Trusting Bloggers For Personal Finance Tips Might Be Just The Ticket

Author: Danielle Purnell

Trusting bloggers for personal finance tips might be just the ticket

Blogging is subject to a certain dichotomy in terms of how it is viewed. On the one hand, blogs are maintained by many of the most prominent news sources in the U.S. alone - the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and Los Angeles Times all have them, and mainstream blogs like the Huffington Post are largely viewed as nothing short of legitimate.

On the other hand, blogs are and always will be opinion-based, and they can be maintained by anyone, whether she possesses credentials to back herself up or not. So it's understandable if you're hesitant to seek out advice on important subjects, such as your personal finances, from these sources. However, you may end up being quite surprised with the caliber and efficacy of the tips you can find on certain financial blogs.

Some will, of course, be more credible than others. Also, be wary unless you're sure that their tips aren't absolute bunk - none of these individuals are professionals, even though some have written well-reviewed bestselling books and been featured in Time Magazine.

Luckily, that's not too hard to do, really. Government websites, such as the one maintained by the Federal Trade Commission, contain numerous easy-to-understand tips related to financial topics including credit reports, debt, budgeting and money management.

All right, you might be saying, then why would I bother with a blog covering the same material? Frankly, because blogs are likely to contain better writing. "Easy-to-understand" doesn't translate into "interesting to read" by default.

Also, most bloggers write from a first-person perspective, offering their advice in a relatable, conversational voice. This is helpful because it gives you a feeling that you're hearing from someone who experienced the same personal finance issues you did and managed to overcome them.

In Brief

  • Blogging is subject to a certain dichotomy in terms of how it is viewed.
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