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 Information Processing Speed: Measuring Reading, Research, and Decision-Making Velocity
Learn to measure and optimize how quickly you process different types of information, from reading speeds to research efficiency and decision-making time, with actionable metrics to boost your cognitive productivity.
Apr 28, 2026How to Calculate Your Optimal Health Savings Account (HSA) Contribution: Triple Tax Advantage vs. Traditional Retirement Accounts
Master HSA contribution calculations to maximize the only triple tax-advantaged account available. Learn how to balance current healthcare needs, retirement planning, and tax optimization with step-by-step formulas and real-world scenarios.
Apr 28, 2026How to Calculate Your Calendar Efficiency: Measuring Time Blocks vs. Actual Output
Learn to measure how well your scheduled time blocks translate into actual productive work. This comprehensive guide shows you how to track calendar accuracy, identify scheduling blind spots, and optimize your time blocking strategy for maximum efficiency.
Apr 27, 2026How to Calculate Your House Hacking ROI: Rental Income, Tax Benefits, and Hidden Costs Analysis
Learn to calculate the true return on investment for house hacking strategies, including rental income, mortgage reduction, tax deductions, and maintenance costs to determine if living in a multi-unit property makes financial sense.
Apr 27, 2026How to Calculate Your Optimal Task Duration: Finding the Sweet Spot Between Focus and Fatigue
Discover the scientific method to determine your ideal task length for maximum productivity. Learn to calculate your focus span, identify fatigue patterns, and create custom work blocks that align with your natural attention cycles.
Apr 27, 2026How to Calculate Your Child's College Funding Need: 529 Plans, ESAs, and Investment Timeline Strategies
Learn how to calculate exactly how much you need to save for your child's college education using inflation projections, state-specific costs, and optimal funding vehicle comparisons. Includes step-by-step calculations for 529 plans, Coverdell ESAs, and taxable investment accounts.
Apr 26, 2026How to Calculate Your Sleep Debt and Its Impact on Daily Productivity
Learn to quantify accumulated sleep debt, understand its compound effects on cognitive performance, and calculate the recovery time needed to restore optimal productivity levels.
Apr 26, 2026How to Calculate Your Roth IRA Conversion Sweet Spot: Tax Brackets, Income Limits, and Timing Strategies
Master the complex math behind Roth IRA conversions to minimize lifetime taxes. Learn how to calculate optimal conversion amounts based on current vs. future tax brackets, income thresholds, and retirement timeline to maximize your tax-free growth potential.
Apr 25, 2026How to Calculate Your Notification Fatigue Score: Measuring the Productivity Impact of App Alerts and Messages
Learn to quantify how push notifications, email alerts, and app messages disrupt your focus. This comprehensive guide shows you how to measure notification frequency, calculate interruption recovery time, and determine the true productivity cost of staying constantly connected.
Apr 25, 2026How to Calculate Your Dollar-Cost Averaging Returns: Lump Sum vs. Regular Investments
Compare the real-world performance of dollar-cost averaging versus lump-sum investing with step-by-step calculations, market timing considerations, and risk analysis to determine the best investment strategy for your situation.
Apr 24, 2026How to Calculate Your Screen Time Impact on Deep Work: Measuring Device Usage vs. Focused Productivity
Learn to quantify how your device usage patterns affect your ability to focus on meaningful work. This comprehensive guide shows you how to track, measure, and optimize your screen time for maximum deep work sessions.
Apr 24, 2026How to Calculate Your Monthly Cash Flow: The Foundation of All Financial Planning
Learn the step-by-step process to accurately track your monthly cash flow, identify money leaks, and create a sustainable financial foundation. Includes templates and real-world examples for different income types.
Apr 23, 2026