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 Life Insurance Coverage Need: Income Replacement vs. DIME Method
Learn how to determine the right amount of life insurance coverage using the income replacement method, DIME formula, and human life value approach. Compare different calculation strategies to protect your family's financial future.
Apr 22, 2026How to Calculate Your Home Office Productivity Score: Measuring Space Efficiency and Environmental Impact
Learn to quantify your home office setup's effectiveness using measurable factors like space utilization, lighting quality, noise levels, and ergonomic efficiency to optimize your remote work environment.
Apr 22, 2026How to Calculate Your Credit Card Payoff Strategy: Minimum Payments vs. Avalanche vs. Consolidation
Compare different credit card payoff strategies using mathematical calculations to determine which approach saves the most money in interest and gets you debt-free fastest. Includes step-by-step formulas for minimum payment timelines, avalanche method savings, and consolidation loan comparisons.
Apr 21, 2026How to Calculate Your Batch Processing Efficiency: Maximize Productivity by Grouping Similar Tasks
Learn how to measure and optimize your batch processing efficiency by calculating time savings from grouping similar tasks together. This data-driven guide shows you how to identify which tasks to batch, calculate your efficiency gains, and determine optimal batch sizes for maximum productivity.
Apr 21, 2026How to Calculate Your Effective Tax Rate vs. Marginal Tax Rate: Optimizing Your Tax Strategy
Learn the difference between effective and marginal tax rates, how to calculate each, and use this knowledge to make smarter financial decisions about retirement contributions, side income, and tax planning strategies.
Apr 20, 2026How to Calculate Your Email Processing Time: Optimize Your Inbox Management for Maximum Productivity
Learn to measure and optimize the time you spend on emails with proven calculation methods. Discover how to track email volume, response times, and processing efficiency to reclaim hours from your workday.
Apr 20, 2026How to Calculate Your True Cost Per Mile: Vehicle Ownership vs. Rideshare vs. Public Transit
Compare the real costs of car ownership, rideshare services, and public transportation with our comprehensive cost-per-mile calculator. Factor in insurance, maintenance, depreciation, and opportunity costs to make the smartest transportation decision for your budget.
Apr 19, 2026How to Calculate Your Weekly Time Allocation: A Strategic Guide to Work-Life Balance Optimization
Learn how to analyze and optimize your 168-hour week with practical formulas for calculating time distribution across work, personal, and recovery activities. Includes templates for tracking and rebalancing your schedule for maximum satisfaction and productivity.
Apr 19, 2026How to Calculate Your Optimal Asset Allocation by Age: Risk vs. Return Balance
Learn how to determine the perfect mix of stocks, bonds, and other investments for your age and risk tolerance using proven asset allocation formulas and modern portfolio theory.
Apr 19, 2026How to Calculate Your Learning Curve: Measuring Skill Acquisition Time and Progress
Master the math behind learning new skills with proven formulas to predict how long it takes to become proficient, track your improvement rate, and optimize your practice schedule for faster skill development.
Apr 18, 2026How to Calculate Your Real Investment Returns: Factoring in Inflation, Fees, and Taxes
Learn to calculate your true investment performance by accounting for hidden costs like management fees, expense ratios, inflation impact, and tax drag that can significantly reduce your actual returns.
Apr 18, 2026How to Calculate Your Pomodoro Timer Settings: Finding Your Optimal Work and Break Intervals
Discover how to mathematically determine your ideal Pomodoro technique intervals by analyzing your attention span, task complexity, and productivity patterns to maximize focus and minimize burnout.
Apr 17, 2026