vsSide by Side CalcAbout

Side by Side Calc

Eight money decisions worked out both ways: rent vs buy, refinance vs keep your loan, 15 vs 30-year, lease vs finance a car, Roth vs traditional, ARM vs fixed, HSA vs PPO, and EV vs gas -- each with a real verdict, a break-even point, and the numbers shown.

Every tool below runs two scenarios side by side and ends in one line: which side wins, and by how much. Most have a break-even year -- the point where the answer flips -- and a slider so you can feel how much the verdict depends on the number you're least sure about.

Eight money decisions

Every tool below runs two scenarios side by side and ends in one line: which side wins, and by how much. Most have a break-even year -- the point where the answer flips -- and a slider so you can feel how much the verdict depends on the number you're least sure about.

Prediction market math

The arithmetic behind trading YES/NO contracts: converting odds, pricing your edge, sizing a bet, and checking whether an arbitrage is real once fees are counted.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is this different from a regular calculator?

Most calculators give you one number for one scenario. Every tool here runs two scenarios side by side, from the same shared assumptions, and ends in a single verdict: which one wins, and by how much. Each one also has a sensitivity control so you can see how much the verdict depends on the one input you're least sure about.

Where do the formulas come from?

Standard, published finance formulas: loan amortization for every mortgage and auto-loan calculator, future-value-of-annuity math for invest-the-difference comparisons, and deductible/coinsurance cost-sharing math for the health-plan comparison. The prediction-market tools use the same standard of published, well-known math: odds/probability conversions, the Kelly criterion, and fetched, cited fee schedules rather than assumed ones. Every calculator's page names its method and shows the arithmetic.

Is this financial advice?

No. These are estimates for comparing two paths given the numbers you enter, not tax, legal, or investment advice, and the prediction-market tools are not trading advice. Real decisions involve details -- your specific loan terms, plan documents, state rules, or a market's actual rules -- these calculators can't see. Use them to understand the shape of a decision, then confirm specifics with a professional. Prediction markets carry real risk of loss and may be restricted in some jurisdictions.