Money Playground
94 free tools to help you make smarter money decisions. Crunch numbers, take a quiz, play a game, or grab a free resource kit.
Can I Afford This House?
home buying
Enter the listing price โ see TRUE monthly cost (not just mortgage). Includes property tax, insurance, PMI, HOA, maintenance reserve, utilities estimate. Compares to 28/36 rule automatically.
Rent vs Buy Analyzer
home buying
Side-by-side NPV comparison with adjustable time horizon. Shows breakeven year. Accounts for investment opportunity cost of down payment.
Hidden Cost Revealer
home buying
Enter your home price + zip code โ see the costs nobody tells you: closing costs, inspection, appraisal, moving, furniture, immediate repairs, first-year surprises. Regional data.
Refinance Calculator
home buying
Should you refinance your mortgage? See the break-even timeline, monthly savings, and total interest saved.
Down Payment Savings Tracker
home buying
You need $X. At $Y/month savings, you'll get there by [date]. Shows impact of different savings rates. Connects to HYSA recommendations.
Mortgage Points Calculator
home buying
Should you buy discount points to lower your mortgage rate? See the break-even timeline and total savings.
Wedding Budget Builder
wedding
Enter total budget โ get AI-allocated breakdown by category based on priorities. Drag sliders to reallocate. Shows 'if you spend X on venue, here's what's left for everything else.'
Wedding vs House Calculator
wedding
What if you spent $15K less on the wedding and put it toward a down payment? Shows compound impact over 5-10 years.
Vendor Cost Checker
wedding
Enter your city + wedding size โ see average costs by vendor category in your area.
Guest Count Impact Calculator
wedding
Shows exactly how much each additional guest costs (not just the plate โ chairs, favors, invitations, bar). Cutting 20 guests saves you $X.
Baby Year One Calculator
baby
Month-by-month cost breakdown: birth, gear, diapers, formula/nursing, childcare, insurance changes, income loss during leave. Regional adjustments.
Childcare Decision Matrix
baby
Compare: daycare vs nanny vs family vs one-parent-stays-home. Includes tax credits, schedule flexibility, and true hourly cost analysis.
Parental Leave Runway Calculator
baby
How long can we afford to have [partner] stay home? Models income loss, savings drawdown, and return-to-work timeline.
Baby vs Everything Else
baby
If we have a baby in [month], here's the impact on our house savings / debt payoff / retirement. Shows how baby costs ripple through other goals.
New vs Used Total Cost Calculator
car
5-year TCO comparison: purchase price + financing + insurance + maintenance + depreciation. Shows true cost per mile.
Lease vs Buy Analyzer
car
Side-by-side comparison with mileage penalty modeling, equity building, and end-of-term options. Shows breakeven scenario.
EV vs Gas Calculator
car
5-year TCO with fuel savings, tax credits, charging costs, battery degradation, insurance differences. Enter your commute + electricity rate.
Payment vs Price Translator
car
The dealer says $450/month. Here's what that ACTUALLY costs you. Shows total with interest at different term lengths.
Is This Degree Worth It?
college
Select school + major โ see median starting salary, 10-year earnings trajectory, loan payoff timeline, and ROI vs trade school alternatives. Real BLS data.
College vs Trade School Calculator
college
4-year degree total cost + 4 years lost earnings vs 2-year certification + immediate income. NPV comparison at age 35.
529 Plan Optimizer
college
Enter your state + child's age + target school type โ recommended monthly contribution, best state plan, projected balance at 18.
Parent vs Retirement Trade-off
college
If I fund $50K of my kid's college, here's how it impacts my retirement. Side-by-side retirement projection with and without college funding.
Career Change Runway Calculator
career
How many months can you survive without income? Models savings drawdown, COBRA insurance, retraining costs, and income ramp-up time.
Salary Negotiation Calculator
career
Enter offer + market data โ see where you stand, what to counter, and the 10-year compound impact of $5K more starting salary ($80K+ difference).
Total Comp Translator
career
Your $85K salary is actually worth $112K. Breaks down health insurance, 401k match, PTO value, stock options, and other benefits.
