Maya Ellison
Personal-finance writer & recovering over-spender
Denver, CO
Maya writes about money the way she wishes someone had explained it to her at 22 — plainly, with real numbers and none of the jargon. She isn't a financial advisor; she's someone who spent her twenties digging out of credit-card debt, got a little obsessive about budgeting, and now turns intimidating financial math into decisions anyone can make. Everything she writes is meant to inform, not to be personal financial advice.
Articles by Maya Ellison
How to Calculate Your Memory Palace Efficiency: Measuring Spatial Memory Techniques for Information Retention
Learn to quantify how effective your memory palace technique is by measuring recall accuracy, construction time, and long-term retention rates. Includes formulas for calculating memory improvement ROI and optimal palace size.
May 28, 2026How to Calculate Your Home Insurance Replacement Cost: Market Value vs. Rebuild Value Analysis
Learn to accurately calculate the true replacement cost of your home for insurance purposes, factoring in construction costs, materials inflation, and regional building variations to avoid being underinsured or overpaying for coverage.
May 27, 2026How to Calculate Your Data Processing Speed: Measuring Your Computer's Performance Impact on Daily Productivity
Learn how to measure your computer's processing speed, identify bottlenecks, and calculate the productivity cost of slow hardware. Includes benchmarking tools, upgrade ROI calculations, and optimization strategies for maximum efficiency.
May 27, 2026How to Calculate Your Salary vs. Total Compensation Value: Benefits, Bonuses, and Hidden Perks Analysis
Learn to evaluate job offers beyond base salary by calculating the true value of health insurance, retirement matching, stock options, PTO, and other benefits to make informed career decisions.
May 27, 2026How to Calculate Your Ideal Workday Structure: Using the Ultradian Rhythm Method for Maximum Efficiency
Learn to map your natural 90-120 minute energy cycles and calculate the optimal timing for deep work, administrative tasks, and breaks to maximize daily productivity and reduce burnout.
May 26, 2026How to Calculate Your Paycheck Protection: Disability Insurance vs. Emergency Fund Coverage Gap Analysis
Discover the hidden vulnerability in your financial safety net. Learn to calculate exactly how much of your income is truly protected and whether disability insurance or a larger emergency fund provides better value for your specific situation.
May 26, 2026How to Calculate Your Text Message Response Time Impact on Professional Relationships: Measuring Communication Velocity and Expectation Management
Learn to measure how your text and instant message response patterns affect workplace relationships, client satisfaction, and team productivity. Includes formulas for calculating optimal response times based on message urgency, sender importance, and communication context.
May 25, 2026How to Calculate Your Inflation-Hedged Spending Plan: Essential Goods vs. Discretionary Expenses Protection Strategy
Learn to build a spending plan that automatically adjusts for inflation by categorizing expenses into inflation-sensitive vs. inflation-resistant buckets, helping you maintain purchasing power during periods of rising costs.
May 25, 2026How to Calculate Your App Switching Fatigue: The Hidden Productivity Cost of Jumping Between Digital Tools
Discover the time and mental energy lost from constantly switching between productivity apps, email, browsers, and communication tools. Learn to measure context switching penalties and optimize your digital workflow for peak efficiency.
May 25, 2026How to Calculate Your Optimal Budget Buffer: Emergency Cushion vs. Sinking Funds vs. Float Money Strategy
Learn to calculate the perfect amount of financial cushion beyond your emergency fund. Discover how to balance immediate budget flexibility with long-term savings goals using mathematical models that account for income volatility, expense variability, and psychological comfort levels.
May 24, 2026How to Calculate Your Time Zone Impact on Remote Team Productivity: Measuring Collaboration Efficiency Across Global Teams
Discover how to quantify the productivity costs and benefits of working across multiple time zones. Learn to calculate optimal meeting windows, asynchronous work efficiency, and communication delays to maximize global team performance.
May 24, 2026How to Calculate Your Side Income Tax Withholding: Avoiding Underpayment Penalties and Quarterly Estimate Strategies
Learn how to calculate proper tax withholding for freelance, gig economy, and side business income to avoid IRS penalties. Includes quarterly payment schedules, safe harbor rules, and W-4 adjustment strategies for mixed income sources.
May 23, 2026