Debt Snowball vs Avalanche: Which Should You Pick?
Snowball clears the smallest balance first, avalanche the highest rate. Both methods run on the same three debts, with the interest, the timing and the trade-off shown.
Finance guides
How the finance numbers are worked out. For the tools themselves, see the finance calculators.
How Big Should an Emergency Fund Be?
There is no single right size. Your income pattern, household and backup decide whether you aim for 3 months of essentials or 12 — and the maths is one multiplication.
How Is Compound Interest Calculated?
Multiply the balance by (1 + rate ÷ periods), once for every period. A £5,000 example worked step by step, and why time matters far more than how often interest is added.
How Much Can I Borrow for a Mortgage in the UK?
Two tests set your borrowing limit: a multiple of your income and a payment check at a higher rate. A worked £60,000 example shows which one bites, and why.
How Much Take-Home Pay Will I Get? A UK Salary Guide
Take-home pay is your salary minus Income Tax and employee National Insurance. A £45,000 salary leaves £35,919.60 a year in 2026–27, worked step by step.
Is It Better to Rent or Buy? How to Work Out Your Answer
Renting or buying depends mostly on how long you stay. A worked £250,000 example shows which costs you never get back and the point where buying pulls ahead.
How Is Stamp Duty Calculated for First-Time Buyers?
First-time buyers pay no stamp duty up to £300,000 and 5% on the slice up to £500,000 — then lose the relief entirely. The bands, the cliff edge and worked examples.
How Is a Mortgage Repayment Calculated?
The amortisation formula behind every repayment mortgage, worked through for a £200,000 loan — and why the balance barely moves in the first few years.