Frequently asked questions
What Frugalist is, what it costs, and how it works. If your question is not here, write me.
About Frugalist
What type of product is Frugalist.Club?
Frugalist.Club is subscription software (SaaS) for personal financial planning: tools you run in the browser. Today it is a free beta. After the beta it becomes a monthly or annual subscription.
Like any subscription software: one membership, every tool. No downloads, no installation, just sign in from any browser.
Do I need to download or install anything?
No. Everything runs in the browser, on any device: computer, tablet, or phone. Join the club and start.
What am I paying for?
Nothing today: the beta is free. After the beta, a membership gives you ongoing access to the software, including:
- Unlimited use of all calculators and simulation tools
- Your saved simulations, kept for you
- Expense analysis (still in progress)
- New tools and updates as I build them
- The reading library
- Email support
Is this a one-time purchase or subscription?
A recurring subscription (standard SaaS model), once the beta ends. You keep access as long as it is active. Cancel anytime, no penalties or fees.
Do you provide financial advice or consulting?
No. Frugalist is software tools only, not a financial advisory service. The tools show you the numbers. The decisions are yours.
How is this different from hiring a financial advisor?
| Feature | Frugalist.Club | Financial Advisor |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | Software tools | Personalized advice |
| Cost | $20/month or $60/year | $2,000-10,000/year |
| Who decides | You | Advisor recommends |
| Access | 24/7 from anywhere | Scheduled appointments |
| Best for | People who want to run their own numbers | People who want someone else to manage it |
What is Frugalist similar to?
It sits alongside other personal finance software:
- •Mint.com - budgeting and expense tracking software
- •YNAB (You Need A Budget) - budget planning software
- •Personal Capital - wealth management software
- •Quicken - personal financial planning software
All subscription financial software. Frugalist is in the same category, focused on retirement planning, debt payoff, and the decisions around them.
Pricing and membership
What is free?
Everything built so far:
- Trinity Study Retirement Planner
- Monte Carlo Retirement Simulator
- International Retirement Simulator
- Coast FIRE Calculator
- Debt Payoff Calculator
- Mortgage & Purchase Simulator
- Multi-Scenario Comparator
- Unlimited Simulation History
- Emergency Fund Calculator
No card, no paywall. Membership is free and keeps your simulations.
What will the paid plan ($20/month) include?
Everything that is free today, plus the tools still in progress:
- Expense Analyzer
- PDF Reports
- Finances Distilled
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. Cancel anytime from your settings. Your membership stays active until the end of the billing period.
When you cancel I will ask why, if you want to tell me. It is optional and does not delay anything.
Is my payment information secure?
Yes. Payments go through Paddle, a payment platform used by thousands of SaaS companies. Your card details never touch my servers.
Technical and security
Where is my data stored?
On AWS (Amazon Web Services), encrypted at rest and in transit.
Do you sell my data?
Never. If Frugalist earns money, it is from memberships, not from your data. Your numbers stay private and are not shared with third parties.
What browsers are supported?
Any modern browser: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge. It works on phones and tablets too.
Can I use this on my phone?
Yes. There is no app to download. Open frugalist.club in your phone’s browser.
How do I get support?
Write to support@frugalist.club, or to me at juan@frugalist.club. It is one person answering, so give me 24-48 hours.