GotForked.org

May 20

Tools to Take Control of Your Finances — Starting Now

↓

If your income has changed recently, or you're just trying to make every dollar count, you’re not alone.

The right budgeting tool can help you figure out exactly where your money’s going, what’s essential, and how long your cash will last — without adding more stress to your life.

Here are a few apps and resources we’ve vetted that can help you get clarity and take action today:

✅ Start Simple with Rocket Money (Free Version)

rocketmoney.com

Rocket Money is an easy, no-cost way to start managing your money. It connects to your bank accounts and:

Tracks your spending
Flags and cancels unused subscriptions
Sends alerts before bills are due

You can upgrade for more features, but the free version works great for most people.

🤦🏽 I've been using this for the past year and it's saved me hundreds of dollars. I found out I had two spotify accounts

💼 For a Premium Experience: Monarch Money

monarchmoney.com
Monarch is a paid app ($14.99/month or $99/year) — but it offers a sleek, customizable experience if you want to go deeper:

See your entire financial picture in one dashboard
Create and track personal goals
Share access with a partner or advisor
Try it free for 7 days

💸 Prefer 100% Free? These Are Solid Options

Mint – Automatically tracks and categorizes transactions. I used this before it was bought and ramped back up.
EveryDollar – Manual, hands-on budgeting with a monthly plan
Goodbudget – Uses the envelope method, great for planning ahead

All of these tools are free and don’t require linking bank accounts if you prefer to enter things manually.

📊 Need to See Where You Stand? Start Here

We created a simple, no-signup-required worksheet to help you understand your cash position, especially if you’ve recently been impacted by federal layoffs.

👉 Click here to use the free Household Budget Tool

You don’t have to have it all figured out — just take the next right step.

We’re rooting for you, and we’ll keep sharing tools to help.

My most popular posts

113 Cherry St #92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2205
Unsubscribe · Preferences

Maybe It's Not Good or Bad — Yet

GotForked.org May 2 Maybe It's Not Good or Bad — Yet ↓ Hey there, Today I had a chance to meet a lot of folks affected by the layoffs as an exhibitor at the National Climate Job Fair in DC. It got me thinking ... a lot. Like many of you, I've been watching these federal layoffs ripple through our DC community with a heavy heart. Some of you have already gotten that dreaded email. Others are checking your inbox with bated breath, wondering if you're next. I see you, and I get it — the...

about 2 months ago • 2 min read

Why You Should Brag More

GotForked.org April 17 Why Bragging Might Be the Most Important Skill You Never Learned ↓ When we were kids, we were told not to brag. Don’t show off. Be humble. (Thanks Kendrick for the reminder) That message stuck — and for a lot of federal employees, it became a way of life. But in today’s job market? That mindset can hold you back. Because the people who get noticed know how to talk about what they bring to the table. When Humility Backfires Here’s the thing: many private-sector employers...

2 months ago • 1 min read

From Budget Anxiety to Confidence

GotForked.org April 9, 2025 Worried About Money? Here’s How to Find Immediate Clarity ↓ When my wife left her government role, I won’t sugarcoat it—we felt an immediate, anxious pit in our stomachs. Suddenly, our financial security seemed uncertain, we were worried. Facing the Stress of Budgeting We reluctantly started reviewing our finances. The process was overwhelming and stressful: Which expenses could we realistically cut? How long could our savings sustain us? How much additional income...

3 months ago • 1 min read