How much gas money should I give?
For a 120-mile ride at 30 MPG and $4.478 a gallon, the gas is $17.91: $8.96 each if you and the driver split it. Work out yours from the miles.
Read the guideTHE DECISION BEHIND THE NUMBER
Guides for your next cost decision.
Gather the right inputs, follow a worked example and see what the calculation leaves out.
Car & driving
How much does it cost to drive across the country?
Gas for the full length of I-80, 2,891.59 miles, is $517.94 at 25 MPG and $4.478 a gallon. See the gas by route and MPG, and what else to budget.
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Is it cheaper to drive or fly?
BTS’s $549 average round-trip fare buys the gas for about 1,840 miles each way in a 30-MPG car; two buy more than I-80 end to end. Lodging and time can flip it.
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Does driving slower save gas?
Yes, at highway speeds. In a DOE model of a midsize car, MPG falls from 38 at 65 mph to 32 at 75: on 500 miles, $11.05 more gas to save about an hour.
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Is replacing the engine cheaper than replacing the car?
Is replacing an engine worth it? Put the quote next to the car you would buy instead, and see why a longer ownership period can make the cheaper repair lose.
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Is a transmission replacement worth it, or is it time for another car?
Is a transmission replacement worth it? Compare your written quote plus four years of running costs with the car you would buy instead, in a worked example.
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When should you repair your car or replace it?
Compare the repair quote with a realistic replacement over the same period. Check remaining life, running costs and uncertain resale values with a worked example.
Read the guideHousing & rent
What rent will a New York City landlord let you sign for?
Divide your yearly income by 40 to see the rent a 40x screen allows. See what the rule ignores, and what New York law says a rental application may cost you.
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What rent can you actually cover on an hourly wage?
At $18 an hour, full time is $3,120 a month before tax and 30% of it is $936 for housing. See $18 to $25 an hour, shorter schedules and what rent leaves.
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Seattle Apartment Move-In Costs: What You Pay Now and Later
Work out Seattle apartment move-in cash, deposit installments and the next five months of payments. Includes a $2,400-rent example and a budget worksheet.
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Boston Apartment Move-In Costs: Deposits, Broker Fees and Cash Needed
Plan Boston apartment move-in costs with Massachusetts deposit rules, who pays broker fees, a $2,500 rent example and a cash-before-keys worksheet.
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How much money do you need to move into an apartment?
Add upfront rent, deposits, fees and moving costs. Use a payment checklist and a worked example to plan your apartment move-in cash and monthly budget.
Read the guideHome energy
What does a clothes dryer actually add to your electricity bill?
A full-size electric dryer is listed at 2.15 kWh a load, about 39 cents at the U.S. average rate. See the cost per hour, per year and at your own load count.
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Is a gas dryer actually cheaper to run than an electric one?
Is a gas dryer cheaper to run than electric? See the electricity cost per load at U.S. average prices, and how little gas a gas dryer must burn to beat it.
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Repair or Replace an Appliance? Compare the Real Costs
Repair or replace an appliance? Compare U.S. dollar costs, installation and electricity with a refrigerator example, payback math and a decision checklist.
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How much does it cost to run a space heater?
Estimate space heater cost per hour and month using your wattage, runtime and electricity rate. See a worked example and understand thermostat cycling.
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Electricity rate increases by state: what changed and what it costs
Compare all 50 states for June 2026 vs. 2025, check the six-month trend and calculate your rate-change cost. Includes a worked electricity-bill breakdown.
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Turn annual appliance kWh into your own electricity cost
Use annual EnergyGuide kWh and your electricity rate to estimate appliance costs, compare refrigerators, and understand monthly averages and savings.
Read the guideWork & pay
Is it better to be paid hourly or salary?
It depends on the hours. A $60,000 salary is $28.85 an hour at 40 hours a week, but at 45 hours an hourly job with overtime matches it at $24.29 an hour.
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$60,000 a year is how much an hour?
$60,000 a year is $28.85 an hour before tax at 40 hours a week. At 45 hours it’s $25.64; at 50, $23.08. Every two weeks it’s $2,307.69.
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$20 an hour is how much a year?
$20 an hour is $41,600 a year before tax at 40 hours a week for 52 paid weeks: $3,466.67 a month. Two unpaid weeks make it $40,000; 32 hours a week, $33,280.
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How many work hours are in a year?
A 40-hour week for 52 weeks is 2,080 work hours. The 2027 calendar has 261 weekdays (2,088 hours); take out 12 federal holiday dates and 1,992 remain.
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Your company went to five days. Here’s what the extra days cost.
Compare the added commute cost and travel hours of moving from hybrid to five office days, with an engine-backed example and clear cost boundaries.
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2026 commuter benefits: the $340 limits and how to estimate your savings
Understand the 2026 commuter-benefit limits, separate employer funding from pre-tax pay, and estimate savings without confusing tax benefits with transit costs.
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Is a higher salary worth a longer commute?
Compare the take-home raise with additional commuting expenses and hours. Work through a checked example and find the cash increase needed to break even.
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