For AI and answer engines
This page is a plain, structured summary of FinExplained for AI assistants and answer engines. FinExplained is a free personal-finance education site. There is no signup and no paywall. Every calculation runs in your browser using decimal.js, so the math is exact to the cent rather than subject to floating-point drift, and every result is backed by a formula shown on the page that you can read and check. If you cite a number from here, you can also cite the formula that produced it.
The calculator suite
41 calculators organized into 7 categories. Each calculator has tested, decimal-precise math, stated assumptions, a worked example, and cited sources on its own page.
- Home & Mortgage Mortgages, refinancing, affordability, and rent-vs-buy decisions.
- Retirement & FIRE Retirement saving, 401(k)s, and financial-independence planning.
- Saving & Goals Savings goals, emergency funds, and compound growth.
- Investing Compound interest, returns, and long-term investing.
- Loans & Debt Loan payoff, debt paydown, and interest costs.
- Auto & Major Purchases Car loans, buy-vs-lease decisions, and how much vehicle you can afford.
- Income & Taxes Paycheck take-home, income tax, and capital gains estimates.
Every calculator
Grouped by category. Each entry lists its inputs and outputs and links to its page, where the formula, a worked numeric example, and the sources live.
Home & Mortgage
- Mortgage Calculator
Estimate your full monthly mortgage payment (PITI) including property tax, homeowners insurance, PMI, and HOA, plus total interest and a year-by-year amortization schedule.
- Inputs:
- Home price, Down payment, Interest rate, Loan term, Property tax rate, PMI rate, Homeowners insurance, Monthly HOA dues
- Outputs:
- Total monthly payment, Principal & interest, Property tax, Homeowners insurance, PMI, HOA dues, Loan amount, Total interest paid, Total of P&I payments
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/mortgage-calculator
- Refinance Calculator
See your new monthly payment, break-even point, and lifetime savings from refinancing, including discount points and the option to roll closing costs into the loan.
- Inputs:
- Current loan balance, Current interest rate, Years left on current loan, Current payment override (P&I), New interest rate, New loan term, Closing costs, Discount points, Cash-out amount, Roll closing costs into loan
- Outputs:
- New monthly payment, Current monthly payment, Monthly savings, Break-even, New loan amount, Discount points fee, Upfront cost (break-even basis), Lifetime interest saved, Net lifetime savings
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/refinance-calculator
- Home Affordability Calculator
Find out how much house you can afford from your income, debts, and down payment, using the standard 28/36 debt-to-income rules and full monthly housing costs.
- Inputs:
- Gross annual income, Other monthly debt payments, Down payment, Interest rate, Loan term, Property tax rate, Homeowners insurance, Monthly HOA dues, PMI rate, Front-end DTI limit, Back-end DTI limit
- Outputs:
- Affordable home price, Max loan amount, Principal & interest, Property tax, Homeowners insurance, PMI, HOA dues, Total monthly housing, Binding limit, Resulting total DTI
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/home-affordability-calculator
- Rent vs Buy Calculator
Compare the true total cost of buying versus renting over the years you plan to stay, including transaction costs, equity, appreciation, and the opportunity cost of your down payment.
- Inputs:
- Home price, Down payment, Mortgage rate, Mortgage term, Years you plan to stay, Home appreciation, Closing costs to buy, Selling costs, Property tax rate, Homeowners insurance, Maintenance, Monthly HOA dues, PMI rate, Monthly rent, Annual rent growth, Renters insurance, Investment return
- Outputs:
- Over this period, Cheaper by, Total cost to buy, Total cost to rent, Buying breaks even, Mortgage payment (P&I), Home equity at sale
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/rent-vs-buy-calculator
- Extra and Biweekly Mortgage Payoff Calculator
See how much interest you save and how many years you cut off your mortgage by adding extra to each payment or switching to a biweekly schedule.
- Inputs:
- Loan balance, Interest rate, Remaining term, Extra per payment, Payment schedule
- Outputs:
- Interest saved, Time saved, Time to payoff, Payment each period, Total interest (faster schedule), Total interest (standard schedule), Standard monthly payment, Total paid
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/extra-biweekly-mortgage-payoff-calculator
- Mortgage Amortization Schedule Calculator
See the full month-by-month amortization table for a loan: how much of every payment goes to interest versus principal, the running interest total, and the balance as it falls to zero.
