Lunch Money: Unboxed

AI Budgeting Mistakes to Avoid

AI Budgeting Mistakes to Avoid

AI can improve your budget if you know how to use it.

Building with Lunch Money #01: Settings endpoints arrive in v2.11.1, and TRMNL now displays your primary currency

Building with Lunch Money #01

Settings endpoints arrive in v2.11.1, and TRMNL now displays your primary currency

What can you do with the Lunch Money API? (Even if you don't code)

What can you do with the Lunch Money API? (Even if you don't code)

Discover what you can do with your budgeting data beyond Lunch Money.

How to Create a Minimum Viable Budget

How to Create a Minimum Viable Budget

Know exactly how much you need each month when money gets tight.

Meet the Category Template Library

Meet the Category Template Library

Find a setup that works for you.

Product Updates #58

Product Updates #58

New features & improvements: easier multicurrency and category workflows

Community Newsletter #27: Meet JP Shipherd, Lunch Money’s Developer Advocate

Community Newsletter #27

Meet JP Shipherd, Lunch Money’s Developer Advocate

Money Mistakes to Avoid as a Couple

Money Mistakes to Avoid as a Couple

How couples can communicate better, budget together, and avoid money conflicts.

11 Money Leaks That Are Causing You to Overspend

11 Money Leaks That Are Causing You to Overspend

Small spending habits that could be quietly draining your budget.

How to Reset Your Budget After a Bad Money Month

How to Reset Your Budget After a Bad Money Month

How to learn from setbacks and get your budget back on track.

Product Newsletter #57: New Lunch Money features and mobile updates!

Product Newsletter #57

New Lunch Money features and mobile updates!

Community Newsletter #26: Two years later: See what this community project has become!

Community Newsletter #26

Two years later: See what this community project has become!

Should You Share Your Financial Data With AI?

Should You Share Your Financial Data With AI?

AI tools store your conversations and often use them to train models.

AI and Personal Finance: A Practical Guide for Budgeters

AI and Personal Finance: A Practical Guide for Budgeters

Here’s how to leverage AI's power while staying in control.

Community Newsletter #25: A recap of our Toronto meetup and what we’ve been working on

Community Newsletter #25

A recap of our Toronto meetup and what we’ve been working on!

Introducing Lunch Money for Organizations

Introducing Lunch Money for Organizations

We are giving companies a simple way to offer Lunch Money as an employee benefit.

Pros and Cons of Using AI to Manage Your Finances

Pros and Cons of Using AI to Manage Your Finances

AI can simplify budgeting, but it’s not a complete solution.

7 Useful AI Prompts for Understanding Your Spending

7 Useful AI Prompts for Understanding Your Spending

Turn AI into a personal finance assistant with these prompts.

Community Newsletter #24: Spotlight on Dave, creator of Meal Ticket

Community Newsletter #24

A cash flow projection app, and other company news!

Why Budgeting is the Missing Step Between Saving and Investing

Why Budgeting is the Missing Step Between Saving and Investing

Budgeting reveals your surplus so you can successfully save and invest.

Community Newsletter #23: Spotlight on Matias, founder of Synci

Community Newsletter #23

More bank syncing options for Lunch Money users across Europe!

Saving vs. Investing: How to Decide What to Do With Your Money

Saving vs. Investing: How to Decide What to Do With Your Money

A clear, practical guide to balancing saving and investing for your goals.

4 Smart Ways to Use Your Tax Refund

4 Smart Ways to Use Your Tax Refund

Turn your tax refund into real financial progress instead of impulse spending

How Much You REALLY Need to Move Out (First Apartment Budget)

How Much You REALLY Need to Move Out (First Apartment Budget)

Plan move-in costs, real monthly expenses, an emergency buffer, and a practice budget.

Community Newsletter #22: Spotlight on Evan, creator of Email to Lunch Money

Community Newsletter #22

This self-hosted tool uses email receipts to automatically update your transactions!

How to Budget for Charitable Giving

How to Budget for Charitable Giving

How to choose a cause, set an amount, and give consistently.

How to Save Money for a House Fast (Downpayment Savings Tips)

How to Save Money for a House Fast

Smart strategies for first-time buyers to save faster and buy sooner

Financial Coaching vs. Self-Help

Financial Coaching vs. Self-Help

When generic money advice falls short, personalized coaching makes the difference.

