Money guides
Plain-English guides to budgeting, saving, paying off debt and understanding your paycheck, with real 2026 numbers and free calculators to go with each one.
- How to make a budget that actually works
A simple, step-by-step way to build a monthly budget you can stick to, using your real take-home pay, the 50/30/20 rule as a starting point, and a plan for what's left over.
- How much should be in your emergency fund?
How big your emergency fund should be, how to work out your number, where to keep it, and how to build it from zero even on a tight budget.
- Debt avalanche vs snowball: which is better?
The debt avalanche and debt snowball methods compared with a real example: how long each takes, how much interest you pay, and how to choose.
- How to save $1,000 fast on a tight budget
Practical ways to save your first $1,000 in a few months, even on a tight budget: what to cut, what to sell, how to earn a little extra, and how to keep it.
- Why is my paycheck so small?
Every deduction on your pay stub explained, with a real 2026 example.
- Pay off debt or save first?
How to decide between paying down debt and building savings.
- $15 an hour after taxes
What $15 an hour really pays every two weeks, month and year.
- $20 an hour after taxes
Take-home pay at $20 an hour in every state.
- Earned Income Tax Credit 2026
Who qualifies for the EITC and how much it's worth.
- How much rent can I afford?
Rent rules of thumb, and what fits your real take-home pay.
- Paycheck by state
Take-home pay and state tax rules for all 50 states and DC.
For education only, not financial advice. Figures are examples; your situation may differ.