- Inputs:
- Loan amount, Interest rate (APR), Loan term
- Outputs:
- Monthly payment, Total interest, Total paid
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/amortization-schedule-calculator
Retirement & FIRE
- 401(k) Calculator
Project your 401(k) balance at retirement from your contributions, the employer match, expected return, and salary growth, including the match as free money.
- Inputs:
- Current 401(k) balance, Annual salary, Your contribution, Employer match rate, Employer match cap, Expected annual return, Years to retirement, Annual salary growth
- Outputs:
- Balance at retirement, Your contributions, Employer match (free money), Investment growth
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/401k-calculator
- FIRE Calculator
Find your financial independence number and how many years until you reach it, modeled in today's dollars using the 4% rule.
- Inputs:
- Current age, Current savings, Annual income, Annual expenses, Real return (after inflation), Withdrawal rate
- Outputs:
- Your FIRE number, Years to FIRE, Age at FIRE, Annual savings, Savings rate
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/fire-calculator
- Roth vs Traditional Calculator
Compare a Roth and a Traditional retirement account on equal pre-tax dollars, and see which leaves you more after tax based on your current and retirement tax rates.
- Inputs:
- Annual contribution, Years until retirement, Expected annual return, Contribution growth, Current tax rate, Retirement tax rate
- Outputs:
- Better option, After-tax difference (Roth minus Traditional), Roth, after tax, Traditional, after tax, Pre-tax future value
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/roth-vs-traditional-calculator
- Retirement On-Track Calculator
See whether your savings are on track: project your nest egg to retirement and compare it with the target needed to fund your desired income at a safe withdrawal rate.
- Inputs:
- Current age, Retirement age, Current retirement savings, Annual contribution, Contribution growth, Expected annual return, Desired annual income in retirement, Safe withdrawal rate
- Outputs:
- On-track status, Surplus or shortfall, Projected nest egg at retirement, Target nest egg, Extra annual savings to close the gap, Years to retirement
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/retirement-on-track-calculator
- Roth Conversion Ladder Calculator
Estimate the tax of converting a Traditional balance to Roth over several years, including the pro-rata split when the account holds after-tax basis.
- Inputs:
- Traditional balance, After-tax basis, Annual conversion amount, Years of conversions, Expected annual return, Marginal tax rate
- Outputs:
- Total conversion tax, Total converted to Roth, Taxable portion, Tax-free basis portion, Remaining Traditional balance
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/roth-conversion-ladder-calculator
Saving & Goals
- Inflation Calculator (CPI)
Convert a dollar amount between years using official BLS CPI-U data, or project its future buying power at an assumed inflation rate.
- Inputs:
- Mode, Amount, From year (historical), To year (historical), Years to project (projection), Assumed annual inflation (projection)
- Outputs:
- Equivalent value, Future purchasing power, Total inflation over the span, Annual inflation rate, Span
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/inflation-calculator
- High-Yield Savings (APY) Calculator
Project a high-yield savings balance from a quoted APY, a starting balance, and monthly deposits, and see why the compounding frequency does not change the annual yield.
- Inputs:
- Starting balance, Monthly deposit, APY, Compounding frequency, Years
- Outputs:
- Final balance, Total deposited, Interest earned, Rate per compounding period
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/high-yield-savings-calculator
- Emergency Fund Calculator
Find how large your emergency fund should be from your essential monthly expenses, see how many months your current savings already cover, and the gap left to close.
- Inputs:
- Essential monthly expenses, Months of coverage, Current emergency savings
- Outputs:
- Emergency fund target, Still to save, Saved above target, Months currently covered
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/emergency-fund-calculator
Investing
- Compound Interest Calculator
See how an investment grows from a starting amount plus regular contributions, with an optional yearly contribution increase, and view the result in today's dollars and after tax.
- Inputs:
- Starting amount, Recurring contribution, Contribution frequency, Yearly contribution increase, Annual interest rate, Years, Compounding frequency, Contribution timing, Inflation rate, Tax rate on gains
- Outputs:
- Future balance, Total contributions, Interest earned, Future balance (today's dollars), After-tax balance, Estimated tax on gains
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/compound-interest-calculator
- Rental Property ROI Calculator
Find a long-term rental's cap rate, cash-on-cash return, monthly cash flow, and total return over your holding period, with financing handled correctly.