Debt Snowball vs. Debt Avalanche: What's the Best Strategy?

Debt Snowball vs. Debt Avalanche: What's the Best Strategy?

Comparing two popular debt payoff methods to find what works for you.

The Only Personal Finance App You Need in the Netherlands

The Only Personal Finance App You Need in the Netherlands

Simplify your finances with the budgeting tool built for the Netherlands.

Lunch Money Is Now on Zapier ⚡️

Lunch Money Is Now on Zapier ⚡️

Connect your budget to 8,000+ apps and automate your financial workflows

How To Track Savings Goals With Rollovers

How To Track Savings Goals With Rollovers

Set up rollover savings categories, plus two ways to spend from them.

Community Newsletter #21: Spotlight on Artem, creator of Kids Companion App

Community Newsletter #21

A community-built app to help kids save, plus bookmarklets to import from unsupported banks!

How to Break the Paycheck to Paycheck Cycle

How to Break the Paycheck to Paycheck Cycle

A realistic roadmap to finally get ahead financially.

11 Lunch Money Features You Should Be Using (And Why)

11 Lunch Money Features You Should Be Using (And Why)

Budgeting features designed to match your paycheck, spending habits, and financial goals

8 Things You Need to Stop Buying in 2026

8 Things You Need to Stop Buying in 2026

These everyday purchases add up faster than you realize.

11 Small Money Habits That Will Improve Your Finances

11 Small Money Habits That Will Improve Your Finances

Build better money habits with small, sustainable monthly changes

What Is a Financial Coach?

What Is a Financial Coach?

How financial coaches help you take control of everyday money decisions

Community Newsletter #20: Spotlight on Adam, creator of Lunch Buddy

Community Newsletter #20

A simple mobile companion built by a Lunch Money community member!

How to Save for a Car

How to Save for a Car

A practical guide to saving, budgeting, and buying a car responsibly.

9 Signs You Need a Financial Coach

9 Signs You Need a Financial Coach

Improve your financial health with a money coach.

10 Ways to Reduce Impulse Spending Without Relying on Willpower

10 Ways to Reduce Impulse Spending Without Relying on Willpower

Smarter ways to spend less without feeling deprived

How Much Should You Tip?

How Much Should You Tip?

What to tip, when to tip, and when it’s okay not to.

10 Frugal Living Myths That Can Actually Cost You Money

10 Frugal Living Myths That Can Actually Cost You Money

Why “being frugal” sometimes costs more than it saves.

8 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Making a Big Purchase

8 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Making a Big Purchase

A simple checklist to avoid impulse buys and costly mistakes.

10 Subscription Services Worth Keeping (and 7 You Should Cancel Today)

10 Subscription Services Worth Keeping (and 7 You Should Cancel Today)

Spend smarter by keeping the subscriptions that truly add value.

Community Newsletter #19: Spotlight on Justin, creator of Lunchable

Community Newsletter #19

An arsenal of finance tools and plugins, an exciting partnership, and more!

An Update to Our Annual Plan Minimum (Effective March 15, 2026)

An Update to Our Annual Plan Minimum

Starting March 15, 2026, the minimum for our annual pay-what-you-want plan will increase from $50 to $60.

Lunch Money Partners with ProjectionLab

Lunch Money Partners with ProjectionLab

We’re launching a free Chrome extension that connects your data with ProjectionLab, a powerful long-term financial planning and simulation tool.

Lunch Money vs. Spreadsheet Budgeting: Which is Better?

Lunch Money vs. Spreadsheet Budgeting: Which is Better?

Keep spreadsheet-level control with a budgeting app that does the work.

Budgeting for GenX: Money Strategies for the Sandwich Generation

Budgeting for GenX: Money Strategies for the Sandwich Generation

Practical budgeting strategies to help Gen X balance rising costs and family responsibilities.

