The Ledger
Guides

Money questions, answered properly.

10 plain-English guides with real numbers. Each one pairs with a calculator so you can run your own figures straight after reading.

Credit cards

Guides that pair with the Credit Card Payoff Calculator.

Credit cards · 5 min read

How long does it really take to pay off a card?

Why minimum payments stretch payoff past a decade.
Credit cards · 5 min read

APR vs interest rate: the difference

Two numbers people use interchangeably, and shouldn’t.
Credit cards · 6 min read

Balance transfers: worth it or not?

0% offers, transfer fees, and the trap at the end.

Buying a home

Guides that pair with the Mortgage Affordability Calculator.

Buying a home · 6 min read

15 vs 30 year mortgage: which is right?

Lower payment or less interest — the real trade-off.
Buying a home · 5 min read

PMI explained, and how to get rid of it

What private mortgage insurance costs and when it ends.
Buying a home · 6 min read

Closing costs: what you actually pay

The 2–5% that catches most first-time buyers out.

Saving & investing

Guides that pair with the Compound Interest Calculator.

Saving & investing · 6 min read

How compound interest actually works

Slow, then unreasonably fast — with real numbers.
Saving & investing · 4 min read

The Rule of 72, explained

The mental shortcut for how long money takes to double.
Saving & investing · 5 min read

How much should you save each month?

Percentage rules, and what actually decides the number.

Paying off debt

Guides that pair with the Snowball vs. Avalanche Calculator.

Paying off debt · 6 min read

Debt snowball vs. avalanche: which saves more?

What choosing between them actually costs you.
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