Specific answers on money, home, and small business — the thinking behind the tools, with the formulas and examples worked out. Organized by topic so you can go deep on what you're working on.
The short answer is 25–30% of your net income — here's how to land on your exact percentage and never get surprised in April.
Self-EmployedEvery dollar of legitimate business expense you deduct is a dollar you don't pay tax on. Here's the full self-employed expenses list — and how to actually capture them.
Self-EmployedThe system that turns tax season from a lost weekend into a 10-minute export — track expenses as you go, sorted by category.
Small BusinessCategories, formulas, and a profit dashboard — a bookkeeping system you'll actually keep up with, no accounting software required.
Small BusinessMiles are one of the biggest deductions solo businesses lose. Here's what a defensible log looks like and how to make keeping one effortless.
Freelance & Self-EmployedA professional invoice is how you actually get paid. Here's exactly what to put on one, how to number and track them, and how to chase the late ones.
Small BusinessCategorizing spending right is what turns a pile of receipts into numbers you can use. Here's a clean, practical category list and what goes where.
Freelance & Self-EmployedNo employer is withholding taxes for you anymore — so you become the withholding department. Here's how to stay organized and never get caught short.
Small BusinessYou can be profitable on paper and still bounce a payment. Cash flow is the timing of money in and out — here's how to see it coming.
Small BusinessThe exact tabs, columns and three formulas that turn a blank sheet into a profit tracker you'll actually keep — no accounting software required.
Small BusinessSheets is free and collaborative; Excel is more powerful for heavy data. Here's the honest breakdown — plus why the smartest answer is 'use whichever, in a template built for both.'
Small BusinessA P&L is just Revenue − Costs = Profit over a period. Here are the exact rows and formulas to build one in Google Sheets or Excel — and how to read what it tells you.
The fastest way to go broke while staying busy is underpricing jobs. Here's how to build a quote from real costs up — so profit is designed in, not hoped for.
Trades & ContractorsWhat every estimate must include, how to price it so you profit, and the terms that stop scope creep before it starts.
TradesThe honest answer isn't a single number — it's a formula. Here's how to build an HVAC hourly rate that actually covers overhead and pays you a profit, not just wages.
TradesGross margin, net margin, markup — they're not the same, and confusing them is why contractors work hard and keep little. Here's the target and how to get there.
Forget hacks — these are the seven mechanical fixes that decide whether Etsy shows your listing at all.
Etsy SellersA pricing formula that accounts for the fees most sellers forget — so every sale actually makes money.
Etsy SellersFree, repeatable keyword research using Etsy's own search — so all 13 tags point at phrases people really type.
Ditch the marathon weekend clean. A frequency-based schedule keeps every room maintained in small, predictable doses.
Wedding PlanningThe guest list touches everything — budget, venue, catering, seating. One well-built spreadsheet keeps it all straight.
Wedding PlanningSet your number, split it the way real weddings actually spend, and track every deposit and balance — so the final total holds no surprises.
Home & FamilyGive every dollar a job, track only the categories that move the needle, and see what's left to spend at a glance.
Health & WellnessA simple grid, a visible streak, and a design built around consistency instead of perfection.
Home & CleaningCompetitor prices tell you what the market tolerates, not what you need. Here's the backwards calculation from your target income to an hourly rate — including the unbillable hours nobody quotes for.
Home & CleaningPer hour, per room, per square foot, or flat rate? Here's how to price a house clean so you cover supplies, drive time, and profit — with a formula you can run in seconds.
Every system in these guides exists as a ready-made tracker with a free phone-friendly version.
Browse the shop →Subscribe and we'll email you our Simple Monthly Budget (Google Sheets & Excel, plus a phone version) — free. Then the occasional short note on pricing, bookkeeping, and the money side of a small business. No spam — unsubscribe anytime.