Money guides
Plain, practical guides to budgeting, saving and paying off debt. Free, with no sign-up, and written for households everywhere.
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Guide · 6 minute read
How much should you have in an emergency fund?
What an emergency fund is, how to work out a target that fits your family, and simple steps to build one, even if you can only start small.
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Guide · 6 minute read
The 50/30/20 rule explained, with worked examples
A simple way to split your take-home pay into needs, wants and savings, with examples in five currencies and tips for when the numbers don't fit.
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Guide · 6 minute read
How to make a budget on your first salary
Your first salary is a fresh start. Here is a simple, step-by-step way to build a budget on your first salary so the money lasts the whole month and some of it stays with you.
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Guide · 6 minute read
Student budget: how to manage money on a small income
Living on a grant, an allowance or a part-time job? A simple student budget helps your money last until the next payment and keeps you out of debt.
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Guide · 7 minute read
How to reduce your electricity bill without living in the dark
Find out what really uses your power, keep out of expensive slabs, run backup power cheaply during load-shedding, and check you are on a fair tariff.
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Guide · 6 minute read
How to stop impulse spending (and online shopping you regret)
Why impulse buys happen, and simple habits that put a pause between wanting something and paying for it, online and in shops.
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Guide · 6 minute read
Subscription audit: find and cancel what you don't use
A step-by-step way to list every recurring charge in your household, decide what is worth keeping, and cancel the rest without stress.
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Guide · 7 minute read
How to pay off credit card debt faster
Two simple ways to pay off credit card debt, highest interest first (avalanche) or smallest balance first (snowball), with a worked example and tips to stay on track.
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Guide · 6 minute read
How to set a grocery budget for your family (and stick to it)
A simple way to work out what your family really spends on food, set a monthly grocery budget you can keep, and spend less without eating worse.
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Guide · 7 minute read
How to save money on irregular income (even when it's low)
When your pay changes from month to month, a normal budget can feel impossible. Here is a simple system to cover the basics, build a buffer and save a little from every good month.