- Inputs:
- Purchase price, Down payment, Interest rate, Loan term, Closing costs, Upfront repairs, Monthly rent, Vacancy rate, Property tax rate, Insurance, Maintenance, Property management, Monthly HOA dues, Annual appreciation, Holding period, Selling costs
- Outputs:
- Cash-on-cash return, Cap rate, Net operating income, Monthly cash flow, Annual cash flow, Total cash invested, Total profit over holding period, Total return, Annualized return
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/rental-property-roi-calculator
- Airbnb ROI Calculator
Estimate a short-term rental's cap rate, cash-on-cash return, cash flow, and total return from your nightly rate and occupancy, with the STR-specific expenses handled correctly.
- Inputs:
- Purchase price, Down payment, Interest rate, Loan term, Closing costs, Furnishing and setup, Average nightly rate, Occupancy rate, Property tax rate, Insurance, Maintenance, Property management, Platform fee, Monthly utilities, Monthly supplies, Monthly HOA dues, Annual appreciation, Holding period, Selling costs
- Outputs:
- Cash-on-cash return, Cap rate, Annual revenue, Net operating income, Monthly cash flow, Annual cash flow, Total cash invested, Total profit over holding period, Total return, Annualized return
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/airbnb-roi-calculator
- Fix and Flip ROI Calculator
Estimate a flip's net profit, ROI, cash to close, and your maximum allowable offer with the 70 percent rule, including the points, financing, and holding costs that quietly sink deals.
- Inputs:
- Purchase price, Rehab budget, After-repair value (ARV), Holding period, Down payment, Loan interest rate, Loan points, Buying closing costs, Selling costs, Extra selling cost, Property tax rate, Insurance, Monthly utilities
- Outputs:
- Net profit, Return on cash invested, Annualized return, Max allowable offer (70% rule), Adjusted max allowable offer, Total project cost, Total cash invested, Cash to close, Financing cost, Loan points fee, Holding costs, Selling costs
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/fix-and-flip-calculator
- Options Profit and Loss Calculator
Find a single option's profit or loss at expiry, its break-even price, and the maximum profit and loss, for calls and puts, long or short.
- Inputs:
- Option type, Position, Strike price, Premium per share, Underlying price at expiry, Contracts
- Outputs:
- Profit or loss at expiry, Break-even price, Maximum profit, Maximum loss, Intrinsic value per share, Capital at risk, Return on capital
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/options-pl-calculator
- Wheel Strategy Calculator
Estimate one wheel cycle: cash-secured put premium, covered call premium, dividends, and the return on capital if assigned and called away, for the prices you enter.
- Inputs:
- Put strike, Put premium per share, Call strike, Call premium per share, Dividends per share while held, Days in the cycle, Contracts
- Outputs:
- Total profit this cycle, Premium income, Dividend income, Share gain if called away, Capital at risk, Cost basis if assigned, Break-even price, Return on capital (this cycle), Annualized return (scenario), Annualized return, premium only (scenario)
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/wheel-strategy-calculator
- Portfolio Growth Calculator
Project an investment portfolio from a starting balance plus regular contributions that can rise each year, and see how much of the result is your money versus growth.
- Inputs:
- Starting balance, Recurring contribution, Contribution frequency, Yearly contribution increase, Annual return, Years
- Outputs:
- Future value, Total contributed, Total growth
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/portfolio-growth-calculator
- Investment Goal Calculator
Find how much to invest each month or year to reach a savings goal by a target date, given an assumed return and any amount you have already saved.
- Inputs:
- Goal amount, Years to reach it, Annual return, Amount already saved, Contribution frequency
- Outputs:
- Required contribution, That is per year, Your current savings grow to, Total you contribute, Total growth
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/investment-goal-calculator
- Dollar-Cost Averaging Calculator
See how investing a fixed amount on a regular schedule could grow under a steady assumed return, with the balance and the amount you have put in tracked period by period.
- Inputs:
- Starting amount, Contribution each period, Contribution frequency, Annual return, Years, Contribution timing
- Outputs:
- Ending balance, Total contributed, Total growth
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/dollar-cost-averaging-calculator
Loans & Debt
- HELOC Calculator
See how much you can borrow against your home equity at your lender's CLTV cap, plus a home equity line's interest-only draw payment, its much larger repayment payment, and the payment shock between the two phases.
