<?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>How Total Stock Market Index Funds Work, Step by Step</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-total-stock-market-index-funds-work-step-by-step-afc43</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-total-stock-market-index-funds-work-step-by-step-afc43</guid><description>A total stock market index fund holds a slice of almost every U.S. public company. Here is what that means for your money, and what to check first.</description><pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Credit Utilization: The Date That Decides Your Number</title><link>https://planpenny.com/credit-utilization-the-date-that-decides-your-number-a9390</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/credit-utilization-the-date-that-decides-your-number-a9390</guid><description>The formula takes 30 seconds. The part that trips people up is the statement closing date, which decides which balance your card issuer reports.</description><pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How to Budget for Yearly Bills Without Wrecking a Month</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-to-budget-for-yearly-bills-without-wrecking-a-month-4eaef</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-to-budget-for-yearly-bills-without-wrecking-a-month-4eaef</guid><description>Annual bills are monthly bills in disguise. Here is the 12-month math, where to park the cash, and how to survive year one with an empty fund.</description><pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Your Will Does Not Control Your Life Insurance Payout</title><link>https://planpenny.com/your-will-does-not-control-your-life-insurance-payout-3ed3e</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/your-will-does-not-control-your-life-insurance-payout-3ed3e</guid><description>Your will does not control your life insurance. The beneficiary form does, even if it names an ex. Here is how to check yours and fix it today.</description><pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>What to Do First With a Windfall: A 5-Step Money Plan</title><link>https://planpenny.com/what-to-do-first-with-a-windfall-a-5-step-money-plan-aa338</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/what-to-do-first-with-a-windfall-a-5-step-money-plan-aa338</guid><description>Got unexpected money? Park it for a month, then follow a clear order: tax, high-rate debt, three months of bills saved, and a named fun slice.</description><pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Dividend Stocks vs Index Funds: Which One Should You Pick?</title><link>https://planpenny.com/dividend-stocks-vs-index-funds-which-one-should-you-pick-fffdc</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/dividend-stocks-vs-index-funds-which-one-should-you-pick-fffdc</guid><description>Stop guessing your strategy. Learn the exact differences between dividend stocks and index funds to build your retirement savings the right way.</description><pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How to Manage Credit Card Debt After Job Loss</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-to-manage-credit-card-debt-after-job-loss-cda18</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-to-manage-credit-card-debt-after-job-loss-cda18</guid><description>Lost your job with credit card debt? Learn the exact steps to protect your credit score, stop interest, and pay off debt safely now.</description><pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Policy Exclusions: What Your Insurance Will Not Cover</title><link>https://planpenny.com/policy-exclusions-what-your-insurance-will-not-cover-3178a</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/policy-exclusions-what-your-insurance-will-not-cover-3178a</guid><description>The 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.</description><pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Cancel the Subscriptions You Forgot: A 90-Minute Audit</title><link>https://planpenny.com/cancel-the-subscriptions-you-forgot-a-90-minute-audit-0c922</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/cancel-the-subscriptions-you-forgot-a-90-minute-audit-0c922</guid><description>Find every recurring charge on your accounts in one evening, decide what to keep, and turn forgotten subscriptions back into money you actually keep.</description><pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How to Cut Your Monthly Bills and Still Keep Streaming</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-to-cut-your-monthly-bills-and-still-keep-streaming-fb780</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-to-cut-your-monthly-bills-and-still-keep-streaming-fb780</guid><description>Cut 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.</description><pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Buying Your First Life Insurance Policy: What to Know</title><link>https://planpenny.com/buying-your-first-life-insurance-policy-what-to-know-c7b6b</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/buying-your-first-life-insurance-policy-what-to-know-c7b6b</guid><description>A 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.</description><pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How to Calculate Your Savings Rate (And What It Means)</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-to-calculate-your-savings-rate-and-what-it-means-191cf</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-to-calculate-your-savings-rate-and-what-it-means-191cf</guid><description>Your 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.</description><pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Your Retirement Number: The 4% Rule Math, Step by Step</title><link>https://planpenny.com/your-retirement-number-the-4-rule-math-step-by-step-87fd0</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/your-retirement-number-the-4-rule-math-step-by-step-87fd0</guid><description>Find 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.</description><pubDate>Sat, 19 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>7 Credit Card Debt Mistakes That Keep You Stuck (and Fixes)</title><link>https://planpenny.com/7-credit-card-debt-mistakes-that-keep-you-stuck-and-fixes-4eeb0</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/7-credit-card-debt-mistakes-that-keep-you-stuck-and-fixes-4eeb0</guid><description>Paying every month but the balance won&#x27;t move? These 7 credit card debt mistakes keep people stuck. See the fix for each and a simple payoff plan.</description><pubDate>Sat, 19 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Monthly Budget Checklist: 10 Things to Check Before Payday</title><link>https://planpenny.com/monthly-budget-checklist-10-things-to-check-before-payday-8c119</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/monthly-budget-checklist-10-things-to-check-before-payday-8c119</guid><description>Start 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.</description><pubDate>Sat, 19 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>9 Life Insurance Mistakes That Can Leave Your Family Short</title><link>https://planpenny.com/9-life-insurance-mistakes-that-can-leave-your-family-short-901f8</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/9-life-insurance-mistakes-that-can-leave-your-family-short-901f8</guid><description>Relying 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.</description><pubDate>Sat, 19 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Personal Finance Basics: 7 Money Steps in the Right Order</title><link>https://planpenny.com/personal-finance-basics-7-money-steps-in-the-right-order-48814</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/personal-finance-basics-7-money-steps-in-the-right-order-48814</guid><description>New to money? Follow these 7 personal finance steps in order: track spending, $1,000 cushion, kill card debt, emergency fund, insurance, retirement.</description><pubDate>Sat, 19 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Retirement Savings Myths That Quietly Shrink Your Nest Egg</title><link>https://planpenny.com/retirement-savings-myths-that-quietly-shrink-your-nest-egg-75b78</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/retirement-savings-myths-that-quietly-shrink-your-nest-egg-75b78</guid><description>Too 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.</description><pubDate>Sat, 19 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Cut Monthly Bills and Still Keep the Subscriptions You Love</title><link>https://planpenny.com/cut-monthly-bills-and-still-keep-the-subscriptions-you-love-2b943</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/cut-monthly-bills-and-still-keep-the-subscriptions-you-love-2b943</guid><description>Keep 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.</description><pubDate>Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Your First Car Insurance Claim After an Accident, Explained</title><link>https://planpenny.com/your-first-car-insurance-claim-after-an-accident-explained-f6835</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/your-first-car-insurance-claim-after-an-accident-explained-f6835</guid><description>Filing 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.</description><pubDate>Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item></channel></rss>