Money
The financial decisions that land when a kid shows up — insurance, savings, benefits — worked through with actual numbers instead of vague advice.
Here's what nobody tells you when you become a dad: the money stuff gets real, fast. Diapers, daycare, a bigger car, a college fund — it stacks up before you catch your breath. And most of the decisions have a right answer you can actually calculate, if someone shows you the maths.
That's what these guides do. Not "start budgeting" — how much life insurance you specifically need, what daycare costs against one parent staying home, whether a 529 or an HSA does more for you. Every one of them comes with a calculator so you can put your own numbers in.
Start Here
Three guides that cover the biggest wins. Read them in order and you're ahead of most new dads.
New Dad Money Checklist
The financial moves to make when a kid shows up. Life insurance, wills, beneficiaries — all of it, in order.
Start hereHow Much Life Insurance Do I Need?
Not a rule of thumb. The actual calculation, with your income, your debts, and your kid's age.
Start hereThe One-Page Family Budget
Forget complicated systems. One page. Every dollar. Total clarity on where the money goes.
Insurance & Protection
Best Life Insurance for New Dads
Term life, decoded. What to buy in the first year and what to ignore.
InsuranceBest Life Insurance for Dads
You need this. You're putting it off. Here's the 20-minute version.
BenefitsOpen Enrollment Guide
PPO vs HDHP with a new baby, and the benefits most dads leave on the table.
Planning for the Costs
What It Actually Costs to Raise a Kid
The real number, broken down by year, without the scary headline figure.
PlanningDaycare vs. Stay-at-Home
Run the numbers on both. The answer surprises a lot of families.
CollegeBest 529 Plans
Where to open it, how much to put in, and why your state's plan may not be the one.
RetirementThe HSA Stealth Retirement Account
The most tax-advantaged account you're probably not using properly.
Everyday Spending
Best Credit Cards for Families
Groceries, gas, and Amazon. Your top three categories, maximized.
GearBaby Gear Worth the Money
What to spend on, what to borrow, and what to skip entirely.
FoodBest Meal Kits for Families
When cooking stops happening, this is the least-bad option.
Run Your Own Numbers
Life Insurance Calculator
How much cover you actually need, in about two minutes.
Tool529 Calculator
What your monthly contribution turns into by age 18.
ToolFamily Budget Calculator
Every dollar, one page, no spreadsheet skills required.
ToolEmergency Fund Calculator
How many months you actually need with a kid in the picture.