The Twittersphere can be infuriating, childish, repetitive, and boring. It can also be incredibly useful.
If you follow Justin Bieber and his ilk, you’ll probably see little practical benefit. If you follow your friends and family you’ll probably see little difference between WhatsApp and your social media. If you follow some of the best financial bloggers in the world, you could save yourself from an impending fiscal disaster and learn something at the same time.
Here we look at some of the best finance-related accounts run by individuals, rather than by companies and news organizations.
Martin Lewis (@moneysavingexp)
Approx. 350,000 followers
Website: moneysavingexpert.com
Martin Lewis holds the somewhat enviable title of being the most searched-for British man on Google.
He covers almost every conceivable aspect of personal finance, including utilities, motoring, insurance, mortgages, and loans.
Since launching his site in 2003 (which now has 14 million monthly users) he has gone on to have his own primetime TV show, become a best-selling author, and pen a regular column for several national newspapers.
If you need any further proof of his popularity and success, consider this – he just sold his website to MoneySuperMarket for a cool £87 million ($133 million).
Ashley Jacobs (@wisebread)
Approx. 44,000 followers
Website: wisebread.com
Ashley is the tweeter behind the popular Wisebread account. Its primary focus is improving your living standards on a smaller budget, but typical tweets can be as diverse as signs a stock market is about to crash through to how to make your own stain remover.
The site includes hot deals at retailers, financial “life hacks”, and how to cut costs and increase your frugality in areas like health and beauty, lifestyle, and travel.
Josh Brown (@ReformedBroker)
Approx. 110,000 followers
Website: thereformedbroker.com
Josh is the CEO of Ritholtz Wealth Management – but don’t let that grandiose title put you off following him.
He has been called “The Street's most irreverent (and most hilarious) Tweeter” by Business Insider, and after following him for a few days it’s easy to see why – his ongoing commentary on news and industry “personalities” is as funny as it is insightful. He makes ample use of satire, personal stories, and sarcasm to make the confusing world of finance seem accessible and straightforward.
Brown covers markets, politics, economics, media, and culture – all of which are viewed though a financial lens.
The accompanying website was launched in 2008.
Austan Goolsbee (@Austan_Goolsbee)
Approx. 50,000 followers
Austin doesn’t have a personal blog, and instead uses Twitter as his sole way of connecting with people.
He is a former government economic advisor, serving on Barack Obama’s team from 2004 to 2011. It means he is well-placed to give insight on “Obamanomics” and the US economy, as well as general commentary on the finance news of the day.
Like Josh, he’s also hilarious. In 2009, he was voted the “Funniest Celebrity in Washington” by The Wall Street Journal.
Karyn Fleeting (@Miss_Thrifty)
Approx. 6,000 followers
Website: miss-thrifty.co.uk
Miss Thrifty is a UK-based blogger who has won multiple awards and been featured in some of the country’s most influential printed press.
She tweets about a wide range of finance-based topics, from weddings and holidays to banking and investments – all with her trademark witty and chatty style.
Her feed includes lots of pictures from her daily life, as well as practical tips such as how to know if clothing in a store is about to be put on sale and how to save money on your shopping bill. Her advice is applicable no matter where in the world you live.
Jerry Khachoyan (@thearmotrader)
Approx. 8,500 followers
Website: jerrykhachoyan.com
Armenian blogger Jerry aims to provide regular insights on trading, investing, and economics.
He has only just finished his university degree but still provides insight like a seasoned pro, with frequent images and real-time market data supporting his analysis and reports.
He also tweets a lot about US sports – if you’re a Lakers, Galaxy, or Dodgers fan (all Los Angeles), this is a great account to follow.
Carrie Rocha (@CarrieRocha)
Approx. 6,000 followers
Website: pocketyourdollars.com
Carrie is a US-focused Twitter user and blogger, who has the expressed aim of help “middle America” live within their means and reduce their debt.
Her Twitter account publishes regular links to great shopping deals on must-have parenting items. Whether you’re looking for Christmas gifts, baby-care products, or school supplies, she’ll have a deal for you.
She also hosts a weekly “open mic” session via her blog that aims to get as many users online at the same time to discuss ideas and share deals.
Pete (@mrmoneymustache)
Approx. 35,000 followers
Website: mrmoneymustache.com
Pete, who chooses to keep his last name a secret to protect his identity, retired at the age of thirty. His Twitter account and his blog are geared towards helping you gain financial independence as early as possible.
It’s not as far-fetched as it sounds. On average, Pete and his partner each earned $67,000 per year during their working life – it’s a figure that’s well within reach for a lot of people.
He includes tips on topics as diverse as how to sell your house quickly, how much you should be saving for the future, and what insurances are appropriate for your age.
Ramit Sethi (@ramit)
Approx. 86,000 followers
Website: iwillteachyoutoberich.com
Those of you who are regular readers of our Self Improvement section will undoubtedly be familiar with Ramit’s work. He gained online fame back in 2012 when he hired someone to slap him every time his productivity levels dropped.
Since then he’s become a New York Times best-selling author, with his latest book I Will Teach You to Be Rich focusing on how to use persuasion and behavioral change to achieve financial wealth.
Who Have We Missed?
There are lots of talented financial bloggers out there. We have tried to give you a broad overview of people who cover a range of financial subjects here – but we know we have missed some.
So, it's over to you… Which are your favorite financial accounts on Twitter? Please let us know in the comments below.