Privacy Policy

Last Updated: February 2026

The Bottom Line: What This Policy Actually Means for You

I know nobody enjoys reading privacy policies. So here’s the short version — plain English, no legal gymnastics:

✅ I do not sell your personal information. Ever. That’s not how this site makes money, and it never will be.
✅ I do not spam. If you sign up for the newsletter, you’ll get content I think is genuinely useful. Unsubscribing is always one click away.
✅ Ads are on the site. Google AdSense runs ads, and those ads use cookies to show you relevant content. I explain exactly how that works below, and how to opt out if you’d like.
✅ Affiliate links are on the site. When you click a link and sign up for something, I may earn a commission at no cost to you. This is how I keep the site free. Full details are on my Advertising Disclosure page.
✅ You have real rights over your data. Whether you’re in California, the EU, or anywhere else, you can ask me what I have, ask me to delete it, or opt out of certain data uses. I take those requests seriously.

Now, here’s the full policy with all the details. I’ve written it to be as clear as possible. If anything is confusing, feel free to reach out directly. I read every message.

1. Who We Are

MoneyPantry.com is owned and operated by Money Pantry Media LLC, a personal finance blog and media company based in Missouri, USA. I’m Saeed Darabi, the founder. You can read more about the story behind this site on the About page.

Business entity: Money Pantry Media LLC
Address: 14940 Afshari Cir, Florissant, MO 63034, United States
Contact: satrap@moneypantry.com

This Privacy Policy applies to MoneyPantry.com and any related pages, mobile versions, or channels operated under the MoneyPantry name.

2. What Information We Collect and How

Information You Give Us Directly

Comments: When you leave a comment on an article, we collect your name, email address, website URL (if you enter one), your comment text, your IP address, and your browser’s user agent string. The IP address and user agent are used only for spam detection.

Newsletter sign-up: If you subscribe to the MoneyPantry newsletter, we collect your name and email address. We use AWeber to manage our email list. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link at the bottom of any email.

Contact form: When you reach out via the contact page, we receive your name, email address, and the content of your message. We use this only to respond to your inquiry.

Images you upload: If you submit an image (for example, as part of a comment or contribution), please be aware that image files can contain embedded location data (EXIF GPS data). Other visitors could potentially extract this location data from images you share publicly on the site. We recommend stripping location data from photos before uploading. Images may also be processed through third-party compression or CDN services for performance optimization and are typically retained for up to 30 days by those services.

Information Collected Automatically

Like virtually every website on the internet, MoneyPantry automatically collects certain technical data when you visit. This includes:

Your IP address
Browser type and version
Operating system
Pages you visit on this site
Time and date of your visit
Referring URL (what page or search engine sent you here)

This data is collected primarily through cookies, Google Analytics, and advertising cookies. See Section 4 for full details on each of these.

3. How We Use Your Information

Here’s exactly what we use your information for. Nothing hidden:

To run the site: Core site functions like comment moderation, spam filtering, and login sessions require basic data to work.
To send the newsletter: If you’ve subscribed, we use your email address to send you new content, tips, and resources. Nothing you didn’t sign up for.
To respond to you: If you contact me, I use the information you send to respond to your question or request.
To understand how the site is used: Google Analytics gives me anonymized data about which articles are helpful, where readers come from, and how the site can be improved. This helps me make MoneyPantry more useful for everyone.
To show relevant advertising: Google AdSense uses cookies to display ads that are relevant to your interests. I do not control which specific ads appear or how Google determines your interests, but I explain how to opt out below.

I do not use your information for any form of automated decision-making or profiling that affects you in a legal or significant way.

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

A cookie is a small text file placed on your device when you visit a website. Cookies help websites remember you between visits and make things work properly.

Here are the types of cookies used on MoneyPantry:

Our Own (First-Party) Cookies

These are set directly by MoneyPantry and are necessary for the site to function:

Comment cookies: If you leave a comment and opt in, we’ll save your name, email, and website in cookies for one year so you don’t have to retype them next time.
Login cookies: If the site ever requires a login, a temporary cookie verifies your browser accepts cookies (no personal data, discarded when you close your browser). Login sessions last up to two days; “Remember Me” extends this to two weeks.
Preference cookies: These remember your display settings and last for up to one year.

Google Analytics Cookies

We use Google Analytics to understand how MoneyPantry is being used in aggregate, things like which articles get the most traffic, where visitors come from, and how long people spend on the site. Google Analytics collects anonymous, aggregated data. It does not collect your name or email address.

If you’d prefer not to be tracked by Google Analytics across any website, you can install the free Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-on. You can also read Google’s full explanation of how they use data from partner sites.

Google AdSense and Advertising Cookies

MoneyPantry displays ads through Google AdSense. Google and its advertising partners use cookies to show you ads based on your previous activity on this site and across other websites. This is called personalized advertising.

I do not control which ads are shown, and I do not have access to the data Google uses to select them.

If you’d prefer not to see personalized ads, you can opt out through:

Other Tracking Technologies

In addition to cookies, some pages may use web beacons or pixel tags. These are tiny invisible images embedded in pages or emails that record basic data like page views or email opens. They collect very limited information (such as the time of a visit) and cannot be blocked independently, but limiting cookies also limits their functionality.

Controlling Cookies

Most browsers accept cookies by default, but you can change your browser settings to reject or delete cookies at any time. Keep in mind that disabling certain cookies may affect how some features of the site work. Instructions for managing cookies vary by browser. Check your browser’s help documentation for specifics.

5. Affiliate Links and How We Make Money

MoneyPantry earns revenue through affiliate links and display advertising. When you click a link to an external product or service and sign up or make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

This commission arrangement does not influence our editorial recommendations. I only recommend things I’ve personally tested, thoroughly researched, or verified through community feedback and reputable sources. Full details are explained on the Advertising Disclosure page and our Ethics Policy.

