<?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>Split Household Bills Without a Joint Account: 3 Fair Ways</title><link>https://planpenny.com/split-household-bills-without-a-joint-account-3-fair-ways-00046</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/split-household-bills-without-a-joint-account-3-fair-ways-00046</guid><description>Share rent, groceries and utilities without merging bank accounts. Compare 50/50, income-based and bill-by-bill splits, with real dollar examples.</description><pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Capital Gains Tax When Selling Index Funds in Retirement</title><link>https://planpenny.com/capital-gains-tax-when-selling-index-funds-in-retirement-00e8f</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/capital-gains-tax-when-selling-index-funds-in-retirement-00e8f</guid><description>Selling index funds in retirement? See how capital gains tax is calculated, how the 0% bracket works, and six steps that keep your tax bill low.</description><pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Credit Card Debt on Unpaid Medical Leave: 7 Steps to Take</title><link>https://planpenny.com/credit-card-debt-on-unpaid-medical-leave-7-steps-to-take-7de17</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/credit-card-debt-on-unpaid-medical-leave-7-steps-to-take-7de17</guid><description>Call your card issuers before you miss a payment, ask for a hardship plan, rank your bills, and protect your credit score while you are on unpaid leave.</description><pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How a Buffer Account Tames Your Variable Utility Bills</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-a-buffer-account-tames-your-variable-utility-bills-1404b</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-a-buffer-account-tames-your-variable-utility-bills-1404b</guid><description>Utility bills swing with the seasons and wreck your budget. A buffer account smooths them into one flat monthly amount. How to set one up in 5 steps.</description><pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How Insurers Price Jewelry, Art and Other Valuables Coverage</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-insurers-price-jewelry-art-and-other-valuables-coverage-ff33e</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-insurers-price-jewelry-art-and-other-valuables-coverage-ff33e</guid><description>See the 8 factors insurers use to price coverage for jewelry, art and collectibles, what documents they want, and how to lower the cost of a rider.</description><pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How to Pick a Cheap Index Fund for Your First 401(k) or IRA</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-to-pick-a-cheap-index-fund-for-your-first-401k-or-ira-ea52d</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-to-pick-a-cheap-index-fund-for-your-first-401k-or-ira-ea52d</guid><description>Choose your first retirement index fund in 7 steps: what expense ratios mean in dollars, target-date vs. a 3-fund mix, and the red flags to skip.</description><pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Can You Pay Off a Credit Card With Another Credit Card?</title><link>https://planpenny.com/can-you-pay-off-a-credit-card-with-another-credit-card-d1d72</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/can-you-pay-off-a-credit-card-with-another-credit-card-d1d72</guid><description>Most banks won&#x27;t take a card as payment for a card bill. Here are the 3 indirect ways to use credit to pay debt, what each costs, and the traps to avoid.</description><pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Night Shift Utility Budget: Plan for Bills You Pay by Day</title><link>https://planpenny.com/night-shift-utility-budget-plan-for-bills-you-pay-by-day-13c71</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/night-shift-utility-budget-plan-for-bills-you-pay-by-day-13c71</guid><description>Night workers use power at odd hours. Track real usage, test time-of-use rates and set a utility budget that covers the expensive months of the year.</description><pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Auto Insurance Declarations Page: 7 Sections to Check Now</title><link>https://planpenny.com/auto-insurance-declarations-page-7-sections-to-check-now-e845e</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/auto-insurance-declarations-page-7-sections-to-check-now-e845e</guid><description>Learn what 50/100/50 means, how to read deductibles and premiums, and the 9 red flags on your auto dec page to fix before you ever file a claim.</description><pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Emergency Fund Target: The Fixed-Expense Math That Works</title><link>https://planpenny.com/emergency-fund-target-the-fixed-expense-math-that-works-8d15e</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/emergency-fund-target-the-fixed-expense-math-that-works-8d15e</guid><description>Add up only the bills you can&#x27;t skip, pick 3 to 9 months based on your job, and multiply. A step-by-step worksheet with real numbers inside.