Auto finance guides

Short, practical explainers to help you understand the math and the tradeoffs.

How to Calculate a Car Payment
Plain-English explanation of the auto loan payment formula, amount financed, and the levers that affect your monthly cost.
How Much Car Can I Afford?
Use payment-to-income tiers and a holistic budget approach to set a realistic auto budget.
Money Factor vs APR
What money factor is, how it relates to APR, and why it matters for your lease payment.
Lease vs Buy: How to Decide
When leasing tends to win, when buying tends to win, and the factors that change the answer.
Negative Equity Explained
What it means to be underwater on a car loan, why rolling it forward is risky, and how to dig out.
Auto Refinance: When It Makes Sense
Breakeven analysis, term-reset traps, and how to compare offers fairly.