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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Debt Finally Has an End Date
Every time they got ahead, something else happened. She decided she was done pretending everything was okay.
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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
Financial Anxiety: How to Understand & Overcome It
Financial anxiety isn't a character flaw — it's a distinct, well-documented pattern, even if you're doing fine on paper. Two therapists share the concrete strategies that actually help, from nervous-system regulation to naming the "unwritten rules" driving your money reactions.
August 31, 2026
Joint Bank Accounts for Couples: What to Know Before You Combine Finances
Combining finances isn't about losing independence; it's about building a shared life with clarity and confidence, whichever setup you choose. This guide shows you how real couples make it work, so you can pick the approach that strengthens your relationship instead of straining it.
August 31, 2026
2026 Year-End Tax Tips: Moves to Make Before December 31
A handful of smart moves before December 31st can meaningfully lower what you owe this year but the rules shifted enough in 2026 that last year's checklist won't cut it. This guide breaks down exactly what changed, so you can act with confidence instead of guessing.
August 31, 2026
Tax Planning 101: How to Prepare for Tax Season Year-Round
Tax preparation just records what already happened. Tax planning is what changes it, and nearly every effective move has a December 31st deadline. This guide breaks down the 2026 changes and the month-by-month calendar that turns tax season into a year-round decision instead of an April scramble.
August 31, 2026
How to Prevent Identity Theft in 2026: 7 Free Steps
Identity theft doesn't need a masked criminal. Just a phishing email or a reused password, and Americans lost $12.5 billion to fraud last year. This guide covers the free, hour-or-less safeguards that close off the ways thieves actually get in.
August 31, 2026
HSA vs FSA: How to Choose During Open Enrollment
An HSA lets you keep your savings forever; an FSA is a one-year bet you make during enrollment and 47% of FSA holders guess wrong and forfeit funds. This guide breaks down the real differences, contribution limits, and how to pick the right one for your household.
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.
August 30, 2026
Financial Goals for Couples: Align Before You Combine
Financial goals for couples work best as a shared system - not identical goals, but a shared direction both partners actually know about. This guide covers identifying your priorities, setting SMART goals together, and building a check-in rhythm that keeps you aligned.
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August 11, 2026
He Thought He'd Have a Job by February. Then Summer Arrived.
"If we didn't have Monarch, going through the layoff would have been a scramble."
July 31, 2026
Are Credit Card Points Worth It? How to Run the Numbers on Your Own Spending
Points are usually worth it but "usually" isn't the same as "for you," and the sites eager to answer yes are the ones earning a commission on your application. Here's the break-even math on your own spending, so the verdict comes from your numbers instead of someone else's pitch.
July 31, 2026
Retirement Savings by Age: Averages, Targets, and the Gap
Most households are behind the standard benchmarks, and almost none of them are out of time. See how averages, medians, and real targets compare at your age, then the catch-up moves that come in the right order — starting with what to handle before you contribute another dollar.