</description><pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>401(k) Loan to Pay Off Debt: When There&#x27;s No Penalty</title><link>https://planpenny.com/401k-loan-to-pay-off-debt-when-theres-no-penalty-cbdd1</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/401k-loan-to-pay-off-debt-when-theres-no-penalty-cbdd1</guid><description>A 401(k) loan has no tax or 10% penalty if you repay on time. Learn the limits, the 5-year rule, what happens if you quit, and when it&#x27;s a bad idea.</description><pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Work From Home Utility Budget: Plan for Higher Bills</title><link>https://planpenny.com/work-from-home-utility-budget-plan-for-higher-bills-02092</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/work-from-home-utility-budget-plan-for-higher-bills-02092</guid><description>Working from home full time? Use 12 months of bills, a simple WFH cushion and a sinking fund so summer and winter utility spikes stop breaking your budget.</description><pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Not at Fault in a Crash? Who Pays Your Car Deductible</title><link>https://planpenny.com/not-at-fault-in-a-crash-who-pays-your-car-deductible-a7341</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/not-at-fault-in-a-crash-who-pays-your-car-deductible-a7341</guid><description>Another driver hit you? Learn when you skip the deductible, how to get it refunded through subrogation, and what to do if they have no insurance.</description><pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Pay Off Credit Cards and Still Grow Your Emergency Fund</title><link>https://planpenny.com/pay-off-credit-cards-and-still-grow-your-emergency-fund-89fbf</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/pay-off-credit-cards-and-still-grow-your-emergency-fund-89fbf</guid><description>Stuck choosing between savings and debt? Use this simple 80/20 split to pay down high-interest cards while your emergency fund keeps growing.</description><pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Utility Bills Spike in Winter? Build a 12-Month Budget</title><link>https://planpenny.com/utility-bills-spike-in-winter-build-a-12-month-budget-e523a</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/utility-bills-spike-in-winter-build-a-12-month-budget-e523a</guid><description>Stop getting crushed by winter and summer utility bills. Use a 12-month average, a separate buffer account, and simple fixes to keep your budget flat.</description><pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Higher Credit Limit, No Hard Pull: How to Ask the Right Way</title><link>https://planpenny.com/higher-credit-limit-no-hard-pull-how-to-ask-the-right-way-d0c17</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/higher-credit-limit-no-hard-pull-how-to-ask-the-right-way-d0c17</guid><description>Want a higher credit limit without hurting your score? Ask one question first, update your income, and use our phone script. Plus what to do if denied.</description><pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How Life Insurers Use Your BMI to Set Your Rate Class</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-life-insurers-use-your-bmi-to-set-your-rate-class-9abbf</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-life-insurers-use-your-bmi-to-set-your-rate-class-9abbf</guid><description>See the exact BMI formula underwriters use, the typical rate-class ranges, and simple steps to land a better life insurance price if you&#x27;re near a line.</description><pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Where to Keep Your Emergency Fund So It&#x27;s Safe and Ready</title><link>https://planpenny.com/where-to-keep-your-emergency-fund-so-its-safe-and-ready-49708</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/where-to-keep-your-emergency-fund-so-its-safe-and-ready-49708</guid><description>High-yield savings, money market accounts, or cash at home? See where an emergency fund stays protected and still reaches you within a day or two.</description><pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How to Calculate Your Net Worth Before You Start Investing</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-to-calculate-your-net-worth-before-you-start-investing-0d032</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-to-calculate-your-net-worth-before-you-start-investing-0d032</guid><description>Add what you own, subtract what you owe. See a full worked example, what to count, common mistakes, and what your number means before you invest.</description><pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Irregular Income? Budget Off Your Lowest Month, Not Average</title><link>https://planpenny.com/irregular-income-budget-off-your-lowest-month-not-average-6dea3</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/irregular-income-budget-off-your-lowest-month-not-average-6dea3</guid><description>Paycheck never the same? Learn the low-month budget, the buffer account trick, and a 5-step plan for variable bills when your income goes up and down.</description><pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item></channel></rss>