The blog

Budgeting, made simple.

Practical guides on paying off debt, saving for the big stuff, and giving every pound a job, from the team behind the planners.

The 10-Minute Subscription Audit: Find the £790 on Autopilot
Guide

The 10-Minute Subscription Audit: Find the £790 on Autopilot

Five perfectly ordinary subscriptions can quietly total nearly £800 a year. Here is the 10-minute audit that finds every one, and a simple rule for what to cancel.

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What Is Net Worth? And Why Paying Off Debt Counts
Guide

What Is Net Worth? And Why Paying Off Debt Counts

The one number that tells the truth about your money, why paying off debt raises it just like saving does, and how to calculate yours in 15 minutes.

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7 Money Habits That Quietly Make You Richer
Guide

7 Money Habits That Quietly Make You Richer

Seven small, boring, repeatable habits that quietly compound into real money, with the actual maths behind each one.

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Cash Envelope Budgeting the Digital Way (Cash Stuffing, No Cash)
Guide

Cash Envelope Budgeting the Digital Way (Cash Stuffing, No Cash)

The cash envelope method works because it makes spending visible and finite. Here is how to keep everything that makes it work, and drop the cash.

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Zero-Based Budgeting Explained (Give Every Pound a Job)
Guide

Zero-Based Budgeting Explained (Give Every Pound a Job)

Assign every single pound a job until nothing is left unallocated. Here is how zero-based budgeting works, who it suits, and how to run it without the admin.

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The Debt Snowball Method: How to Start (Step by Step)
Guide

The Debt Snowball Method: How to Start (Step by Step)

The debt snowball clears your smallest debt first for quick, motivating wins. Here is how it works and the exact steps to start your snowball this week.

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Debt Snowball vs Avalanche: Which Pays Off Debt Faster?
Guide

Debt Snowball vs Avalanche: Which Pays Off Debt Faster?

Both methods work, but one saves the most interest and the other keeps you motivated. Here’s how to choose, with a worked example.

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What Is a Sinking Fund? (+ 12 Categories You Forget)
Guide

What Is a Sinking Fund? (+ 12 Categories You Forget)

Save a little each month for the bills you know are coming, so they never blindside you. Plus 12 sinking fund categories most people forget.

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How to Budget by Payday (Weekly, Fortnightly or Monthly)
Guide

How to Budget by Payday (Weekly, Fortnightly or Monthly)

Build your budget around your pay cycle, weekly, fortnightly or monthly, so every pound has a job before it arrives and nothing runs out before payday.

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The 50/30/20 Rule Explained (With a Simple Template)
Guide

The 50/30/20 Rule Explained (With a Simple Template)

Split your take-home pay 50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings. A worked example, when it works, when to tweak it, and how to track it.

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How to Build a Budget in Google Sheets (Step by Step)
Guide

How to Build a Budget in Google Sheets (Step by Step)

Build a working budget in Google Sheets from a blank sheet, the formulas included. A clear, copy-and-paste step-by-step guide for beginners.

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Budgeting Without Linking Your Bank Account
Guide

Budgeting Without Linking Your Bank Account

Most budgeting apps want your bank login and a monthly subscription. Here is how to budget privately in Google Sheets, with neither.

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How Much Should You Have in an Emergency Fund?
Guide

How Much Should You Have in an Emergency Fund?

Three to six months of essentials is the usual rule, but the right number is personal. How to set yours, where to keep it, and how to start.

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How to Save for a Goal (the Simple Monthly-Target Method)
Guide

How to Save for a Goal (the Simple Monthly-Target Method)

Pick a target and a deadline, divide by the months, and save the same amount each payday. The simple way to reach any savings goal.

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