FortuneBackThe FortuneBack ledger
Everyday money, counted plainly.
An independent reference desk for budgeting, saving, paying off debt, understanding credit and the basic ideas behind investing. No jargon, no pitches, no fabricated numbers. Run the figures yourself below, then read the guide that explains them.
Run the numbers
Three free calculators that do real arithmetic in your browser. Nothing you type leaves your device.
Debt payoff planner
Compare the snowball and avalanche orders with month-by-month math, and see what each saves.
Plan a payoff
50 / 30 / 20 split
Split a paycheck into needs, wants and saving, then adjust the shares and watch the amounts update.
Split a paycheck
Emergency fund
Size a cushion of several months of essentials and see how long it takes at your saving rate.
Size a fund
The index
All money guidesFrom the desk
Six explainers to start with. Honest, source attributed, written for people managing their own money.
How do you build your first budget?A plain, step-by-step way to start a budget that fits real life.
How much emergency fund do you actually need?How to think about the right size for your own household.
Debt snowball or avalanche, which one works?Two common payoff orders, compared plainly so you can pick.
What does compound interest really mean?The idea behind money growing on money, explained simply.
What does a credit score actually measure?What goes into a score, and what does not, in plain terms.
What is an index fund, explained plainly?A general look at a widely discussed, low-effort investing idea.