SIMPL for Stay-at-Home Parents: running the house on one paycheck
Full disclosure: SIMPL is our product; we make it and sell it. This page describes what money looks like for a stay-at-home parent, what it costs where you live using government price data, what SIMPL does and what it doesn't, and what the other apps cost, so you can decide for yourself.
A month of money, for a stay-at-home parent
What makes it hard
- One income stretched across a whole family
- Irregular costs that need the extra-paycheck months
- Making the value of staying home visible
- Building your own savings and tracking a small side income
What this month costs where you live
An illustrative month for a stay-at-home parent at US-average prices is about $4,510. Prices differ a lot by metro, and not evenly: rents vary far more than groceries. Each line below is scaled by the matching part of the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis's Regional Price Parities for 2024 (US average = 100). Debt payments and savings aren't scaled.
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (overall 115.6, rents 194.7): about $6,536 a month
- Monroe, MI (overall 93.5, rents 74.6): about $3,954 a month
- Monroe, LA (overall 83.6, rents 42.8): about $3,311 a month
| Line | US average | Scaled by | Your metro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mortgage or rent | $1,750 | rents | $1,750 |
| Utilities | $280 | utilities | $280 |
| Groceries and household | $1,050 | goods | $1,050 |
| Car and gas | $400 | goods | $400 |
| Kids' activities and school | $300 | services | $300 |
| Insurance and phones | $380 | services | $380 |
| Spousal retirement and savings | $350 | not scaled | $350 |
| Month | $4,510 | $4,510 |
Illustrative amounts, not a statistic about stay-at-home parents; your own month will differ. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by MSA (table MARPP), 2024, 387 metropolitan areas.
What SIMPL does for stay-at-home parents
- Zero-based budget. Plan the two-paycheck months and the three-paycheck months differently.
- Automatic spending categories. See groceries, kids and household spending clearly, month after month.
- Savings goals. Your own retirement and savings goals, tracked separately.
- Profit & loss. Track a small side income and its expenses with a simple P&L for tax time.
$199 once · 30-day money-back guarantee
Get SIMPL — $199What SIMPL doesn't do
- SIMPL does not give financial, tax or investment advice, file your taxes, or move money for you. It records, categorises and plans.
- It tracks investment and retirement balances for your net worth; it does not trade or manage them.
- Bank connection runs through Plaid and depends on Plaid supporting your bank; you can always enter or import transactions yourself.
- SIMPL is $199 once and runs on the device you install it on. Using it on more than one device, or sharing it live with a partner, needs Cloud Sync at $4.99 a month (optional).
Independent help, free, and not us
An app records and plans; it doesn't replace real guidance. These official and nonprofit sources are worth knowing for a stay-at-home parent:
- CFPB: Money as You Grow: Free activities for teaching kids about money, age by age.
- IRS Self-Employed Tax Center: Official guide to taxes when you work for yourself.
- USA.gov benefit finder: Check which federal benefits your household may qualify for.
What the other apps cost
| App | Price | Three years |
|---|---|---|
| Ramsey Solutions EveryDollar | $80 a year | $240 over 3 years |
| You Need A Budget | $109 a year | $327 over 3 years |
| Goodbudget | $80 a year | $240 over 3 years |
| SIMPL | $199 once | $199 |
Published prices, checked April 2026; they change. Several of these apps do things SIMPL doesn't; if one of those is what you need, the subscription may be worth it.
Questions
Is SIMPL a subscription?
No. SIMPL is $199 once, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. The only optional extra is Cloud Sync at $4.99 a month, if you want it on more than one device or shared with a partner.
Does it connect to my bank?
Yes, through Plaid, when Plaid supports your bank. You can also enter or import transactions yourself.
Is SIMPL right for every stay-at-home parent?
Not always. If you want investment advice, bill pay or a credit score, SIMPL doesn't do those. If you only want a free spending feed, a free app may be enough. SIMPL is for people who want a real budget, goals and reports without a yearly bill.