Freelance Rate Calculator
career
To earn $100K as a freelancer, you need to charge $X/hr. Accounts for self-employment tax, insurance, no-work days, equipment, and retirement savings.
Debt Payoff Planner
debt
Enter all debts โ see avalanche vs snowball comparison with exact payoff dates and total interest saved.
The Honest Budget Audit
debt
Link-free budget estimator: enter spending by category โ see where you actually stand vs benchmarks. No bank connection needed.
Emergency Fund Calculator
debt
Personalized: factors in job stability, health, dependents, insurance deductibles. You need X months, which is $Y. At your savings rate, you'll get there by [date].
Student Loan Strategy Tool
debt
Compare all repayment plans side-by-side: monthly payment, total paid, forgiveness timeline. Includes SAVE, IBR, PAYE, and standard.
Retirement Readiness Check
retirement
Monte Carlo engine with 600 scenarios, probability gauge, wealth trajectory with percentile bands. Conversational onboarding.
Social Security Optimizer
retirement
Enter your earnings history โ see break-even analysis for claiming at 62/67/70. Spousal benefits, survivor benefits.
401k/IRA Optimizer
retirement
Are you leaving free money on the table? Check employer match, Roth vs Traditional, catch-up contributions, and optimal allocation.
Healthcare Cost Estimator
retirement
Project healthcare spending from retirement through end of life. Medicare coverage gaps, supplemental insurance, long-term care scenarios.
Moving Cost Estimator
moving
Enter your home size, distance, and DIY vs. movers. Get an itemized moving budget covering truck, packing, deposits, utilities, and hidden costs.
Startup Cost Estimator
starting a-business
Pick your business type and state. Get an itemized startup budget with state-specific LLC fees, insurance, tech, marketing, and 6-month runway projection.
Pet Insurance Calculator
new pet
Compare pet insurance premiums vs. self-insuring over your pet's lifetime. See what the same money grows to in a pet emergency fund.
Ring Budget Calculator
engagement
Forget the '3 months salary' rule. Enter your finances and timeline to get a realistic ring budget, plus a lab vs. natural diamond comparison at your price point.
Lifetime Pet Cost Calculator
new pet
Dog or cat, shelter or breeder. See the true first-year, annual, and lifetime cost including food, vet, grooming, and emergencies.
What Size TV Do You Actually Need?
smart shopping
Enter your viewing distance and find the perfect TV size, whether 4K is worth it, and what you should spend. Science-backed recommendations.
The Stroller Quiz
"What stroller actually fits your life?"
City sidewalks or suburban trails? One kid or planning for two? 7 questions, personalized top 3 picks.
The Car Seat Quiz
"The only car seat guide that asks about YOUR car"
Most guides ignore the actual car. This one asks make, model, and year, then recommends seats that fit YOUR backseat.
Best Credit Card For You
"Stop Googling 'best credit card.' Answer 5 questions instead."
Spending pattern quiz that matches you to a card based on actual behavior, not whoever pays the highest commission.
The Mattress Quiz
"Your back deserves better than a Reddit thread"
Sleep position, body weight, temperature preference, partner differences, budget. Find YOUR mattress match.
What Laptop Do You Actually Need?
"You probably don't need the MacBook Pro"
Maps actual use (email + Netflix vs video editing vs coding) to the right machine at the right price.
What Insurance Do You Actually Need?
"A friend would tell you half of this is unnecessary"
Life stage audit: what coverage you need, what you can skip, and where to get the best rates.
Baby Monitor Matchmaker
"WiFi or not? Camera or audio? Let's settle this."
Apartment vs house, tech comfort, privacy concerns, budget. Quick, decisive, shareable.
Kitchen Upgrade Quiz
"The one appliance that'll actually change how you cook"
Air fryer vs instant pot vs stand mixer vs good knife set. Based on how you actually cook.
Where Should You Actually Go?
"Based on your budget, your PTO, and how much jet lag you can handle"
Factors in budget, days off, time zone tolerance, travel style, kids. Outputs 3 destinations with cost breakdowns.
