Guides
The tools run the numbers; the guides explain the math behind them — each one a worked example you can check against your own figures, linked to the tools that compute it.
Freelancer finance guides
For the self-employed side of the site — see also the Freelancer Finance Hub for the full set of tools.
How to Calculate Self-Employment Tax
The 92.35% adjustment, the 15.3% rate, and the $184,500 Social Security cap, step by step with a worked example.
How Quarterly Estimated Taxes Work
Who pays, the four 2026 due dates, the safe harbor rules, and how a quarterly amount is built.
How to Compare a 1099 vs W-2 Offer
Compare a contract offer with a salary on total value — taxes, benefits, and unpaid weeks included.
Solo 401(k) Contribution Limits for 2026
The 2026 deferral, catch-up, employer, and overall limits — and why sole proprietors use 20%, not 25%.
How to Set Your Freelance Hourly Rate
Work backward from the income you want to keep — taxes, expenses, and billable hours — to the rate you need.
Debt payoff guides
For the debt side of the site — see also the Debt Payoff Hub for the full set of tools.
Debt Snowball vs Avalanche
How each payoff order works, a worked three-debt example with real interest totals, and how to pick the one you'll finish.
How Much Emergency Fund Do You Need?
Size the fund from your essential expenses, pick the months of coverage, and see how long the gap takes to close.
What Is a Good Debt-to-Income Ratio?
Front-end vs back-end ratios, the 28/36 convention, and what lenders read as good.
How Extra Mortgage Payments Work
Why principal-only money early in the loan saves the most interest, with a worked payoff simulation.