3 Hidden Employee Benefits That Can Save You Thousands

3 Hidden Employee Benefits That Can Save You Thousands

Hidden workplace benefits that help you keep more of your money

How to Use This Simple 4-Step Framework to Pay Off Debt and Build Wealth

How to Use This Simple 4-Step Framework to Pay Off Debt and Build Wealth

A clear, realistic plan to take control of your money

How Lunch Money’s Net Worth Tracker Lets You See Your Whole Financial Picture

How Lunch Money’s Net Worth Tracker Lets You See Your Whole Financial Picture

Track what you own and owe without spreadsheets or stress

Why Budgeting Hasn’t Worked For You And How To Finally Succeed

Why Budgeting Hasn’t Worked For You And How To Finally Succeed

The real reasons budgets fail, and how to make yours finally work.

10 Ways to Save on Groceries

10 Ways to Save on Groceries

Spend less on groceries with smarter habits and better planning

Hidden Savings Opportunities in Your Regular Spending

Hidden Savings Opportunities in Your Regular Spending

Simple ways to find extra savings in your everyday budget

Community Newsletter #18: Year in Review + Meet Our Certified Coaches!

Community Newsletter #18

A look back at another incredible year in our community, and what’s to come!

Best Personal Finance App for Canadians | Lunch Money

Best Personal Finance App for Canadians

Simplify your finances with the budgeting tool built for Canadians.

5 Best Savings Challenges for 2026 (Fun Ways to Save Money)

5 Best Savings Challenges for 2026

Try these fun, creative ways to save more money this year.

Community Newsletter #17: Community-built tool for Apple Card syncing, and more!

Community Newsletter #17

Community-built tool for Apple Card syncing, and more!

Controversial Money Saving Tips

Controversial Money Saving Tips

Tired of bad financial advice? Find out which controversial money-saving tips to avoid — and what to do instead.

Emergency Fund: How Much Is Enough?

Emergency Fund: How Much Is Enough?

Learn how much to save in an emergency fund and smart strategies to build one, no matter your current finances.

Fixed vs. Variable Expenses: What’s the Difference?

Fixed vs. Variable Expenses: What’s the Difference?

Know where your money goes and why it matters for your budget.

How To Use The 75/15/10 Budget Rule

How To Use The 75/15/10 Budget Rule

A simple formula for smarter saving, spending, and investing.

How to Budget for Gifts

How to Budget for Gifts

These easy tips will teach you to save money, stop overspending, and enjoy celebrations stress-free.

Community Newsletter #16: AI-Powered Financial Assistant and the Lunch Money Crew spotted in the wild!

Community Newsletter #16

AI-Powered Financial Assistant and the Lunch Money Crew spotted in the wild!

Cheap Vacation Ideas: 15 Tips to Make Your Next Vacation More Affordable

Cheap Vacation Ideas: 15 Tips to Make Your Next Vacation More Affordable

Dreaming of sandy beaches or cozy getaways? Check out these cheap vacation ideas that fit any budget — without racking up debt or emptying your savings.

Community Newsletter #15: A handy (open-source) tool to improve your cash flow forecasting!

Community Newsletter #15

A handy (open-source) tool to improve your cash flow forecasting!

How to Save Money on Back-to-School Shopping

How to Save Money on Back-to-School Shopping

Save big on back-to-school shopping with these smart tips. Learn how to reuse, budget, shop sales, and stretch your dollars further this school year.

How to Keep Your Electricity Bill Down

How to Keep Your Electricity Bill Down

Redditors share how to cut your electricity bill — from LED light bulbs to ductwork sealing. Try out these energy-saving tips to save on your next power bill.

20 Expensive Things That Are Worth Every Penny

20 Expensive Things That Are Worth Every Penny

Some items are worth spending more on– they can improve your life, save time, and reduce costs over time.

10 Hidden Budgeting Mistakes You Make Without Noticing

10 Hidden Budgeting Mistakes You Make Without Noticing

Learn how to fix them and keep your finances in check.

How to Budget on a Low Income: 20 Practical Tips

How to Budget on a Low Income: 20 Practical Tips

Budgeting on a low income can be tough, but with the right plan and tools, it's possible to gain control and work towards financial stability.

20 Budgeting Tips for Beginners

20 Budgeting Tips for Beginners

Feeling overwhelmed by your budget? It doesn’t have to be that way!

Community Newsletter #14: Lunch Money + Projected Cash Flow = Cash Flow Forecasting

Community Newsletter #14

Lunch Money + Projected Cash Flow = Cash Flow Forecasting

What’s Your Preferred Budgeting Method? 6 Popular Budgets Explained

What’s Your Preferred Budgeting Method?

