Loan and debt guides, with the maths shown
Fourteen practical guides to borrowing, repayments and the costs that never appear in the headline rate. Plain English, worked examples, no jargon and no sales pitch.
Start here
How to Compare Loan Offers Properly
Why the lowest advertised rate is often not the cheapest loan — and the one number that settles it.
10 min read BasicsHow to Read a Loan Statement
Every line explained, how to verify the interest yourself, and the fees that should not be there.
8 min read BorrowingHow Much Loan Can You Actually Afford?
Lenders test what you can repay. This is what you should test before you sign.
7 min readAll guides
How to Compare Loan Offers: APR, Fees and Total Cost
Two loans advertised at the same rate can differ by hundreds once fees are included. Here is how to compare properly.
10 min read BasicsHow to Read a Loan Statement
Opening balance, interest, fees, payment, closing balance — and how to check each one against the agreement.
8 min read LoansThe Hidden Loan Fees Nobody Mentions
Origination, insurance, prepayment and admin charges — what each one actually costs you.
8 min read LoansWhy a Longer Loan Term Costs You Thousands
Three, five and seven year terms compared on the same loan — and why the monthly payment hides the difference.
7 min read CreditWhat Is a Good Interest Rate on a Personal Loan?
What drives your rate, what counts as competitive, and how to judge an offer on effective cost rather than headline APR.
7 min read LoansVariable vs Fixed Interest Rate
How to stress-test a variable rate before you commit, and when fixing is worth paying a premium for.
8 min read CreditDebt-to-Income Ratio Explained
The formula lenders use, the thresholds that matter, and how to improve yours before applying.
6 min read CreditFive Things That Actually Improve Your Credit Score
What moves the needle, what does not, and the one factor that outweighs everything else.
7 min read StrategyDebt Avalanche vs Snowball
Which payoff method works, what the research says, and how to pick between maths and motivation.
8 min read StrategyShould You Pay Off Your Loan Early?
When early repayment saves money, when the fees cancel the saving, and how to work it out.
7 min read StrategyShould You Consolidate Your Debts?
Comparing combined repayments against a single consolidation loan — with a full worked example.
8 min read StrategyEmergency Fund vs Debt Overpayment
Why a small buffer comes before aggressive overpayments, and how much is enough.
7 min read StrategyHow Compound Interest Works
Simple versus compound, why time matters more than rate, and how it cuts both ways.
6 min read BorrowingHow Much Loan Can You Actually Afford?
The 36% rule, why borrowing capacity is not affordability, and how to work from surplus instead.
7 min read Loans10 Ways to Pay Off Student Loans Faster
Ten strategies priced on the same $35,000 loan — refinancing, extra payments, autopay and more.
9 min readRun the numbers yourself
Every guide here links to a free calculator. All arithmetic runs in your browser — nothing is sent anywhere, and no sign-up is required.
Sources and verification
The guides on this site cite primary sources — regulators, government agencies and official investor-education bodies.
- CFPB — Consumer toolsConsumer Financial Protection Bureau (US)
- FCA — Information for consumersFinancial Conduct Authority (UK)
- Investor.gov — Compound interest calculatorUS Securities and Exchange Commission
Last reviewed . If you find an error on this page, tell us.