Why Did My Credit Score Drop After I Paid Off a Loan?
Paying off debt and watching your credit score drop feels like a bug. It is not — three specific mechanics explain it, and the effect is temporary.
5 min read
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Plain-English personal finance guides for people who never got taught this stuff. Budgeting, debt, saving and investing, with real numbers and no upsells.
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All articles →Lump Sum vs. Dollar-Cost Averaging: Which Actually Wins?
You have $20,000 to invest. Dollar-cost averaging feels safer, and the historical evidence says something most people find uncomfortable.
6 min read
APR vs. APY: Why the Same Rate Shows Two Different Numbers
APR vs. APY looks like jargon and hides real money. What each measures, why they differ, and which one gets quoted when it flatters the seller.
4 min read
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How to Budget on an Irregular Income
Standard budgets assume a fixed monthly number. If you are freelance, on commission, or on shifts, here is a method built for an irregular income.
6 min read
Why Your Take-Home Pay Is Less Than Your Salary
Your salary and your take-home pay are different numbers, sometimes by 35%. Every deduction between them, and the two worth checking for errors.
4 min read
How Much Should You Have Saved by 25, 30, 35 and 40?
How much should you have saved by 30? The usual age benchmarks rest on assumptions that fit almost nobody. Why they mislead, and a better measure.
5 min read
Should You Close a Credit Card You Don't Use?
The decision to close a credit card feels tidy and usually costs you points. When it genuinely makes sense, when it does not, and what to do instead.
5 min read
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