https://www.bettermoneydecisions.co/articles daily 0.75 2026-06-12 https://www.bettermoneydecisions.co/articles/buyipo monthly 0.5 2026-06-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f8e9f2c3bcc67ba2b7ba4d/1781296111641-OJM00SCIAJCADITDAZMX/buyIPO+website2.png ARTICLES - Should You Buy an IPO? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.bettermoneydecisions.co/articles/buyvsrent monthly 0.5 2026-06-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f8e9f2c3bcc67ba2b7ba4d/1780962236256-NA2DH9TB35KQB6SDUXVG/BuyVsRent.png ARTICLES - Buying vs. Renting: Start With This One Question - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.bettermoneydecisions.co/articles/newcardepreciation monthly 0.5 2026-06-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f8e9f2c3bcc67ba2b7ba4d/adb7ae6d-b6d0-4dcb-a5ed-426e6212300e/Vehicle+Depreciation+16.9.png ARTICLES - The Hidden Cost of Buying a New Car - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.bettermoneydecisions.co/articles/perfecthouse monthly 0.5 2026-06-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f8e9f2c3bcc67ba2b7ba4d/9b20088b-648b-41dd-9c6f-cef7cbdd7d23/PerfectHouse16%3A9.png ARTICLES - Why I Passed on the “Perfect” House - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.bettermoneydecisions.co/articles/5moneymistakes monthly 0.5 2026-06-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f8e9f2c3bcc67ba2b7ba4d/1779823685361-XKXIKM7N0WDNUGNTQVRG/unsplash-image-sFNeTuB0TTQ.jpg ARTICLES - Top 5 Money Mistakes I Made - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.bettermoneydecisions.co/articles/startingrothira monthly 0.5 2026-06-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f8e9f2c3bcc67ba2b7ba4d/1779057332906-OPO8RQD0S4RZRKLW7TK0/unsplash-image-x9maSBSQBfM.jpg ARTICLES - One of My Biggest Financial Regrets - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.bettermoneydecisions.co/articles/buyorlease monthly 0.5 2026-06-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f8e9f2c3bcc67ba2b7ba4d/1778954950624-XW6RVM6JPX8S5P6BUNNA/unsplash-image-Te6qPLAcVM8.jpg ARTICLES - Should you buy or lease a car? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.bettermoneydecisions.co/articles/buynewcar monthly 0.5 2026-06-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f8e9f2c3bcc67ba2b7ba4d/1778989597928-R8Z7D08CQKSUUDXOUQQQ/unsplash-image-AmFj7Xn9x_k.jpg ARTICLES - The Smartest Way to Buy a New Car - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.bettermoneydecisions.co/articles/3mortgage monthly 0.5 2026-05-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f8e9f2c3bcc67ba2b7ba4d/1778954352601-46E73X7M5CKIZN2Z2KAX/unsplash-image-178j8tJrNlc.jpg ARTICLES - Sell your house with a 3% Mortgage? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.bettermoneydecisions.co/articles/amorization monthly 0.5 2026-05-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f8e9f2c3bcc67ba2b7ba4d/1778953923471-401T9T21GQJ5V15AKG36/unsplash-image-hpjSkU2UYSU.jpg ARTICLES - Understand an Amortization Table Introduction When you borrow money—whether it’s for a house, a car, or anything else—most people focus on one thing: The monthly payment. That’s what lenders show you. That’s what feels manageable. But it’s not the full picture. If you want to understand what you’re actually paying—and how your money is being used—you need to look at the amortization table. It sounds technical. It’s not. It’s simply a breakdown of: What you owe What you pay each month And where that money actually goes And once you see it, you’ll look at borrowing very differently. Early Payments Go Mostly to Interest This is the part most people miss. At the beginning of almost any loan: A large portion of your payment goes to interest A smaller portion goes toward paying down the balance (principal) Over time, that shifts—but not right away. What this means: Early on, you’re paying for the cost of borrowing—not building much ownership. The Timeline of the Loan Matters More Than You Think The structure of most loans is front-loaded with interest. If you: Pay off the loan early Refinance Or trade in (like with a car) You may have paid a lot in interest without reducing the balance as much as expected. Practical takeaway: Short-term ownership of long-term loans is often a bad trade. Extra Payments Go Straight to the Balance If you make extra payments, they usually go directly toward the principal (the amount you owe). That means: You reduce the balance faster You pay less interest over time Even small extra payments can: Shorten the life of the loan Save a meaningful amount in interest Why this matters: This is one of the simplest ways to improve your financial position with no added risk. Interest