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How a 529 Plan Works: Saving for College Tax-Free
A 529 plan lets college savings grow without tax, and now some of what's left over can move into a Roth IRA. Here's how it works, and how I set up mine.
By Evan Sanning5 min read
Personal finance in plain language
Take the mystery out of money.
Short articles and free calculators that show how taxes, interest, and budgets actually work, with your own numbers.
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All articlesWhat to Invest In: Stocks, Funds, and Index Funds
The stock market is a giant grocery store. You can buy one item, pay a shopper to fill your cart, or grab a little of everything on a list.
By Evan Sanning6 min read
You don't have to pick stocks to invest. See how stocks, mutual funds, index funds, and target-date funds differ, and why low fees matter so much over time.
Roth vs. Traditional IRA: How They Work and How to Choose
An IRA is a retirement account you open yourself. The big choice is whether to pay tax on the seed now or on the harvest later.
By Evan Sanning6 min read
An IRA is a retirement account you open yourself. A traditional IRA cuts your taxes now; a Roth is tax-free later. See why your tax rate decides which one wins.
How Credit Card Interest Works (and How to Pay None)
Card interest is a taxi meter. Pay your statement in full and it never starts. Carry a balance and it runs every day, on almost everything.
By Evan Sanning5 min read
Credit card interest is charged daily on any balance you carry, but paying your full statement balance each month means you pay none. See how APR really works.
How to Make a Budget You'll Actually Stick To
There's no one right way to budget. Here are three styles, how to pick the one that fits you, and how to make it stick.
By Evan Sanning5 min read
A budget is a plan for your money before the month starts. Compare three styles, from strict categories to paying yourself first, and pick one you'll keep.
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All topics- Spending3 articlesWhere your money goes: budgeting, cash flow, and making everyday spending work for your goals.
- Earning3 articlesMaking the most of what you bring in: paychecks, raises, and how income and taxes fit together.
- Investing6 articlesPutting your money to work: how investing grows your savings for goals a few years out and for retirement.
- Credit Cards1 articleUsing credit cards on purpose: interest, rewards, credit scores, and staying out of card debt.
- Debt2 articlesUnderstanding and paying down debt: how interest adds up, and strategies to get out from under it.
- Taxes6 articlesTaxes without the mystery: how brackets, deductions, and tax-advantaged accounts actually work.
- Stocks1 articleHow the stock market works: what owning a share means, how prices move, and long-term investing.
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Money conversations are hard, so they get put off. We Learn Finance breaks money topics into simple ideas, with real numbers and calculators you can try, so you leave every article with something you can actually do.
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