The real cost of
life's biggest decisions
15 free calculators built on BLS, Census, and IRS data — plus a free AI advisor that explains your results and gives you a personalised action plan. No sign-up, no cost, ever.
Every calculator now has a free AI advisor built in
After you enter your numbers, ask the AI to explain what they mean — in plain English, with a specific action plan for your situation. Zero cost to you, ever.
Calculators
Pick your life event
Each tool covers a situation where the real cost surprises nearly everyone.
Remote Work True Cost Calculator
Commute savings, home office costs, meals, clothing — see your real annual net.
Salary Negotiation Calculator
See the lifetime earnings impact of negotiating and compare to BLS market benchmarks by field.
Debt Payoff Calculator
Avalanche vs. snowball comparison with your real debts — total interest saved and months to debt-free.
Emergency Fund Planner
Personalized target based on job stability, income type, and health situation — with savings plan.
Compound Interest Calculator
What a starting amount and monthly contributions grow to — split into what you paid in and what the market added.
FIRE Calculator
FIRE number, years to financial independence, Social Security impact, and portfolio projection.
Rent vs. Buy Calculator
True 5 & 10-year comparison with opportunity cost, appreciation, break-even timeline, and net wealth.
Wedding Cost Calculator
Itemized budget estimate by guest count, region, and style — with real data from 12,000+ couples.
Having a Baby True Cost Planner
State-specific year-one estimate: childcare, medical, gear, and parental leave lost wages.
Pet Cost Calculator
Year-one setup, annual recurring costs, and lifetime total — including the vet bills most people miss.
Car True Cost of Ownership
True 5-year cost: depreciation, insurance, fuel, maintenance, and financing. New vs. used vs. EV.
Home Buying True Cost Calculator
Closing costs, PMI, property taxes, HOA, insurance, and maintenance — the complete year-one picture.
College True Cost Calculator
Tuition, room & board, loan interest, and opportunity cost — the real 4-year total.
Chronic Illness Annual Cost Calculator
Beyond copays — medications, lost work, and lifestyle changes. The true annual burden.
Aging Parent Care Financial Planner
In-home care, assisted living, memory care — and the career impact on the family caregiver.
Navigate by life stage
Find tools for where you are in life
Why DecisionsCalc
Built differently
Real data sources
Every default value cites BLS, Census, and IRS, or peer-reviewed research — not a "reasonable estimate" from thin air.
100% private
Everything runs in your browser. We never see your numbers. No account, no tracking of your inputs, ever.
Ready in 2 minutes
Pre-loaded with national averages. Change only what applies to you. Results update instantly as you type.
Free AI analysis
Every calculator includes a free AI advisor — enter your numbers, click Analyse, and get a plain-English explanation plus 3 personalised action steps.
From the guide
Recent financial guides
Federal Student Loan Repayment Plans in 2026: What Changed
SAVE is gone, RAP replaced most income-driven plans from 1 July 2026, and IBR is the only legacy plan that survives. What each plan costs and how to choose.
FAFSA and Financial Aid 2027-28: What You Will Actually Get
The Student Aid Index, the Pell Grant maximum, and the OBBBA changes that alter who qualifies. How to read an aid offer and what the numbers really mean.
PMI: What It Is, What It Costs, and How to Get Rid of It
Private mortgage insurance costs $2,100–$5,400/yr. Here's how to calculate your PMI, when lenders must cancel it, and how to remove it early.
College Inflation 2026: What 4 Years Will Actually Cost
Published public four-year tuition fell 7% after inflation over the last decade. The real 2025-26 numbers, why the 4-5% rule overstates it.
Home Equity Line of Credit 2026: Rules, Rates, and Risks
When a HELOC makes sense and when it doesn't — current rates, draw period vs. repayment, and the deductibility rules.
Job Offer Evaluation: 12 Factors Beyond Base Salary
The complete total compensation comparison framework — 401(k) match, healthcare cost, equity, PTO value, and remote work.
Long-Term Care Insurance 2026: Do You Need It?
Who should buy LTC insurance, when to buy it (before 60), policy features to compare, and the hybrid life/LTC option.
FIRE Calculator: How Much You Need to Retire Early
The 25x Rule, healthcare wild card, Social Security adjustment, and what FIRE numbers look like at different lifestyle levels.
401(k) at Your First Job: What to Know Before Skipping It
Employer match math, vesting schedules, traditional vs. Roth 401(k), and the SECURE 2.0 auto-enrollment change.
Property Taxes by State 2026: What You Actually Pay
Effective property tax rates from 0.28% to 2.49% by state. How to appeal your assessment, homestead exemptions, and exemptions for seniors.
FMLA vs Paid Leave: What New Parents Are Entitled To
Federal FMLA, state paid leave programs, and how to stack them for maximum paid time. Covers all 13 states with paid leave laws.
Credit Score 101: Build from Zero to 750+ in 12 Months
The five factors, which ones matter most, secured card strategy, credit utilization tactics, and the fastest legitimate paths to 750+.
Free calculators. Free AI. Free PDF checklists.
Enter your numbers, get your real costs, ask the AI what they mean — and download a personalised checklist PDF. All free, always.