<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>PlanPenny</title><link>https://planpenny.com/</link><description>Personal finance, insurance and budgeting — clear, unbiased, no hype.</description><language>en</language><item><title>Medical Debt Payoff Plan That Protects Your Credit Score</title><link>https://planpenny.com/medical-debt-payoff-plan-that-protects-your-credit-score-e0f5d</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/medical-debt-payoff-plan-that-protects-your-credit-score-e0f5d</guid><description>Pay medical bills without hurting your credit or emptying savings: check for errors, ask for financial help, and set up a 0% plan. Phone scripts inside.</description><pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Invest $100 a Month in Index Funds: A Stress-Free Setup</title><link>https://planpenny.com/invest-100-a-month-in-index-funds-a-stress-free-setup-00a04</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/invest-100-a-month-in-index-funds-a-stress-free-setup-00a04</guid><description>Set up a $100 monthly index fund plan in under an hour: account type, which fund to pick, automatic investing, and how to stay calm when the market drops.</description><pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How to Cut $500 a Month Without Quitting What You Love</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-to-cut-500-a-month-without-quitting-what-you-love-c065b</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-to-cut-500-a-month-without-quitting-what-you-love-c065b</guid><description>Find $500 a month in your budget without giving up your favorite habits: a 7-day spending audit, the bills to call first, and a worksheet you can copy.</description><pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>What Savings Rate Do You Need for Retirement at Age 30?</title><link>https://planpenny.com/what-savings-rate-do-you-need-for-retirement-at-age-30-b35f7</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/what-savings-rate-do-you-need-for-retirement-at-age-30-b35f7</guid><description>Work out your own retirement savings rate at 30 in 6 steps: spending gap, 25x target, growth factor and employer match. Worked example and age table.</description><pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Emergency Fund or Debt First? How to Do Both on a Budget</title><link>https://planpenny.com/emergency-fund-or-debt-first-how-to-do-both-on-a-budget-d2dbe</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/emergency-fund-or-debt-first-how-to-do-both-on-a-budget-d2dbe</guid><description>Paying off high-interest debt with no cushion? Build a small starter fund first, attack the highest-rate debt, then grow savings. See the math and plan.</description><pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Changing Careers With Credit Card Debt and Zero Savings</title><link>https://planpenny.com/changing-careers-with-credit-card-debt-and-zero-savings-434e7</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/changing-careers-with-credit-card-debt-and-zero-savings-434e7</guid><description>Switching careers with card debt and no savings? Protect your credit, cut costs, ask for hardship help and build bridge income. A step-by-step plan.</description><pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Irregular Income Budget: Pay Every Bill on Lean Months</title><link>https://planpenny.com/irregular-income-budget-pay-every-bill-on-lean-months-7f309</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/irregular-income-budget-pay-every-bill-on-lean-months-7f309</guid><description>Paid differently every month? Use this simple system to turn uneven income into a steady salary so rent and bills get paid even in slow months.</description><pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Does a Higher Deductible Really Lower Your Car Insurance?</title><link>https://planpenny.com/does-a-higher-deductible-really-lower-your-car-insurance-97109</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/does-a-higher-deductible-really-lower-your-car-insurance-97109</guid><description>Raised your deductible and your premium barely moved? Here&#x27;s why liability ignores it, plus a simple break-even test to see if $1,000 is worth it for you.</description><pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How to Separate Personal and Emergency Funds in One Account</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-to-separate-personal-and-emergency-funds-in-one-account-3ac92</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-to-separate-personal-and-emergency-funds-in-one-account-3ac92</guid><description>Learn a simple 3-step method to keep your emergency fund safe from daily spending using sub-accounts or mental buckets. Protect your savings today.</description><pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How Much to Save for Retirement: 6-Step Do-It-Yourself Math</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-much-to-save-for-retirement-6-step-do-it-yourself-math-90331</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-much-to-save-for-retirement-6-step-do-it-yourself-math-90331</guid><description>Work out your retirement savings target in 6 steps: spending, Social Security, the gap, the 25x rule and the monthly amount. Worked example and worksheet.