Rachel Hart

Rachel Hart

Hi, I'm Rachel. I spent eight years as a corporate financial analyst and plenty more living paycheck to paycheck - so I know both sides of the kitchen table. I write about money with real numbers, zero jargon, and no shame. If I could fix my finances, so can you.

Financial Planning

My Mid-Year Money Checkup: 6 Things to Review in July

Mid-July, I sat at the kitchen table with a notebook and did what I should have done in January: a real money checkup. Six things — 401(k) contributions, beneficiaries, tax withholding, QCDs, portfolio balance, and my organizational mess — took me one evening. Here's the list I'll never skip again.

Investing

Why I Think SGX Rubber Futures Deserve Your Attention

Rubber futures on the Singapore Exchange sound niche, but the small contract size and real-world settlement make them surprisingly accessible for everyday investors. Here's what caught my eye.

Budgeting

The Real Cost of a Car, Decoded: New, Used, or None

My husband and I keep debating whether we need a second car. I built out the real math — depreciation, interest, fuel, the lot — and compared it to a used car and a no-car budget. The numbers changed how we talk about it.

Financial Planning

Medicare Will Outpace Social Security in 11 Years (2026)

Every year the headlines shout that Medicare's hospital fund runs out in 2033. But the real story is quieter and bigger: total Medicare spending will overtake Social Security in 11 years. I broke down the 2026 Trustees Report into what it means for my own retirement — and your next budget meeting.