College, student loans, and your first paycheck.
The money skills nobody teaches before you need them
North-star rule of thumb
$5/week from age 20 → $40,000+ by 65
Starting at 20 vs starting at 30 is the difference between a six-figure outcome and a five-figure one. Time, not amount, is the cheat code.
The overview
Money decisions between 18 and 25 compound for the rest of your life. The Roth IRA you open at 22 has 43 years to compound by the time you're 65 — almost 7 doublings. A 5-year delay costs almost half of that. So the goal here isn't to optimize every dollar; it's to not miss the moves that matter most.
We cover the moves that matter most: how to read your first paystub, what a W-4 actually does, the order to attack student loans, when income-driven repayment beats standard, when a Roth IRA beats a 401(k) for someone in a low tax bracket, and the case for an emergency fund before any 'real' investing starts.
Below: the cluster articles, the Student Loan Reality Check widget, the $5 Time Machine for the under-25 audience, and the parents-and-teachers guides for anyone teaching this to a teenager. The Education section has the full lesson tracks for ages 10-17 and 18-24.
What we don't do: pretend college is or isn't worth it across the board. It depends on the major, the cost, the alternative, and the loans. The cluster articles below walk through that math without pushing a side.
Run the math
The calculators that ground this hub. Free, sourced defaults, your inputs never leave your browser.
Learn the basics
Bite-sized lessons with quizzes and XP. Two minutes a day.
Deeper reads in this guide
Each one is a focused, plain-English breakdown. Articles markedComing soonwill publish on the moneyscale.app weekly content rhythm.
Reading your first paycheck
Coming soonGross, net, FICA, federal, state — and what you're actually taking home.
How student loan interest actually works
Coming soonCapitalization, accrual, subsidized vs unsubsidized — in plain English.
Income-driven repayment vs standard
Coming soonWhen IDR beats standard math (and when forgiveness is a real plan).
529 plans, explained
Coming soonState tax breaks, the gift-tax loophole, and what happens if your kid doesn't go.
Should I take out student loans?
Coming soonThe case for and against — and the salary-multiple rule of thumb.
Building credit at 18-22
Coming soonThree steps to a 700+ score before you graduate.
Why a Roth IRA at 22 is the cheat code
Coming soonThe 43-year compounding math, the contribution limit, and the rule.
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Money Scale provides educational information about personal finance. For decisions that affect your money in a material way, consult a licensed professional you've personally vetted. See our affiliate disclosure for how we keep this site free.