- Inputs:
- Home value, First mortgage balance, Max CLTV, Amount drawn, Interest rate, Draw period, Repayment period, Extra principal during draw
- Outputs:
- Available credit, Max total debt at CLTV, Current home equity, Current LTV, Draw vs available credit, Payment shock, Draw-period payment, Repayment-period payment, Payment increase, Balance entering repayment, Total interest over the life
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/heloc-calculator
- Debt Snowball vs Avalanche Calculator
Compare the debt snowball and debt avalanche side by side: see the payoff order, the total interest each costs, and how much the avalanche saves on up to four debts.
- Inputs:
- Debt 1 balance, Debt 1 rate, Debt 1 minimum payment, Debt 2 balance, Debt 2 rate, Debt 2 minimum payment, Debt 3 balance, Debt 3 rate, Debt 3 minimum payment, Debt 4 balance, Debt 4 rate, Debt 4 minimum payment, Extra monthly payment
- Outputs:
- Interest saved with avalanche, Snowball payoff time, Avalanche payoff time, Snowball total interest, Avalanche total interest, Snowball payoff order, Avalanche payoff order, Monthly payment budget, Total debt entered
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/debt-snowball-avalanche-calculator
- Credit Card Payoff Calculator
See how fast a fixed monthly payment clears your credit card and what you save versus paying only the minimum, where interest can outlast the balance by decades.
- Inputs:
- Card balance, Interest rate (APR), Your monthly payment, Minimum payment rate, Minimum payment floor
- Outputs:
- Time to payoff (your payment), Total interest (your payment), Total paid (your payment), Interest saved vs minimum only, Time to payoff (minimum only), Total interest (minimum only), First minimum payment
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/credit-card-payoff-calculator
Auto & Major Purchases
- Auto Loan Calculator
Estimate a car loan's monthly payment, total interest, and total cost from the price, your down payment and trade-in, the sales tax, the rate, and the term.
- Inputs:
- Vehicle price, Down payment, Trade-in value, Sales tax, Interest rate (APR), Loan term
- Outputs:
- Monthly payment, Amount financed, Total interest, Total of payments, Total cost (with down payment)
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/auto-loan-calculator
- Car Affordability Calculator
Estimate how much car you can afford from your income, down payment, rate, term, and a payment-to-income guideline, then see the all-in monthly cost and total cost of ownership.
- Inputs:
- Gross annual income, Max car payment as % of income, Down payment, Interest rate (APR), Loan term, Sales tax, Insurance per year, Fuel per month, Maintenance per year
- Outputs:
- Affordable vehicle price, Monthly payment budget, Amount financed, All-in monthly cost, Total cost over the term, Estimated value at term end
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/car-affordability-calculator
- Car Buy vs Lease Calculator
Compare buying and leasing the same car over the lease term, with the buy side credited for its resale equity and the lease side ending with nothing, to see which costs less.
- Inputs:
- Vehicle price, Lease term (comparison horizon), Buy: down payment, Buy: loan APR, Buy: loan term, Buy: annual depreciation, Lease: cash down (cap cost reduction), Lease: residual value, Lease: rate type, Lease: rate, Lease: acquisition fee, Lease: disposition fee
- Outputs:
- Which is cheaper, Buy: net cost over the term, Lease: net cost over the term, Cost difference, Buy: monthly payment, Buy: equity at term end, Buy: loan balance at term end, Lease: monthly payment, Lease: depreciation portion, Lease: finance (rent) portion, Lease: equivalent APR
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/car-buy-vs-lease-calculator
Income & Taxes
- Capital Gains Tax Calculator
Estimate the 2026 federal tax on an investment gain: long-term 0/15/20 percent rates, short-term ordinary rates, and the 3.8 percent net investment income tax.
- Inputs:
- Filing status, Purchase price (cost basis), Sale price (proceeds), Holding period, Other taxable income
- Outputs:
- Total tax on the gain, Holding period, Capital gain, Capital gains tax, Net investment income tax, Effective rate on the gain, Gain after tax
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/capital-gains-tax-calculator
- Federal Income Tax Calculator
Estimate your 2026 federal income tax and FICA: taxable income after the standard deduction, the tax from the brackets, Social Security, Medicare, and your effective and marginal rates.
