Blog
Emergency fund: how much you really need (3, 6 or 12 months)
How many months of expenses to keep by situation, where to hold the money, and how to fill the fund even with irregular income.
How to calculate your net worth step by step
The net worth formula is a subtraction. The hard part is remembering everything that goes on each side and putting a timestamp on the number.
Compound interest explained: €200 a month for 30 years
What compound interest is, how much €200 a month at 5% adds up to over 10, 20 and 30 years, and why starting late costs more than it seems.
How much to set aside each month for Spanish quarterly tax
A simple rule so the 20th never catches you short: separate VAT the moment you collect it, and put aside 20% of profit.
Tracking expenses without bank sync: four methods that work
Bank aggregation is not the only option. We compare manual entry, CSV, PDF statements and email receipts.
Spanish freelancer quarterly calendar 2026: every date
2026 deadlines for the 303, the 130 and the annual summaries, with direct debit dates and the weekend rule. Plus a system so you never miss one.
The 50/30/20 rule in Spain: does it survive a Madrid rent?
The 50/30/20 rule breaks when rent takes 40% of your pay. How to adapt it in Spain and which version to use if you are self-employed.
Spain self-employed quota 2026: how your band is calculated
The 15 bands for 2026, the net income used to pick yours, the 31.5% rate and what happens at regularisation. With the full table.
Financial independence (FIRE) in Spain: how much you need
The 4% rule, 25 times your expenses, and what changes in Spain: capital gains tax, pension plans, and the Coast and Barista variants.
How much to set aside per invoice as a freelancer in Spain
Part of every invoice you collect is not yours. On a €1,000 base with 21% IVA and 15% withholding, you receive €1,060, keep €800 and set aside €260.
Modelo 130 worked example: three quarters with real numbers
Modelo 130 is cumulative, so it goes wrong by hand. We follow a freelancer through three quarters, with withholdings, a loss and the art. 110.3.c reduction.
How to read a Sankey diagram of your spending
A Sankey diagram shows at a glance where money comes in and where it leaks out. How to read one and the three leaks almost everyone discovers.
Modelo 303 step by step: a real quarter, box by box
We fill in a modelo 303 with a full example: €12,000 of sales, €2,700 of expenses and the result in box 71. A draft, not a filing.
Tracking net worth every month: the ritual that works
How to take a monthly snapshot of your net worth, what to include, why the time of each price matters, and when to look at the curve instead of the number.
Deductible expenses for Spanish freelancers 2026: full list
What an autónomo can deduct for IRPF and IVA in 2026, item by item, with the percentages and caps the Spanish tax office actually applies.