When I was in sixth grade, I remember volunteering to help Kindergartners complete a class project.
As luck would have it, the local newspaper was there and I, along with two others, had my photo captured for the world to see!
If you had asked, I’d have told you that was probably the last time I’d ever be in the paper. 🙂
Fortunately, I was wrong. In the nearly fifteen years I have been writing about personal finance, I would have to honor of appearing in esteemed publications like The New York Times, U.S. News & World Report, Entrepreneur, The Motley Fool, and many others. A partial listing is included below and is not in chronological order.
If you would like to reach me, please send me an email. I am located between Washington D.C. and Baltimore, MD.
Table of Contents
Most Recent Features
GoBankingRates – How Raising Your Credit Score Can Make You $22,263 Over a Lifetime
Published February 21, 2024
You can also in some instances improve your credit score by requesting credit limit increases from your credit cards. By doing so, you reduce your credit utilization percentage and that is a key component of your credit score, explained Jim Wang, founder, Wallet Hacks.
“When you do this, make sure you only ask for a modest increase so it doesn’t potentially involve a manual review or a hard inquiry on your credit report,” added Wang.
GoBankingRates – These People Pay For Everything With Credit To Reap Rewards: You Should Too
Published February 16, 2024
If you’re not sure what kind of rewards card is right for you, Jim Wang, founder of Wallet Hacks, suggested the Fidelity Rewards credit card.
“It gives you 2% cash back on everything without an annual fee. No need to think, just get 2% back on everything.”
He and his wife carry two cards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and a Southwest Rapid Rewards card, and try to pay for everything with them — things ranging from gasoline to their kids’ summer camps and all their travel.
U.S. News and World Report – The Best Budgeting Templates to Manage Your Money
Published November 7, 2023
“A budget helps you reach your financial goals because it gives you a full understanding of your spending and saving,” says Jim Wang, founder of the personal finance blog Best Wallet Hacks. “This helps you find areas where you can cut back on your spending so you can increase your savings elsewhere.”
Nerdwallet – Concerts Help Drive Demand for Travel in 2023
Published October 5, 2023
Jim Wang scored tickets for Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour in Pittsburgh, which he paid $800 for. And since Swift’s concert at Acrisure Stadium was about a four-hour drive from his home in Fulton, Maryland, he’d need overnight accommodations, too.
Wang is just one of a growing group of people willing to travel to see a concert. TodayTix Group, an online ticketing platform for theatrical and cultural events, conducted an online survey in February 2023 of more than 4,000 Americans who had attended at least one live event over the past 12 months. 38% of respondents were willing to travel within their state, as Wang did. And 17% were willing to travel out of state.
When shows like The Eras Tour come to town, along with them comes a sudden — yet temporary — influx of travelers, and hotel rooms often sell out because of it. In Wang’s case, all the hotels in Pittsburgh were sold out, and he was lucky to find an Airbnb about a mile and a half away.
Best Life – 5 Secrets About Flying on Southwest Airlines You Need to Know
Published August 23, 2023
“If you want beverage service faster, you want to be seated in rows 1, 9, and 17—or at least the rows right behind those,” says Jim Wang, frequent Southwest flyer and founder of financial advice website WalletHacks.com. “That’s where they start their service so you can get your drinks a little bit faster.”
Woman’s World – 12 Ways To Score the *Biggest* Savings At Target — Deal Hunters Tell All
Published July 24, 2023
“I think it’s a great card if you do a lot of your shopping at Target because you get a lot of nice perks for a card with no annual fee,” says money-saving expert Jim Wang, founder of WalletHacks.com.
The biggest benefit is that you get an immediate 5% off most purchases made at Target stores or at Target.com. “Some cards, like the Amazon.com card, will give you 5% in reward points or cash back, but Target avoids those games and gives you 5% off at the register,” he notes.
And there are other perks! “You also get free 2-day shipping and an additional 30 days for returns and exchanges as well as 2% rewards on dining and gas and 1% everywhere else outside of Target,” says Wang.
GoBankingRates – 7 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting My Own Business
Published June 27, 2023
Jim Wang, founder of the personal finance blog Wallet Hacks, says, “It’s really hard and lonely, even if you have partners and employees. When it is your business, you’re responsible for everything, and there are no easy answers.”
He adds, “You spend a lot of time wondering if you’re making the right choice, and oftentimes there’s no one else to talk to about it. It helps to join mastermind groups and networking groups, but ultimately, it’s your business, so you’re the one who has to make hard choices.”
Haven Life – Can sustainable investing help the housing crunch?
Published April 22, 2023
“I really like the idea of companies that reinvest into the local economy, especially if you’re repurposing, renovating, or refurbishing older buildings rather than knocking them down and building a completely new building in its place,” says Jim Wang, founder of WalletHacks. “It’s often more expensive to do that than demolish and rebuild, but keeping the history and keeping the materials out of the landfill are commendable.”
