Which calculator for which situation
There are dozens of calculators here, and most questions fall into one of five paths:
- Salary and offers. Start with paycheck to see what actually lands in the account, and salary to hourly when comparing a job offer against contract work.
- Borrowing. Mortgage and auto loan break the payment into interest and principal month by month; extra payment shows how much each additional dollar of principal saves in interest; credit card payoff answers the question that saves the most money of all.
- Investing. Compound interest and savings goal project forwards; 401(k) models the contribution and employer match; CAGR and ROI assess what already happened.
- Large purchases. Present value compares amounts at different dates; purchasing power shows what inflation does to a number over time.
- Running a business. Profit margin, break-even and hourly rate cover pricing, fixed costs and what your time is worth.
The three errors that show up most
Confusing APR with APY. A nominal 12% APR compounded monthly returns 12.68% over the year. Institutions quote APY when they want your deposit and APR when they are lending — checking which one is on the page is half the comparison.
Comparing offers by the headline rate. The comparable number is the disclosed APR, which folds in points and required fees. Two loans at the same interest rate with different fee structures have different APRs.
Forgetting tax and inflation. A 12% gross return, taxed and then adjusted for 3% inflation, delivers far less than 12% of purchasing power. Long projections should be run at a real rate.
Estimates, not statements
Every calculator states the formula it uses and shows the reference year for any figure that changes annually — tax brackets, contribution limits, wage bases. A page that has gone out of date is visibly out of date rather than silently wrong. Where a number depends on your state or your specific plan, the page says so.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use these results for filing or applications? No. They are orientation estimates: state taxes, deductions, benefit elections and contract specifics all move the number. For taxes, severance and lending, confirm with an accountant, HR or the lender.
Is my data stored? It never leaves your browser. Every calculator runs locally — salary, debt and net worth are not sent to any server.
Where do I start if I do not know what I need? With the 50/30/20 budget. It sorts income into three blocks and usually reveals which of the other calculators is the urgent one.