Money Basics
Budgeting, saving, paying off debt — written plainly, without the finance-bro vocabulary.
- Audience
- First-jobbers, freelancers, anyone rebuilding after a rough year
- Monetization
- affiliate (banks, brokerages)course bundlesnewsletter
- Strapline
- “Small money, smarter.”
Recently published
How to organize tax documents
A clear, search-friendly guide for people trying to make practical money decisions.
April 24, 2026
How to read your paycheck deductions
A clear, search-friendly guide for people trying to make practical money decisions.
April 25, 2026
How to plan for car insurance increases
A clear, search-friendly guide for people trying to make practical money decisions.
April 26, 2026
How to talk about money with family
A clear, search-friendly guide for people trying to make practical money decisions.
April 20, 2026
How side hustle taxes work
A clear, search-friendly guide for people trying to make practical money decisions.
April 21, 2026
How tax extensions work
A clear, search-friendly guide for people trying to make practical money decisions.
April 22, 2026
What to do if you missed the tax deadline
A clear, search-friendly guide for people trying to make practical money decisions.
April 23, 2026
How to stop subscription leaks
A clear, search-friendly guide for people trying to make practical money decisions.
April 25, 2026
How to build an emergency fund in 2026
A clear, search-friendly guide for people trying to make practical money decisions.
April 24, 2026
How to make a realistic no-spend month
A clear, search-friendly guide for people trying to make practical money decisions.
April 16, 2026
How to save money on groceries
A clear, search-friendly guide for people trying to make practical money decisions.
April 17, 2026
How to protect your money from phishing
A clear, search-friendly guide for people trying to make practical money decisions.
April 18, 2026
How to spot bank scam texts
A clear, search-friendly guide for people trying to make practical money decisions.
April 19, 2026
How to pay down credit card debt faster
A clear, search-friendly guide for people trying to make practical money decisions.
April 20, 2026
How credit card interest actually works
A clear, search-friendly guide for people trying to make practical money decisions.
April 21, 2026
How high-yield savings accounts work
A clear, search-friendly guide for people trying to make practical money decisions.
April 23, 2026
How to compare savings account rates
A clear, search-friendly guide for people trying to make practical money decisions.
April 22, 2026
How to budget for rent increases
A clear, search-friendly guide for people trying to make practical money decisions.
April 27, 2026
How to use AI budgeting tools safely
A clear, search-friendly guide for people trying to make practical money decisions.
April 27, 2026
Best budgeting methods for weekly paychecks
A clear, search-friendly guide for people trying to make practical money decisions.
April 26, 2026
How to make a no-spend weekend realistic
A practical, no-drama guide to make a no-spend weekend realistic.
April 27, 2026
How to split groceries with roommates
A practical, no-drama guide to split groceries with roommates.
April 21, 2026
How to compare two bank accounts
A practical, no-drama guide to compare two bank accounts.
April 22, 2026
How to build a starter emergency fund
A practical, no-drama guide to build a starter emergency fund.
April 23, 2026
How to stop impulse buying online
A practical, no-drama guide to stop impulse buying online.
April 24, 2026
How to plan for yearly expenses
A practical, no-drama guide to plan for yearly expenses.
April 25, 2026
How to read a credit card statement
A practical, no-drama guide to read a credit card statement.
April 26, 2026
How to talk about money with a partner
A practical, no-drama guide to talk about money with a partner.
April 18, 2026
How to organize receipts for tax season
A practical, no-drama guide to organize receipts for tax season.
April 19, 2026
How to make a simple bill calendar
A practical, no-drama guide to make a simple bill calendar.
April 20, 2026
How to cancel subscriptions without losing track
A practical, no-drama guide to cancel subscriptions without losing track.
April 19, 2026
How to start saving with only twenty dollars
A practical, no-drama guide to start saving with only twenty dollars.
April 18, 2026
How to make a budget when income changes
A practical, no-drama guide to make a budget when income changes.
April 27, 2026
How to split bills with a roommate fairly
Equal split for fixed bills. Use Splitwise for everything else. Settle weekly, not when it's awkward.
February 4, 2026
How much rent can I actually afford?
30% of net income on housing is the safe rule. 40% works in expensive cities if you skip car payments.
February 1, 2026
How to build a $1,000 emergency fund
$84/month for 12 months. Or $20/week for a year. Or sell stuff and skip a vacation.
February 25, 2026
What is a high-yield savings account?
A regular savings account, but with 10x the interest. Same FDIC protection. No catch.
February 28, 2026
How much should I save each month?
20% is the textbook answer. 5% is a real start. Anything is better than nothing.
March 4, 2026
How to budget when you hate budgeting
Forget tracking every coffee. Set three numbers a month and ignore everything else.
March 7, 2026
What is a Roth IRA in plain English?
A retirement account where you pay tax now, then never again on the growth. Good deal if you'll be taxed more later.
February 13, 2026
How to track spending without an app
Pen and a small notebook. The act of writing it down is what changes behavior.
February 7, 2026
How to negotiate a raise (script included)
Document your wins, ask for a meeting, name a number, then stop talking.
February 10, 2026
How to start investing with $100
Open a Roth IRA, buy an S&P 500 index fund, set up auto-deposit. Total time: 30 minutes.
February 19, 2026
How to pay off a credit card faster
Avalanche or snowball — pick the one you'll actually stick with.
February 16, 2026
How to read your paycheck (gross, net, deductions)
Gross is what you earned. Net is what you keep. The list in the middle is where it goes.
February 22, 2026