The Epoch Times – Top Money Mistakes and Ways to Avoid Them to Build Financial Security
Published April 5, 2023
Jim Wang, founder of Wallet Hacks, a personal finance blog, told The Epoch Times that automating various tasks related to money management can pay dividends.
“Too many people rely on their memory or some other reminder for them to pay their bills, save money, or complete other monthly tasks that are better left to computers that never forget,” he said.
Paying bills, especially ones that don’t change from month to month, is a prime example of where automation can be particularly useful.
“By automating tasks like that, you never forget them. You never pay a late fee, you never skip a contribution to your savings, and that ‘set it and forget it’ mentality can pay dividends in the long run,” Wang said.
Consumer Affairs – Here’s how to stop living paycheck-to-paycheck
Published April 4, 2023
Jim Wang, founder of Wallet Hacks, agrees that starting with a review of current spending is a good idea. He says some minor trimming could add up.
“This could be as easy as canceling a subscription service or as complex as renegotiating your rent, he told us. “If you have insurance, shop around for a new policy to see if you could save money with another carrier. These one-time moves can pay dividends over the course of a year, especially for expensive services.”
Discover – How to begin investing: The steps to take and terms to know
Published March 21, 2023
Investing your money wisely can help you preserve and grow your money over time. “The key benefit of investing is that your money will grow without you having to do any work,” says Jim Wang, founder of WalletHacks.com. “For decades, wealth has been created through the stock market because it can continue to grow without your direct intervention.”
GoBankingRates – Experts: How Much Do You Need Saved for a Solid Financial Cushion in 2023?
Published March 23, 2023
If you’re starting from scratch, Jim Wang, founder of WalletHacks.com, said to start with a financial cushion of $400.
“When 3 out of 5 Gen Z consumers can’t cover a $400 emergency expense, I think that is a good target to aim for,” he said. “When you don’t have an emergency fund, a large number can be discouraging. So if you have nothing saved, aim to save $400 so you aren’t one of those statistics.”
Featured In…
- The New York Times: Psst: Want to Know My Net Worth?
- The New York Times: Not-So-Personal Finance
- The New York Times: One Blogger’s Take on Costco
- The New York Times: Consumers Have Allies on the Web
- Vanguard Blog: How I learned to stop worrying and love market volatility (archived copy)
- Vanguard Blog: 5 common misconceptions I had about ETFs (archived copy)
- Ally Bank: 3 Easy Financial Adjustments that Pay Dividends for Years
- Ally Bank: Money Lessons From Mom With Jim Wang
- Ally Bank: Jim Wang’s Guide to Budgeting Your Way – Without Doing Anything You Hate
- Ally Bank: Jim Wang’s 5 Things You Shouldn’t Overpay For
- Ally Bank: Savings Talk: Creating a Savings Calendar
- Ally Bank: 7 Safe Online Shopping Tips with Jim Wang
- CNBC: Before you start some post-pandemic spending, make these money moves
- CNBC: Here’s why you should start paying off debt now — and how to get started
- Consumer Affairs: Here’s how to stop living paycheck-to-paycheck
- Discover: How Much Should I Have in Savings? Tips from the Pros
- Discover: Deciding When to Use Your Emergency Fund: Is Now the Right Time?
- Discover: How to begin investing: The steps to take and terms to know
- Intuit MintLife: So You Want To Buy An NFT – Here’s What To Consider
- Intuit MintLife: 8 Things You Can Do Today to Stop Stressing About Money
- American Public Media’s Marketplace Money: Personal finance bloggers check-in
- American Public Media’s Marketplace Money: Blogging the volatile markets
- American Public Media’s Marketplace Money: The world of personal finance bloggers
- CapRadio’s Insight: California Reimposes Strict Restrictions On 40 Counties / Dealing With Unemployment Claims And Personal Finance / Supporting Local Businesses Amid Pandemic
- Apartment Therapy: Hey, It’s OK If You Don’t Have Perfect Finances by Age 30
- Entrepreneur: How to Be Smart About Business Credit Cards
- Business Insider: A man who sold his website for $3 million shares a childhood lesson that has made all the difference with his money
- Reader’s Digest: 10 Secret Places Rich People Hide Their Money
- Bloomberg: Best Blogs for the Young and Broke
- Chicago Tribune: Fatherly advice that pays off
- Chicago Tribune: Keep cost per use in mind when shopping
- Baltimore Sun: Moneybloggers share the wealth
- Baltimore Sun: Match coupons with sales for bigger savings
- CreditCards.com: Do balance transfers hurt your credit score?
