6. My Life ROI – ROI stands for “return on investment,” and this blogger looks at how all different aspects of life are affecting the “return” on his personal happiness.  He offers insight on all types of spending, including a “Breakdown of a Car Insurance Policy (What do All Those Numbers Mean?)”
7. Poorer Than You – Geared toward the 20-something crowd, this particular blog is about how to save money in your daily life, as well as how to plan for the future.  It also covers “common sense” topics that aren’t necessarily so “common” at that early stage in life, like how to check your credit report or “Using ING Sub-Accounts to Save Hundreds on Student Loans.”
8. The Simple Dollar – Also told as a personal tale, this blogger looks at how to be more responsible with money, getting out of debt, and making good decisions.  He also throws in some pop culture references and anecdotes to keep things lively.  A good place to start is with “Nine ways to Save Money at Your Desk in the Next Hour.”
9. Squakfox – This blog is full of frugal living tips to help readers learn “how living simply, spending wisely, and investing intelligently impacts your health, wealth, and self.”   The author offers a few tools, too, like the “Credit Card Calculator: Reduce Your Credit Card Debt Faster.”
10. Wisebread – This multi-author blog offers personal finance advice in tons of different categories, including frugal living, lifehacks, and how and where to find good deals.  It doesn’t talk down to the reader and has literally years’ worth of valuable reading in the archives.  Consider starting with “Will ‘Forced Frugality’ Last?”

Each of the un-boring financial blogs here does its part to uphold several ideals that can make a huge impact in our lives.  Money Crashers does a great job of summing it up with their “11 Indispensible Principles of a Money Crasher:”

1. Always spend less than you make.
2. Do not believe in money myths.
3. Get out of debt and stay out of debt.
4. Save money for the unexpected.
5. Pay for education with cash.
6. Find creative ways to boost your income.
7. Invest for the long-term and keep it simple.
8. Educate yourself about real estate, cars, and financial products.
9. Give, Give, and Give more.
10. You and your spouse are a team!

Sure, some of these tips are obvious.  Unfortunately, many of them are also really, really hard to do.  By using the advice found in the blogs listed here, you should have a guide on how to get your financial life heading in the right direction.

Posted on September 5, 2009