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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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.
July 31, 2026
Combining Finances After Marriage: 4 Questions to Decide
Merging money is no longer the default — a growing share of married couples keep things separate, and plenty run a hybrid. Here's how joint, separate, and hybrid actually compare on transparency, risk, and autonomy, plus three fair ways to split the bills once you've chosen.
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 31, 2026
Financial Infidelity: How to Spot It and Rebuild Trust Through Transparency
Two in five couples have hidden money from a partner and no, a separate account isn't one of them. Here's what actually counts as financial infidelity, what doesn't, and how couples rebuild trust after it
July 31, 2026
Mid-Year Money Checkup: How to Tell If You're Actually On Track for 2026
July isn't a verdict on your year — it's the last checkpoint where you still have time to change how it ends. Ten steps, one honest number, and six months to make it count.
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.
July 14, 2026
She Knew She Made Good Money But Had No Idea Where It Was Going.
She could make sense of any messy dataset. Her own household finances were another story entirely.
June 30, 2026
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.
June 30, 2026
How to Budget for a Wedding: What to Spend + How to Save
You can have the wedding you want without going into debt to pay for it. The average wedding costs $34,200, but once you set a total you can afford, split it across categories like venue and catering, and track your spending, you're in control — free to plan a day you'll love at any budget, from $1,000 to $60,000.
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June 30, 2026
Quitting Your Job? What Happens to Your 401(k) Now
When you quit, your 401(k) is 100% yours and one smart move now can be worth six figures at retirement. You can leave it, roll it into a new 401(k) or IRA, or cash out (usually a costly mistake), so check your vesting first and keep that money growing.
June 30, 2026
How to Start a Budget Midyear
You haven't missed your shot — midyear is the smartest time to start a budget, because you've got six months of real spending data and a short, motivating 26-week finish line instead of a full-year slog. Pick a budgeting style, run a quick cash-flow check, cut what you're not using, and set two or three goals you can actually hit before December.
June 30, 2026
The Minimalist Lifestyle, Explained: Less Stuff, More Savings
A minimalist lifestyle means spending your money, time, and space on what matters instead of on clutter. Done right, it can cut a household budget by around 23% — over $17,000 a year to redirect toward debt, savings, or what you truly value.