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Money, made simple. The money guide by Miles Makes Cents

Money,
compounded. The 2026 personal finance guide for Americans

Learn how to budget, pay off debt, raise your credit score, invest with index funds, use your 401(k), IRA and HSA, understand crypto and build extra income. One plain-English e-book with 2026 numbers throughout.

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  • One-time payment, no subscription
  • PDF · 129 pages
  • 16 chapters · 6 parts
  • Updated September 2026
Cover of Money, Compounded, the 2026 U.S. Edition personal finance e-book
Real 2026 numbers
Limits, rates and rules, with sources
  • 129pages, in plain English
  • 16chapters, each with action steps
  • 11charts that show the math
  • 68tables you can act on
  • 6worksheets to fill in
  • 2026limits, rates and rules
01 · Compound interest, explained

Alex invested for 10 years. Ben invested for 30. Alex still wins.

Alex puts $300 a month into the market from age 25 to 35, then stops for good. Ben starts at 35 and invests the same $300 a month for 30 straight years.

Alex · ages 25 to 35
Invested $36,000
$421,453
at age 65
Ben · ages 35 to 65
Invested $108,000
$365,991
at age 65

Same monthly amount, ten extra years. That is compound interest at work, and Chapter 1 shows you exactly how to put it on your side.

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Starting early beats investing more

Figure 1.1
  • Alex, invests ages 25 to 35
  • Ben, invests ages 35 to 65
$300 a month at a 7% annual return, compounded monthly. A hypothetical example from Chapter 1: real returns vary year to year and are never guaranteed.
02 · What's inside the guide

Six parts. Sixteen chapters. One plan.

From budgeting and emergency funds to credit scores, index funds, 401(k)s, Roth IRAs, crypto taxes and side hustles. Every chapter ends with action steps you can start right away.

Part I

Foundations

The math, the habits and the safety net that everything else is built on.

  1. 01The Math of Wealth
  2. 02Budgeting That Actually Works
  3. 03Your Safety Net
Part II

Debt & Credit

How interest works against you, how lenders score you, and how to get free.

  1. 04How Interest Works Against You
  2. 05Credit Scores Decoded
  3. 06The Debt Escape Plan
Part III

Growing Wealth

Investing, retirement accounts, portfolios and real estate, the American way.

  1. 07Investing 101
  2. 08Retirement Accounts: Tax Breaks You Should Be Using
  3. 09Building Your Portfolio
  4. 10Real Estate and Your Home
Part IV

Crypto & Digital Money

What crypto really is, how it is taxed and regulated, and how not to get burned.

  1. 11Crypto Without the Hype

Covers Bitcoin, Ether and stablecoins, spot ETFs, wallets and custody, crypto taxes, the GENIUS Act and the red flags of common scams.

Part V

Extra Income

Building income beyond your paycheck, and keeping more of it after taxes.

  1. 12Side Hustles That Pay
  2. 13Taxes for Side Income
Part VI

Protect & Plan

Insurance, scams, the economy and a month-by-month plan to put it all together.

  1. 14Protecting What You Build
  2. 15The Economy and Your Wallet
  3. 16Your 12-Month Wealth Plan
Plus four appendices:
  • A · 2026 Key Numbers at a Glance
  • B · Worksheets
  • C · Glossary
  • D · Sources and Notes
All 16 chapters in one 129-page PDF.
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03 · A look inside

Plain English. Real numbers. Charts that make it click.

Every idea comes with the math behind it, shown in charts and tables you can read in seconds.

Table of contents of the Money, Compounded personal finance e-book
The contents: 6 parts, 16 chapters and 4 appendices
Chapter 1 page with a compound interest chart comparing starting early and investing more
Chapter 1: why starting early beats investing more
Chapter 4 page comparing three ways to pay off $6,000 of credit card debt
Chapter 4: $6,000 of card debt, paid off three ways

Written for the U.S.

401(k)s, IRAs, HSAs, FICO Scores, FDIC insurance and IRS rules.

Updated for 2026

Contribution limits, tax brackets and rates as of September 2026, with sources in Appendix D.

The math, made visible

11 charts and 68 tables that show the numbers instead of just telling you.

Built to act on

Action steps in every chapter, 6 worksheets and a 12-month wealth plan.

04 · Is it for you?

Made for real life, not Wall Street.

Part I

You're starting from zero

Build the base: the math of money, a budget you can keep and a real emergency fund.

Part II

You're carrying debt

See how interest works, how credit scores are built and which debt to pay off first.

Part III

You're ready to invest

Index funds, 401(k)s, IRAs, HSAs and a simple portfolio you can maintain twice a year.

Part V

You want more income

Side hustles, pricing your work and the taxes that come with extra income.

Illustration of Miles, the host of Miles Makes Cents, smiling in a navy blazer and green tee
05 · Meet Miles

Small stories. Big money lessons.

Miles Makes Cents turns money into one-minute stories.

Each video is a short money story you can finish in a minute. The money guide is the long version: the full playbook behind those stories, in one PDF you can keep and come back to.

  • Saving
  • Investing
  • Side hustles
06 · FAQ

Questions, answered.

The short version of the fine print.

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What is Money, Compounded?

Money, Compounded is a 129-page personal finance e-book for Americans from Miles Makes Cents. It covers budgeting, emergency funds, credit scores, debt payoff, investing, retirement accounts, real estate, crypto, side income and taxes, with 2026 numbers throughout.

How much does it cost?

$19.90, a one-time payment in U.S. dollars, and that is the total at checkout. There is no subscription.

How do I pay and get the PDF?

Checkout is handled securely by Stripe. Right after you pay, you can download the PDF, and a copy is sent to the email address you used at checkout.

Is this financial advice?

No. Money, Compounded is educational. It explains how things work and what to weigh, but it does not know your full situation. For big decisions, talk to a licensed professional, ideally a fee-only fiduciary.

What format is it?

A 129-page PDF in U.S. Letter size, with bookmarks for every chapter. It reads well on a laptop, tablet or phone, and it prints cleanly.

How current are the numbers?

Figures were updated in September 2026, including 2026 contribution limits, tax brackets and rates. Sources are listed in Appendix D. Limits and rates change, so check the current figures before you act.

Is it only for the U.S.?

Yes. It is written for U.S. readers: 401(k)s, IRAs, HSAs, FICO Scores, FDIC insurance and IRS rules. The math of compounding works anywhere, but the accounts and taxes are American.

Do I need to know anything first?

No. Chapter 1 starts with the basic math of money, and every chapter ends with action steps you can start right away.

Money, Compounded · 2026 U.S. Edition

Get the money guide.

Everything you need to budget, get out of debt, invest and earn more, in one plain-English guide.

  • 129-page PDF, updated September 2026
  • 16 chapters, each ending with action steps
  • 11 charts and 68 tables that show the math
  • 6 worksheets and a 12-month wealth plan
  • 4 appendices, including 2026 key numbers at a glance
$19.90
One-time payment · USD
Get the money guide

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Educational content, not financial advice. Returns are never guaranteed.