Evaluate any opportunity by true hourly / salary rate & financial sustainability
Affordability Formula (The 27% Rule):
Required Income = (Expenses + Adjusted Debt) / 0.27
True Hourly / Salary Rate Includes:
* Paid work / Salary hours
* Commute time (round-trip)
* Lunch breaks (unpaid but devoted)
* Prep time (wardrobe, setup)
* Admin & invoicing time
Expenses Factored:
* Vehicle (gas, maintenance, parking)
* Professional wardrobe & dry cleaning
* Lunch & meals
* Equipment & software
* Self-employment taxes (if applicable)
Goal: Find opportunities that meet your threshold
Calculate your real earnings after ALL time and expenses
vs stated rate
| Gross Daily Pay | $0.00 |
| Daily Expenses | -$0.00 |
| Tax Withholding | -$0.00 |
| Net Daily Income | $0.00 |
| Paid Hours | 8.0 hrs |
| Total Time Devoted | 10.5 hrs |
Does this opportunity meet your financial threshold?
27% Rule: (Expenses + Adj. Debt) / 0.27
After true rate adjustment
Enter your numbers above
| Total Monthly Outflow (Adj. for Inflation) | $0 |
| 27% Rule Divisor | 0.27 |
| Required Income | $0 |
| Gross Monthly | $0 |
| True Rate Adj. | -$0 |
| Net Monthly | $0 |
| Surplus/Deficit | $0 |
>= 100% of required
80-99% of required
< 80% of required
Side-by-side evaluation of up to 3 options
Compare options above
| Highest True Rate | -- |
| Highest Monthly | -- |
| Least Time | -- |
| Best $/Time Ratio | -- |
Calculate hours/gigs needed to hit your target
Required + Buffer
To hit your target
at 8 hours/day
| Total Outflow (Exp + Debt) | $0 |
| 27% Rule Factor | 3.70x |
| Base Required | $0 |
| Buffer Amount | $0 |
| Total Target | $0 |
| Hours @ Rate | 0 hrs |
| Weeks in Month | 4.33 |
| Hours/Week | 0 hrs |
< 40 hrs/week
40-50 hrs/week
> 50 hrs/week
W-2 (Employee): Taxes are taken out for you. You get a steady paycheck and often benefits like health insurance. Most traditional jobs are W-2.
1099 (Contractor/Solo): You are your own boss. You get the WHOLE check, but YOU must save ~30% for taxes later. No benefits are included.
Gross Pay: The "big number" they promise you before taxes (the "stated rate").
Net Pay: What actually hits your bank account after taxes and expenses (the "True Rate"). This is the only number that matters for your bills!
Withholding: The money the government keeps from your check for taxes. If you are 1099, you have to do this withholding yourself!
Deductions: Things like health insurance premiums or 401k savings that are taken out before you get your check.