THE ASK ALEX K MONEY LIBRARY
Make sense of
your money.
From your first budget to your next big decision. Straightforward guides and useful tools to help you move forward.
A GOOD PLACE TO BEGIN
One decision at a time.
Pick the question that is on your mind.
THE GUIDE LIBRARY
Find your next useful answer.
Showing all 30 guides
Build a budget that fits your actual paycheck
A useful budget starts with the money that reaches your checking account.
Read guide BudgetingThe 50/30/20 budget: a starting point, not a rule
The familiar 50/30/20 framework divides take-home income among needs, wants and saving or extra debt reduction.
Read guide BudgetingPlan for annual bills with sinking funds
A sinking fund is money reserved gradually for an expense you expect.
Read guide BudgetingBudgeting when your income changes every month
Variable income calls for a cash timing plan, not just a yearly average.
Read guide SavingBuild an emergency fund one layer at a time
An emergency fund provides accessible money for a genuine surprise or income interruption.
Read guide SavingCompare savings accounts beyond the headline rate
A savings account comparison should begin with access, fees and deposit protection.
Read guide SavingAPY and APR: two percentages with different jobs
APY describes annualized yield including compounding under the account’s terms.
Read guide SavingCDs versus savings: match access to your deadline
A certificate of deposit can fit money with a known holding period, while a savings account usually offers more flexible access.
Read guide SavingTurn a savings goal into a monthly number
A savings goal becomes easier to manage when it has an amount, deadline and contribution schedule.
Read guide Credit & DebtRead your credit report before focusing on a score
A credit report is a record of credit activity; a score is a model’s summary based on selected information.
Read guide Credit & DebtCredit utilization: understand the balance-to-limit ratio
Credit utilization compares revolving balances with available revolving credit.
Read guide Credit & DebtDebt avalanche or snowball: choose a plan you can sustain
Two common debt strategies organize extra payments differently.
Read guide Credit & DebtEstimate the cost of credit-card interest
A card balance can become expensive even when a monthly minimum looks manageable.
Read guide Credit & DebtDispute a credit-report error with a clear paper trail
An effective dispute identifies exactly what is wrong and includes evidence.
Read guide Credit & DebtWhat a credit freeze can—and cannot—protect
A credit freeze limits access to your credit file for many new-credit checks.
Read guide InvestingDiversification: count exposures, not just holdings
Diversification spreads exposure rather than relying on one investment outcome.
Read guide InvestingIndex funds: understand what the index actually holds
An index fund seeks to follow a market benchmark.
Read guide InvestingSmall investment fees add up over time
An investment fee is money that no longer remains in your account to compound.
Read guide InvestingCompound growth: separate contributions from returns
Compounding means that returns can themselves generate later returns.
Read guide InvestingDollar-cost averaging: a schedule, not a return guarantee
Dollar-cost averaging means investing a fixed amount on a regular schedule.
Read guide InvestingMatch investment risk to the date you need the money
A goal’s deadline changes how much uncertainty you can accept.
Read guide RetirementTraditional and Roth IRAs: start with the tax distinction
Traditional and Roth IRAs are account structures with different tax treatment.
Read guide RetirementBuild a retirement spending estimate from real bills
A retirement plan starts with what spending needs to be funded.
Read guide RetirementKeep a simple household net-worth statement
Net worth is assets minus liabilities at a point in time.
Read guide SavingWhat FDIC insurance covers—and what it does not
Deposit insurance protects qualifying bank deposits under defined coverage rules.
Read guide Home FinanceCompare mortgage offers using the Loan Estimate
A mortgage offer needs more than an advertised interest rate.
Read guide Home FinanceMortgage points: calculate a first-pass break-even
Discount points are an upfront cost exchanged for a lower rate in a particular loan offer.
Read guide Home FinanceClosing costs and cash to close are different numbers
Closing costs describe transaction and financing expenses.
Read guide Home FinanceRent or buy: compare total costs and flexibility
The rent-or-buy decision involves more than comparing rent with a mortgage payment.
Read guide Money SafetySpot investment scams before sending money
A polished website or convincing message does not establish that an investment is legitimate.
Read guideNo guides match. Try another search or choose All guides.
PUT THE NUMBERS TO WORK
A clearer plan starts with a calculation.
Estimate a savings target, explore compound growth or compare a loan payment.