The 5-Account Paycheck System Playbook

This playbook is for women who pay every bill on time and still end the month with $30 left, or with nothing. It's for anyone whose money sits in one checking account, so the rent money and the brunch money are the same money and you only find out which was which when something bounces. The problem usually isn't discipline. It's structure. When every dollar lives in the same place, you guess. Guessing makes you feel behind, even when you're doing the work. Inside, you'll get seven plays that take you from one account to a working five-account system: bills checking, spending checking, emergency fund, sinking funds, and the opportunity fund. You'll learn what each account is for and which ones belong at the same bank. You'll also learn how to map each paycheck to the bills it has to cover, how to move money on payday, and how to size each fund. Then you'll see how to handle high-interest debt inside the system and keep it running when life changes. Each play tells you when to use it, gives numbered steps, and shows a worked example with real numbers. I'm Clarissa Moore, a personal finance educator. I've taught more than 1,000 students to budget, save, and stop feeling behind. I use this exact system myself, including the Opportunity Fund, which I made up for the fun you can't see coming. You won't find theory here. These are the steps I walk my students through, written so you can finish setup in a weekend.