- 401(k) limit$24,500Employee deferral cap for 2026
- IRA limit$7,500Traditional and Roth combined, 2026
- Standard deduction$16,100Single filer, tax year 2026
- Card APR22.15%Average on accounts charged interest, Q2 2026
- 30-yr mortgage7.28%National average, October 1, 2026
- Savings average0.37%National average savings rate, September 2026
- FHA minimum score580with 3.5% down
- SALT cap$40,400for 2026
- Free credit reportsWeeklyfrom all three bureaus
- HSA limit$4,500self-only, 2027
- Catch-up, age 60 to 63$11,250401(k), 2026
Lead story
Banking & Saving 6 money jobs ranked by what they pay per hour of your time Claiming a full 401(k) match pays about $6,300 an hour; fixing your W-4 about $106. Six money jobs ranked by first-year pay per hour, math shown. Updated October 7, 2026 · 10 min read · By Teja Pagidimarri Latest guides
Newest first. Every one dated, sourced, and checked against the document behind it.
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Your W-4, your refund, and why a big refund is not a winAim for withholding near zero. The 2026 W-4 adds a $2,200 child credit and new deductions. Two $40,000 jobs leave $3,530 unwithheld without Step 2. Taxes & Retirement Oct 7 7m - 02
Do credit card rewards actually pay? Run the numbersRewards pay if you clear the statement every month: 2% is $480 a year on $2,000 a month. At 22.15% APR, a $1,937 average balance erases it. Credit Scores & Cards Oct 7 7m - 03
What credit score do you need for a mortgage?FHA allows 580 for 3.5% down or 500 with 10% down. Fannie Mae dropped its DU minimum in 2025. Official minimums by program plus a $300,000 payment example. Credit Scores & Cards Oct 7 6m - 04
How much emergency fund do you actually need?Aim for three to six months of essential expenses: $11,400 to $22,800 on $3,800 a month. Only 55% of US adults have three months saved, per the Fed. Banking & Saving Oct 7 5m - 05
401(k) and IRA contribution limits for 20262026 limits: $24,500 for a 401(k), $7,500 for an IRA, up to $35,750 and $8,600 with catch-ups. Includes income phase-outs and the Roth catch-up rule. Taxes & Retirement Oct 7 6m - 06
Roth vs traditional: which one fits your tax rateTraditional taxes withdrawals, Roth taxes contributions. Equal tax rates tie exactly; compare your rate now and later. Includes the 5-year and RMD rules. Taxes & Retirement Oct 7 6m - 07
How long negative items stay on your credit reportMost negative items stay seven years, bankruptcy ten. Collections count from 180 days after the first missed payment. Plus medical debt rule status. Credit Scores & Cards Oct 7 6m - 08
Hard vs soft credit inquiries, and the rate-shopping windowA soft inquiry never affects your score. A hard one costs most people under 5 FICO points for 12 months. Rate-shopping windows run 14 to 45 days. Credit Scores & Cards Oct 7 5m
Calculators, with the working shown
Each runs in your browser on the published IRS and lender formulas. Here is one real answer from each.
- Statement close optimizer Limit $5,000Balance $1,800Report 10% =$1,300 to pay before the statement closes, so the card reports $500. Run your own numbers
- Tax bracket headroom Single$98,000 grossStandard deduction =$23,800 of room left in the 22% bracket before the 24% rate starts. Run your own numbers
- Loan payment calculator $15,0007.5% APR60 months =$300.57 a month, and $3,034 of interest over the life of the loan. Run your own numbers
- True cost of a purchase $1,000 purchase22.15% APR$50 a month =$1,260 paid in total over 26 months, about $260 of it interest, before any cashback. Run your own numbers
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- Credit Scores & Cards 8 guides → Do credit card rewards actually pay? Run the numbersWhat credit score do you need for a mortgage?How long negative items stay on your credit reportHard vs soft credit inquiries, and the rate-shopping windowWhat actually moves your FICO score, ranked by weightHow to get your free credit reports, the official wayThe 30% credit utilization rule is not a real thresholdSecured vs unsecured credit cards: which one you actually need
- Loans & Debt 5 guides →
- Banking & Saving 4 guides →
- Taxes & Retirement 6 guides → Your W-4, your refund, and why a big refund is not a win401(k) and IRA contribution limits for 2026Roth vs traditional: which one fits your tax rate2027 federal tax brackets: projected figures and how they are setHow federal tax brackets actually work, with the mathStandard deduction vs itemizing: how to tell which one wins
Every number here comes from the document that sets it, with the math shown. When something is wrong, it is fixed and logged in public.
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