Rate Drives the Total Cost A small difference in interest rate may not feel like much month to month. But over time, it adds up—quickly. What this means: The rate you agree to is one of the biggest drivers of how expensive the loan becomes. It’s not just about “can I afford this monthly?” It’s about “what will this cost me in total?” The Payment Stays the Same—But What You’re Paying For Changes With most fixed loans: Your monthly payment stays the same But the breakdown changes over time Early: Mostly interest Later: More principal Why this matters: It affects how quickly you reduce your debt and how much progress you’re actually making. The Total Cost Is Often Higher Than People Realize When you look only at the monthly payment, it’s easy to miss the bigger number. Over time, you may pay: Thousands (or tens of thousands) in interest Sometimes far more than expected What this means: Borrowing can feel manageable, but still be expensive. This Is the Real Value of an Amortization Table An amortization table shows you the full picture. It helps you answer: How much interest will I pay? How fast am I actually paying this down? What happens if I pay extra? How long until I make real progress? It turns a simple monthly number into a real understanding of the loan. Conclusion Most people make borrowing decisions based on what feels affordable right now. But the amortization table shows what’s actually happening behind the scenes: Early payments mostly go to interest Time horizon matters more than most people think Extra payments can make a real difference Interest rates drive long-term cost Whether it’s a mortgage, a car, or any other loan, the math is the same. And once you understand it, you make better money decisions. https://www.bettermoneydecisions.co/articles/investingregret monthly 0.5 2026-05-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f8e9f2c3bcc67ba2b7ba4d/1778958607115-OOV1G3PXREDCAYN1Z5KN/unsplash-image-LjwhzhGAaKk.jpg ARTICLES - My Biggest Investing Regret: Selling Too Soon - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.bettermoneydecisions.co/articles/sweetspotcar monthly 0.5 2026-05-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f8e9f2c3bcc67ba2b7ba4d/1779121562545-O4U41TUD58E37QJ8ZOC6/unsplash-image-kMUKwo49RBU.jpg ARTICLES - The Sweet Spot for Buying a Car - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.bettermoneydecisions.co/articles/category/Savings monthly 0.5 https://www.bettermoneydecisions.co/articles/category/Loan monthly 0.5 https://www.bettermoneydecisions.co/articles/category/Investing monthly 0.5 https://www.bettermoneydecisions.co/articles/category/Car monthly 0.5 https://www.bettermoneydecisions.co/articles/category/Car+Buying monthly 0.5 https://www.bettermoneydecisions.co/articles/category/Home+Ownership monthly 0.5 https://www.bettermoneydecisions.co/articles/category/House monthly 0.5 https://www.bettermoneydecisions.co/articles/category/Big+purchase monthly 0.5 https://www.bettermoneydecisions.co/articles/category/Retirement monthly 0.5 https://www.bettermoneydecisions.co/articles/tag/Car+Buying monthly 0.5 https://www.bettermoneydecisions.co/about daily 0.75 2026-06-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f8e9f2c3bcc67ba2b7ba4d/1f02e948-79c8-44e5-b9b9-63a34cb7b23c/Woodley+profile.jpg https://www.bettermoneydecisions.co/resources daily 0.75 2026-05-27 https://www.bettermoneydecisions.co/home-2 daily 1.0 2026-06-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f8e9f2c3bcc67ba2b7ba4d/8caedca8-c20d-4de7-8c4c-7e4ebbc3970b/8ea3cd2589.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f8e9f2c3bcc67ba2b7ba4d/29dcc87e-a071-4af8-bfcc-4bee459b6eab/20312840341579605500-128.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f8e9f2c3bcc67ba2b7ba4d/5f05e1c4-7832-41e9-9a5f-eefcd8a538e7/18423376761600774572-128.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f8e9f2c3bcc67ba2b7ba4d/9b29ce4b-933f-4837-a0f4-428e45fca49d/1781653441548329964-128.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f8e9f2c3bcc67ba2b7ba4d/a3e64c2b-482c-4227-97c6-d4a6dabc72a8/3581263791586787809-128.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f8e9f2c3bcc67ba2b7ba4d/1779821582070-I548HPJ0YAKUMMX92JHW/unsplash-image-AmFj7Xn9x_k.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f8e9f2c3bcc67ba2b7ba4d/1780246580032-IO4OYIFVQFUT20X3VNC7/unsplash-image-sFNeTuB0TTQ.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69f8e9f2c3bcc67ba2b7ba4d/1778959567597-D9VBXQSZQYABC6150D0J/unsplash-image-Te6qPLAcVM8.jpg https://www.bettermoneydecisions.co/disclaimer daily 0.75 2026-05-17 https://www.bettermoneydecisions.co/privacypolicy daily 0.75 2026-05-25 https://www.bettermoneydecisions.co/termsofuse daily 0.75 2026-05-25