https://planpenny.com/Personal finance, insurance and budgeting — clear, unbiased, no hype.enhttps://planpenny.com/dividend-stocks-vs-index-funds-which-one-should-you-pick-fffdchttps://planpenny.com/dividend-stocks-vs-index-funds-which-one-should-you-pick-fffdcStop guessing your strategy. Learn the exact differences between dividend stocks and index funds to build your retirement savings the right way.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMThttps://planpenny.com/how-to-manage-credit-card-debt-after-job-loss-cda18https://planpenny.com/how-to-manage-credit-card-debt-after-job-loss-cda18Lost your job with credit card debt? Learn the exact steps to protect your credit score, stop interest, and pay off debt safely now.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMThttps://planpenny.com/policy-exclusions-what-your-insurance-will-not-cover-3178ahttps://planpenny.com/policy-exclusions-what-your-insurance-will-not-cover-3178aThe exclusions page decides most claim denials. Learn where to find it, what home, auto, health and life policies leave out, and what to check first.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMThttps://planpenny.com/cancel-the-subscriptions-you-forgot-a-90-minute-audit-0c922https://planpenny.com/cancel-the-subscriptions-you-forgot-a-90-minute-audit-0c922Find every recurring charge on your accounts in one evening, decide what to keep, and turn forgotten subscriptions back into money you actually keep.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMThttps://planpenny.com/how-to-cut-your-monthly-bills-and-still-keep-streaming-fb780https://planpenny.com/how-to-cut-your-monthly-bills-and-still-keep-streaming-fb780Cut the recurring bills that actually move your budget, keep the streaming you enjoy, and use a 20-minute audit plus a short call script to do it.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMThttps://planpenny.com/buying-your-first-life-insurance-policy-what-to-know-c7b6bhttps://planpenny.com/buying-your-first-life-insurance-policy-what-to-know-c7b6bA plain guide to your first life insurance policy: how much cover you need, term vs whole life, what drives the price, and the steps to buy it.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMThttps://planpenny.com/how-to-calculate-your-savings-rate-and-what-it-means-191cfhttps://planpenny.com/how-to-calculate-your-savings-rate-and-what-it-means-191cfYour savings rate is money saved divided by take-home pay. Here is the formula, a worked example, and what each rate actually buys you in time.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMThttps://planpenny.com/your-retirement-number-the-4-rule-math-step-by-step-87fd0https://planpenny.com/your-retirement-number-the-4-rule-math-step-by-step-87fd0Find how much you need to retire with the 4% rule: subtract Social Security, multiply the gap by 25. Examples, tax tips, and when to use a lower rate.Sat, 19 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMThttps://planpenny.com/7-credit-card-debt-mistakes-that-keep-you-stuck-and-fixes-4eeb0https://planpenny.com/7-credit-card-debt-mistakes-that-keep-you-stuck-and-fixes-4eeb0Paying every month but the balance won't move? These 7 credit card debt mistakes keep people stuck. See the fix for each and a simple payoff plan.Sat, 19 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMThttps://planpenny.com/monthly-budget-checklist-10-things-to-check-before-payday-8c119https://planpenny.com/monthly-budget-checklist-10-things-to-check-before-payday-8c119Start with real take-home pay, then bills, leaks and savings. This 10-point monthly budget checklist shows what to check first and where to cut costs fast.Sat, 19 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMThttps://planpenny.com/9-life-insurance-mistakes-that-can-leave-your-family-short-901f8https://planpenny.com/9-life-insurance-mistakes-that-can-leave-your-family-short-901f8Relying on work coverage, an old beneficiary, a guessed amount? 9 signs your life insurance is set up wrong, and how to fix each one before it matters.Sat, 19 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMThttps://planpenny.com/personal-finance-basics-7-money-steps-in-the-right-order-48814https://planpenny.com/personal-finance-basics-7-money-steps-in-the-right-order-48814New to money? Follow these 7 personal finance steps in order: track spending, $1,000 cushion, kill card debt, emergency fund, insurance, retirement.Sat, 19 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMThttps://planpenny.com/retirement-savings-myths-that-quietly-shrink-your-nest-egg-75b78https://planpenny.com/retirement-savings-myths-that-quietly-shrink-your-nest-egg-75b78Too late at 50? Social Security enough? 8 common retirement savings myths vs. the facts, with simple steps you can take this week to save more.Sat, 19 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMThttps://planpenny.com/cut-monthly-bills-and-still-keep-the-subscriptions-you-love-2b943https://planpenny.com/cut-monthly-bills-and-still-keep-the-subscriptions-you-love-2b943Keep the streaming you love and cut bills that matter more: phone, internet, insurance, food and hidden fees. A step-by-step plan with a savings tracker.Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMThttps://planpenny.com/your-first-car-insurance-claim-after-an-accident-explained-f6835https://planpenny.com/your-first-car-insurance-claim-after-an-accident-explained-f6835Filing your first car insurance claim? See each step, who pays, how the deductible works, and the mistakes that delay or shrink a payout after a crash.Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMThttps://planpenny.com/how-big-should-your-emergency-fund-be-do-the-math-here-0f8achttps://planpenny.com/how-big-should-your-emergency-fund-be-do-the-math-here-0f8acAdd up only essential monthly costs, then pick 3 to 12 months based on your job and family. Two worked examples plus where to keep the money safely.Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMThttps://planpenny.com/how-to-rebalance-index-funds-without-a-surprise-tax-bill-73867https://planpenny.com/how-to-rebalance-index-funds-without-a-surprise-tax-bill-73867Fix a drifted stock/bond mix using your 401(k), new deposits and dividends first. Worked example, wash sale traps and when selling makes sense.Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMThttps://planpenny.com/debt-consolidation-loans-and-your-credit-score-over-time-bb1a1https://planpenny.com/debt-consolidation-loans-and-your-credit-score-over-time-bb1a1Why your score dips first, when it can climb, and the habits that decide whether a debt consolidation loan helps or hurts your credit over time.Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMThttps://planpenny.com/is-life-insurance-worth-it-who-needs-it-and-what-it-costs-f78dbhttps://planpenny.com/is-life-insurance-worth-it-who-needs-it-and-what-it-costs-f78dbWho really needs life insurance, term vs whole life in plain words, how to size coverage with the DIME method, and the mistakes that make people overpay.Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMThttps://planpenny.com/personal-finance-basics-9-things-nobody-tells-beginners-d9befhttps://planpenny.com/personal-finance-basics-9-things-nobody-tells-beginners-d9befTrack spending first, build a starter emergency fund, kill high-interest debt, then invest. The 9 money basics beginners learn the hard way, in order.Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT