New here?
Start with these four articles, in this order.
PlainMoneyTalk has dozens of articles, but if you're brand new, here's the path I'd actually recommend. Each one builds on the one before it.
Step 1 · 7 min read
Build a budget you'll actually stick to
Before anything else, you need a flexible system for tracking what comes in and goes out. Start here.
Step 2 · 6 min read
Set up an emergency fund
A funded cushion is what turns most 'emergencies' into minor inconveniences. Figure out the right amount for your life.
Step 3 · 7 min read
Decide: pay off debt or invest?
Once you have a buffer, this is the next question. We walk through the framework most people should use.
Step 4 · 8 min read
Learn the basics of index fund investing
You don't need to pick stocks. Here's the simplest, most reliable way regular people actually build wealth.
Then what?
Once you've worked through the four above, head over to the full blog archive and browse by category — Budgeting, Saving, Investing, Debt, or Side Income — based on whatever you're working on right now.