Budgeting
How I Cut Our Food Spending by $5,000 in One Year
In 2022, my husband and I spent $25,779 on food. By 2023, we cut it to $1,725 a month — here's exactly how lifestyle creep got us, and how we pulled back.
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Star Sky Capital
Your daily dose of finance inspiration
Investing
A Systematic Withdrawal Plan Isn’t a Retirement Strategy — It’s a Wrench. Here’s the Blueprint That Actually Works
I sat across from a woman who'd retired the exact same day as another client, with the exact same portfolio, and their outcomes could not have been more different. It has nothing to do with luck — and everything to do with what happens in your first five years.
Product Reviews
The Capital One SavorOne Card: Cash Back on Dining, Entertainment, and Groceries
I used to think credit card rewards were for people who planned every purchase. The Capital One SavorOne changed my mind — it earns 3% cash back on the things I already spend money on: dining, groceries, entertainment, and streaming.
Saving Money
When Is the Cheapest Time to Buy Gas? (And Does It Really Matter?)
I used to fill up on weekends without thinking. Here's what I learned about timing, rewards stacking, and the small habits that actually move the needle on fuel costs.
Financial Planning
W-2 Box 14 Explained: OBBBA Qualified Overtime & Tips Deductions
I found a mystery code on my husband's W-2 — OBBBTT. Here's what it means and how the new OBBBA deductions for overtime pay and tips can lower your taxable income.
Financial Planning
How My Husband and I Do Our Annual Financial Review (in One Evening)
Every January, my husband and I sit at the kitchen table with one simple goal: take a big-picture look at our finances. Here's the five-step template we use — no spreadsheets required.
Budgeting
How Much Does It Cost to Own a Prius? A 12-Year Breakdown
I sat at the kitchen table with my husband, staring at our car's 12-year cost spreadsheet. Here is exactly what a Prius has cost us — and one number that surprised me.
Investing
Does FX Hedging Actually Help You Sleep Better?
There's a popular myth in personal finance: remove FX volatility from your portfolio and you'll sleep better at night. But most investors with foreign holdings don't even know which macro trade they're actually running.
Financial Planning
Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ and Your Giving Tuesday Donations
The Big Beautiful Bill changes how charitable donations are deducted starting in 2026. Here's what that means for your Giving Tuesday gifts this year.
Investing
It Will Now Cost Less to Buy SGX-Listed Stocks
SGX is cutting the minimum board lot from 100 shares to just 10 starting October 2026. Here's what that means for your entry price — and why it matters if you've been waiting on the sidelines.
Meet 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.