We show our work. Every number in Adolesense comes from an official or authoritative source. Here's where the data comes from.
Our Commitment to Accuracy
All tools use real data from government agencies, official rate tables, and established financial guidelines. We update rates and brackets when they change. If you find something outdated or incorrect, email us at emutuc73@outlook.com and we'll fix it.
// Paycheck Decoder
// Tax Refund Estimator
Federal brackets and standard deduction: Same IRS sources as Paycheck Decoder above.
Standard deduction 2026: Single $15,700, Married Filing Jointly $31,400 (projected from IRS inflation adjustments)
State tax rates: Simplified flat-rate approximations based on Tax Foundation data. Actual state taxes vary by filing status, deductions, and local jurisdictions.
// Credit Score Simulator
// Student Loan Calculator
Federal student loan interest rates (2025–2026): U.S. Department of Education
Undergraduate Direct: 6.53% | Graduate Direct: 8.08% | Parent/Grad PLUS: 9.08%
studentaid.gov — Interest Rates and Fees
Amortization formula: Standard fixed-rate loan amortization with monthly compounding. M = P[r(1+r)^n] / [(1+r)^n – 1]
// FAFSA Simplifier
// First Job Rights
// First Apartment Calculator
30% housing cost rule: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) affordability standard
hud.gov — Affordable Housing
Average utility and cost estimates: Based on national averages from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) and Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Survey. All estimates are adjustable by the user.
// Car Buying Calculator
Auto loan rates: Average rates for young/new borrowers based on Experian State of the Automotive Finance Market reports
Insurance cost estimates: Average annual premiums for drivers under 25 from Insurance Information Institute (III)
iii.org — Auto Insurance Facts
15% transportation cost rule: Based on financial planning guidelines from Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and major financial advisory organizations.
Sales tax estimate (6%): National average; actual rates vary by state (0–10%+).
// Health Insurance 101
ACA marketplace plan tiers: HealthCare.gov, plan categories (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum)
healthcare.gov — Plan Categories
Out-of-pocket maximums: CMS annual limits ($9,200 individual for 2025)
Age 26 coverage rule: ACA Section 2714, dependent coverage
healthcare.gov — Coverage for Young Adults
Medicaid eligibility: General threshold approximately 138% FPL in expansion states
medicaid.gov — Eligibility
Plan cost estimates: Simplified typical parameters for educational illustration. Actual costs vary by plan, state, insurer, and individual factors.
// Compound Interest & Savings
7% average annual return: Historical average of the S&P 500 index (inflation-adjusted ~7%, nominal ~10%), commonly cited by Vanguard, Fidelity, and academic research
3% historical inflation average: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index (CPI) historical data
bls.gov — Consumer Price Index
Compound interest formula: Standard monthly compounding: FV = PMT × [((1 + r/12)^(12t) – 1) / (r/12)]
// Tipping Guide
Tipping percentages: Based on guidelines from the Emily Post Institute, National Restaurant Association, and widely accepted U.S. service industry norms
Federal tipped minimum wage: $2.13/hour — U.S. Department of Labor
dol.gov — Tipped Employee Minimum Wage
// Subscription Tracker
Subscription prices: Current published pricing from each service's website as of April 2026 (Spotify, Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Apple Music, YouTube Premium, etc.)
Investment projections: Same 7% average annual return methodology as Compound Interest tool above, using monthly contribution compounding.
// Credit Cards 101
APR ranges and fee structures: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
consumerfinance.gov — Credit Card Interest Rates
Rewards spending data (12-18% more): Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago research and Journal of Marketing Research studies on credit card spending behavior
Interchange fee rates (1.5-3.5%): Federal Reserve Payments Study, Nilson Report
Minimum payment calculation: Standard industry formula (greater of $25 or 1-2% of balance). Payoff time calculated using standard amortization with minimum payment floor.
Card recommendations: Based on publicly available card terms. No affiliate relationships or sponsored placements.
