Clear math. Honest tools. No nonsense.

Hi, I'm Hank

A few years ago I got interested in my own finances in a way I hadn't been before. Not in a "read one book and buy an index fund" way, but in a "what does this actually look like in 10, 20, 30 years" way. I wanted to know when my debts would be gone, what my 401(k) might grow into, what a pay raise was really worth after taxes, and how a portfolio would look under different contribution rates.

The calculators I found online either demanded an email address before showing a result, buried the number under ads, or hid the assumptions so I couldn't tell whether to believe them. So I started building my own. The honest truth is that projecting and estimating the future turned out to be fun: change one input, watch the curve move, understand why. This site is what came out of that habit.

I'm not a financial advisor, accountant or planner, and I don't claim to be. I'm someone who cares about getting the math right and showing it plainly. That's the standard every tool here is held to.

What you'll find here

Eleven calculators covering the major decisions most households face: paying off debt, building an emergency fund, projecting net worth, planning retirement and FIRE, saving for college, analyzing a mortgage, estimating the true cost of owning a home or a car, sizing life insurance, and valuing a pay raise. Alongside the tools are plain-language articles that explain the concepts behind each calculator, so you understand why the math gives the answer it does.

How the tools work

• Instant. Every input recomputes the result as you type. No submit buttons, no loading spinners.
• Private. Calculations run in your browser. Your numbers never leave your device, and there is no account to create.
• Honest. No prefilled "save 40%" assumptions designed to flatter you. The math is the math.
• Transparent. Each calculator states its assumptions (rates, inflation, tax treatment) so you can judge whether they fit your situation, and change them if they don't.
• Free. Every tool, every export, no upsell.

How the math is checked

Each calculator uses standard formulas (amortization, compound growth, present and future value) that you can find in any finance textbook, and the How It Works page describes what each tool computes and the assumptions it uses. Default assumptions are conservative and dated, and I update them when the underlying figures change. If you find a number that looks wrong, I want to know: use the contact page and I'll check it.

Educational, not advice

BetterMoneyTools.com is an educational resource. Nothing on this site is financial, tax, investment, insurance or legal advice, and no calculator result is a recommendation for your specific situation. The tools show you what the math says under the assumptions you enter; what to do with that is your decision, ideally made with a licensed professional who knows your circumstances. See the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for full details.

Get in touch

Feedback, a bug, a calculator you wish existed: send it through the contact page. I read every message.