United States · Finance math
FeeFriction
Calculate what fees, APR drag, and friction quietly take from your money
Educational estimators. Not financial, tax, or lending advice. Edited by Marcus Vance.
S-tier calculators (highest intent)
Refinance, lending, revolving credit, retirement fees, and paycheck friction.
Tier S
Refinance break-even
Estimate how many months until refinance closing costs are recovered from a lower rate — US educational tool.
Tier S
Loan true cost
See total interest and fees on a personal loan — not just the monthly payment. Educational APR math for the US.
Tier S
Credit card payoff
Compare minimum payments vs a fixed payoff plan and estimate interest drag on US revolving balances.
Tier S
401(k) fee drag
Estimate how expense ratios and admin fees compound against your retirement balance over decades.
Tier S
Paycheck take-home
Estimate take-home pay after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and a simplified state tax rate — educational US tool.
A-tier calculators
HELOC, bank fees, auto loans, remittances — adjacency to premium Finance ads.
Tier A
HELOC interest cost
Estimate annual and monthly interest on a home equity line draw — US educational HELOC math (not an offer).
Tier A
Bank fee leak
Add monthly maintenance, ATM, overdraft, and wire fees into an annual “leak” total for a US checking account.
Tier A
Auto loan true cost
Estimate monthly payment, total interest, and financed amount after down payment, tax, and fees on a US auto loan.
Tier A
Remittance cost
Combine fixed transfer fees and FX markup to estimate the true cost of sending money abroad from the US.
Priority states
Unique CA / TX / FL / NY / IL context for tax and housing friction.
Guides
17 deep explainers with primary-source links.
Is Refinancing Worth It? Break-Even Math Without the Sales Pitch
How to decide if a mortgage refinance saves money after closing costs — using months-to-break-even, not hype.
APR vs Interest Rate: Why Your Monthly Payment Is Not the Whole Cost
A plain-English US guide to APR, fees, and total interest — for personal loans and revolving credit.
Credit Card Interest Drag: How Minimum Payments Stretch Balances
Why minimum payments keep balances alive — and how a fixed payoff plan changes total interest.
Expense Ratios Compound: The Quiet Cost Inside 401(k)s and Funds
How a 0.05% vs 1.00% expense ratio can change retirement balances over 20–30 years.
Refinance Closing Costs Explained (What to Put in Break-Even)
A practical checklist of refinance costs that belong in your break-even months calculation.
Personal Loan Fee Checklist Before You Sign
Origination fees, late fees, and prepayment clauses — the friction that APR alone may not highlight.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is FeeFriction?
An independent US site that quantifies fees, APR drag, paycheck withholding friction, and refinance break-even with educational calculators — not a bank or advisor.
What kinds of decisions do the tools cover?
Practical money-friction scenarios: mortgage refinance break-even, personal and auto loan total cost, credit card payoff paths, 401(k) fee drag, paycheck take-home, HELOC interest, bank fees, and remittance costs — each with labeled assumptions.
Do you provide personalized advice?
No. Outputs are scenarios. Confirm rates, taxes, and products with providers and licensed professionals.