// Investing 101
IRA/401(k) contribution limits (2025): IRS Publication 590-A and IRS Notice 2024-80
Roth/Traditional IRA: $7,000 | 401(k): $23,500 | HSA: $4,300 individual
irs.gov — IRA Contribution Limits
90% of fund managers underperform: S&P Dow Jones Indices SPIVA Scorecard (20-year data)
spglobal.com — SPIVA Scorecard
Expense ratios: Vanguard, Fidelity, and Schwab published fund expense ratios
Dollar-cost averaging data (67% lump sum outperformance): Vanguard Research, "Dollar-cost averaging just means taking risk later"
Historical returns: S&P 500 total return data. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
// W-4 Helper
W-4 form and instructions: IRS Form W-4 (2025)
irs.gov — About Form W-4
Withholding calculation: IRS Publication 15-T (Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods, 2025)
irs.gov — Publication 15-T
Standard deduction (2025): $15,000 single, $30,000 married filing jointly
Dependent standard deduction rules: IRS Publication 501
// Side Gig Tax Calculator
Self-employment tax rate: 15.3% (12.4% Social Security + 2.9% Medicare) on 92.35% of net earnings — IRS Schedule SE
irs.gov — Self-Employment Tax
1099-K threshold: $5,000 for tax year 2024+ (IRS Notice 2023-74 transition rule)
Quarterly estimated payments: IRS Form 1040-ES
irs.gov — Form 1040-ES
Mileage rate (2025): 70 cents/mile — IRS standard mileage rate
irs.gov — Standard Mileage Rates
Business deductions: IRS Publication 334 (Tax Guide for Small Business), IRS Publication 587 (Business Use of Your Home)
// DIY & Save
Cost estimates: Based on national average service pricing from Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, industry association data, and major retailer pricing (2025-2026)
Specific estimates: Average coffee prices (National Coffee Association), salon service costs (Professional Beauty Association), auto service costs (AAA Your Driving Costs study), cleaning service rates (HomeAdvisor/Angi)
Savings calculations: Difference between average paid-service cost and average DIY cost, multiplied by typical annual frequency. All figures are user-adjustable approximations.
// Betting Reality Check
Problem gambling criteria: National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), adapted from DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Gambling Disorder
ncpgambling.org — Screening Tools
Parlay house edge (20-40%): American Gaming Association and academic research on sports betting margins
Probability calculations: Standard mathematical models for independent events, expected value, and house edge
Helpline: National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-522-4700
// Privacy Checkup
Phishing and identity theft data: Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book
ftc.gov — Reports
Password strength guidelines: NIST Special Publication 800-63B (Digital Identity Guidelines)
NIST SP 800-63B
Identity theft response steps: IdentityTheft.gov (FTC)
identitytheft.gov
// Civic Duty Guide
Voter registration rules: National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), state election office websites
ncsl.org — Voter Registration
Online registration availability: vote.gov, U.S. Election Assistance Commission
vote.gov
Selective Service: Selective Service System (sss.gov)
sss.gov — Register
State data current as of: 2025-2026. Laws change — always verify with your state's election office.
// Jury Duty Guide
Federal juror pay: $50/day — 28 U.S.C. 1871
uscourts.gov — Jury Service
Jury service procedures: U.S. Courts, American Bar Association
Employment protection: Federal Jury Systems Improvement Act (28 U.S.C. 1875) and state-specific jury duty employment protection laws
State pay rates: Vary from $0-$50/day. Individual state court administrative offices.
// Car Emergency Guide
Accident response procedures: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
nhtsa.gov — Safe Driving
Roadside assistance costs: AAA published member pricing (2025-2026), Insurance Information Institute
iii.org — Insurance Information Institute
Tow truck costs: Industry average pricing from AAA and Angi/HomeAdvisor
Tire change procedures: NHTSA and AAA recommended tire change steps
// Lease Decoder
Tenant rights and lease terms: Nolo.com tenant rights guides, state landlord-tenant statutes
Fair Housing Act: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
hud.gov — Fair Housing
Security deposit laws: State-specific statutes compiled by NCSL and Nolo
Implied warranty of habitability: Common law doctrine recognized in all 50 states with varying scope
// Contract Red Flags
FTC Cooling-Off Rule: Federal Trade Commission, 16 CFR Part 429
ftc.gov — Cooling-Off Rule
Fair Credit Billing Act: 15 U.S.C. 1666 (60-day dispute window)
consumerfinance.gov — Billing Errors
Click-to-cancel rule (2024): FTC Negative Option Rule update
MLM income data (99% lose money): FTC research report "The Case (for and) against Multi-level Marketing" and published income disclosure statements from major MLM companies
// Laid Off? Now What
Unemployment benefits: U.S. Department of Labor, state unemployment insurance programs
dol.gov — Unemployment Insurance
WARN Act: Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (29 U.S.C. 2101-2109)
dol.gov — WARN Act
COBRA continuation coverage: U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration
dol.gov — COBRA
Final paycheck laws: State-specific wage payment statutes. Timeframes range from immediate to 72 hours.
// Stay or Switch
Total compensation methodology: Salary + bonus + employer match + PTO value - health insurance costs - commute costs. PTO valued at daily rate (annual salary / 260 work days).
