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Desk & tools

The money desk: physical tools that help

Calculators, budget binders and paperwork tools we find useful for running your money. Each one with an honest "watch out". You don't need any of them to get started.

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Calculators

Financial calculator€€€20 to €60

HP 10bII+ financial calculator

Works out loan payments, compound interest and returns with dedicated buttons.

  • Good forChecking a mortgage offer or your road to €100K without a spreadsheet.
  • Watch outA free calculator on our site does the basics. Only worth it if you like doing sums on paper.
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Financial calculator€€€20 to €60

Texas Instruments BA II Plus

The classic finance calculator used in CFA and university finance exams.

  • Good forStudying finance or wanting one calculator for every money question.
  • Watch outTakes an afternoon to learn. Buy the standard model, not the Professional, unless you need it.
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Desk calculator€under €20

Casio 12-digit desk calculator

A big-button calculator that sits next to your budget notebook.

  • Good forMonthly budget sessions and checking receipts.
  • Watch outAny solar desk calculator will do. Don't pay for brand names here.
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Budgeting on paper

Budget binder€under €20

A6 budget binder with cash envelopes

A ring binder with zip pockets to split cash into categories like groceries and fun.

  • Good forPeople who overspend on the card and want to see money leave.
  • Watch outCash is less safe than a bank account. Keep only one month of spending money in it.
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Savings challenge€under €20

Savings challenge book

A small book where you tick off amounts as you save them.

  • Good forMaking a savings goal visible, alone or with a partner.
  • Watch outMove the saved money to a savings account. Don't keep it at home.
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Notebook€€€20 to €60

Dotted A5 notebook (Leuchtturm1917)

A sturdy notebook for a money journal, net worth log or yearly review.

  • Good forWriting down your money goals once a month.
  • Watch outA cheap notebook works just as well. The habit matters, not the paper.
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Budget planner€under €20

Undated A5 budget planner

A paper planner with monthly budget pages, bill trackers and savings goals.

  • Good forPeople who think better with a pen than with a spreadsheet.
  • Watch outUndated means you can start any month. Our Euro Money Planner does the same in a spreadsheet.
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Paperwork and taxes

Document file€under €20

A4 expanding file organiser

One folder with pockets for payslips, tax returns, pension letters and contracts.

  • Good forTax season and moving abroad, when you suddenly need every document.
  • Watch outScan important papers too. Paper alone can get lost in a move.
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Document safety€€€20 to €60

Fireproof document bag

A fire- and water-resistant pouch for passports, deeds and your will.

  • Good forKeeping the few irreplaceable papers safe at home.
  • Watch outFire-resistant is not fireproof. Keep digital copies somewhere else.
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Label maker€€€20 to €60

Brother P-touch label maker

Prints labels so you can find any folder in seconds.

  • Good forPeople who want a paperwork system they will actually keep up.
  • Watch outNice to have, not a must. A marker does the job too.
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Digital safety

Security key€€€over €60

YubiKey 5 NFC security key

A physical key that protects your bank, broker and email logins against phishing.

  • Good forAnyone with investments online. Buy two and keep one as a backup.
  • Watch outNot every bank supports it. Check your broker and email first.
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Wallet€under €20

RFID-blocking card wallet

A slim wallet that shields contactless cards.

  • Good forTravel and busy city centres.
  • Watch outContactless fraud is rare and your bank usually refunds it. This is peace of mind, not essential.
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Saving on energy at home

Energy meter€under €20

Smart plug with energy meter

Shows how many kWh, and so how many euros, a device uses per month.

  • Good forFinding the fridge, dryer or gaming PC that quietly eats your energy bill.
  • Watch outCheck it works with your phone and Wi-Fi. Don't use it for heaters above its rated wattage.
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Insulation€under €20

Radiator reflector foil

Foil behind your radiator that sends heat back into the room instead of into the wall.

  • Good forRenters who can't insulate, in older homes with radiators on outside walls.
  • Watch outSmall saving per radiator. Worth it because it costs a few euros and takes ten minutes.
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Insulation€under €20

Door draught excluder

A strip or cushion that stops cold air coming in under a door.

  • Good forCheap fix for drafty flats in winter.
  • Watch outMeasure your door first. Not for doors that must close automatically for fire safety.
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Water and energy€€€20 to €60

Water-saving shower head

Uses less hot water per minute while keeping decent pressure.

  • Good forCutting both your water and gas bill without changing habits.
  • Watch outCheck your boiler type: some combi boilers need a minimum flow to switch on.
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Going paperless

Shredder€€€20 to €60

Cross-cut paper shredder

Cuts old bank statements and letters into confetti before they go in the bin.

  • Good forProtecting yourself against identity fraud after a big paperwork clear-out.
  • Watch outPick cross-cut (P-4) or better. Strip-cut shreds can be pieced back together.
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Scanner€€€over €60

Portable document scanner

Scans payslips, contracts and receipts straight to PDF.

  • Good forBuilding a digital archive so you can find any document from anywhere.
  • Watch outYour phone camera with a scan app is free and often good enough. Buy one only for lots of paper.
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Kids and money

Piggy bank€under €20

Counting piggy bank

A jar that counts the coins going in and shows the total.

  • Good forTeaching young children that saving adds up.
  • Watch outMake sure it counts euro coins. Many cheap ones are made for dollars.
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Money jars€€€20 to €60

Save, spend, share money jars

Three jars that teach kids to split pocket money between saving, spending and giving.

  • Good forThe first budget lesson, ages 4 to 10.
  • Watch outAny three jars with labels work too.
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Book€under €20

Children's book about money

A picture or story book that explains earning, saving and spending.

  • Good forStarting the money conversation early, at bedtime.
  • Watch outMany are American (dollars, allowance). Read it first and translate the examples to euros.
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Travel money

Luggage scale€under €20

Digital luggage scale

Weighs your suitcase at home so you don't pay overweight fees at the airport.

  • Good forAnyone who flies budget airlines.
  • Watch outWeigh with the bag lifted fully off the floor for an accurate reading.
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Travel safety€under €20

Hidden money belt

A flat belt under your clothes for cards, cash and passport.

  • Good forBackpacking and busy tourist areas.
  • Watch outKeep a backup card somewhere else, such as Wise or Revolut, in case you lose it.
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Prefer apps? See the tools we use and our book list.