The Resources Shelf
Money, calmly.
The budgeting tools, side-hustle platforms, and small habits that don't ask you to hustle harder — just to set a few things up once.
We're not financial advisors and nothing here is financial advice. But we are twenty-somethings who've made every classic money mistake — so the list below is what we wish we'd known earlier, organised by what it actually helps you do.
Section 01
Budgeting that sticks
YNAB (You Need A Budget)
Best for taking control after a bad month
Zero-based budgeting that finally clicked. The learning curve is real, but six weeks in, you stop wondering where the money went.
Free for students (1 year)Monarch Money
Best for all-in-one tracking
Mint replacement after Mint shut down. Cleaner interface, account aggregation across banks, and shared budgets if you split rent.
$14.99/mo · 7-day trialSection 02
Earning a little more
Fiverr
Best for first-time freelancing
Where most of our friends made their first £100 freelancing. Pick a narrow skill (proofreading, Notion templates, Canva graphics), price it low to start.
Free to listUpwork
Best for longer-term gigs
Better for longer-form work than Fiverr — writing, research, virtual assistance. Takes a few weeks to get the first client, then snowballs.
Free to listPoshmark
Best for reselling clothes
For selling clothes from your closet. Faster than Depop or eBay for casual sellers, and shipping is dead simple.
Free · 20% seller feeBluehost
Best for starting a blog
If your side-hustle is "start a blog" — this is where this site is hosted. The cheapest sensible option for a brand-new blog.
Affiliate · From $2.95/moSection 03
Investing the slow way
Wealthfront
Best for hands-off investing
Robo-advisor for people who don't want to think about investing. Set up a recurring transfer, walk away, check in once a quarter.
0.25% management feeTrading 212
Best for starting small in the UK/EU
Commission-free brokerage with fractional shares. Good for buying a few shares of index funds in £/€ markets.
Free · Commission-freeWe're not financial advisors. Please consult a professional before making investment decisions. Some links are affiliate links — see our full disclosure.