Counter-offer statistics (50-80% leave within 12 months): Wall Street Journal reporting, Harvard Business Review, and Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) research
Job-switching salary increases (10-20%): ADP Workforce Now data and Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS)
// Resume Starter & Interview Prep
STAR method: Widely used behavioral interview framework documented by SHRM, Harvard Business School, and career services offices nationwide
Action verb lists: Compiled from career center resources at multiple universities and SHRM guidelines
Interview questions: Based on commonly reported interview questions from Glassdoor, Indeed, and SHRM research
// Emergency Fund Calculator
Emergency fund guidelines: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), 3-6 month recommendation
consumerfinance.gov — Building an Emergency Fund
Household savings data: Federal Reserve Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (SHED) — 37% of Americans cannot cover a $400 emergency
HYSA rates: Current high-yield savings account rates (4-5% APY as of 2025-2026) from FDIC-insured institutions. Rates change frequently.
// Where Should I Live?
Transportation cost data: Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, AAA Your Driving Costs study
Commute satisfaction research: Studies on commute time and life satisfaction from the American Economic Review and Journal of Urban Economics
Walkability methodology: Walk Score (walkscore.com) walkability ratings. Time valuation based on user-stated hourly wage.
// Crypto Reality Check
Crypto trading loss data: Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Working Paper No. 1049, "Crypto trading and Bitcoin prices"
Crypto scam losses: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) 2023 Cryptocurrency Fraud Report ($3.9B in losses)
FTX collapse: SEC v. Samuel Bankman-Fried, SDNY (2023). $8B in customer losses.
Crypto tax rules: IRS Notice 2014-21 (virtual currency guidance), IRS Revenue Ruling 2019-24
irs.gov — Virtual Currency FAQ
Exchange fees: Published fee schedules from Coinbase, Kraken, and Gemini (2025-2026)
// General Methodology
All calculations run entirely in your browser using JavaScript. No data is sent to any server. Where exact formulas exist (tax brackets, loan amortization, compound interest), we use them. Where estimates are involved (credit score impacts, insurance costs, utility averages), we clearly label them as estimates and allow users to adjust inputs.
Tools are updated when source data changes (typically annually for tax brackets and minimum wages). Last comprehensive review: April 2026.
// When Someone Dies
When Someone Dies
FTC Funeral Rule:
consumer.ftc.gov
Funeral cost data: National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) 2025 statistics, median burial $8,300, median cremation with service $6,280
Social Security survivor benefits:
ssa.gov
COBRA continuation coverage: U.S. Department of Labor
Cremation rate (63.4% in 2025): NFDA Cremation & Burial Report 2025
// College, Trade or Military?
College, Trade or Military?
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook (bls.gov/ooh), 2024–2025 edition. All salary figures represent national medians and vary by region, employer, and experience.
College cost data: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Digest of Education Statistics 2024. Average tuition figures for public 4-year ($37,650/yr) and private nonprofit ($55,840/yr) institutions.
Student loan debt averages: Federal Student Aid (studentaid.gov) and College Board Trends in Student Aid 2024. Average bachelor's graduate debt: $29,000–$37,000.
Apprenticeship programs: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship (apprenticeship.gov). Registered Apprenticeship data and program directory.
Military pay and benefits: Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), 2025 military pay tables. Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) rates from DoD Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.
GI Bill education benefits: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (va.gov/education). Post-9/11 GI Bill maximum academic year rate $28,937 (2024–2025). Monthly housing allowance based on E-5 with dependents BAH rate at school zip code.
Trade shortage data: Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) workforce shortage reports; National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) workforce data.
Elevator installer median wage ($97K): BLS OOH, Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers, May 2024.
All compensation comparisons are simplified for educational purposes. Individual results vary significantly by location, branch, job specialty, and career choices.
// Lost or Stolen?
Lost or Stolen?
Credit card fraud liability: Fair Credit Billing Act (15 U.S.C. § 1643) caps consumer liability at $50 for unauthorized charges; most issuers waive this entirely.
Debit card fraud liability: Electronic Fund Transfer Act (Regulation E) — $50 cap if reported within 2 business days, $500 if within 60 days.
Credit freeze legislation: Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act of 2018 — made credit freezes free at all three nationwide credit bureaus.
Fraud alert sharing: Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) — requires bureaus to share fraud alerts within 24 hours.
Identity theft reporting: Federal Trade Commission, IdentityTheft.gov — official federal recovery resource.
Bank fraud line numbers: Verified directly from official bank customer service pages and back-of-card numbers as of publication. Always cross-check by calling the number on any card you have.
IRS Identity Theft Affidavit (Form 14039): irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-14039 — required for tax-related identity theft.
Find My iPhone / Find My Device: Apple Support and Google Account Help official documentation.
Carrier fraud lines: Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T official customer service numbers.
Homeowners/renters insurance for college students: Insurance Information Institute (iii.org) general guidance — coverage varies by policy and insurer.