</description><pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Paycheck to Paycheck? Budget by Payday, Not by Month</title><link>https://planpenny.com/paycheck-to-paycheck-budget-by-payday-not-by-month-9aa0e</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/paycheck-to-paycheck-budget-by-payday-not-by-month-9aa0e</guid><description>Build a budget that works when money is tight: map bills to each paycheck, pay essentials first, save $10, and fix the gap when numbers don&#x27;t add up.</description><pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Lower Credit Utilization Without Paying Your Card in Full</title><link>https://planpenny.com/lower-credit-utilization-without-paying-your-card-in-full-afbac</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/lower-credit-utilization-without-paying-your-card-in-full-afbac</guid><description>Cut your credit card utilization without paying the full balance: pay before the statement closes, raise your limit, and spread balances the smart way.</description><pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Compare Car Insurance Quotes Without Getting Spam Calls</title><link>https://planpenny.com/compare-car-insurance-quotes-without-getting-spam-calls-6a8cc</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/compare-car-insurance-quotes-without-getting-spam-calls-6a8cc</guid><description>Get real auto insurance quotes without your phone ringing for weeks. Where to quote, what to leave blank, and the consent box that sells your number.</description><pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Seasonal Utility Bills: How to Budget So Winter Won&#x27;t Hurt</title><link>https://planpenny.com/seasonal-utility-bills-how-to-budget-so-winter-wont-hurt-c023c</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/seasonal-utility-bills-how-to-budget-so-winter-wont-hurt-c023c</guid><description>Add up 12 months of utility bills, divide by 12, and save the gap. A step-by-step plan for high winter and summer bills, plus help if you&#x27;re behind.</description><pubDate>Wed, 30 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How to Read a Brokerage Statement: The 4 Parts That Matter</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-to-read-a-brokerage-statement-the-4-parts-that-matter-0dcdf</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-to-read-a-brokerage-statement-the-4-parts-that-matter-0dcdf</guid><description>Your first brokerage statement, explained in plain English: account value, deposits, holdings, activity, fees, and a 5-minute monthly checklist to use.</description><pubDate>Wed, 30 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Pay Before Your Statement Date to Lower Credit Utilization</title><link>https://planpenny.com/pay-before-your-statement-date-to-lower-credit-utilization-fb9ea</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/pay-before-your-statement-date-to-lower-credit-utilization-fb9ea</guid><description>Your card usually reports the statement balance, not what you pay later. Learn when to pay so a lower balance is reported, with a simple monthly schedule.</description><pubDate>Wed, 30 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Changing Jobs? What Happens to Your Life Insurance Coverage</title><link>https://planpenny.com/changing-jobs-what-happens-to-your-life-insurance-coverage-32350</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/changing-jobs-what-happens-to-your-life-insurance-coverage-32350</guid><description>Leaving your job can end your work life insurance. Learn how conversion and portability work, the deadline to act, and a checklist for the switch.</description><pubDate>Wed, 30 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Emergency Fund vs. Inflation: Where to Keep It Safe</title><link>https://planpenny.com/emergency-fund-vs-inflation-where-to-keep-it-safe-a1e8b</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/emergency-fund-vs-inflation-where-to-keep-it-safe-a1e8b</guid><description>Inflation quietly shrinks cash. See where to keep an emergency fund so it stays safe, easy to reach, and earns more than a basic checking account.</description><pubDate>Wed, 30 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How to Calculate Retirement Savings Before Quitting</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-to-calculate-retirement-savings-before-quitting-5080c</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-to-calculate-retirement-savings-before-quitting-5080c</guid><description>Wondering if you have enough money to quit your job? Learn the simple 25x rule and step-by-step method to calculate your exact retirement savings need.</description><pubDate>Wed, 30 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How to Keep Using Your Credit Card Without Paying Interest</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-to-keep-using-your-credit-card-without-paying-interest-5365e</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-to-keep-using-your-credit-card-without-paying-interest-5365e</guid><description>Keep using your credit card without paying interest: how the grace period works, why paying the minimum costs you, and a step-by-step plan out of debt.</description><pubDate>Wed, 30 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item></channel></rss>