Explore the most popular budgeting methods, including zero-based, envelope, 50/30/20, and more.

How to Live Within Your Means: 15 Practical Strategies

How to Live Within Your Means: 15 Practical Strategies

Looking for ways to live within your means? Check out our 15 strategies to lower your expenses and put more money into savings — while still enjoying life!

10 Budgeting Hacks You Haven’t Tried Yet

10 Budgeting Hacks You Haven’t Tried Yet

Tired of the same old budgeting hacks? These easy tips can help you save and avoid overspending — without totally cutting your lattes and subscriptions.

How to Do a “No Spend” Challenge

How to Do a “No Spend” Challenge

Discover how a no-spend Challenge can help you save money, break bad spending habits, and reset your money mindset.

Common Expenses People Forget to Budget For (Full List)

Common Expenses People Forget to Budget For

Don’t let surprise bills derail your finances! Check out our list of commonly forgotten budget expenses to make sure you’re planning for everything.

What Is a Rollover Budget? How It Works (With Examples)

What Is a Rollover Budget? How It Works (With Examples)

Understanding How Rollover Budgets Work in Lunch Money

Community Newsletter #13: Teaching Financial Independence: A Personal Story

Community Newsletter #13

Teaching Financial Independence: A Personal Story

Best Credit Karma Alternative for Budgeting

Best Credit Karma Alternative for Budgeting

Need a Credit Karma alternative that actually helps you budget? Discover why Lunch Money is the better choice for ex-Mint users.

Community Newsletter #12: The new budgeting experience is coming!

Community Newsletter #12

The new budgeting experience is coming!

How to Prepare Financially for a Layoff

How to Prepare Financially for a Layoff

Layoffs can happen without warning. Find out how to prepare for a layoff and build a budget that can withstand economic uncertainty.

How to Budget While Traveling Abroad

How to Budget While Traveling Abroad

It can be tough to stick to a budget when traveling abroad. Here are some tips to keep your travels within budget.

Community Newsletter #11: AI Meets Budgeting: Incredible Tools Built by Our Community

Community Newsletter #11

AI Meets Budgeting: Incredible Tools Built by Our Community

Budgeting for Irregular Incomes: Tips for Success

Budgeting for Irregular Incomes: Tips for Success

If you have an irregular income you'll need to know your average monthly income and ensure you spend less than you earn. Here's how Lunch Money can help.

How to Calculate Your Net Worth

How to Calculate Your Net Worth

Want to see a snapshot of your financial health? Discover how to calculate your net worth, why it’s important, and tips to increase it.

12 Frugal Living Tips

12 Frugal Living Tips

Here are 12 frugal living tips that will put more money in your pocket without sacrificing your standard of living.

How to Save $10,000 in a Year (6 tips)

How to Save $10,000 in a Year (6 tips)

Want to learn how to save $10,000 in a year? It might sound challenging, but we break down some simple ways you can make it easier. Start saving today!

Community Newsletter #10: Spotlight on Lunch Money Team Member, Din– the one with all the answers!

Community Newsletter #10

Spotlight on Lunch Money Team Member, Din– the one with all the answers!

How to Budget for Periodic Expenses

How to Budget for Periodic Expenses

Are irregular expenses throwing off your budget? Learn how to budget for periodic expenses so you’ll be ready for whatever life throws your way!

What's Behind the Loud Budgeting Trend?

What's Behind the Loud Budgeting Trend?

Learn about the new loud budgeting TikTok trend and how you can use it to save more money and hit your financial goals.

How to Make Budgeting Fun

How to Make Budgeting Fun

Budgeting doesn't have to be boring or tedious. Here are some tricks to make budgeting fun.

How to Create a Monthly Budget That Works for You

How to Create a Monthly Budget That Works for You

Tired of living paycheck to paycheck? Learn how to take control of your finances with a monthly budget planner so you can save more money and pay off debt.

How to Set Custom Budgeting Periods with Lunch Money

How to Set Custom Budgeting Periods

Lunch Money allows you to set custom budgeting periods to align your budget with your paycheck. Learn how to set up your budget in a way that works for you.

