Guides
Guides & explainers
Short, practical reads that go a level deeper than the calculators, on money, health, school, and everyday numbers.
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Average retirement savings by age
Real Federal Reserve data on what Americans actually have saved — and how to tell if you're on track.
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How much house can I afford?
The 28/36 rule, debt-to-income, down payments, and the real monthly cost of owning a home.
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Compound interest explained
How money grows itself, why time beats the rate, and how to put the snowball to work.
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How to calculate your GPA
The 4.0 scale, how credits weight your grades, weighted vs unweighted, and what counts as good.
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Understanding BMI
What body mass index measures, the categories, and the important things it leaves out.
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How to tip by country
What's expected in the US, Europe, Japan, and beyond, and where tipping is optional.
Mortgage payment by home price
What a given home price actually costs per month, with tables by interest rate and down payment.
Mortgage payment on a $200,000 house
Monthly principal and interest, the full cost with tax and insurance, and the income you would need.
Mortgage payment on a $250,000 house
Monthly principal and interest, the full cost with tax and insurance, and the income you would need.
Mortgage payment on a $300,000 house
Monthly principal and interest, the full cost with tax and insurance, and the income you would need.
Mortgage payment on a $350,000 house
Monthly principal and interest, the full cost with tax and insurance, and the income you would need.
Mortgage payment on a $400,000 house
Monthly principal and interest, the full cost with tax and insurance, and the income you would need.
Mortgage payment on a $450,000 house
Monthly principal and interest, the full cost with tax and insurance, and the income you would need.
Mortgage payment on a $500,000 house
Monthly principal and interest, the full cost with tax and insurance, and the income you would need.
Mortgage payment on a $600,000 house
Monthly principal and interest, the full cost with tax and insurance, and the income you would need.
Mortgage payment on a $750,000 house
Monthly principal and interest, the full cost with tax and insurance, and the income you would need.
How much house can I afford?
The 28/36 rule applied to a specific salary, and how your other debts move the answer.
On a $50,000 salary
Your housing budget, the price it supports, and how a car payment changes it.
On a $60,000 salary
Your housing budget, the price it supports, and how a car payment changes it.
On a $70,000 salary
Your housing budget, the price it supports, and how a car payment changes it.
On an $80,000 salary
Your housing budget, the price it supports, and how a car payment changes it.
On a $90,000 salary
Your housing budget, the price it supports, and how a car payment changes it.
On a $100,000 salary
Your housing budget, the price it supports, and how a car payment changes it.
On a $120,000 salary
Your housing budget, the price it supports, and how a car payment changes it.
On a $150,000 salary
Your housing budget, the price it supports, and how a car payment changes it.