Date Night Generator
"Tell me your budget and I'll tell you where to go tonight"
Budget + location + vibe + dietary constraints. Complete date night plan with restaurant type, activity, and estimated cost.
Meal Kit Matchmaker
"Which meal kit won't end up in the recycling after 2 weeks?"
Cooking skill, household size, dietary restrictions, time per meal, budget. Includes 'skip meal kits entirely' as a possible result.
Side Hustle Matchmaker
"What's the best way for YOU to make extra money?"
Available hours, skills, introvert/extrovert, existing assets. Matched to specific side hustles with realistic income ranges.
Subscription Audit
"How much are you bleeding on subscriptions you forgot about?"
Interactive checklist of common subscriptions. See your monthly total, get recommendations on what to cut.
Couples Money Compatibility Quiz
"Take this before you combine finances"
Both partners answer 10 questions about spending, saving, risk. Compare results. Highlights alignment AND friction points.
The Money Friend 8-Ball
"'Should I buy it?' Shake for wisdom."
Tap the ball, shake your phone, or pick a category. Category-aware responses with real financial wisdom. Addictive and shareable.
Spend or Skip
"Swipe right on the purchases worth making"
Tinder-style swipe game. Cards show real products with prices. See your spending personality at the end.
Guess the Real Cost
"You have NO idea what things cost"
The Price is Right meets financial literacy. Guess real costs, get your score, share how close you were.
No-Spend Challenge Generator
"Pick your difficulty. I dare you."
Random challenge generator with Easy/Medium/Hard/Extreme levels. Tracks commitment with email check-ins.
Time Machine Calculator
"What will this cost in 10 years?"
Type any amount. See future cost with inflation vs future value if invested. Just the math, no judgment.
Financial Tip Roulette
"Spin for today's money move"
Animated wheel spin with 100+ specific, actionable tips. Each tip links to a relevant tool or article.
Can You Afford Their Lifestyle?
"Beyonce spends $10K/month on just... let me show you"
Pick a lifestyle tier. See what it actually costs. Then see what income you'd need. Secretly educational about lifestyle inflation.
Money Personality Assessment
"Are you a Hoarder, a Dreamer, a Builder, or a Wing-It?"
10 scenario-based questions. One of 8 money personality types with detailed profiles. Screenshot-worthy result cards.
Your Year in Money
"Your Spotify Wrapped, but for your wallet"
Input spending categories, get a beautiful year-in-review with insights, fun stats, and next year's challenge.
Money Priorities Bracket
"March Madness for your wallet. What matters most to you?"
16 financial priorities in a bracket tournament. Travel vs Emergency Fund? Pick head-to-head until one wins.
Money Confessions Wall
"The financial mistakes nobody talks about, until now"
Anonymous submission wall. Read others' confessions, submit your own, vote on most relatable.
Financial Adulting Bingo
"How many of these have you actually done?"
5x5 bingo card of financial milestones. Check them off, share your card, see how you compare.
Holiday Gift Budget Planner
"Before Black Friday hits, let's do the math"
List your people, set a total budget, the tool distributes it and tracks spending. Add gift recommendations within budget.
Am I Leaving Money on the Table?
"5 questions, 2 minutes, potentially thousands back"
Quick quiz about life changes that reveals commonly missed deductions and credits. Peaks January through April.
Back to School Cost Calculator
"What August actually costs parents"
By grade level: supplies, clothes, tech, activities, fees. Shows real total (it's always more than you expect).
New Year Money Reset Kit
"January 1 financial reboot. 15 minutes, fresh start."
Guided annual financial review: net worth check, subscription audit, goal setting, auto-savings setup guide.
What's Your Financial Age?
"You might be 30 but spending like a 22-year-old"
Answer questions about your money habits and get told your 'financial age.' Eye-opening, shareable, drives action.
The Impulse Purchase Timer
"Wait 72 hours. If you still want it, buy it."
Enter what you want to buy and the price. Get a countdown timer. If you still want it after 72 hours, get a buy link. Saves people money.
Net Worth Percentile
"Where do you actually stand?"
