<?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>Auto Insurance Declarations Page: What Each Line Means</title><link>https://planpenny.com/auto-insurance-declarations-page-what-each-line-means-323ad</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/auto-insurance-declarations-page-what-each-line-means-323ad</guid><description>Learn to read your auto insurance declarations page line by line: drivers, VIN, 50/100/50 limits, deductibles, discounts and the errors to fix today.</description><pubDate>Wed, 30 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Car Insurance Sinking Fund: How to Pay Your Premium in Full</title><link>https://planpenny.com/car-insurance-sinking-fund-how-to-pay-your-premium-in-full-cbe15</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/car-insurance-sinking-fund-how-to-pay-your-premium-in-full-cbe15</guid><description>Stop dreading your car insurance renewal. Learn the simple math, where to keep the money, and a 6-step plan to pay your yearly premium in full.</description><pubDate>Wed, 30 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How to Negotiate a Lower Payoff on Credit Card Collections</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-to-negotiate-a-lower-payoff-on-credit-card-collections-eab02</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-to-negotiate-a-lower-payoff-on-credit-card-collections-eab02</guid><description>Pay a collector less than you owe: check the debt, set your top number, use our call script, and get the deal in writing before you send a dollar.</description><pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Freelance Budget: Pay Yourself a Salary When Income Swings</title><link>https://planpenny.com/freelance-budget-pay-yourself-a-salary-when-income-swings-75259</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/freelance-budget-pay-yourself-a-salary-when-income-swings-75259</guid><description>Irregular freelance income? Learn the baseline budget, the buffer account and the fixed paycheck method so a slow month never wrecks your bills again.</description><pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Switching Car Insurance? Do It in This Order to Avoid a Gap</title><link>https://planpenny.com/switching-car-insurance-do-it-in-this-order-to-avoid-a-gap-f8a74</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/switching-car-insurance-do-it-in-this-order-to-avoid-a-gap-f8a74</guid><description>A lapse in car insurance can raise your rates and break state law. Follow this simple 7-step order to switch companies with zero days left uncovered.</description><pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Emergency Fund on Minimum Wage: Get to Your First $500</title><link>https://planpenny.com/emergency-fund-on-minimum-wage-get-to-your-first-500-8d08f</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/emergency-fund-on-minimum-wage-get-to-your-first-500-8d08f</guid><description>Living paycheck to paycheck? Build your first $500 emergency fund on minimum wage with $20 a week, automatic transfers and money you may be missing.</description><pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Retirement Income From Index Funds: The 3-Step Math</title><link>https://planpenny.com/retirement-income-from-index-funds-the-3-step-math-c2a4d</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/retirement-income-from-index-funds-the-3-step-math-c2a4d</guid><description>Estimate your monthly retirement income from index funds with one spreadsheet formula, a cautious withdrawal rate and a worked example you can copy.</description><pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>5 Credit Score Mistakes to Avoid Right Now</title><link>https://planpenny.com/5-credit-score-mistakes-to-avoid-right-now-a8165</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/5-credit-score-mistakes-to-avoid-right-now-a8165</guid><description>Stop ruining your credit score with these 5 common mistakes. Learn how to pay off debt, fix credit card debt, and boost your score fast today.</description><pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How to Budget for the First Time: 7 Things to Check First</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-to-budget-for-the-first-time-7-things-to-check-first-15ab3</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-to-budget-for-the-first-time-7-things-to-check-first-15ab3</guid><description>Before you pick an app or a rule, check 7 things: real take-home pay, fixed bills, hidden subscriptions, debt and a small cushion. Start here.</description><pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Insurance Deductible Mistakes: 9 Signs You&#x27;re Overpaying</title><link>https://planpenny.com/insurance-deductible-mistakes-9-signs-youre-overpaying-bd917</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/insurance-deductible-mistakes-9-signs-youre-overpaying-bd917</guid><description>Is your insurance deductible too low or too high? Spot 9 common mistakes, run a simple break-even test, and pick a deductible your savings can handle.