First Money Moves

The first three money checks after graduation

A first job, first savings goal, and first student loan bill can arrive fast. These three calculators turn those moments into numbers you can understand before the decisions get loud.

Start With Your Numbers Look Up Money Terms

Privacy note: the numbers you enter are calculated in this browser and are not sent to a server.

Paycheck Decoder Estimate gross pay, deductions, and the amount that actually lands in your account.
Emergency Fund Builder Turn monthly essentials into a starter safety net and a realistic savings timeline.
Student Loan Reality Check Translate loan balance, interest, and term length into a monthly payment and total cost.
Companion Tools

Practice the math before it is real

These estimates are simplified on purpose. They are built for learning, comparison, and better questions, not for replacing tax, legal, lending, or financial advice.

Local-only calculations

Paycheck Decoder

Your offer might say one number, your schedule might say another, and your deposit is usually smaller than both. Decode the path from hourly pay to take-home pay.

Job and withholding

Hours above 40 are estimated at time-and-a-half.

Use this for benefits or retirement deductions that lower taxable pay.

Estimated take-home pay
$0
per paycheck
Gross per check
$0
Annual take-home
$0
Estimated FICA payroll tax$0
Estimated federal withholding$0
Estimated state/local withholding$0
Total deductions and withholding$0
Formula used
  • Weekly gross pay = regular hours up to 40 + overtime hours at 1.5x.
  • Gross per check = weekly gross pay x 52 / pay periods per year.
  • FICA estimate = gross pay x 7.65% for Social Security and Medicare.
  • Federal and state/local withholding use the percentages entered here, after the pre-tax deduction estimate.

Educational disclaimer: These tools use simplified formulas for learning and comparison. They do not provide professional financial, tax, investment, legal, lending, or student aid advice. Actual paycheck withholding, benefits, tax rules, loan terms, fees, subsidies, repayment plans, and lender calculations can vary. Review real documents and consult qualified professionals before making major financial decisions.

IRS Tax Withholding Estimator CFPB Emergency Fund Guide Federal Student Aid Loan Simulator
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