- PARADE: The Equifax Breach: What You Need to Do Now
- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Personal Finance 101: How to indulge in a little discretionary spending without breaking the bank
- Chase: 5 Time-Saving Tricks to Managing Your Finances [archived]
- U.S. News & World Report: 9 savings strategies to boost your finances
- U.S. News & World Report: Ways to Save $5,000 This Year
- U.S. News & World Report: The 10 Best Finance Movies of the Decade
- U.S. News & World Report: How to Earn Money as a Professional Blogger
- U.S. News & World Report: How to Avoid the Marriage Tax
- U.S. News & World Report: ‘Elderbloggers’ Shy Away From Money Talk
- U.S. News & World Report: 7 Budgeting Templates to Take Control of Your Money
- Yahoo! News: What To Do If You’re Worried About Your 401(k) Losing Money
- Yahoo! Finance: How To Get a Lower Price on Anything
- Yahoo! Finance: 10 times Suze Orman got it wrong, her critics say
- Yahoo! Finance: 16 Tax-Planning Issues for 2021
- Insider: 10 things you can learn about money in 10 minutes that will change your life
- INC: 3 Factors That Will Determine the Success of Your Side Hustle
- Marketwatch: There’s been a surge in the number of young Americans opening credit cards — here’s why it may be smart to wait
- Forbes: Jim Wang: How Relationships Built A 7-Figure Blog
- Quicken Loans: Right-Sizing Your Living Quarters: When to Downsize or Upsize
- Nerdwallet: This Halloween, Don’t Get Spooked by Your Credit Card Bill
- GoBankingRates: 5 Ways to Earn Extra Money Before Black Friday
- GoBankingRates: 15 Times You Should Splurge, Settle or Skip When Shopping
- GoBankingRates: 10 Last-Minute Money Moves for 2015
- GoBankingRates: 10 Habits That Could Help You Save Thousands
- GoBankingRates: How To Make Your Paycheck Last Longer
- GoBankingRates: Experts: How Much Do You Need Saved for a Solid Financial Cushion in 2023?
- MSN Money: 16 Savings Tips From Today’s Top Personal Finance Experts
- Money: 10 Secret Ways to Save at Costco
- Dario AS: Second stimulus check: Trump appears to confirm payment plans
- Woman’s World: 4 Ways to Save Big on Summer Essentials
- Woman’s World: 5 Ways to Save Big On Groceries Today With Bonus Coupons
- Real Simple: 7 Easy Ways to Save Money Every Day
- Haven Life: How to budget for returning to the office
- Haven Life: The last-minute 2021 financial resolution completion guide
- Porch: Expert’s Advice: How to Adopt a Frugal Lifestyle
Podcast & Video
- Entrepreneur on Fire Podcast: Jim Wang: How He Sold His Personal Finance Blog for 3 Million Dollars
- Opt Out Life: Jim Wang – The Blogger Who Got Free
- BiggerPockets Money: Big Money Wins—Unique Ways to Save & Use Cash Efficiently with Jim Wang
- Afford Anything: #30: “OKAY, I’m Financially Independent, Now What?” – Entrepreneur Jim Wang
- Mo’ Money Podcast: The Best Hacks for Your Wallet with Jim Wang
- Next Year Now Podcast: Episode 54: Get Ahead Financially with Wallet Hacks Founder Jim Wang
- Do You Even Blog Podcast: How Jim from Wallet Hacks makes his blog STAND OUT.
- So Money with Farnoosh Torabi: So Money with Jim Wang
- Listen Money Matters: Better Know a Millionaire with Jim Wang from Wallet Hacks
- Listen Money Matters: Turn Your Hobby Into a Money Maker
- Fincon The Money & Media Podcast: 5 Ways to Drive Better Email Lists – with Jim Wang – M&M Podcast Episode #2
- Fincon The Money & Media Podcast: Honing your Blogging Message with Jim Wang of Wallet Hacks
- Plutus Foundation: Jim Wang Moves Forward From His Defining Period [013]
- Experian: Jim Wang: Frugality, Investing & Enjoying Life [Video]
- The Money Tree Podcast: Worst Investments Ever with Jim Wang LIVE at FinCon – MTI163
- Money with Friends: Thought Leaders – Season 1
- LifeSelfMastery: Ep 35: How to build a popular blog with Jim Wang
- Success Harbor: How to Build a Blog Valued at $3 Million with Jim Wang
- The Sun: NO VIRUS VACATION? Second stimulus check ‘WON’T be a $4,000 Explore America tax credit’
- The Sun: VACATION PAY New ‘travel stimulus check’ would give all taxpayers $4,000 to go on VACATION
Awards & Nominations
- Plutus Awards:
- Best Traditional Retirement Content (Nominated) – 2023
- Content Creator of the Year – Written (Nominated) – 2023
- Personal Finance Blog of the Year (Nominated) – 2021, 2020, 2019
- Best Investing Blog (Winner) – 2019
- Lifetime Achievement Award (Winner) – 2014
- Best Personal Finance Blog for Careers Award (Winner) – 2010
Thanks for reading!