PocketGuard Alternative: Spreadsheet "In My Pocket" Approach
PocketGuard's 'in my pocket' calculation rebuilt as a spreadsheet. Bills, goals, and a daily spendable number - without the $74.99 a year.
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Insights and Updates
FinancialAha Blog
Learn more about FinancialAha, financial tracking, planning, concepts, implementation, usage, the vision behind FinancialAha, and more.
Browse by Topic
43 articles
Budgeting
Budgeting methods, templates, and practical guides for tracking spending
25 articles
Net Worth
Tracking, calculating, and growing your net worth over time
26 articles
Retirement & FIRE
Retirement planning, FIRE calculations, and long-term projections
10 articles
Debt Payoff
Strategies and tools for paying off debt faster
13 articles
Google Sheets
Formulas, templates, and tutorials for financial tracking in Google Sheets
22 articles
Spreadsheets vs Apps
Comparisons between spreadsheet and app-based financial tools
12 articles
Travel Budgeting
Trip planning, travel costs, and vacation savings
15 articles
Tax Planning
Income tax, self-employment tax, and tax-efficient investing
7 articles
Investing
Investment tracking, returns, and portfolio management
14 articles
Savings
Emergency funds, savings goals, and compound growth
43 articles
Tools & Reviews
Comparisons of financial tools, templates, and software
16 articles
Life & Money
Financial planning for life events, family, and lifestyle
Recent Articles
How to Set Up Sinking Funds in Google Sheets
Sinking funds in Google Sheets: how to plan for irregular expenses like insurance, holidays, car repairs, and annual fees without the bills surprising you.
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Roth vs Traditional IRA Spreadsheet (Side-by-Side Math)
A side-by-side Roth vs Traditional IRA spreadsheet. Today's tax savings, future withdrawal tax, projected balance at 60, and the breakeven tax rate.
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Summer Job Budget Template for Teens (First-Paycheck Setup)
Summer job budget template for teens. First paycheck math, tax withholding, save/spend/share split, and a simple spreadsheet that builds early money habits.
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Rocket Money Alternative: Subscription + Budget in a Spreadsheet
Rocket Money is $4-$12/month sliding. Rebuild the subscription audit, category budget, and net-worth view in a spreadsheet. Walkthrough and comparison.
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Dividend Income Tracker in Google Sheets (Free + Paid Versions)
Dividend income tracker in Google Sheets. Holdings, ex-dividend dates, yield on cost, projected annual income, and a year-over-year growth view.
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Cost of Living Comparison Spreadsheet: Move-Decision Worksheet
Cost of living comparison spreadsheet for the move-or-stay decision. Side-by-side housing, taxes, utilities, transport, and the salary-equivalent number.
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How to Track Investment Returns in Google Sheets (TWR vs MWR)
Track investment returns in Google Sheets with TWR and XIRR. Sample portfolio, formulas for both methods, and when each metric is the right answer.
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Vacation Budget Spreadsheet for Couples (Trip Planning)
Vacation budget spreadsheet for couples planning a trip together. Pre-trip savings, daily on-trip spend, split tracking, and per-person settle-up.
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Quicken Simplifi Alternative: Spreadsheet Workflow That Replaces It
Quicken Simplifi runs $36 to $72 a year. The three features that matter (projected cash flow, spending plan, watchlists) rebuild in Google Sheets for $19 once.
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How to Build a Personal Balance Sheet in Google Sheets
Step-by-step build of a personal balance sheet in Google Sheets. Assets, liabilities, formulas, sample tables, and the monthly update routine.
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Summer Savings Challenge: A 90-Day Spreadsheet
A 90-day summer savings challenge spreadsheet. 12 weeks, weekly targets, category tracking, and a method that does not depend on willpower alone.
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Mid-Year Financial Review: A Template for Checking In
A mid-year financial review template covering budget vs actual, net worth, savings rate, tax check-in, insurance, subscriptions, debt, goals, and adjustments for the rest of the year.
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Average Emergency Fund by Income Bracket (2026 Data)
Average emergency fund by income bracket using 2024 Federal Reserve SHED and BLS data, with what 3 to 6 months of expenses costs across income quintiles.
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Copilot Money Alternative: Build the Same Workflow in Google Sheets
Copilot Money is $95/year. A Google Sheets workflow covers daily-balance tracking, category spending, and a net-worth snapshot for free or $19 to $35 once.
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