Laia Benet is the founder and editor of Sound Money Guide. She started the site to explain loans, credit cards and savings accounts in plain language, using official sources such as the CFPB, the Federal Reserve and the FDIC. Every article is checked against our Fact-Checking Policy.

Posts

Illustration of a graduation cap with a percentage badge and a rising bar chart on a dark green background — Sound Money Guide's 2026 guide to student loan repayment options. Student Loan Repayment Options Explained (2026) Federal student loan repayment changed more between 2025 and 2026 than in the previous decade combined — a…
Illustration of a car with a percentage badge and a rising bar chart on a dark green background — Sound Money Guide's 2026 guide to auto loans and what to know before you borrow. Auto Loans: What to Know Before You Borrow (2026) A car is one of the biggest purchases most people finance, and the loan you sign at the…
Two savings jars labeled 401(k) and IRA, illustrating the two main retirement account types 401(k) vs IRA: Which Retirement Account Should You Use? (2026) This article is educational information, not investment or tax advice. Contribution limits and tax rules change yearly and…
index fund How to Start Investing: Index Funds for Beginners (2026) This article is educational information, not investment advice. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Figures…
50/30/20 budgeting rule pie chart showing income split into 50% needs, 30% wants, and 20% savings How to Budget: The 50/30/20 Rule Explained Budgeting doesn’t need a spreadsheet or a finance degree. The 50/30/20 rule sorts your take-home pay into three…
Sound Money Guide banner for "Debt Avalanche vs Snowball: Which Payoff Method?", showing a descending avalanche stack and a growing snowball on a dark green background. Debt Avalanche vs Snowball: Which Payoff Method? (2026) When you’re paying off several debts at once, the hard part isn’t finding money — it’s deciding where…
Cash-Back vs Travel Rewards: Which Card Type Is Right for You? (2026) Pick almost any “best rewards card” list and you’ll hit the same fork within the first paragraph: cash…