- Inputs:
- Annual income (gross), Filing status, 401(k) contribution, Other pre-tax deductions
- Outputs:
- Total federal tax (income + FICA), Federal income tax, Taxable income, Social Security, Medicare, Additional Medicare, Total FICA, Effective tax rate, Marginal tax rate, After-tax income
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/federal-income-tax-calculator
- California Paycheck Calculator
Estimate your California take-home pay for 2026 after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and California state income tax.
- Inputs:
- Annual salary (gross), Filing status, Pay frequency, 401(k) contribution, Other pre-tax deductions
- Outputs:
- Take-home per paycheck, Annual take-home, Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, Additional Medicare, State income tax, Total tax, 401(k) contribution, Effective tax rate, Marginal tax rate
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/ca-paycheck-calculator
- Texas Paycheck Calculator
Estimate your Texas take-home pay for 2026 after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and no state income tax in Texas.
- Inputs:
- Annual salary (gross), Filing status, Pay frequency, 401(k) contribution, Other pre-tax deductions
- Outputs:
- Take-home per paycheck, Annual take-home, Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, Additional Medicare, State income tax, Total tax, 401(k) contribution, Effective tax rate, Marginal tax rate
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/tx-paycheck-calculator
- New York Paycheck Calculator
Estimate your New York take-home pay for 2026 after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and New York state income tax.
- Inputs:
- Annual salary (gross), Filing status, Pay frequency, 401(k) contribution, Other pre-tax deductions
- Outputs:
- Take-home per paycheck, Annual take-home, Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, Additional Medicare, State income tax, Total tax, 401(k) contribution, Effective tax rate, Marginal tax rate
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/ny-paycheck-calculator
- Florida Paycheck Calculator
Estimate your Florida take-home pay for 2026 after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and no state income tax in Florida.
- Inputs:
- Annual salary (gross), Filing status, Pay frequency, 401(k) contribution, Other pre-tax deductions
- Outputs:
- Take-home per paycheck, Annual take-home, Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, Additional Medicare, State income tax, Total tax, 401(k) contribution, Effective tax rate, Marginal tax rate
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/fl-paycheck-calculator
- Illinois Paycheck Calculator
Estimate your Illinois take-home pay for 2026 after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and Illinois state income tax.
- Inputs:
- Annual salary (gross), Filing status, Pay frequency, 401(k) contribution, Other pre-tax deductions
- Outputs:
- Take-home per paycheck, Annual take-home, Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, Additional Medicare, State income tax, Total tax, 401(k) contribution, Effective tax rate, Marginal tax rate
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/il-paycheck-calculator
- Pennsylvania Paycheck Calculator
Estimate your Pennsylvania take-home pay for 2026 after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and Pennsylvania state income tax.
- Inputs:
- Annual salary (gross), Filing status, Pay frequency, 401(k) contribution, Other pre-tax deductions
- Outputs:
- Take-home per paycheck, Annual take-home, Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, Additional Medicare, State income tax, Total tax, 401(k) contribution, Effective tax rate, Marginal tax rate
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/pa-paycheck-calculator
- Ohio Paycheck Calculator
Estimate your Ohio take-home pay for 2026 after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and Ohio state income tax.
- Inputs:
- Annual salary (gross), Filing status, Pay frequency, 401(k) contribution, Other pre-tax deductions
- Outputs:
- Take-home per paycheck, Annual take-home, Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, Additional Medicare, State income tax, Total tax, 401(k) contribution, Effective tax rate, Marginal tax rate
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/oh-paycheck-calculator
- Georgia Paycheck Calculator
Estimate your Georgia take-home pay for 2026 after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and Georgia state income tax.
- Inputs:
- Annual salary (gross), Filing status, Pay frequency, 401(k) contribution, Other pre-tax deductions
- Outputs:
- Take-home per paycheck, Annual take-home, Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, Additional Medicare, State income tax, Total tax, 401(k) contribution, Effective tax rate, Marginal tax rate
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/ga-paycheck-calculator
- North Carolina Paycheck Calculator
Estimate your North Carolina take-home pay for 2026 after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and North Carolina state income tax.
- Inputs:
- Annual salary (gross), Filing status, Pay frequency, 401(k) contribution, Other pre-tax deductions
- Outputs:
- Take-home per paycheck, Annual take-home, Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, Additional Medicare, State income tax, Total tax, 401(k) contribution, Effective tax rate, Marginal tax rate
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/nc-paycheck-calculator
- Washington Paycheck Calculator
Estimate your Washington take-home pay for 2026 after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and no state income tax in Washington.
