<?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>Should You Raise Your Deductible? Do the Math First</title><link>https://planpenny.com/should-you-raise-your-deductible-do-the-math-first-4ba07</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/should-you-raise-your-deductible-do-the-math-first-4ba07</guid><description>Raising your deductible only pays off if the break-even is under three years and you have the cash today. Here is the math, plus 9 costly mistakes.</description><pubDate>Sat, 12 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How to Stop Using Credit Cards While Paying Off Debt</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-to-stop-using-credit-cards-while-paying-off-debt-34a20</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-to-stop-using-credit-cards-while-paying-off-debt-34a20</guid><description>Learn how to stop using credit cards and pay off your balance effectively. Follow these clear steps to take control of your financial future today.</description><pubDate>Sat, 12 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How to Split Your First Paycheck With the 50/30/20 Rule</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-to-split-your-first-paycheck-with-the-503020-rule-c6bdd</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-to-split-your-first-paycheck-with-the-503020-rule-c6bdd</guid><description>Split your take-home pay 50/30/20 on payday, not at month&#x27;s end. Real dollar examples, what counts as a need, and what to do when rent eats half.</description><pubDate>Sat, 12 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Do Roommates Make Renters Insurance Cheaper or Riskier?</title><link>https://planpenny.com/do-roommates-make-renters-insurance-cheaper-or-riskier-4ecd2</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/do-roommates-make-renters-insurance-cheaper-or-riskier-4ecd2</guid><description>Sharing a policy splits the bill but also splits the coverage limit. When a shared renters policy saves money and when it costs you at claim time.</description><pubDate>Sat, 12 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Automate Your Savings Without Overdrafting Your Account</title><link>https://planpenny.com/automate-your-savings-without-overdrafting-your-account-00a89</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/automate-your-savings-without-overdrafting-your-account-00a89</guid><description>Set the transfer day after payday, keep a cushion bigger than your largest bill, and your automatic savings stop competing with rent. Full setup.</description><pubDate>Sat, 12 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Build a Working Budget in 20 Minutes a Week: Here&#x27;s How</title><link>https://planpenny.com/build-a-working-budget-in-20-minutes-a-week-heres-how-5a6a0</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/build-a-working-budget-in-20-minutes-a-week-heres-how-5a6a0</guid><description>No spreadsheets and no daily tracking. Set up three numbers once, check them for 20 minutes a week, and every bill still gets paid on time, every month.</description><pubDate>Sat, 12 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Raising Your Deductible: When It Saves and When It Hurts</title><link>https://planpenny.com/raising-your-deductible-when-it-saves-and-when-it-hurts-b3a1c</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/raising-your-deductible-when-it-saves-and-when-it-hurts-b3a1c</guid><description>Run the break-even math before you raise a deductible, learn how home and health deductibles differ, and see when filing a small claim costs you more.</description><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>The 50/30/20 Budget Rule Explained in 6 Simple Steps</title><link>https://planpenny.com/the-503020-budget-rule-explained-in-6-simple-steps-3bb98</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/the-503020-budget-rule-explained-in-6-simple-steps-3bb98</guid><description>Split your take-home pay 50/30/20, find the bucket that blew out, and automate the rest. Set the whole thing up tonight in under thirty minutes.</description><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Myths &amp; Facts: How to Actually Improve Your Credit Score</title><link>https://planpenny.com/myths-facts-how-to-actually-improve-your-credit-score-a84e7</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/myths-facts-how-to-actually-improve-your-credit-score-a84e7</guid><description>Discover the real facts behind credit score myths. Learn step‑by‑step ways to pay off debt, lower credit utilization, and boost your score fast and safely.</description><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>The 20-Minute Monthly Budget for People With No Time</title><link>https://planpenny.com/the-20-minute-monthly-budget-for-people-with-no-time-44f5c</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/the-20-minute-monthly-budget-for-people-with-no-time-44f5c</guid><description>Build a working budget in 20 minutes using three numbers, a one-page split, and a five-minute weekly check-in that keeps it alive all month.</description><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Should you raise your deductible? Run this math first</title><link>https://planpenny.com/should-you-raise-your-deductible-run-this-math-first-a2367</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/should-you-raise-your-deductible-run-this-math-first-a2367</guid><description>A higher deductible lowers your premium, but only pays off if you keep the difference and can cover the gap. Here is the break-even math, step by step.</description><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How to build a budget in one hour: the 6 numbers you need</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-to-build-a-budget-in-one-hour-the-6-numbers-you-need-57aaf</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-to-build-a-budget-in-one-hour-the-6-numbers-you-need-57aaf</guid><description>Skip the apps and the spreadsheets. Six numbers, one hour at the kitchen table, and you have a budget that holds up in a bad month. Start tonight.</description><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Fix Credit Report Errors While Paying Off Debt</title><link>https://planpenny.com/fix-credit-report-errors-while-paying-off-debt-d3892</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/fix-credit-report-errors-while-paying-off-debt-d3892</guid><description>Learn how to dispute credit report errors without stopping your debt payoff. Get specific steps, templates, and timelines to improve your score.</description><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Budget Blown by the 15th? Here Is Your 48-Hour Fix Plan</title><link>https://planpenny.com/budget-blown-by-the-15th-here-is-your-48-hour-fix-plan-5b75e</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/budget-blown-by-the-15th-here-is-your-48-hour-fix-plan-5b75e</guid><description>Out of money mid-month? Freeze spending 48 hours, list what is left, then pay bills in priority order. The triage plan and the calls to make.</description><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How to Compare Car Insurance Quotes Without Spam Calls</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-to-compare-car-insurance-quotes-without-spam-calls-704d5</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-to-compare-car-insurance-quotes-without-spam-calls-704d5</guid><description>Shop car insurance without handing your number to lead sellers: spot a lead farm fast, prep your papers, and compare every quote the same way.</description><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Why Your Budget Breaks Every Month, and How to Reset It</title><link>https://planpenny.com/why-your-budget-breaks-every-month-and-how-to-reset-it-2ec9e</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/why-your-budget-breaks-every-month-and-how-to-reset-it-2ec9e</guid><description>Seven spending triggers quietly wreck your monthly budget. See the warning sign for each, the fix, and a seven-day reset you can start tonight.</description><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How to Move Savings Into Your First Index Fund Safely</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-to-move-savings-into-your-first-index-fund-safely-4d7fd</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-to-move-savings-into-your-first-index-fund-safely-4d7fd</guid><description>Keep your emergency cash, open the right account, and buy a broad index fund step by step. A plain-language plan for a true first-time investor.</description><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How High a Car Insurance Deductible Should You Pick?</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-high-a-car-insurance-deductible-should-you-pick-bcb92</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-high-a-car-insurance-deductible-should-you-pick-bcb92</guid><description>Not sure whether to raise your car insurance deductible? Run the three-step break-even math on your own quote and see the answer in under ten minutes.</description><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Budgeting for Beginners: Your First 30 Days, Step by Step</title><link>https://planpenny.com/budgeting-for-beginners-your-first-30-days-step-by-step-4d358</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/budgeting-for-beginners-your-first-30-days-step-by-step-4d358</guid><description>Do not start a budget with guesses. Here is the 30-day plan, week by week, using your real numbers from last month, with no app and nothing to buy.</description><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Index Funds: 9 Myths That Cost Beginners Real Money</title><link>https://planpenny.com/index-funds-9-myths-that-cost-beginners-real-money-cee4e</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/index-funds-9-myths-that-cost-beginners-real-money-cee4e</guid><description>What an index fund really is, why one S&amp;P 500 fund is not full diversification, how much fees actually cost you, and what to check before you buy.</description><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item></channel></rss>