Enter age and net worth, see where you rank nationally. Shareable, drives investment affiliate recommendations.
The 50/30/20 Reality Check
"This 'rule' doesn't work everywhere. Let's check your city."
Enter income and city. See what 50/30/20 actually looks like where you live. Spoiler: it might not work.
Financial Red Flag Detector
"Rate your partner's money habits. No judgment. (OK, a little judgment.)"
Enter your partner's money habits, get scored on red/yellow/green flags. Viral couples content.
Would You Rather: Money Edition
"No good answers. Only real ones."
Series of tough financial dilemmas. Results reveal your money values and priorities. Highly debatable and shareable.
The Latte Factor (But Fun)
"Pick any daily habit. We'll show you the damage. Or the opportunity."
Pick ANY daily expense. See what it costs over 10/20/30 years, both as spending and as invested growth. No scolding, just math.
Credit Score Quest
"Every choice changes your score. Choose wisely."
Choose-your-own-adventure through financial decisions. 3 starting paths, branching storylines, real credit score consequences. Every playthrough is different.
Rent vs Buy in YOUR City
"The answer depends entirely on where you live"
City-specific rent vs buy analysis with real median prices, appreciation rates, and break-even timelines.
What's Your Time Actually Worth?
"You say your time is valuable. Let's put a number on it."
Reveals the gap between what you charge for your time and what you'll 'work' for to save a few bucks. Earning rate vs saving rate vs loss aversion.
Is the Cheaper Gas Worth the Drive?
"The Costco gas line might be costing you money."
Calculate whether driving out of your way for cheaper gas actually saves money after factoring in extra gas burned, time spent, and the wait.
Credit Score Simulator
"Curious what's helping or hurting your credit score?"
See how your FICO score breaks down across 5 factors, then toggle common actions to see their estimated impact on your score.
Cost of Living Comparison
"Thinking about a move? Let's see what your money is really worth."
Pick two cities and your salary. See the equivalent income needed and a side-by-side breakdown across housing, groceries, transportation, and taxes.
Freelance vs W-2 Showdown
"Is that freelance rate actually better than your salary?"
Enter a freelance rate or salary and see the true comparison after self-employment tax, health insurance, lost 401k match, PTO, and unbillable hours.
Insurance Needs Quiz
"What insurance do you actually need right now?"
Answer 6 questions about your life stage and get a personalized checklist of which insurance types to get now, consider later, or skip entirely.
Life Insurance Ladder Builder
"Life insurance doesn't have to be one-size-fits-all."
Enter your family details and see a custom laddered strategy with a staircase chart showing how multiple policies can save you thousands.
The Home Buying Playbook
home buying · Google Sheets + PDF
Pre-approval checklist, true cost spreadsheet, negotiation email scripts, closing timeline tracker
Get it free โThe Wedding Money Kit
wedding · Google Sheets + PDF
Master budget template, vendor comparison spreadsheet, payment timeline tracker, negotiation scripts, emergency buffer calculator
Get it free โThe Baby Year One Financial Kit
baby · Google Sheets + PDF
Complete cost breakdown by month, insurance optimization checklist, parental leave planner, 529 starter guide, budget adjustment template
Get it free โThe Car Buying Cheat Sheet
car · Google Sheets + PDF
Negotiation scripts, dealer markup decoder, total cost spreadsheet, trade-in value research guide
Get it free โThe College Decision Kit
college · Google Sheets + PDF
ROI research template by major, 529 comparison spreadsheet, financial aid appeal letter templates, scholarship search tracker
Get it free โThe Salary Negotiation Kit
career · Google Sheets + PDF
Market rate research template, counter-offer email scripts, total comp comparison spreadsheet, negotiation call framework
Get it free โThe Budget Audit Kit
debt · Google Sheets + PDF
Spending tracker template, category benchmarks, savings rate calculator, debt payoff visual tracker
Get it free โRetirement Masterclass
retirement · Google Sheets + PDF
Custom modeling spreadsheet + Social Security optimizer + healthcare cost planner
Get it free โ