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Publishing Principles

Our mission is to make personal finance clear, practical, and doable. These guidelines explain how we research, write, review, and update content on SmartMoneySave.com.

1) Our Mission & Audience

  • Mission: Turn big money goals into small, repeatable steps—earn more, manage better, save smarter.
  • Audience: Beginners and busy people who want actionable, plain-English advice and step-by-step playbooks.

2) Editorial Independence

  • We maintain full editorial control over content.
  • Sponsors and partners do not approve, edit, or influence our editorial conclusions.
  • We clearly label any paid placements or sponsorships (see §11).

3) Accuracy, Fact-Checking & Sources

  • Every article is researched and fact-checked before publication.
  • We use primary sources wherever possible (official docs, academic papers, government data, company filings).
  • Statistics include a source link and, when relevant, the retrieval date.
  • We avoid sensational claims and provide context, assumptions, and limitations.

4) Expertise, Reviews & E-E-A-T

  • Money content is written or reviewed by editors with demonstrated experience in personal finance, budgeting, or consumer products.
  • When a topic requires specialist input (tax, legal, investing), we consult or cite qualified professionals and/or include an expert review.
  • Editorial bios explain relevant expertise and role.

5) Updates & Corrections

  • Updates: Content is reviewed on a schedule (at least annually) and whenever tools, prices, rules, or facts change.
  • Corrections: We fix factual errors promptly and note material corrections at the bottom of the page with a timestamp.
  • Report an issue: contact@smartmoneysave.com (include URL, the part to review, and a suggested source).

6) Originality & Plagiarism

  • We publish original work only. Quoted material is limited, clearly attributed, and used under fair use or with permission.
  • We use editorial checks to prevent plagiarism, including duplicate-content scans where appropriate.

7) Affiliate Links, Recommendations & How We Rank

  • Some articles include affiliate links. If you click and buy, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
  • Recommendations are based on criteria disclosed in-post, such as value, transparency, usability, support, and long-term cost.
  • We never recommend tools solely for commission potential; affiliate status does not affect our verdicts.
  • Comparison tables and “best” lists explain why items are ranked, and include pros/cons and who it’s for / not for.

8) Product Testing & Claims

  • When we test tools or methods, we describe the setup, timeframe, sample size, and constraints.
  • If we haven’t tested directly, we say so and rely on credible third-party data and user feedback with citations.
  • Earnings examples are illustrative, not guarantees (see disclaimers).

9) Sponsored Content & Partnerships

  • Sponsored content is clearly labeled (e.g., “Sponsored”, “Partner”).
  • Sponsors cannot edit our conclusions or veto critical findings.
  • We follow the FTC (and applicable local) disclosure rules.

10) Language, Inclusivity & Representation

  • We write in plain English, define jargon, and avoid fear-based framing.
  • We aim for inclusive, respectful language and examples that reflect diverse readers and budgets.

11) Use of AI Tools

  • We may use AI tools for research assistance, outline generation, or copy edits.
  • Humans remain in charge of ideas, structure, fact-checking, judgment, and final edits.
  • AI-assisted text is reviewed for accuracy, originality, and tone before publication.

12) SEO & Reader-First Standards

  • SEO helps readers find our work; it does not override accuracy or usefulness.
  • We avoid clickbait. Titles and meta descriptions reflect the content.
  • Internal links exist to guide learning, not to manipulate search engines.

13) Data, Privacy & Security

  • We collect minimal data needed to run the site and improve content.
  • See our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy for details on analytics, ads, and consent choices.
  • We do not publish sensitive personal data about readers.

14) Community & Comment Policy

  • We welcome constructive discussion. We remove comments that are abusive, hateful, spammy, or promotional.
  • We may close comments on posts that attract persistent abuse or misinformation.

15) Disclaimers (Important)

  • Content is educational and not financial, legal, tax, or investment advice.
  • Results vary; examples and case studies are illustrative only.
  • Before major decisions, consider consulting a qualified professional.

16) Editorial Workflow (Simplified)

  1. Pitch & scope (reader problem, success metric).
  2. Research & outline (sources logged, assumptions noted).
  3. Draft & fact-check (citations added inline).
  4. Edit & review (clarity, accuracy, compliance, disclosures).
  5. Publish (date stamp, author bio).
  6. Monitor & update (tools, prices, rules, or reader feedback).

17) Accessibility & Formatting

  • We use clear headings, descriptive link text, readable font sizes, and alt text for images where applicable.
  • Tables and checklists summarize steps to make content actionable.

18) How to Request a Change or Raise a Concern

  • Email contact@smartmoneysave.com with:
    • The URL and the specific section/quote,
    • The issue (error, ambiguity, outdated info),
    • A reliable source we can review.
  • We aim to respond within 5 business days.