Guides
Budgeting, explained simply
Short, honest guides to the methods Tuckaway is built around. No jargon, no hard sell.
The methods
Envelopes, cash stuffing, zero-based, and the 50/30/20 rule — what each one actually asks of you.
Envelope budgeting
Envelope budgeting divides your income into category envelopes and limits you to what is in each one. Here is exactly how it works, with a worked example.
Read the guideCash stuffing
Cash stuffing is envelope budgeting with physical cash, split across labeled envelopes each payday. Here is how it works and how to do it on your phone.
Read the guideThe cash envelope system
The cash envelope system gives every category its own envelope and a hard limit. Here are the rules, the best categories, and how to run it digitally.
Read the guideZero-based budgeting
Zero-based budgeting means assigning every dollar of income to a category until the money left to budget is zero. Here is how to do it step by step.
Read the guideThe 50/30/20 rule
The 50/30/20 rule splits take-home pay into 50 percent needs, 30 percent wants, and 20 percent savings and debt. Here is how to apply it and when to bend it.
Read the guideBudgeting without a bank connection
How to run a budget when nothing is imported for you, and what a bank connection actually grants when you allow one.
Tracking expenses manually
Manual expense tracking means logging what you spend yourself, with no bank connection. Here is the habit that makes it stick and what to do when you fall behind.
Read the guideWhy apps want your bank login
Budget apps ask for a bank connection so they can import transactions. Here is how that link actually works, what it grants, and what to check before allowing it.
Read the guideSinking funds
The savings habit that turns a surprise annual bill into an ordinary line item.
Sinking funds, explained
A sinking fund is money you set aside a little at a time for a known future expense, like a holiday or a car repair. Here is the math and how to set one up.
Read the guideSinking fund categories and examples
A categorized list of 40 sinking fund examples, with typical annual costs and the monthly amount each one works out to. Copy the ones that apply to you.
Read the guideSinking fund vs emergency fund
A sinking fund is for expected irregular costs; an emergency fund is for the unexpected. Here is the difference and which one to build first.
Read the guideHow many sinking funds to have
Most households run five to ten sinking funds. Here is how to find your own number, what to do when the total is more than you can fund, and when to merge or split.
Read the guideGetting paid
Budgeting around real pay schedules: biweekly, semi-monthly, seasonal, and income that never repeats.
Budgeting by paycheck
If you are paid weekly or biweekly, a monthly budget hides which bills you can cover. Here is how to budget by paycheck, including the three-paycheck months.
Read the guideBudgeting on an irregular income
Freelance, commission, or seasonal pay makes a monthly budget guesswork. Use a baseline month and a priority list instead. Here is the method.
Read the guideFree tools
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