Hello hello, my money nerds. Let’s end the week with a handful of articles that take a look at the year 2020 as a whole.
How America Invests 2020. [Vanguard] — This is an annual report published by Vanguard. It looks at the personal investing behavior of their five million customers. It’s long and dense and a PDF. (I mean, it’s an actual 56-page publication, you guys!) But it’s interesting for many money nerds. Of more general interest is their short (four-page) summary of action steps investors can take based on the info in the larger report.
What was your best purchase of 2020? [/r/AskReddit] — A simple post in the AskReddit forum that generated 34,200 comments. Want to see what people buy and actually like? This thread has plenty of material, but you have to wade through a lot of crap to find the good stuff. It’s interesting to read what people like…and why.
Notable books of 2020. [Behavioral Scientist] — “Whether you’re reflecting on the year, looking forward to the next, or actively trying to avoid doing either, let this list be your license to find a companion in a behavioral science book or two. And if you’re in the market for a gift for someone who’s open to stretching their mind too, look no further.” These books aren’t exclusively about personal finance — they’re about psychology — but many of them touch on the topic.
Lastly, what would the internet be without cats? It’d be nothing, I tell you! Nothing! Here’s a seven-minute video from The New Yorker that looks at why humans are obsessed with cats, those tiny hyper-carnivores that demand our attention.
That’s it for this week! Jim will be back on Monday with more great stories about money. Enjoy your weekend…