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New to money? Start here.

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Which of these sounds like you?

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I just got a job or a raiseSee what you'll actually take home →My money disappears every monthMake a simple 50/30/20 budget →I have credit card debtSee when you'll be debt-free →I have no savings cushionFigure out how much to set aside →I'm looking for a place to rentFind the rent you can afford →I'm thinking about buying a homeSee the price you can afford →I need a carSet a budget before the dealer does →I want to start investingLearn the basics in plain English →

Your first money steps

A common order many people follow when they're starting out. Everyone's situation is different, so treat it as a starting point, not advice. Each step has a calculator that does the math for you.

1
Know what you really take home
Your salary isn't what lands in your account. Taxes and deductions come out first, so start with the real number.
Take-home pay calculator →
2
Give every dollar a job
A simple starting budget: about 50% for needs, 30% for wants and 20% for savings and paying down debt.
Budget calculator →
3
Build a small safety net
Even a little cash set aside keeps a car repair or a slow month from turning into credit card debt.
Emergency fund calculator →
4
Grab any free 401(k) match
If your job matches what you put into your 401(k), that's extra money you only get if you contribute.
401(k) match calculator →
5
Pay off high-interest debt
Credit cards often charge more than 20% a year, so every dollar you pay down saves you that much interest.
Credit card payoff calculator →
6
Invest for the long run
Money invested early has decades to grow. Compound interest does most of the heavy lifting.
Compound interest calculator →

Want the investing part explained from zero? Read the beginner's guide.

🌱Never invested before?What a 401(k), Roth IRA, stock, fund and ETF actually are, what to buy, and how to set it up. In plain English.🏝️Will I ever be able to retire?Find your number with one simple rule, and see what it takes to get there, even if you're starting from zero.

Browse every calculator by topic

Choose a topic and we'll show you just the tools for it.

See all 27 calculators on one page →

Good places to start

The calculators behind the questions people ask first.

🏠Mortgage CalculatorYour true monthly payment→💵Take-Home Paycheck CalculatorSee your real paycheck→📈Compound Interest CalculatorWatch your money grow→💳Credit Card Payoff CalculatorGet debt-free faster→🔑How Much House Can I AffordFind your price range→

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Plain English

Real explanations, not confusing jargon.

See it in action

Drag a slider and watch the answer change. Every calculator on Far Better Off works like this.

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Hourly pay$25

That's a year of

$52,000

about $4,333 a month, full-time, before taxes

Take-home, rent you can afford and part-time pay for $25/hr →

Money words, in plain English

The terms you'll run into most, without the jargon.

Take-home pay: What actually lands in your bank account after taxes and other deductions come out of your paycheck. Try it →
Budget: A plan for where your money goes each month, so it doesn't just disappear. Try it →
Interest: The price of borrowing money, or what you earn for saving it. Borrow and you pay it; save and you earn it. Try it →
APR: The yearly interest rate on a loan or credit card. A higher APR means borrowing costs you more. Try it →
Compound interest: Earning interest on your interest. It's why money saved early grows so much faster than money saved late. Try it →
Emergency fund: Cash set aside for surprises like a car repair or losing a job. A common goal is 3 to 6 months of basic expenses. Try it →
401(k): A retirement account you get through your job. Many employers add free "matching" money when you contribute. Try it →
Roth IRA: A retirement account you open yourself. You put in money you've already paid tax on, and qualified withdrawals in retirement are tax-free. Try it →
Mortgage: A loan to buy a home, usually paid back every month over 15 or 30 years. Try it →