Midlife money tools · Built for women · No sign-up
How much money do you actually need?
Big money questions deserve real numbers, not vibes. If you are navigating money in your 40s or 50s — catching up on retirement, funding a child's college, buying a home, or rebuilding after divorce or a career change — pick a goal, move sliders, and get a concrete answer — with the assumptions spelled out underneath.
Typical question
“Can I afford a $400,000 home?”
- Down payment (20%)
- $80,000
- Closing costs (~3%)
- $12,000
- Monthly payment
- $2,539
- Cash needed
- $92,000
30 sec
to your own answer
14
midlife money tools, each with a plain-English guide
$0
cost, accounts, or email walls — ever
100%
of assumptions shown next to every result
Who this is for
Made for women figuring out money.
Midlife is when money gets real: a retirement gap to close, kids' tuition on the horizon, a home to buy or downsize, and safety nets that matter more than ever. These calculators speak plain English — no jargon, no judgment — so you can run the numbers for your own life and decide your next move with confidence. Educational estimates, not financial advice.
The index
Your questions. Straight answers.
How big should my emergency fund be?
Turn monthly essentials into a concrete savings target — vital through divorce, a career change, or a single-income stretch.
How much of my paycheck do I actually take home?
Your salary isn’t your paycheck. See what’s left after federal tax, FICA, state tax, 401(k), and other pre-tax deductions — per paycheck and per year.
What does your hourly rate add up to in a year?
Turn your hourly rate into a yearly number — and see the gap between a job ad’s 52-week salary and what you actually take in with unpaid time off.
What does your salary come to per hour?
Turn your annual salary into an hourly rate — and see the gap between the 2,080-hour shortcut and what each hour is really worth once your real hours and unpaid time off are counted.
How much money do I need this month?
Add up fixed bills, everyday spending, and the extras that hit this month — holidays, birthdays, annual bills — into one number you can actually plan around.
How much do I need to buy a house?
Down payment, closing costs, monthly payment, and the income lenders expect — your first home or a midlife downsizing move.
What will my monthly mortgage payment be?
Principal & interest, property tax, insurance, HOA, and PMI when you put under 20% down — the true monthly number before you sign.
What does my amortization schedule look like?
See every payment over the life of the loan — how much goes to principal vs. interest, when you cross over, and how extra payments shrink both the term and the total interest.
How much do I need for retirement?
The nest egg, the 4% rule, and the monthly saving rate that gets you there — for women planning to retire at 50, 60, or 65.
How much will my 401(k) be worth at retirement?
Project your 401(k) balance to retirement with employer match, salary growth, and age-50+ catch-up contributions — and see what it pays out monthly.
How much do I need for my wedding?
The dress, venue, catering, photo, and extras — totaled with tax and gratuity built in, for your day or your daughter’s.
How much do I need for college?
Project tuition inflation, grow a 529, and close the gap before move-in day — without raiding your own retirement.
How much do I need for a car?
Down payment, loan, insurance, fuel, and maintenance — the true all-in monthly cost.
How much money do I need for a vacation?
See what a vacation really costs — flights, lodging, food, activities, and the spending money that slips through your fingers — and how soon you could go.
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Every calculator shows its work.
Each tool pairs the math with a short article explaining the rules of thumb behind it — the 28% housing rule, the 4% withdrawal rule, tuition inflation, and cash-reserve basics — so the number you get is one you can actually defend. Built for women asking the practical midlife money questions. Educational estimates, not financial advice.