</description><pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Budgeting for Beginners: A 30-Minute Plan That Sticks</title><link>https://planpenny.com/budgeting-for-beginners-a-30-minute-plan-that-sticks-5ae88</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/budgeting-for-beginners-a-30-minute-plan-that-sticks-5ae88</guid><description>New to budgeting? Build your first monthly budget in 30 minutes: find your real income, pick a method, plan for surprise bills, and start saving.</description><pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Index Fund Myths: 8 Beliefs That Cost Beginners Money</title><link>https://planpenny.com/index-fund-myths-8-beliefs-that-cost-beginners-money-c46e9</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/index-fund-myths-8-beliefs-that-cost-beginners-money-c46e9</guid><description>Index funds can lose money, charge fees and differ a lot. See 8 common myths, the real facts and a simple 7-step plan to start investing wisely.</description><pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How to Budget When Money Is Tight: A 7-Step Monthly Plan</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-to-budget-when-money-is-tight-a-7-step-monthly-plan-61aa2</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-to-budget-when-money-is-tight-a-7-step-monthly-plan-61aa2</guid><description>Never made a budget that lasted? Follow this 7-step monthly plan with real example numbers, a simple spending table and quick ways to cut expenses.</description><pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>High vs Low Insurance Deductible: How to Pick the Right One</title><link>https://planpenny.com/high-vs-low-insurance-deductible-how-to-pick-the-right-one-fd1df</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/high-vs-low-insurance-deductible-how-to-pick-the-right-one-fd1df</guid><description>A higher deductible lowers your premium but raises what you pay after a claim. Use this simple break-even test to see which deductible fits your budget.</description><pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Your First Budget: 9 Things Nobody Tells You Up Front</title><link>https://planpenny.com/your-first-budget-9-things-nobody-tells-you-up-front-3c221</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/your-first-budget-9-things-nobody-tells-you-up-front-3c221</guid><description>Most first budgets fail in month one for the same reasons. Learn the 9 things nobody tells you, plus a simple 6-step plan to build a budget that lasts.</description><pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>13 Index Fund Mistakes Beginners Make (and Easy Fixes)</title><link>https://planpenny.com/13-index-fund-mistakes-beginners-make-and-easy-fixes-78397</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/13-index-fund-mistakes-beginners-make-and-easy-fixes-78397</guid><description>New to index funds? These 13 common mistakes cost beginners money, from high fees to panic selling. See each one and the simple fix that avoids it.</description><pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Before You Pay Off Debt: 5 Numbers to Check Tonight First</title><link>https://planpenny.com/before-you-pay-off-debt-5-numbers-to-check-tonight-first-e7bdd</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/before-you-pay-off-debt-5-numbers-to-check-tonight-first-e7bdd</guid><description>List every balance and rate, fix late bills, build a small cushion, check your credit report, and find your real monthly extra before choosing a plan.</description><pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How Adjusters Calculate Your Car Accident Claim Payout</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-adjusters-calculate-your-car-accident-claim-payout-76f73</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-adjusters-calculate-your-car-accident-claim-payout-76f73</guid><description>See the actual math adjusters use for car damage, total loss, injuries, and fault, plus the documents that help you push back on a low offer.</description><pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Debt-to-Income Ratio: How to Calculate It (and Lower It)</title><link>https://planpenny.com/debt-to-income-ratio-how-to-calculate-it-and-lower-it-a4198</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/debt-to-income-ratio-how-to-calculate-it-and-lower-it-a4198</guid><description>Calculate your debt-to-income ratio in 5 steps with a worked example. See what lenders count, the ranges they use and fast ways to bring your DTI down.</description><pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Rebalancing Index Funds: How to Cut the Capital Gains Tax</title><link>https://planpenny.com/rebalancing-index-funds-how-to-cut-the-capital-gains-tax-0e8ed</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/rebalancing-index-funds-how-to-cut-the-capital-gains-tax-0e8ed</guid><description>Rebalancing in a taxable account can trigger capital gains tax. See 7 ways to shrink the bill, from new money to picking tax lots, with a worked example.</description><pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item></channel></rss>