The Journal

Zero-based budgeting for beginners
Zero-Based Budgeting for Beginners
What zero-based budgeting means, how to set one up, and a simple example to follow. Read more...
A 30-minute weekly home reset
A 30-Minute Weekly Home Reset Routine
A calm, repeatable weekly reset for your home: what to do, in what order, in about half an hour. Read more...
A 15-minute subscription audit
How to Do a Subscription Audit in 15 Minutes
Find forgotten subscriptions and free trials fast, with a simple checklist you can repeat every few months. Read more...
Starting an emergency fund on a tight budget
How to Start an Emergency Fund on a Tight Budget
Small, realistic steps for building an emergency fund when there isn't much left over each month. Read more...
The 50/30/20 budget rule
The 50/30/20 Budget Rule: A Simple Place to Start
A plain-English guide to the 50/30/20 budget: what goes in each bucket, when it works, and how to adjust it for real life. Read more...
Sinking funds, explained
Sinking Funds, Explained (With Examples You Can Copy)
Sinking funds turn once-a-year costs into small monthly amounts, so they stop wrecking your budget. Here's how to set them up. Read more...
Debt snowball vs. debt avalanche
Debt Snowball vs. Debt Avalanche: How to Choose (With a Worked Example)
Two popular ways to pay off several debts, compared on the same four balances, plus how to choose the one you'll stick with. Read more...
How to budget when you're paid every two weeks
How to Budget When You're Paid Every Two Weeks
Monthly budgets don't match biweekly paychecks. Here's a simple way to assign every bill to the paycheck that pays it, and spot tight weeks early. Read more...