https://planpenny.com/Personal finance, insurance and budgeting — clear, unbiased, no hype.enhttps://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. 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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. 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The 9 money basics beginners learn the hard way, in order.Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMThttps://planpenny.com/13-retirement-savings-mistakes-that-quietly-cost-you-fe75ahttps://planpenny.com/13-retirement-savings-mistakes-that-quietly-cost-you-fe75aMissing the 401(k) match, cashing out old accounts, high fees: 13 retirement savings mistakes and the one simple step that fixes each of them.Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMThttps://planpenny.com/getting-out-of-debt-8-things-to-check-before-you-pay-more-d1ca8https://planpenny.com/getting-out-of-debt-8-things-to-check-before-you-pay-more-d1ca8Before you put extra money on debt, check these 8 things: every balance and rate, due dates, your credit report, a small cushion and which payoff plan fits.Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMThttps://planpenny.com/what-life-insurance-underwriters-check-before-you-apply-05ad6https://planpenny.com/what-life-insurance-underwriters-check-before-you-apply-05ad6Underwriting starts with records, not the blood test. See what insurers pull, the price classes, what raises your cost and how to prepare before you apply.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMThttps://planpenny.com/how-to-split-bills-and-savings-after-you-move-in-together-b48e1https://planpenny.com/how-to-split-bills-and-savings-after-you-move-in-together-b48e1Open one shared account for shared bills, keep your own for the rest. The fair split by income, what never to merge, and the setup step by step.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT