<?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>Got a Tax Refund? A Simple Plan That Protects Your Budget</title><link>https://planpenny.com/got-a-tax-refund-a-simple-plan-that-protects-your-budget-fe4ef</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/got-a-tax-refund-a-simple-plan-that-protects-your-budget-fe4ef</guid><description>Park it, wait 72 hours, then split it: bills, high-interest debt, emergency fund, fun. Example splits for a $2,000 refund and mistakes to avoid.</description><pubDate>Sat, 07 Nov 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Credit Card Debt Before a Career Change: A 90-Day Plan</title><link>https://planpenny.com/credit-card-debt-before-a-career-change-a-90-day-plan-9b7dd</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/credit-card-debt-before-a-career-change-a-90-day-plan-9b7dd</guid><description>Switching careers with credit card debt? Build a cash cushion, cut your interest rate and protect your credit score before you quit, step by step.</description><pubDate>Sat, 07 Nov 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Index Funds Explained: How They Work and How to Start</title><link>https://planpenny.com/index-funds-explained-how-they-work-and-how-to-start-c3320</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/index-funds-explained-how-they-work-and-how-to-start-c3320</guid><description>What is an index fund, how is it different from an ETF, and what are the real risks? A plain-English breakdown plus 6 steps to make your first purchase.</description><pubDate>Sat, 07 Nov 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Find Hidden Subscription Charges on Your Bank Statement</title><link>https://planpenny.com/find-hidden-subscription-charges-on-your-bank-statement-e3917</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/find-hidden-subscription-charges-on-your-bank-statement-e3917</guid><description>A 9-step, one-hour audit to spot forgotten subscriptions, free trials that rolled over, and bank fees on your statements, plus how to cancel them.</description><pubDate>Sat, 07 Nov 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Pay Off Debt or Build an Emergency Fund? Do Both This Way</title><link>https://planpenny.com/pay-off-debt-or-build-an-emergency-fund-do-both-this-way-a8454</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/pay-off-debt-or-build-an-emergency-fund-do-both-this-way-a8454</guid><description>You can pay down debt and build savings at once. This 4-stage plan shows how to split each paycheck, protect your credit, and stop new debt piling up.</description><pubDate>Fri, 06 Nov 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Accumulating vs Distributing Index Funds: Which to Pick</title><link>https://planpenny.com/accumulating-vs-distributing-index-funds-which-to-pick-86d2f</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/accumulating-vs-distributing-index-funds-which-to-pick-86d2f</guid><description>Accumulating funds reinvest dividends for you; distributing funds pay you cash. Here is how to pick the right one by account type, taxes and goals.</description><pubDate>Fri, 06 Nov 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Grocery Spending Audit: Find the 3 Leaks in One Evening</title><link>https://planpenny.com/grocery-spending-audit-find-the-3-leaks-in-one-evening-4a450</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/grocery-spending-audit-find-the-3-leaks-in-one-evening-4a450</guid><description>Sort 30 days of grocery receipts into 5 buckets and circle food waste, impulse buys, and brand swaps. A step-by-step audit with a free worksheet.</description><pubDate>Fri, 06 Nov 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>New Baby, Divorce or New Home? How to Reset Your Deductible</title><link>https://planpenny.com/new-baby-divorce-or-new-home-how-to-reset-your-deductible-7e43b</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/new-baby-divorce-or-new-home-how-to-reset-your-deductible-7e43b</guid><description>After a big life change, your deductible may no longer fit. Use this 4-step worksheet and learn when auto, home and health deductibles can be changed.</description><pubDate>Fri, 06 Nov 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How to Build an Emergency Fund on a Tight Budget</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-to-build-an-emergency-fund-on-a-tight-budget-a64ed</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-to-build-an-emergency-fund-on-a-tight-budget-a64ed</guid><description>Struggling to save? Learn 5 practical steps to build a $1,000 emergency fund when you live paycheck to paycheck. Start saving today.</description><pubDate>Fri, 06 Nov 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>First Index Fund: A 4-Step Way to Choose Without the Stress</title><link>https://planpenny.com/first-index-fund-a-4-step-way-to-choose-without-the-stress-2b176</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/first-index-fund-a-4-step-way-to-choose-without-the-stress-2b176</guid><description>Too many index funds to choose from? Narrow it to 3 broad types, compare 2 numbers and set up automatic buying. A plain-English guide for beginners.