Free money tools in plain English for the decisions that move the most money when you live in the United States: which card to get with no history, how much to pay so your score rises, when a debt will be gone and what sending money home really costs. No sign-up, nothing stored: everything runs in your browser.
Pick a tool
- Quiz: which credit card can I get?NewWhich card fits my SSN or ITIN and my history?
- Credit utilization calculatorNewHow much do I need to pay to get under 30% or 10%?
- Credit card payoff calculatorWhen will I be debt-free and how much goes to interest?
- 12-month credit planWhat do I do each month to have a history within a year?
- Real cost of a remittanceHow much really arrives with each provider?
- Cost of sending money by countryHow much is lost on average sending to my country?
- 1% remittance tax calculatorDo I have to pay the federal remittance tax?
No sign-upNothing storedBuilt for phones
Not sure where to start? Take the first card quiz or pick your situation on the home page.
The 1% remittance tax calculator
Federal remittance tax calculator
Based on the 1% federal tax on remittances paid in cash (OBBBA, IRS), in force since January 2026. It does not include the provider’s fee or the exchange-rate margin — use the real cost calculator for the full picture. Educational content, not tax advice.
Since January 2026 there is a 1% federal tax on money sent abroad when it is paid in cash, a money order or a cashier's check. It does not depend on your immigration status and it does not apply to transfers paid from a US bank account or with a US-issued debit or credit card.
The calculator tells you how much that 1% would be on your transfer and how much you would save by paying with a bank account or card instead. Confirm the current rules with the IRS or with your provider before sending.
The real cost of a transfer
The advertised fee is only half the story. The other half is the exchange rate margin: the difference between the mid-market rate and the rate the provider gives you. On a $500 transfer, a 2% margin costs more than a $5 fee.
Enter the amount, the fee and the rate you have been offered, and the tool tells you what the transfer costs in total and what the recipient actually gets.
Credit history timeline
How long until you have a usable credit score? It depends on which product you start with and how you use it. The tool gives you a realistic timeline based on your starting point: no SSN, ITIN only, a secured card, or an authorised user account.
A word of caution
- These tools give estimates, not quotes. Fees and exchange rates change several times a day.
- They do not know your particular case: your bank, your immigration status or your credit file can change the outcome.
- We are not a financial adviser. For a decision that matters, confirm with the provider and, if in doubt, with a certified counsellor.
Simulator: your 12-month plan to build credit
Pick where you are starting from and you will get a month-by-month plan. No sign-up, nothing stored.
A realistic plan takes 12 months because the bureaus only report once per billing cycle. There are no shortcuts. Educational content, not financial advice.
What it costs to send money to each country
Before comparing providers it helps to know what is normal for your corridor. This table shows the total average cost — fee plus exchange rate margin — of sending money to 18 Latin American countries, according to the World Bank. It runs from 2% for El Salvador to 19.63% for Cuba. Change the amount and you will see how much you lose and how much arrives.