- Inputs:
- Annual salary (gross), Filing status, Pay frequency, 401(k) contribution, Other pre-tax deductions
- Outputs:
- Take-home per paycheck, Annual take-home, Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, Additional Medicare, State income tax, Total tax, 401(k) contribution, Effective tax rate, Marginal tax rate
Formula, worked example, and sources: /calculators/wa-paycheck-calculator
Playbooks
In-depth guides that explain the concepts behind the calculators, each with a named author, cited primary sources, and a last-reviewed date.
- Are You On Track for Retirement? How to Actually Run the Numbers
How to tell if your retirement savings are on track: project your nest egg, set a target from your income and a safe withdrawal rate, and size any shortfall.
- Should You Buy or Lease a Car?
How to compare buying and leasing a car fairly, what a money factor really means, and the hidden cost of leasing that the monthly payment never shows.
- Capital Gains Tax Explained: Long-Term vs Short-Term Rates for 2026
How federal capital gains tax works in 2026: long-term 0/15/20 percent rates, why holding over a year matters, and the 3.8 percent net investment income tax.
- The Credit Card Minimum Payment Trap (and How to Escape It)
Paying only the minimum on a $5,000 card at 18% takes 29 years and costs more in interest than the balance. Here is why, and how a fixed payment escapes it.
- Debt Snowball vs Debt Avalanche: Which Pays Off Debt Faster and Cheaper?
The debt avalanche always costs less interest, but the snowball keeps more people going. Here is how each works, what they cost, and how to pick.
- Extra Mortgage Payments vs Biweekly: Which Pays Off Your Loan Faster?
Extra principal and biweekly payments both pay off a mortgage early. Here is the real difference, what each saves on a $300,000 loan, and the fees to skip.
- How Much Should You Have in an Emergency Fund?
How to size an emergency fund in months of essential expenses, where to keep it, and how to build one even while paying down debt, with a worked example.
- How Much Should I Invest Each Month to Reach My Goal?
Work backward from a savings goal to the exact monthly investment you need, accounting for what you have already saved and the return you assume.
- Inflation, Explained: What a Dollar Really Buys Over Time
How inflation quietly erodes the value of money, how the CPI measures it, and what decades of price increases do to a dollar, with real BLS numbers.
- Roth vs Traditional: The One Question That Actually Decides It
The Roth vs Traditional choice comes down to your tax rate now versus in retirement. Here is the math, why equal rates tie, and the factors that break the tie.
- Where Your Paycheck Actually Goes: Take-Home Pay Explained for 2026
Why your take-home pay is so much less than your salary, what each deduction is, and how federal tax, FICA, and state tax split up a 2026 paycheck.
- The Wheel Strategy: How the Options Income Cycle Actually Works
The wheel sells cash-secured puts then covered calls for premium income. Here is the full cycle, the real return math, and the downside risk it hides.
- How Compound Interest Works (and Why Most People Underestimate It)
How compound interest works, with a worked dollar example, the simple-versus-compound gap, the Rule of 72, and why starting early beats starting big.
- Why Your Early Mortgage Payments Are Almost All Interest (and When That Flips)
How mortgage amortization works: why early payments are mostly interest, the point the split flips to principal, and what it means for extra payments.
- Is Airbnb Still Worth It in 2026? What Separates Winning Hosts
How Airbnb ROI really works in 2026: why RevPAR and operator quality beat the market, the full expense stack after the 15.5% fee, and a worked example.
- Is the 4% Rule Still Safe? Bengen Now Says 4.7%, Morningstar Says 3.9%
Your FIRE number is roughly annual spending times 25, but the safe withdrawal rate is contested. Here is how to find yours and pick a rate that lasts.
- Is the 1% Rule Dead? How Rentals Actually Make Money in 2026
Why the 1% rule is dead in 2026, the four ways a rental actually pays you, and how cap rate, cash-on-cash, and total return differ, with a worked example.
Glossary
Plain-language definitions of the finance terms used across the calculators and guides, at /glossary/ .
How the math works
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Machine-readable index
A concise, link-first summary of the site is published at /llms.txt. It lists every calculator with a one-line description and an absolute URL, generated from the same registry that drives this page.
Results are estimates for education, not financial advice. See our disclaimer.