<?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>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><item><title>Total Loss Claim: How Adjusters Check Your Home Inventory</title><link>https://planpenny.com/total-loss-claim-how-adjusters-check-your-home-inventory-d4224</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/total-loss-claim-how-adjusters-check-your-home-inventory-d4224</guid><description>Lost everything in a fire or flood? See what proof insurers accept for your belongings, where to find it when receipts burned, and how to avoid delays.</description><pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Irregular Income? Pay Yourself a Steady Salary in 5 Steps</title><link>https://planpenny.com/irregular-income-pay-yourself-a-steady-salary-in-5-steps-c3ac6</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/irregular-income-pay-yourself-a-steady-salary-in-5-steps-c3ac6</guid><description>Gig work, tips, or freelance pay? Learn the holding-account method: find your baseline, set aside taxes, and pay yourself the same amount every month.</description><pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Should You Turn On Dividend Reinvestment in Your Index Fund?</title><link>https://planpenny.com/should-you-turn-on-dividend-reinvestment-in-your-index-fund-f1d38</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/should-you-turn-on-dividend-reinvestment-in-your-index-fund-f1d38</guid><description>How dividend reinvestment works in index funds and ETFs, how to turn it on in minutes, the tax catch most beginners miss, and when you should leave it off.</description><pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Sinking Funds: How to Pay for Seasonal Bills Without Panic</title><link>https://planpenny.com/sinking-funds-how-to-pay-for-seasonal-bills-without-panic-6fef9</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/sinking-funds-how-to-pay-for-seasonal-bills-without-panic-6fef9</guid><description>Holidays, car registration, back-to-school: seasonal bills wreck budgets. Build a sinking fund in 5 steps and spread the cost evenly over 12 months.</description><pubDate>Sun, 18 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Fender Bender Deductible: When You Pay It and When You Don&#x27;t</title><link>https://planpenny.com/fender-bender-deductible-when-you-pay-it-and-when-you-dont-e47ae</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/fender-bender-deductible-when-you-pay-it-and-when-you-dont-e47ae</guid><description>Your insurer doesn&#x27;t pick your deductible after a crash. Fault and coverage decide if you pay it. See who pays in 6 common fender bender cases.</description><pubDate>Sun, 18 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Savings Rate Without the Employer Match: The Honest Math</title><link>https://planpenny.com/savings-rate-without-the-employer-match-the-honest-math-5b54d</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/savings-rate-without-the-employer-match-the-honest-math-5b54d</guid><description>Your employer match can make your savings rate look bigger than it is. Learn the simple formula that leaves it out, with 3 examples and a table to compare.</description><pubDate>Sun, 18 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Retirement Savings Target: Start From Your Monthly Expenses</title><link>https://planpenny.com/retirement-savings-target-start-from-your-monthly-expenses-bd594</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/retirement-savings-target-start-from-your-monthly-expenses-bd594</guid><description>Turn what you spend today into a retirement savings number in 6 simple steps, with a worked example, a table and the mistakes that make the target too low.</description><pubDate>Sun, 18 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Debt Avalanche Method: A Step-by-Step Plan With Real Numbers</title><link>https://planpenny.com/debt-avalanche-method-a-step-by-step-plan-with-real-numbers-5eacb</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/debt-avalanche-method-a-step-by-step-plan-with-real-numbers-5eacb</guid><description>Pay off credit cards faster with the debt avalanche: list your APRs, pay minimums, and send extra cash to the costliest card. Worked example inside.</description><pubDate>Sun, 18 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Got a Windfall? Rebuild Your Budget Before You Spend It</title><link>https://planpenny.com/got-a-windfall-rebuild-your-budget-before-you-spend-it-56274</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/got-a-windfall-rebuild-your-budget-before-you-spend-it-56274</guid><description>Inheritance, bonus or settlement? Learn the 30-day pause, the tax set-aside and the 5-step order that keeps a windfall from leaking out of your budget.</description><pubDate>Sun, 18 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Your Credit and Your Insurance Bill: How Premiums Are Set</title><link>https://planpenny.com/your-credit-and-your-insurance-bill-how-premiums-are-set-ccea4</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/your-credit-and-your-insurance-bill-how-premiums-are-set-ccea4</guid><description>Insurers use a credit-based insurance score to price auto and home policies in most states. See what counts, your rights, and how to pay less.</description><pubDate>Sun, 18 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How Much Should You Have Saved for Retirement at Your Age?</title><link>https://planpenny.com/how-much-should-you-have-saved-for-retirement-at-your-age-217fb</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/how-much-should-you-have-saved-for-retirement-at-your-age-217fb</guid><description>Find your retirement savings target in 5 steps: your yearly spending, the 25x rule, age checkpoints, and the monthly amount to close the gap.</description><pubDate>Sun, 18 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Credit Utilization: How to Lower It Without Closing Cards</title><link>https://planpenny.com/credit-utilization-how-to-lower-it-without-closing-cards-8cfcd</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/credit-utilization-how-to-lower-it-without-closing-cards-8cfcd</guid><description>Closing a card can raise your credit utilization. Learn the closing-date trick, how to ask for limit increases, and the ratio ranges lenders like to see.</description><pubDate>Sun, 18 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Switching Insurance Mid-Term: How Underwriting Decides It</title><link>https://planpenny.com/switching-insurance-mid-term-how-underwriting-decides-it-517d2</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/switching-insurance-mid-term-how-underwriting-decides-it-517d2</guid><description>Thinking of switching insurers before your policy ends? See how underwriting reviews you, what can raise your new price, and how to avoid a coverage gap.</description><pubDate>Sat, 17 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Pending Transactions Throwing Off Your Budget? Fix It Fast</title><link>https://planpenny.com/pending-transactions-throwing-off-your-budget-fix-it-fast-f1f35</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://planpenny.com/pending-transactions-throwing-off-your-budget-fix-it-fast-f1f35</guid><description>Pending charges make your bank balance lie. Learn a simple 5-step way to reconcile your budget, track holds, and stop surprise overdrafts this month.</description><pubDate>Sat, 17 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item></channel></rss>