budget Buying Holiday Gifts on a Budget Fin Story: The Year I Tried to “Wing It” with Gift Shopping A few years ago, I promised myself I’d spend less on gifts. Then I walked into a mall with no list, no budget, and a peppermint latte the size of my head. Three hours later, I had
budget Save Time and Money on Holiday Travel Fin learned the hard way that last-minute travel can cost more than the trip itself. This holiday, plan smarter — save time, money, and stress before you even pack your bags.
budgeting Featured Pay Yourself First: The Rule That Changes Everything Pay Yourself First: The Rule That Changes Everything
income Side Income, Low Friction: $200–$600/Month Ideas That Don’t Fry Your Brain Weekend-friendly, ad-safe ways to earn a few hundred a month—no MLMs. Fin’s micro-service ideas, vetting checklist, safety tips, and a burnout-proof schedule.
utilites Utility Bill Audit: Kill the “Phantom Loads” (Fin’s room-by-room playbook) Stop paying for “nothing.” Fin’s 60-minute room-by-room audit cuts standby power, dials in thermostat & hot water, and uses off-peak timing—plus a built-in phantom-load cost estimator.
phone plans Phone Plans & MVNOs 101 — how discount carriers work, coverage gotchas, and when they’re worth it What MVNOs are, why they’re cheaper, the fine print (deprioritization, hotspot limits, international), and a safe step-by-step to test and switch.
bank fees Bank Fees Audit: how to dodge ATM, overdraft, and monthly charges (and the fine print to watch) One-hour playbook to find and stop bank fees: ATM, overdraft, monthly maintenance, and the sneaky fine print—plus scripts to request refunds.
budgeting Featured Fin’s Monthly Budget Playbook — plus a simple calculator you can use right now A clean, in-page budget calculator—enter take-home pay and bills, tag as need/want/savings, see your 50/30/20 split, and export to CSV. No sign-ups or external scripts.
groceries Unit-Price Ninja: grocery math that saves real money (with a “cents per ounce” table) Fin’s quick story Last month I reached for my usual pasta sauce. New “Family Size!” sticker, same price. Looked bigger… until I checked the fine print: 22 oz down from 24 oz. The “deal” wasn’t a deal—just shrinkflation in a hoodie. That’s when unit-price ninja mode
emergency fund Emergency Fund, Made Doable (Fin’s 3-Stage “No-Shame” Plan) Start small and automate: the buffer ($250–$1,000), one month of core bills, then 3–6 months. Fin’s story + tiny automations that quietly add up.
credit Credit & Credit Cards: Rewards Without the Regret How to use credit cards responsibly: rewards, match-to-spend, protections, and habits that keep interest at zero. Education only.
subscriptions Featured Fin’s App Roundup: Track & Tame Subscriptions (No Sponsors… yet 😅) Best apps to track and cancel subscriptions on iOS/Android—plus where to cancel in App Store or Google Play. No sponsors, just tools.
money habits Featured Meet Fin: Small Money Habits That Actually Stick Smart Fin Tips is a calm corner of the internet where we break down everyday money questions into plain-English checklists, simple frameworks, and light analysis of what’s happening in the world. No hype. No “get rich yesterday.” Just practical ideas you can actually use.
