THE DEBT FREE FORTIES JOURNAL
The blog
Thoughtful, practical writing on money and the life around it.
NEW WRITING
Latest articles
Fresh ideas for making money decisions that fit your life.
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Tiller vs YNAB vs EveryDollar: what a spreadsheet person picks
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Buying in bulk is wasting your money (sometimes)
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The Auto-Renew Rule That Catches Subscriptions Before They Bill
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The Savings ‘Hack’ That’s Mostly Marketing
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4 Pieces of Advice From Older Generations That Hit Different Now
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You don’t need a bigger house. You need fewer things.
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How to budget when your paycheck arrives in random chunks
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Frugality won’t make you rich. Here’s what it actually does
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7 Small Wins to Track on the Way Out of Debt
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How to Plan a Birthday Without Blowing the Budget
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Why Your Debt Plan Needs Room for Real Life
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The 15-Minute Weekly Money Reset
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How to Handle Expensive Plans With Friends
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What to Do With Your First Side-Hustle Payment
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What to Do Before an Annual Bill Comes Due
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How to Start Over After a Bad Money Month
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How to Stop Feeling Behind With Money
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8 Habits That Help You Spend Less Without Tracking
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What to Do Before You Start a Side Hustle
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9 Money Habits Worth Keeping After 40
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OLDER STORIES
From the archive
Selected older articles, preserved at their original addresses. Some past details and recommendations may have changed.
01
Free debt payoff tracker printable
Download a free, printable debt payoff tracker and keep payments in view.
02
Stupid Simple SEO: How I Boosted My Organic Traffic by 260%
An archived first-person review of an SEO course and its results.
03
10 Simple Rules for a No Spend Challenge
Practical rules for trying a no-spend challenge.
04
The 9 Best Financial Books for Beginners
Nine books on money, budgeting, and financial habits.
05
Blogger Recognition Award Nominee
A 2017 post by Tana about fellow bloggers and an award.
06
120+ Side Hustles for Women
An archived collection of side-hustle ideas, without MLMs.
07
How to Get Out of Debt: We Paid Off $26,619 in 17 Months
An archived account of paying off $26,619 in debt.
08
37 Easy Money Savings Challenges
Ideas for making a savings goal easier to stick with.
09
Five Ways to Do a 52 Week Money Challenge
Text-only ways to save using a 52-week challenge.
10
Delicious Dirt Cheap Meals for When You’re Broke
Practical ideas for low-cost dinners.
11
The Parts of a Check and How to Write One
A guide to the fields and numbers on a paper check.
12
What Is Porch Pick Up When Selling Items?
How porch pick up works for local sales.
13
Where to Sell Disney VHS Tapes
An archived guide to selling Disney VHS tapes.