About

About PersonalFinanceGuide

PersonalFinanceGuide is a collection of plain-language guides for households making everyday money decisions, from choosing a budget method to deciding whether savings or debt should come first. The site aims to cut through jargon and help you decide what to do next, not just read another general article.

PersonalFinanceGuide is a research-based reference: the guides summarize published guidance from public bodies and are checked, dated and corrected when wrong. See how we check. The authors are not financial advisers and do not claim credentials.

Each article starts from a question people really ask and answers it first, then explains the reasoning, the tradeoffs and the limits of the advice.

What you will find here

• Budgeting for choosing and keeping a monthly system.
• Saving for emergency funds, automation and sinking funds.
• Debt for payoff methods and sequencing against savings.
• Investing for beginner account and fund basics.
• Insurance for deductibles and life insurance types.

If you are not sure where to begin, start here. There is also a tools page with worksheets and calculators to put the guides into practice.

How to read the guides

The guides are general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Examples use illustrative numbers, so substitute your own. Rules, limits, rates and fees change and vary by state and country, so check current official figures before acting. For decisions that carry real consequences for your situation, consider speaking with a qualified professional.

Corrections and contact

If you spot a mistake or something unclear, please tell us and we will review it. Use the contact form to reach us.

See also our editorial policy, disclaimer and privacy policy.