If you need help figuring out money, you’re in the right place.
In the last 20 years, Money Under 30 has published over 2,500 articles that tackle the most common questions people have about money in their 20s and 30s.
If you’re looking for advice and encouragement to achieve your next financial goal, our newsletter is the best place to get it. If you need immediate help, here’s an index of our best introductory content on a variety of subjects.
Saving money
- How much should you aim to save each month?
- Creating an emergency fund is the most important money move you can make
- How to make your saving account “untouchable”
- Saving vs investing: Different strategies for different situations
- How to save for multiple goals at once
- How to save your first $100,000
See also: My recommended savings accounts for your emergency fund or short-term goals.
Budgeting
- Learn (or re-learn) how to budget
- The 50/30/20 budgeting method
- MU30’s free budget spreadsheet for Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel
- MU30’s free printable PDF budget worksheet
- Kakeibo is an elegantly simple budgeting method from Japan
See also: My recommended budgeting apps.
Credit
- How credit works (and why it’s important)
- How long does it take to build credit from nothing?
- The best ways to build credit for the first time
- Can you live without a credit score?
- Tips for keeping your credit score in good shape
- How to use credit cards responsibly
- Credit cards vs debit cards: Important pros and cons to understand
See also: My recommended credit cards and ways to check your own credit.
Debt
- How I paid off $80,000+ of debt in 3 years (and you can, too)
- Should you start investing even if you’re still in debt?
- Why your debt-to-income ratio matters, and how to calculate it
- How to buy a house while still repaying other debt
- Should you pay off student loans early?
Investing
- How to start investing (with any amount)
- The best way to invest $10,000
- Why index funds are an investors best friend
- Everything beginners need to know about saving for retirement
- How to start saving for retirement with a Roth IRA
- What average annual investment rate of return can long-term investors expect?
- How much should you contribute to your 401(k)?
Renting and home buying
- Don’t worry; renting is not wasted money
- Your rights as a renter
- How to read a rental lease
- First-time home buying guide
- How do you know you’re ready to buy a home?
- How much house can you afford?
- Home affordability calculator
- Why it’s a good idea to buy less house than you can afford
- Your house is not an investment!
See also: My recommended investment accounts and helpful tools for individual investors.
Buying a car
- How much can you afford to spend on a car?
- Car affordability calculator
- How to negotiate with car salesmen
- Why leasing a car is a bad deal for most people
- When it makes sense to finance a car, even if you could pay cash
- How to finance a car the responsible way
- Avoid these common mistakes people make when buying a car
For more, see my recommended financial products and services. This is not just a list of affiliates/sponsored products! I share the products I actually use and/or recommend, many of which I have no commercial relationship with.