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 Optimal Credit Utilization Ratio: Credit Score Optimization vs. Cash Flow Management
Discover the mathematical balance between maintaining excellent credit scores and managing cash flow efficiently. Learn how to calculate your ideal credit utilization across multiple cards, the impact of statement dates vs. payment timing, and when paying early actually hurts your credit optimization strategy.
May 22, 2026How to Calculate Your Backup and Sync Time Optimization: Measuring Data Protection Efficiency and Cloud Storage Performance
Learn to measure and optimize your file backup, cloud sync, and data protection workflows. Calculate upload/download speeds, sync conflicts, and recovery time objectives to build a bulletproof digital safety system that doesn't slow you down.
May 21, 2026How to Calculate Your Phantom Income: Stock Options, Vesting Schedules, and Tax Planning Strategy
Learn how to calculate and plan for phantom income from stock options, RSUs, and equity compensation. Includes tax implications, vesting timeline strategies, and cashflow management for tech workers and executives.
May 21, 2026How to Calculate Your Perfect Study Session Length: Using Spaced Repetition and Attention Span Data to Maximize Learning
Discover the science-backed formula for determining your optimal study session duration based on your attention span, retention rates, and cognitive load capacity. Learn to calculate break intervals, review schedules, and memory consolidation periods for maximum learning efficiency.
May 21, 2026How to Calculate Your Financial Recovery Timeline After Job Loss: Severance, Unemployment Benefits, and Bridge Strategy Analysis
Master the math behind surviving unemployment with a step-by-step calculator approach to estimate how long your savings will last, optimize severance and unemployment benefits, and create a strategic bridge plan back to financial stability.
May 20, 2026How to Calculate Your Physical Paper vs. Digital Note-Taking Efficiency: Speed, Retention, and Organization Analysis
Discover the scientific method to measure writing speed, information retention rates, and searchability between handwritten notes and digital alternatives. Learn to quantify which method saves you more time and improves learning outcomes.
May 20, 2026How to Calculate Your Donor-Advised Fund Tax Strategy: Charitable Giving vs. Tax Deduction Optimization
Learn to calculate the optimal timing and amount for charitable contributions using donor-advised funds to maximize tax deductions while supporting causes you care about. Compare traditional giving vs. bunching strategies vs. appreciated asset donations.
May 19, 2026How to Calculate Your Voice-to-Text Efficiency: Measuring Dictation Speed vs. Traditional Typing Productivity
Discover whether voice dictation or traditional typing is faster for your work style. Learn to measure words per minute, accuracy rates, and editing time to optimize your input method for maximum productivity.
May 19, 2026How to Calculate Your Optimal CD Ladder Strategy: Term Length, Interest Rate Risk, and Liquidity Balance
Learn how to build a CD ladder that maximizes interest earnings while maintaining access to your funds. Compare different term lengths, calculate total returns, and find the perfect balance between yield and liquidity for your savings goals.
May 18, 2026How to Calculate Your Caffeine Timing for Peak Productivity: Scientific Approach to Optimizing Coffee and Energy Drink Consumption
Learn how to calculate your optimal caffeine intake schedule based on your sleep cycle, metabolism, and work demands. Use scientific formulas to determine the perfect timing for coffee breaks that maximize focus while avoiding afternoon crashes and sleep disruption.
May 18, 2026How to Calculate Your Ideal Insurance Deductible: Premium Savings vs. Out-of-Pocket Risk Analysis
Learn how to find the optimal deductible amount for auto, home, and health insurance by calculating the break-even point between monthly premium savings and potential out-of-pocket costs during claims.
May 18, 2026How to Calculate Your Geographic Coordinate Conversion Accuracy: A Complete Guide to Latitude, Longitude, and GPS Precision
Master the art of converting between different coordinate systems (decimal degrees, degrees-minutes-seconds, UTM) and understand GPS accuracy margins for navigation, surveying, and location-based planning.
May 17, 2026