Monarch Blog
We're on a mission to make better financial outcomes available to everyone. Read our latest thoughts and insights.
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The CFP® With 60 Clients and a Once-a-Month Money Check-In
Turns out, knowing everything about money is exactly why he keeps it simple.
August 31, 2026
How to Budget for Non-Monthly and Unexpected Expenses
Most "surprise" expenses like insurance premiums, property taxes, holiday spending are actually visible a year in advance, which means they're plannable and not unexpected. This guide shows how to turn irregular bills into one predictable monthly savings target, and how to keep them separate from your true emergency fund.
August 31, 2026
Choose the Health Insurance Plan That Actually Protects Your Budget
The best health insurance plan isn't the one with the lowest premium. It's the one your savings can survive a bad year with. This guide breaks down the five numbers that actually determine your costs, plus real math comparing two plans across a healthy, moderate, and bad year.
July 31, 2026
Back-to-School Budget 2026: How Much Families Spend and How to Spend Less
K-12 families will spend about $864 per person this year and collegiate families $1,438 but the only number that matters is the one you set. Here's the category-by-category breakdown, plus the sinking-fund math that turns your total into $50 a week instead of one painful August trip.
July 30, 2026
Build a College Student Budget That Lasts All Semester
Your aid refund feels like a lot in August and thin by midterms — a college student budget fixes that by turning the lump sum into one monthly number. Cover fixed costs first, give fun its own line, and you'll always know what you can spend this week.
May 29, 2026
Budgeting Tools Compared: Find the Method That Finally Sticks
Most budgets fail before the second month and the tool is usually the reason. Here's a side-by-side breakdown of every major method so you can pick the one that sticks.
April 30, 2026
Flex Budgeting: How to Simplify Your Spending With Just One Number
Traditional budgets fail because they're too complicated to keep up with. Flex budgeting gives you one number to track each month. Here's how to calculate yours and build a budget you'll actually follow.
March 31, 2026
Baby Budget Guide: How Much Does a Baby Really Cost in the First Year?
The first year of having a baby can cost between $16,000 and $31,000 depending on childcare, with expenses ranging from medical bills to daily essentials. This guide breaks down real costs, monthly budgets, and practical strategies to help you financially prepare for your growing family.
March 31, 2026
Flex vs. Category Budgeting: Which Method is Right for Your Money
Flex and category budgeting offer two distinct ways to manage your money; one prioritizes simplicity and flexibility, while the other focuses on detailed control. This guide breaks down their differences, pros and cons, and helps you choose the best approach for your financial style.
March 31, 2026
Zero-Based Budgeting: Give Every Dollar a Job and Take Control of Your Money
Zero-based budgeting is a method where every dollar of income is assigned a purpose, so your income minus expenses equals zero. This guide explains how it works, its benefits and drawbacks, and how to create a zero-based budget step by step.
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March 5, 2026
How to Budget as a Couple and Reach Goals Together
Money conversations can bring you closer, not push you apart. This step-by-step guide shows you how to build a couples budget that fits your life, split expenses in a way that feels fair, and tackle shared goals as a team. Start building wealth together and make every dollar work for your future.
February 7, 2026
How to Make a Budget From Scratch and Keep It on Track
Stop wondering where your money went. Follow this 9 step plan to build a budget that fits your life, set spending limits, and stay on track, then use Monarch to automate tracking, categories, alerts, and progress toward your goals.
December 31, 2025
23 Budget Categories You Need in Your Budget
Creating a budget starts with three main budget categories: fixed, flexible, and non-monthly. Grouping expenses in those three buckets makes budgeting easier.