DOLLAR BEACON / THE MONEY LAB
Small decisions.
Long horizons.
Put a number to your next move. Start with a monthly contribution, then see how time changes the picture.
Build your full investment plan First, check your cash buffer →$120,000 contributed + $133,768 modeled growth
How this illustration works
Month-end contributions, no starting balance. Annual effective returns are converted to monthly rates. Fixed returns are hypothetical, not forecasts; actual investments can lose value. Taxes, fees and inflation are excluded. The chart rescales for each scenario.
For lump sums and changing contributions, open the full investment calculator. Entries are used in this page and are not saved by this tool.
What do you want to work out?
01 · Build a cash buffer
Separate essential bills from income that could continue during a disruption.
Explore the emergency fund scenarios →02 · Understand a balance
Compare monthly payments, modeled interest and autopay settings.
See the cost of 20% APR →03 · Plan contributions
Keep your deposits separate from hypothetical investment growth.
Try the investment calculator →Following the headlines? Explore overnight trading spreads →
Featured
Budget Billing True-Up: Estimate What You May Owe Before Your Annual Review
A flat utility payment can hide a growing balance. Use this worksheet to estimate a shortfall or credit and decide how much to reserve…
Latest
Social Security Benefit Cuts in 2032? Test the Budget Gap, Not a Predicted Check
Quick answer: The 2032 Social Security headlines refer to a financing projection, not a notice that your next payment is being reduced. Use the…
Polar Vortex Headlines and Your Heating Bill: Build a Short Cold-Spell Buffer
Quick answer: A polar-vortex headline does not specify your home’s next heating bill. Check the dated forecast for your location, then budget a short…
Paycheck Calculator Check: Why Net Pay and Direct Deposit Differ
Quick answer: Compare a paycheck calculator with the net pay on your pay stub first. Then compare that net pay with every payment destination…
2027 Tax Brackets: What Changes If Your Income Stays the Same?
Compare the 2026 and 2027 single-filer brackets and see what the IRS changes do at the same $68,000 income.
Stock Market Cash Timing: When Can an ETF Sale Pay a Bill?
Separate the trade, T+1 settlement, brokerage withdrawal, bank availability and bill cutoff before counting ETF proceeds as cash.
Markets
September PPI Jumps 1.3%, Retail Sales Rise 0.8%: Prices vs. Spending
September PPI rose 1.3% and retail sales gained 0.8%. Separate producer prices, nominal spending and your household costs with a simple receipt check.
September CPI Rises 0.6% as Gasoline Jumps: What It Means for Your Budget
September CPI rose 0.6% monthly and 3.7% yearly as gasoline jumped. See the official numbers, real-pay change and a household fuel scenario.
Winter Heating Bills 2026–27: EIA Forecast by Fuel
EIA expects lower average natural-gas and propane bills, a small electricity increase, and a 21% jump for heating-oil households this winter.
Investing
Trump Account 2026 Contribution Limit: What Counts Toward the $5,000 Cap?
Track family, friend, and employer deposits against the 2026 Trump Account $5,000 limit—and keep the federal $1,000 deposit in the right bucket.
AI Corporate Bonds vs. Treasuries: Is the Extra Yield Worth the Credit and Concentration Risk?
Compare AI-linked corporate-bond spreads with Treasuries and broader investment-grade debt using spread-difference and duration stress scenarios.
Buffett’s 90/10 Portfolio vs. 60/40: What the Trade-Off Looks Like Over 10, 20, and 30 Years
Compare Buffett’s 90/10 estate instruction with a 60/40 portfolio using your own return, inflation, cash-flow and first-year crash assumptions.
Credit Cards
Deferred Interest vs. 0% APR: The Payoff Date That Changes the Bill
A store offer that says no interest if paid in full by a date can charge interest dating back to the purchase if you…
Paid Off Your Credit Card but Still Charged Interest? Check These Dates
A payoff can cross a billing boundary. Use this date-by-date worksheet to identify residual interest, new activity, fees, or a credit balance before you…
Which Paycheck Will Pay Your Holiday Credit Card Bill? A Statement-Cycle Planner
Map your holiday credit card statement balance to the paychecks arriving before its due date, without counting pending returns or double-counting credits.
Loans
Mortgage Payoff Calculator Worksheet: What Does Extra Principal Save?
Model an earlier mortgage payoff using your remaining balance, fixed rate, principal-and-interest payment, and proposed extra principal.
Selected for FAFSA Verification? Track Documents, Deadlines, and What Is Still Missing
Use a school-by-school tracker to separate FAFSA verification documents sent, receipt confirmed, and review still pending. Keep document and tuition deadlines separate.
Retirement
Social Security Benefit Cuts in 2032? Test the Budget Gap, Not a Predicted Check
Quick answer: The 2032 Social Security headlines refer to a financing projection, not a notice that your next payment is being reduced. Use the…
Saver’s Match 2027 Calculator: Estimate Your Match and Check the Income Phaseout
Estimate the 2027 Saver’s Match for an otherwise eligible person, including income phaseout, countable withdrawals and separate spouse calculations.
Turned 73 in 2026? Compare Taking Your First RMD This Year vs. Waiting Until April 1, 2027
Compare your first IRA RMD in 2026 with delaying it until April 1, 2027. Calculate gross distributions by year, including partial withdrawals.
Calculators
Polar Vortex Headlines and Your Heating Bill: Build a Short Cold-Spell Buffer
Quick answer: A polar-vortex headline does not specify your home’s next heating bill. Check the dated forecast for your location, then budget a short…
Paycheck Calculator Check: Why Net Pay and Direct Deposit Differ
Quick answer: Compare a paycheck calculator with the net pay on your pay stub first. Then compare that net pay with every payment destination…
2027 Tax Brackets: What Changes If Your Income Stays the Same?
Compare the 2026 and 2027 single-filer brackets and see what the IRS changes do at the same $68,000 income.