Resources & Tools
Every household eventually needs the same handful of things: a way to see where money is actually going, a couple of calculators that don’t require a finance degree, and a short list of sources worth trusting when Google gives you fifty conflicting answers. This page is that list. I built the two calculators myself; everything else is here because I’d point a friend to it.
Quick note: this page contains no affiliate links right now. If that changes, you’ll see it clearly marked next to the link, not buried in fine print.
Our Free Tools
Both run entirely in your browser. No email, no account, no catch.
50/30/20 Budget Calculator
I built this because most budget calculators either oversimplify or bury you in categories. Punch in your take-home pay, get a real needs/wants/savings split in two seconds.
Open calculator →Emergency Fund Calculator
The question isn't "should I have an emergency fund", it's "how much and how long." This gives you both, based on your own expenses and pace.
Open calculator →Free Resources
Government and nonprofit, not blogs. These exist because taxpayers already funded them, use them.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ↗
This is where I send anyone who wants an actual worksheet instead of another article telling them to 'make a budget.' Built by the federal agency whose whole job is protecting consumers.
MyMoney.gov ↗
The U.S. government's own financial literacy hub. Not flashy, but every page is written to actually teach, not to sell you something on the way out.
IRS Free File ↗
If your income qualifies, this is a legitimate way to file your federal return for $0, directly through the IRS, not a third-party site pretending to be free until checkout.
National Foundation for Credit Counseling ↗
If debt is the actual problem, a certified nonprofit counselor beats another budgeting article. NFCC vets who you're talking to.
Useful Sites, Tools & Blogs
The bookmarks-bar tier. Not government resources, but sites I’d trust a friend to use.
NerdWallet ↗
My go-to when I need to compare specific numbers side by side, savings account rates, credit card terms, that kind of thing.
Investopedia ↗
When an article (including mine) uses a term you don't recognize, this is where you look it up. Written for people learning, not for other finance writers.
Bankrate ↗
Good for the boring-but-important stuff: current CD and savings rates, mortgage comparisons, loan calculators.
The Balance Money ↗
Solid, readable coverage of the everyday budgeting and saving topics that don't always get the SEO-optimized treatment elsewhere.
Paid Tools & Services
I’m not going to recommend a paid product I haven’t actually vetted just to fill this section. These four categories are next on my list to properly test. When one earns a spot, you’ll get my honest take and a clearly marked affiliate link if that’s what it is.
Budgeting Software
For when a spreadsheet stops cutting it and you want automatic bank syncing and real reporting.
Coming soonInvesting Platforms
Once your budget and emergency fund are solid, this is the logical next category.
Coming soonDebt Relief Services
For debt loads that need more than a payoff spreadsheet, professional consolidation or settlement help.
Coming soonCredit Monitoring
Paid-tier credit and identity monitoring, for anyone who wants more than the free basics.
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Know a tool that deserves a spot here? Tell us about it.