MoneyPantry does not sell sponsored posts. Occasionally we work with companies on sponsored content. When we do, it is always clearly labeled in the article itself, in compliance with FTC guidelines.

6. Who We Share Your Data With

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. Full stop.

We do share limited data with a small number of trusted services that are necessary to operate the site:

AWeber: We share your name and email address with AWeber, our email newsletter platform, when you subscribe. AWeber operates under its own privacy policy.
Spam detection: Comments submitted on the site may be routed through an automated spam detection service (such as Akismet).
Google (Analytics and AdSense): As described in Section 4, Google receives anonymized usage data through Analytics and uses cookies for advertising purposes.
Password resets: If you request a password reset, your IP address is included in the reset email as a security measure.
Image CDN: User-uploaded images may pass through third-party image optimization or CDN services for performance purposes.

All third-party services we use are required to handle your data in accordance with applicable privacy laws. We do not give any third party permission to use your data for their own unrelated purposes.

7. Embedded Content

Some articles on MoneyPantry include embedded content from other websites, such as videos, social media posts, and charts. When you interact with embedded content, that third-party website may collect data about you, set its own cookies, and track your behavior, including if you’re logged into an account on their platform. MoneyPantry is not responsible for the privacy practices of those external sites.

8. How Long We Keep Your Data

Comments: Comment text and metadata are kept indefinitely so that approved follow-up comments can be recognized automatically rather than held in a moderation queue.
Newsletter subscribers: Your name and email are retained for as long as you remain subscribed. Unsubscribing removes you from our active list; deletion requests can be made by contacting us directly.
Contact form inquiries: Messages sent through the contact form are retained only as long as necessary to respond and resolve your inquiry.
Analytics data: Google Analytics data is anonymized and retained according to Google’s standard data retention settings.

9. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on where you live, you may have specific legal rights over your personal data. We take all of these seriously and will respond to valid requests within a reasonable timeframe (typically 30 days). To exercise any of the rights below, contact us here. We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling your request.

For Everyone

Access: You can ask what personal data we hold about you.
Correction: You can ask us to correct inaccurate data.
Deletion: You can ask us to delete your personal data (subject to legal retention requirements).
Objection: You can object to us processing your data for direct marketing.

For EU/EEA Residents (GDPR)

If you’re located in the European Union or European Economic Area, you have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including:

Data portability: The right to receive your data in a machine-readable format.
Restriction of processing: The right to request we limit how we use your data in certain circumstances.
Right to lodge a complaint: You have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority if you believe we’ve mishandled your data.

Our lawful basis for processing your data is primarily legitimate interest (site operation, spam prevention, analytics) and consent (newsletter sign-up, comment cookies).

For California Residents (CCPA/CPRA)

If you’re a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) give you additional rights:

Right to Know: You can request details about the categories and specific pieces of personal information we’ve collected about you, and how it’s used or shared.
Right to Delete: You can request deletion of personal information we’ve collected from you, subject to certain exceptions.
Right to Opt Out of Sale: We do not sell personal information in the traditional sense. However, some data sharing with advertising partners (like Google AdSense) may qualify as a “sale” under California law. You can opt out of personalized advertising through the tools listed in Section 4.
Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not treat you differently for exercising your privacy rights.

To submit a California privacy request, contact us here.

10. Children’s Privacy (COPPA)

MoneyPantry is not directed at children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 13. If we become aware that we’ve inadvertently collected information from a child under 13, we will delete it promptly. If you believe a child has submitted personal information to this site, please contact us immediately.

We comply fully with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

11. Email Communications (CAN-SPAM Compliance)

If you subscribe to the MoneyPantry newsletter, here’s what you can expect:

We only send email to people who have explicitly signed up.
Every email includes a clear, one-click unsubscribe link at the bottom.
We honor unsubscribe requests promptly. You will not continue receiving emails after opting out.
We do not use misleading subject lines or sender information.

We comply with the CAN-SPAM Act. To unsubscribe or update your preferences, use the link in any email or contact us directly.

12. Data Security

We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. This includes using secure hosting infrastructure and limiting access to personal data to only what is necessary to operate the site.

That said, no website can guarantee 100% security. If a data breach occurs that affects your rights, we will take immediate action and notify affected users via email or on-site notification within a reasonable timeframe, consistent with applicable law and Fair Information Practice principles.

13. Third-Party Links

MoneyPantry contains many links to external websites, including products, services, apps, and resources I recommend. Once you click a link and leave MoneyPantry, this Privacy Policy no longer applies. I encourage you to read the privacy policy of any site you visit, especially before submitting personal or financial information. I am not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party websites.

14. Changes to This Policy

The internet changes, laws change, and this site changes, so this Privacy Policy may be updated periodically. When it is, I’ll update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page. If the changes are significant, I may also note them in the newsletter or on the site.

Your continued use of MoneyPantry after a policy update constitutes acceptance of the revised terms. I recommend bookmarking this page and checking it from time to time if you want to stay current.

15. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, want to exercise your data rights, or just want to understand something better, please get in touch:

Money Pantry Media LLC
14940 Afshari Cir
Florissant, MO 63034
United States
Email: satrap@moneypantry.com

You can also use the Contact Page. I read every message and will do my best to respond promptly.

For related policies, see our Cookie Policy, Advertising Disclosure, Ethics Policy, FAQ, About MoneyPantry, and Terms of Use.

This page was last reviewed and updated: February 2026. MoneyPantry is operated by Money Pantry Media LLC, Florissant, MO.