Vol. I — Family Finance

Essential
Reading

Thirteen in-depth guides on the money decisions that define family life. No jargon. No filler. Just the honest numbers.

Cars & Transportation
No. 01 Car Loans

Don't Get Upside Down on Your Car Loan

You're financing the car, the sales tax, the DMV fees, the GAP insurance, and the dealer add-ons — all at your APR. Here's what to put down before you sign.

May 2026 · 10 minRead the guide →
Home & Household
No. 02Budgeting

Home Economics for Modern Families

The real numbers behind running a household and the 8 categories where money quietly disappears.

10 minRead →
No. 03Housing

Renting vs. Buying: The Honest Math

Buying isn't always better. The 5-year rule, PMI traps, and what mortgage calculators hide from you.

10 minRead →
No. 09Food & Budgeting

Meal Planning on $100 a Week

A realistic, repeatable system for a family of four. Cut the food bill in half without eating the same thing every night.

8 minRead →
Saving & Investing
No. 04Investing

Stop Gambling on Crypto. Use Robinhood's Managed Account Instead.

Why 70–80% of retail traders lose money — and what boring, automated index investing actually builds for your family over time.

May 2026 · 9 minRead the guide →
No. 05Savings

Build a 6-Month Emergency Fund

The automate-first system that works even when money is tight and the target feels impossible.

8 minRead →
No. 08Education

How to Save for College Without Going Broke

529 plans, the 1/3 rule, what to do when starting late, and why the school name matters less than you think.

9 minRead →
Debt & Credit
No. 06Debt

Get Out of Credit Card Debt Without a Second Job

Avalanche vs. snowball, how to find extra money, and why minimum payments keep families in debt for decades.

8 minRead →
No. 07Credit

Build and Protect Your Family's Credit Score

The number that saves (or costs) $100K on a mortgage. How it's built, how to protect it, and how to freeze it for your children.

8 minRead →
Family & Children
No. 10Baby & Family

The True Cost of Having a Baby

The honest $15,000–$21,000 year-one picture and the financial preparations nobody walks you through in advance.

9 minRead →
No. 11Kids & Family

Teaching Kids About Money at Every Age

Age-by-age curriculum — from coin jars at 4 to credit scores at 17. The conversations that build financially confident adults.

8 minRead →
No. 12Insurance

Life Insurance for Families: What You Actually Need

Term vs. whole life settled plainly. The coverage formula. Why stay-at-home parents are dangerously underinsured.

8 minRead →
Income
No. 13Income

Side Income for Parents That Works Around Kids

Ranked by hourly rate and schedule flexibility. The MLM warning. And the 3-hour evening approach that adds $1,400 per month without burning out.

May 2026 · 9 minRead the guide →