How to Create a Weekly Budget (Paid Weekly? Start Here)

How to Create a Weekly Budget

Weekly budgeting makes a lot of sense if you get paid weekly. Here are some tips for making it work for you.

Community Newsletter #9: Good news for Canadians! Spotlight on Colby, developer of Lunchsimple and updates to our crypto integrations

Community Newsletter #9

Good news for Canadians! Spotlight on Colby, developer of Lunchsimple and updates to our crypto integrations.

Spotlight on Rob Berger’s livestream of Lunch Money

Spotlight on Rob Berger’s livestream of Lunch Money

If you consume much personal finance content on YouTube, you may have noticed that Lunch Money has a new fan!

Community Newsletter #8: A community success story! Spotlight on Wilson, developer of Lunch Money Pal and our newest engineer!

Community Newsletter #8

A community success story! Spotlight on Wilson, developer of Lunch Money Pal and our newest engineer!

How to Budget As a Couple

How to Budget As a Couple

Figuring out how to budget as a couple can be difficult, but it's possible to improve your relationship and net worth with the right strategy.

Pay Yourself First: How Reverse Budgeting Works

Pay Yourself First: How Reverse Budgeting Works

Reverse budgeting works by transferring money to savings before you plan your spending. It ensures that your savings goals are always met.

Zero-based budgeting simplified with Lunch Money

Zero-based budgeting simplified with Lunch Money

Struggling with overspending or paying down debt? With zero-based budgeting, you can assign every dollar a job and take control of your finances. Learn more.

Community Newsletter #7: Spotlight on Lunch Flow, a tool for syncing bank transactions from the UK & EU. Plus, a recap of our Vancouver meetup!

Community Newsletter #7

Spotlight on Lunch Flow, a tool for syncing bank transactions from the UK & EU. Plus, a recap of our Vancouver meetup!

100 Envelope Savings Challenge: Rules & Free Printable

100 Envelope Savings Challenge: Rules & Free Printable

Looking for a fun way to save money? The 100 envelope challenge can help you save over $5,000 in 100 days. Here’s how it works with our free printable PDF!

The 50/30/20 Rule Explained: Budget Your Money Simply

The 50/30/20 Rule Explained: Budget Your Money Simply

The 50/30/20 budget is a simple way to keep your finances in order. Learn how it works and decide if it's best for you.

Cash Stuffing for Beginners: How Envelope Budgeting Works

Cash Stuffing for Beginners: How Envelope Budgeting Works

Envelope budgeting organizes your cash into different cash envelope categories so you stick to your budget and reduce overspending. Learn how this system works.

Community Newsletter #6: Spotlight on Lonchera, a Telegram bot. Plus, our next community meetup!

Community Newsletter #6

Spotlight on Lonchera, a Telegram bot for Lunch Money. Plus, our next community meetup!

Budget Categories List: Subcategories & Examples

Budget Categories List: Subcategories & Examples

Discover essential personal budget categories and how to use them

We're hiring!

We're Hiring!

We’re making our most important hire yet: a Full-Stack Software Engineer

Community Newsletter #5: We're hiring! Plus, another giveaway and community meetup!

Community Newsletter #5

We're hiring! Plus, another giveaway and community meetup!

The Least Annoying Price Increase in History

The Least Annoying Price Increase in History

Current subscription plans always stay the same just a little adjustment for new friends!

Community Spotlight #4: TRMNL, plus a giveaway!

Community Spotlight #4

Our first giveaway! Discover TRMNL– an e-ink display featuring Lunch Money

Community Spotlight #3: Toronto meetup and Money Mover

Community Spotlight #3

Recap of the first community meetup in Toronto and Spotlight on Money Mover by Adam Taylor

Community Spotlight #2: Android Companion App

Community Spotlight #2

Spotlight on Android Lunch Money Companion App by Rodrigo Martins

Why we lowered our pricing near the height of inflation

Why We Lowered Our Pricing Near the Height of Inflation

In the summer of 2023, I decided to make a significant change to Lunch Money’s pricing structure.

Community Spotlight #1: LumoSync

Community Spotlight #1

Lunch Money Developer Updates & Spotlight on Tómas from LumoSync

Lunch Money: The New Era

Lunch Money: The New Era

How a divorce redefined my one-person business

Built for the financially intentional

A thoughtful tool for serious money clarity.

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