Notes on calm budgeting.
- August 5, 2026
Budgeting on an irregular income: a method that doesn't need forecasts
Freelance, commission, shifts or seasonal work? Most budgeting advice quietly assumes a salary. Here's an envelope method that budgets money you already have, so you never have to predict what's coming.
Read → - July 29, 2026
The complete sinking funds list: 60 expenses by category
A complete sinking funds list, sorted by category — car, home, health, family, work, seasonal and the things that quietly wear out. Plus how to work out what to set aside each month.
Read → - July 23, 2026
Zero-based budgeting, explained without the jargon
Zero-based budgeting has a terrible name and a simple idea — every euro gets a job until none are left undecided. What it is, a worked example, and how it stacks up against 50/30/20.
Read → - July 15, 2026
Envelope budgeting for beginners: a calm 10-minute guide
Envelope budgeting explained without the jargon: what it is, how to set up your first envelopes in 10 minutes, and the three mistakes that make beginners quit.
Read → - July 8, 2026
Envelope budgeting apps in 2026: an honest comparison (from someone building one)
Real prices and real tradeoffs for YNAB, Actual Budget, Goodbudget, EveryDollar, and Sprigly — including the recommendations that point away from my own app.
Read → - July 1, 2026
Sinking funds: the envelope trick that kills surprise expenses
Sinking funds turn "surprise" bills like car repairs and insurance into small, planned monthly amounts. Here's how they work, with envelope budgeting examples.
Read → - June 24, 2026
Why your budgeting app shouldn’t have your bank password
Most budgeting apps ask for your bank login on day one. Here’s what that quietly costs — and the calmer, local-first alternative where nothing leaves your phone.
Read → - June 18, 2026
How to cash stuff digitally: the envelope method without the cash
Love cash stuffing but tired of keeping cash in a drawer? Here's how to keep the envelope ritual digitally — calm, private, and able to pay rent online.
Read → - June 3, 2026
Why envelope budgeting works
Assigning every dollar a job before you spend it turns budgeting from guesswork into a plan you can actually keep.
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