The Penny Plan
Know what to do with your next dollar.
A free priority planner, calculators that show their formula, and guides that work the question out in full: the assumptions, the arithmetic, and a table you can check line by line.
Start with the whole picture
One planner. Four decisions that usually compete.
Emergency savings, expensive debt, employer match, and monthly cash flow are often explained on separate pages. The Money Priority Planner puts them on one screen, shows every assumption, and builds a 30-day action map from the numbers you enter.
- Private: the calculation stays in your browser.
- Checkable: the formulas and primary sources are on the page.
- Useful: compare what the same monthly dollars could do in each direction.
Example output
Build the first month of breathing room
- Cash-flow margin
- $640/mo
- Current runway
- 0.7 months
- Debt cost
- $1,944/yr
- Unclaimed match
- $900/yr
The live result explains why this stage comes first and shows the next decision fork.
Free tools
Run your own numbers
Money Priority Planner
See your cash-flow margin, emergency runway, debt cost, and possible unclaimed employer match together, then build a transparent 30-day action map.
Emergency fund calculator
How many months of expenses your situation actually calls for.
Debt payoff: snowball vs avalanche
Compare both methods on your real balances - time and total interest.
Compound interest calculator
Watch contributions and growth trade places over the years.
Roth vs Traditional calculator
The tax-now-or-later question, made visible with your numbers.
Mortgage calculator
Full PITI payment with PMI, amortization schedule, and extra-payment savings.
Auto loan calculator
Car payment, total interest, and total cost in seconds.
Loan payoff & refinance
Extra payments vs refinancing, compared net of closing costs.
Paycheck calculator
Estimated take-home pay from salary or hourly, by pay period.
Retirement calculator
Project your nest egg with a growth chart.
401(k) match calculator
Including the employer match money left on the table.
Savings goal calculator
The monthly amount that reaches your goal by your date.
Credit card payoff
Months to debt-free - by fixed payment or target date.
50/30/20 budget calculator
Targets from your income, compared to your actual spending.
Net worth calculator
Assets minus liabilities, with the full breakdown.
Salary ↔ hourly converter
Any pay figure, translated to every frequency - overtime and PTO included.
What makes this useful
Built to help you decide, not keep you scrolling.
- 01
Run the real numbers
Sixteen browser-based tools let you test your own scenario without creating an account or sending financial inputs to us.
- 02
See the reasoning
Calculators show formulas and limitations. Guides use worked examples and link the government or regulator source behind material claims.
- 03
Leave with a next step
Decision paths, common mistakes, and related tools connect an explanation to something you can check or calculate immediately.
Start here
Guides that show the arithmetic
-
How Much Should You Keep in an Emergency Fund?
How to size your safety net, and where to keep it.
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The 50/30/20 Budget, Explained
A beginner budgeting rule you can start using today.
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Should You Pay Off Debt or Save First?
It's rarely all-or-nothing. Here's how to weigh it.
-
What Is a High-Yield Savings Account?
Why your money might be earning more sitting still.
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How Do I Start Investing With Very Little Money?
You don't need a big balance to begin. Here's how it works.
-
What Is Compound Interest, Really?
The simple idea that quietly grows (or shrinks) your money.
-
Credit Score vs. Credit Report: What's the Difference?
They sound the same. They're not. Here's the difference.
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What Is a Credit Utilization Ratio and Why Does It Matter?
One of the biggest levers on your score, hiding in plain sight.
-
Is There Such a Thing as 'Good' Debt?
How to tell productive borrowing from the costly kind.
-
What's the Difference Between a Debit Card and a Credit Card?
Same swipe, very different money. Here's what actually changes.
-
How Does a Roth IRA Differ From a Traditional IRA?
It comes down to one question: tax now, or tax later?
-
What Is an APR and How Is It Different From an Interest Rate?
Two percentages, one loan. Here's which one to trust.
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What Credit Score Do You Actually Need To Buy a House?
There isn't one magic number, there's a range of doors.
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How Long Should It Realistically Take to Save Your First 1000 Dollars?
The honest timeline depends on numbers, not willpower.
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How Do You Dispute a Credit Report Error Without Paying Anyone?
The right to fix your own report doesn't come with a price tag.
-
What Is Debt-to-Income Ratio and Why Do Lenders Care So Much?
One ratio quietly shapes how much house a lender thinks is realistic.
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Is It Okay to Invest Just a Small Amount While Still Paying Off Debt?
Debt payoff and investing don't have to be an all-or-nothing choice.
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How Much Should You Actually Budget for Closing Costs?
The purchase price is only part of what's due at the closing table.
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What Should You Do First Financially After Losing a Job?
The first week matters more than the first month.
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Can You Really Withdraw Roth IRA Contributions Whenever You Want?
The account has two buckets, and only one of them is that flexible.