The 50/30/20 rule is often presented as the gold standard of budgeting, but for many people today, it feels unrealistic the moment they try to apply it. With rent, groceries, and everyday expenses taking up more than half of most incomes, forcing spending into fixed percentages can feel like setting yourself up for failure. This…

You finally start earning more money, and for a moment, you feel relieved. This is it, you think. Life is about to get easier. But somehow, nothing really changes. Your account still hits zero faster than expected, bills still feel stressful, and saving still feels like something you’ll do “later.” That’s usually when people start…