Writing

The blog

Writing about personal finance, credit card points, AI tools for money, freelance taxes, side hustles, and the feelings part. In plain English, without the finance-bro vocabulary.

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What to Do in the 30 Days After Filing Your Taxes

The window right after tax season is the best time to fix what went wrong and build a better system for next year. Here's how AI fits into that process.

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How to Price Freelance Work Without Guessing

Before checking what others charge, run your own income math. This is the calculation that gives you a real floor for freelance rates, including the SE tax multiplier most freelancers skip.

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I Tested Seven AI Finance Tools. One Is Worth Keeping.

A concrete ranking of seven AI finance tools: Cleo, Copilot, YNAB, Rocket Money, ChatGPT, Tiller, and Monarch. What each one does, what it costs, and whether the AI label is doing any real work.

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Cashback vs. Travel Points: Which Strategy Wins, and When

A direct comparison of cashback and travel points credit card strategies, with the math on when each one beats the other, and a clear case for why most people should start with cashback.

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Why Your Emergency Fund Isn't Their Emergency

Setting financial limits with people you love is harder than any budget. Here's the framework for making that call on your own terms.

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Finance Advice for People Who Hate Finance Advice

Most budgeting advice wasn't built for irregular income, student debt, or complicated money histories. This is personal finance without the shame spiral.

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The Side Hustle Math: Is It Worth Your Time?

Before you commit to a side gig, run the numbers. Here's how to calculate your effective hourly rate after taxes and expenses, and what to do with what you find.

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Credit Card Rewards for People Who Don't Want a Hobby

How credit card points actually work, why most beginner guides get it wrong, and a three-card starter lineup that covers most people's lives without turning you into a spreadsheet hermit.

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