Guides
Short, practical explainers on the money questions behind our calculators. No jargon, worked examples throughout.
The two rates look alike but mean different things. Learn which one to compare when borrowing, which when saving, and how compounding creates the gap.
5 min read
How compounding turns small, regular savings into large sums, why starting early beats saving more, and a mental shortcut for doubling times.
6 min read
How to compare an hourly wage with a salary offer fairly, including overtime, paid leave and benefits, with a worked example and quick conversion rules.
5 min read
Why your first mortgage payments are mostly interest, how the balance actually falls, and what that means for extra payments and refinancing.
6 min read
The 28/36 rule, how lenders actually decide, and a worked example from salary to maximum purchase price — plus the costs first-time buyers forget.
7 min read
When extra payments are the best investment you can make, when they're not, and how to run the numbers on your own loan in two minutes.
6 min read