Money Article Workflow

14 March 2026

Money Article Workflow

This document explains how to generate, write, and publish articles for the vibe-living/money category. It mirrors the moving article pipeline but targets r/personalfinance and personal finance topics.

The Pipeline at a Glance

Run generate_articles.py to fetch 5 threads from r/personalfinance
Script writes briefs to article-briefs.txt
In Cursor chat, say "write the 5 articles from article-briefs.txt"
Review and fact-check
Publish

How to Run the Script

Open a terminal in vibe-living/money/ and run:

cd "C:\Users\jssan\OneDrive\Documents\CityVibeCheck\vibe-living\money"
python generate_articles.py

Options:

Command	What it does
`python generate_articles.py`	Fetch 5 threads, auto-select top scored
`python generate_articles.py --count 3`	Fetch and brief only 3 threads
`python generate_articles.py --keyword "emergency fund"`	Force a specific topic

The script requires pip install requests if not already installed.

Deduplication

used-threads.json tracks every Reddit thread ID that has been used. The script loads this file before searching and updates it after selecting threads. Never delete this file. It prevents the same thread from being used twice.

Author Block

All money articles use Emilia Grey as the author.

author: "Emilia Grey"
author_bio: "Emilia Grey is a writer who helps people navigate the complexities of personal finance and relocation. With a practical approach and a knack for breaking down complex topics with story-telling, Emilia provides actionable advice for those looking to save money, invest wisely, and make informed decisions about their next move. In her free time, she's a fan fiction enthusiast, getting lost in the worlds of her favorite books and TV shows."
author_photo: "/vibe-living/images/authors/emilia-grey.webp"
author_title: "Personal Finance & Relocation"

Frontmatter Checklist

Every money article needs:

[ ] layout: article.njk
[ ] title: — uses a fictional character's name or scenario
[ ] excerpt: — 1-sentence hook
[ ] description: — SEO-friendly, practical summary
[ ] keywords: — comma-separated, specific
[ ] category: "money"
[ ] author: "Emilia Grey" with full author block
[ ] featured_image: "/vibe-living/images/money/[slug].webp"
[ ] image_caption: — short, descriptive
[ ] date: — YYYY-MM-DD
[ ] read_time: 5
[ ] tags: — money plus 2-4 relevant subtopics

Narrative Structure

Every article follows this structure:

Opening hook (italicised paragraph) — fictional character in a relatable money moment
H2: The Problem — financial situation, stakes, emotional weight
H2: The Research / Discovery — character investigates, mirrors Reddit advice
H2: [Solution or Method] — practical breakdown with sub-sections if needed
Callout box (> ### Title) — real numbers, checklist, or decision snapshot
H2: [Complication or Hidden Factor] — non-obvious thing that matters
H2: [Result] — character's outcome
Closing paragraph — broader lesson + CTA link

Callout Box Format

> ### The Budget That Actually Worked
> - Income: $3,400/month
> - Rent: $1,100
> - Fixed costs: $800
> - Savings target: $500/month
> - Discretionary: $1,000

Image Format

![descriptive alt text](/vibe-living/images/money/descriptive-slug.webp)

Place 1-2 images inside the article body. Images live at /vibe-living/images/money/.

CTA Links

Use one of these at the end of every article:

Budget / cost angle: [cost of living calculator](https://cityvibecheck.com/vibe-calculator)
City choosing angle: [city matching tool](https://cityvibecheck.com)

External Links

Every article must contain 2-3 authoritative external links placed inline within the text, opening in a new tab.

Format:

<a href="https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/tips-save-money/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CFPB savings tips</a>

Rules:

2-3 links per article, no more
Authoritative sources only
Each link supports a specific factual claim in the article
Inline only — not in a list at the bottom
Always include target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"

Common link targets for money articles:

Topic	Good external link
Budgeting / spending	consumerfinance.gov
Credit scores	annualcreditreport.com
IRS / taxes	irs.gov
Retirement / 401k	dol.gov/agencies/ebsa
Investing basics	investor.gov
Student loans	studentaid.gov
Wage / salary data	bls.gov/oes
Emergency fund guidance	consumerfinance.gov
Medical debt / billing	cms.gov
Personal finance concepts	investopedia.com

Writing Rules (Non-Negotiable)

No em dashes. Use a comma, a period, or restructure the sentence. Never use -- or —.
No preachy closings. Do not end with a moral lesson spelled out. Let the story carry it.
No listicle openers. The article must begin with the narrative hook.
No real Reddit usernames or identifying details. All names and locations must be fictionalized.
Advice emerges from the story. Tips are discovered by the character, not front-loaded.
Contractions are fine. The voice is warm and human, not formal.
Length: 900 to 1,100 words. read_time: 5 in frontmatter.
Subheadings use sentence case.

Fact-Check Pass

Before saving any article, verify every specific claim:

Claim type	How to verify
Interest rates (savings, loans, credit)	Federal Reserve or current bank rate sources
IRS limits (401k, IRA, HSA contribution caps)	irs.gov official publications
FICO score ranges	CFPB or official credit bureau documentation
Median income / wage data	BLS or Census QuickFacts
Student loan terms / forgiveness rules	studentaid.gov
Medical billing / surprise bill rules	CMS.gov or No Surprises Act official guidance
Savings rate statistics	Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances

If a claim cannot be verified with confidence, soften it to "typically" or "often," or attribute it to the character's experience.

Date Spreading

When generating a batch of articles all at once, spread dates across a realistic range (1-3 weeks apart). Future one-off runs can use the current date.

File Locations

File	Purpose
`generate_articles.py`	Fetches r/personalfinance threads and generates briefs
`used-threads.json`	Deduplication log — never delete
`article-briefs.txt`	Temporary brief file for the current batch — overwritten each run
`*.md`	Published articles