Money Math
Personal finance, worked out the way an engineer works a problem: start with the numbers, show the math, check the answer. Real questions about which debt to pay first, when to invest and what order to do it all in.
- Debt · October 20, 2026How long to pay off a $5,000 credit card at $150 a month?
At 24.99% APR, $150 a month takes 58 months and $3,622 in interest. Paying $250 a month saves $2,088 and clears the card 31 months sooner.
- Housing · October 14, 2026How much does an extra $200 a month on a mortgage save?
In our example, an extra $200 a month on a $156,814 mortgage at 6.5% saves $32,773 in interest and pays the loan off 57 months sooner.
- Accounts explained · October 14, 2026Should you max out an HSA or a Roth IRA first?
Usually the HSA, if you're on an HSA-eligible health plan. Putting $4,400 in pre-tax means $968 less income tax this year at a 22% rate.
- Accounts explained · October 13, 2026Should you max out your 401(k) before a brokerage account?
Usually, yes: the 401(k) gets maxed before brokerage investing. On a $130,000 salary, filling $15,400 of 401(k) room pre-tax cuts this year's tax by $3,388.
- The order · October 13, 2026Pay off debt or invest? The order, step by step
Pay off debt or invest? Use this 9-step order: emergency fund, employer match, debt over 8%, HSA, Roth IRA and more. In our example it saves $9,776 in interest.
- The order · October 12, 2026Where should extra money go each month? A $750 example
Got $750 left over each month? Build a starter emergency fund, then get the full employer match: on a $60,000 salary that's $1,800 a year in match money.
- Debt · October 11, 2026Should you pay off a credit card or a car loan first?
Pay the 24.99% card before the 7.4% car loan. In our example, sending an extra $200 a month to the card first saves $1,823 in interest.
Educational only, not financial advice. These are general rules of thumb with hypothetical numbers, not advice for your situation. JANE Wealth Management is not a licensed financial advisor.