</description><pubDate>Fri, 06 Nov 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How to Pay Off Debt: A Step-by-Step Plan That Builds Speed</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-to-pay-off-debt-a-step-by-step-plan-that-builds-speed-0df77</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-to-pay-off-debt-a-step-by-step-plan-that-builds-speed-0df77</guid><description>List every debt, stop adding new ones, build a small cushion, then pick snowball or avalanche. A beginner plan with a worked example and worksheet.</description><pubDate>Fri, 06 Nov 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Work From Home Utility Budget: Plan for the High Months</title><link>https://planpenny.com/work-from-home-utility-budget-plan-for-the-high-months-379a9</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/work-from-home-utility-budget-plan-for-the-high-months-379a9</guid><description>Working from home pushed your bills up? Use your last 12 months of bills to set one steady monthly number, then cut the costs that grew the most.</description><pubDate>Fri, 06 Nov 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Why Your Zip Code Raises (or Lowers) Your Car Insurance</title><link>https://planpenny.com/why-your-zip-code-raises-or-lowers-your-car-insurance-7825e</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/why-your-zip-code-raises-or-lowers-your-car-insurance-7825e</guid><description>Insurers price car insurance by zip code using claims, theft, traffic and repair costs in your area. See what drives it and 7 ways to lower your rate.</description><pubDate>Fri, 06 Nov 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Paying Only the Credit Card Minimum? See the Real Cost</title><link>https://planpenny.com/paying-only-the-credit-card-minimum-see-the-real-cost-b68d7</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/paying-only-the-credit-card-minimum-see-the-real-cost-b68d7</guid><description>Paying only the minimum on a $5,000 card balance can take over 16 years and cost more in interest than you borrowed. See the math and a faster way out.</description><pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Investing $100 a Month in Index Funds: A Simple Setup</title><link>https://planpenny.com/investing-100-a-month-in-index-funds-a-simple-setup-1df89</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/investing-100-a-month-in-index-funds-a-simple-setup-1df89</guid><description>Want to invest $100 a month in index funds without the stress? Pick an account, choose one broad fund, automate it, and leave it alone. Here is how.</description><pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Cut Monthly Bills First, Groceries Last: A 7-Step Plan</title><link>https://planpenny.com/cut-monthly-bills-first-groceries-last-a-7-step-plan-63a53</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/cut-monthly-bills-first-groceries-last-a-7-step-plan-63a53</guid><description>Protect your weekly grocery budget and cut where it counts: subscriptions, phone, internet, insurance and bank fees. Free worksheet and call script.</description><pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Multi-Car Accident: Who Pays Your Insurance Deductible?</title><link>https://planpenny.com/multi-car-accident-who-pays-your-insurance-deductible-94e5d</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/multi-car-accident-who-pays-your-insurance-deductible-94e5d</guid><description>In a pileup or 3-car crash, your deductible depends on fault, which policy pays, and your state&#x27;s rules. Here&#x27;s how it works and how to get it back.</description><pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Cash-Only Budget: How to Find Your Real Savings Rate</title><link>https://planpenny.com/cash-only-budget-how-to-find-your-real-savings-rate-92e14</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/cash-only-budget-how-to-find-your-real-savings-rate-92e14</guid><description>Live on cash? Learn the simple formula to calculate your savings rate, a 3-envelope system to track it, and a free worksheet you can copy today.</description><pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How to Reinvest Dividends from Index Funds for Wealth</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-to-reinvest-dividends-from-index-funds-for-wealth-a115a</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-to-reinvest-dividends-from-index-funds-for-wealth-a115a</guid><description>Stop letting cash sit in your account. Learn the simple 3-step process to auto-reinvest index fund dividends and boost your long-term retirement savings.</description><pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Annual Subscriptions: Divide by 12 and Never Get Surprised</title><link>https://planpenny.com/annual-subscriptions-divide-by-12-and-never-get-surprised-25203</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/annual-subscriptions-divide-by-12-and-never-get-surprised-25203</guid><description>List every yearly charge, divide by 12, and save that amount each month in a separate account. Step-by-step setup, example table, and late-start fixes.</description><pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item></channel></rss>