Guides
The ideas behind the calculators, explained with real worked examples. Read one, then try the numbers yourself.
APR vs Interest Rate: What's the Difference?
How APR, comparison rates and APRC fold fees into one figure, with a worked example, and the situations where that single number can mislead you.
7 min read
Compound Interest and the Rule of 72, Explained
How compounding really works, why frequency and APY matter, how to use the rule of 72, and why fees and inflation compound against you.
7 min read
Debt Snowball vs Avalanche: Which Pays Off Debt Faster?
A month-by-month comparison of the snowball and avalanche methods on three real-world debts, plus hybrid plans and when consolidation helps.
7 min read
Debt-to-Income Ratio Explained: What Lenders Look For
Front-end vs back-end DTI, what counts as debt and income, the limits lenders commonly use in the US and abroad, a worked example and how to lower your ratio.
7 min read
Fixed vs Variable Rate: Which Is Right for You?
How fixed and variable home loans really work, what break costs and ARM caps mean, and how to stress-test your repayments before you choose.
8 min read
How Mortgage Amortization Works
Why your early repayments are mostly interest, how the split changes over time, and what that means for paying your loan off faster.
8 min read
How Much Deposit (Down Payment) Do You Need for a House?
Why 20% is the benchmark, how low-deposit loans work in the US, Australia, the UK and Canada, what mortgage insurance costs, and the extra cash to budget.
8 min read
How to Pay Off Your Mortgage Faster
Seven proven ways to clear your home loan years early, with real numbers on extra repayments, fortnightly payments, offset accounts and refinancing.
7 min read
Rental Yield vs Cap Rate vs Cash-on-Cash Return
Three ways to measure a rental property's return, what each one includes and ignores, and one property worked through all three with real numbers.
8 min read
Renting vs Buying a Home: What the Numbers Really Say
Compare renting and buying with the unrecoverable costs framework, the 5% rule and a fully worked 10-year example with every assumption stated.
8 min read