Guides
7 articles
These guides are written for readers who want a practical budgeting system, not another abstract personal finance framework. Start here when you need to understand the moving pieces: income, expenses, categories, bank sync, spreadsheet structure, and the weekly habits that keep a budget useful.
Each article is designed to connect the strategy to a real Google Sheets workflow. The goal is to help you choose a simple method, set up the sheet once, and keep it current with less manual cleanup over time.
Guides1099 Write-Offs and Deductions: What You Can Track
Practical guidance for organising the finances of a one-person business.
6 min read
GuidesAccounting Software for Freelancers: Choose a Workflow That Fits
Choose a finance workflow around the records, invoices and reports your one-person business needs.
3 min read- Guides
Home Office Deduction for the Self-Employed
Schedule C–adjacent AEO FAQ page with not-tax-advice disclaimer.
4 min read - Guides
How Much Should I Set Aside for Taxes on 1099 Income?
A 25–35% starting range for 1099 tax set-aside, why self-employment tax pushes it up, and how to park the cash in a free tax holdback.
8 min read - Guides
Quarterly Taxes for Self-Employed and 1099 Earners
2026 due dates, how to estimate quarterly payments from a P&L, and how to set the cash aside before you owe it.
9 min read 
GuidesHow to Use a Monthly Budget Template
How to choose, fill out, and actually stick with a monthly budget template without burning out on manual data entry.
9 min read- Guides
How to Budget: A Comprehensive Guide
A start-to-finish guide for building a budget that fits your life, tracking it consistently, and adapting when life changes.
20 min read