diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3fcca455..21619ac9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -97,9 +97,11 @@ These scripts will:
    authors:
      - chris
    categories:
-     - Category Name
+     - CategoryOne
+     - CategoryTwo
    tags:
-     - relevant-tag
+     - relevant-tag-one
+     - relevant-tag-two
    ---
    ```
 
diff --git a/create_post.ps1 b/create_post.ps1
index 32455617..30448a9b 100644
--- a/create_post.ps1
+++ b/create_post.ps1
@@ -43,6 +43,14 @@ title: "$title"
 date: $date
 authors:
  - chris | norm | omar
+categories:
+  # use existing categories when possible, in YAML list format.
+  - CATEGORY_ONE
+  - CATEGORY_TWO
+tags:
+  # use existing tags when possible, in YAML list format.
+  - TAG_ONE
+  - TAG_TWO
 ---
 
 TOPIC_INTRODUCTION_HERE
@@ -55,4 +63,6 @@ Everyone and anyone are welcome to [join](https://weeklydevchat.com/join/) as lo
 # Write the content to the file
 Set-Content -Path $filePath -Value $yamlContent
 
-Write-Output "Blog post template created at $filePath"
\ No newline at end of file
+Write-Output "Blog post template created at $filePath"
+Write-Output ""
+Write-Output "Reminder: Use existing categories and tags when possible."
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/create_post.sh b/create_post.sh
index 596ee4ac..a0777946 100644
--- a/create_post.sh
+++ b/create_post.sh
@@ -1,17 +1,21 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
 # Calculate the next Tuesday (or today if it's Tuesday)
-# In Linux date, weekday: 0=Sunday, 1=Monday, ..., 6=Saturday
 current_weekday=$(date +%w)              # 0=Sun ... 6=Sat
 days_to_tuesday=$(( (2 - current_weekday + 7) % 7 ))
 
-# If today is Tuesday, days_to_tuesday will be 0 → perfect
-# Add the calculated days
-tuesday=$(date -d "+${days_to_tuesday} days" +%Y-%m-%d)
+# Add the calculated days (compatible with both macOS and Linux)
+if date -v +0d &>/dev/null; then
+  # macOS (BSD date)
+  tuesday=$(date -v "+${days_to_tuesday}d" +%Y-%m-%d)
+else
+  # Linux (GNU date)
+  tuesday=$(date -d "+${days_to_tuesday} days" +%Y-%m-%d)
+fi
 
-year=$(date -d "$tuesday" +%Y)
-month=$(date -d "$tuesday" +%02m)
-day=$(date -d "$tuesday" +%02d)
+year=${tuesday%%-*}                       # 2026
+month=${tuesday#*-}; month=${month%-*}    # 02
+day=${tuesday##*-}                        # 24
 
 # Define paths
 folder_path="docs/posts/$year/$month/$day"
@@ -27,6 +31,14 @@ title: "Your Blog Post Title"
 date: $tuesday
 authors:
  - chris | norm | omar
+categories:
+  # use existing categories when possible, in YAML list format.
+  - CATEGORY_ONE
+  - CATEGORY_TWO
+tags:
+  # use existing tags when possible, in YAML list format.
+  - TAG_ONE
+  - TAG_TWO
 ---
 
 TOPIC_INTRODUCTION_HERE
@@ -36,4 +48,8 @@ Everyone and anyone are welcome to [join](https://weeklydevchat.com/join/) as lo
 ![alt text](${tuesday}_image_filename.webp)
 EOF
 
-echo "Blog post template created at $file_path"
\ No newline at end of file
+echo "Blog post template created at $file_path"
+echo ""
+echo "Reminder: Use existing categories and tags when possible."
+
+python "./docs/find_tags_categories.py"
diff --git a/docs/find_tags_categories.py b/docs/find_tags_categories.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fdf3cb22
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/find_tags_categories.py
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Lists all unique tags and categories found in YAML front matter of .md files.
+Looks for both 'tags' and 'categories' keys (common variations).
+"""
+
+import os
+import yaml
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Set
+
+DOCS_DIR = Path(__file__).parent
+EXTENSIONS = (".md", ".markdown", ".mkd")
+
+def extract_frontmatter(file_path: Path) -> dict:
+    """Extract YAML front matter if present."""
+    content = file_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    if not content.startswith("---"):
+        return {}
+    try:
+        parts = content.split("---", 2)
+        if len(parts) < 3:
+            return {}
+        fm = yaml.safe_load(parts[1]) or {}
+        return fm if isinstance(fm, dict) else {}
+    except yaml.YAMLError:
+        print(f"Warning: Invalid YAML in {file_path}")
+        return {}
+
+def collect_tags() -> tuple[Set[str], Set[str]]:
+    all_tags: Set[str] = set()
+    all_categories: Set[str] = set()
+
+    docs_path = Path(DOCS_DIR)
+    if not docs_path.is_dir():
+        print(f"Error: Directory not found: {docs_path}")
+        return all_tags, all_categories
+
+    for file_path in docs_path.rglob("*"):
+        if not file_path.is_file() or not file_path.suffix.lower() in EXTENSIONS:
+            continue
+
+        fm = extract_frontmatter(file_path)
+
+        # Handle 'tags'
+        tags = fm.get("tags", [])
+        if isinstance(tags, str):
+            tags = [t.strip() for t in tags.split(",") if t.strip()]
+        if isinstance(tags, list):
+            all_tags.update(str(t).strip() for t in tags if t)
+
+        # Handle 'categories' (sometimes used instead / in addition)
+        cats = fm.get("categories", [])
+        if isinstance(cats, str):
+            cats = [c.strip() for c in cats.split(",") if c.strip()]
+        if isinstance(cats, list):
+            all_categories.update(str(c).strip() for c in cats if c)
+        
+        all_tags.discard('TAG_ONE')
+        all_tags.discard('TAG_TWO')
+        all_categories.discard('CATEGORY_ONE')
+        all_categories.discard('CATEGORY_TWO')
+
+    return all_tags, all_categories
+
+
+def main():
+    tags, categories = collect_tags()
+
+    print(f"\nExisting categories: {', '.join(sorted(categories))}", )
+    print(f"\nExisting tags: {', '.join(sorted(tags))}", )
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
+
+