Jamie Reeves
Personal Finance Writer
6+ years at NerdWallet and The Penny Hoarder
About
Jamie Reeves paid off $78,000 in student loans on a $52,000 salary — an experience that turned them into a personal finance obsessive. After six years at NerdWallet and The Penny Hoarder, Jamie went independent because they got tired of financial content that treats money like an abstraction. Jamie writes about money the way real people experience it: stressful, emotional, and full of trade-offs that spreadsheets don't capture. Every article shows the math AND the feelings, because financial decisions are never purely rational.
Areas of expertise
- debt payoff strategies
- salary negotiation
- mortgage optimization
- budgeting frameworks
- retirement planning
- student loan strategies
- financial psychology
Articles by Jamie Reeves (51)
- What Is OASDI on My Paycheck?2026-09-16 · Paycheck Basics
OASDI is the Social Security tax — Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance — withheld at a flat 6.2% with your employer matching another 6.2%. Why the 'EE' means employee, why it stops mid-year once you cross the wage base ($184,500 in 2026, so at most $11,439), and how it differs from Medicare, federal income tax withholding, and California's SDI.
- Why Are Paychecks Biweekly?2026-09-06 · Guides
No federal law requires any pay frequency — only that paydays be regular. What federal law does fix is the workweek: 29 CFR 778.105 defines it as a fixed and regularly recurring 168 hours, and 778.104 makes each one stand alone for overtime. A biweekly period is exactly two of them, which is what keeps the overtime arithmetic clean. Semi-monthly is not a whole number of anything — which is why it suits salaried offices and not hourly payrolls — and the leftover day is where the 27th paycheck comes from.
- Why Is My Paycheck Different Every Week?2026-08-17 · Guides
Federal withholding annualizes a single paycheck — it multiplies the wages in front of it by the pay periods in a year, finds the bracket that figure lands in, and divides back down. So one week with overtime is withheld as though every week of your year had overtime. That mechanism, plus the workweek rule in 29 CFR 778.104, the flat 22% supplemental rate, and the deductions that quietly skip a check.
- Can My Employer Reduce My Pay?2026-08-12 · Guides
Going forward, usually yes. For work you have already done, never — a cut applied to a pay period that has already closed is not a pay cut, it is unpaid wages. The three federal floors that survive any reduction, the salary-basis rule quoted verbatim (a slow week is the employer's problem, not yours), and the $684 threshold that can cost an employer the exemption and make overtime owed.
- What Is Imputed Income on My Paycheck?2026-08-06 · Paycheck Basics
The value of something your employer gave you that wasn't cash, which the IRS taxes anyway — usually life insurance above $50,000. The taxable figure isn't what the policy costs your employer; it comes from an IRS table keyed to your age, and it rises about forty-fold between the youngest and oldest bands. Plus why nothing may be withheld against it, which is how it turns into a bill in April.
- Why Hasn't My Paycheck Deposited Yet?2026-08-03 · Paycheck Basics
Usually the calendar, not your employer. Direct deposit moves over ACH, which only settles when the Federal Reserve is open — no weekends, no federal holidays, and a holiday falling on a Sunday closes the following Monday too. Why the colleague at another bank was paid first, why some banks release pay a day early (it is a lending decision, not generosity), and the four-step order for working out whether a paycheck is genuinely late.
- How Much Should I Contribute to My 401(k)?2026-07-30 · Paycheck Basics
15% of gross including the match is the usual target — but the order matters more than the number: full employer match first, then high-interest debt, then 15%. The 2026 IRS limits ($24,500, plus $8,000 catch-up at 50+), by-age benchmarks, why a traditional 401(k) cuts income tax but not FICA, and the excess-deferral trap after a mid-year job change.
- Do I Have to Pay Taxes on Social Security?2026-07-28 · Paycheck Basics
Only if your combined income is high enough — and combined income counts only HALF your benefits, which is where most people go wrong. The thresholds by filing status, why '85% taxable' is not an 85% tax rate, why there is no age at which benefits stop being taxed, and the levers that actually work. Sourced from IRS Publication 915.
- Why Is My Paycheck Lower Than Expected?2026-07-26 · Paycheck Basics
A short paycheck almost always traces to one changed line, not the whole check. The full list of causes — a benefits or 401(k) escalation change, the January reset of the Social Security wage base and withholding tables, crossing the 0.9% Additional Medicare threshold at $200,000, a new W-4, supplemental-wage withholding on a bonus, or different hours — plus a diagnostic table and the one case that is a genuine payroll error.
- Which Paycheck Deductions Are Pre-Tax? (Pre-Tax vs After-Tax)2026-07-25 · Paycheck Basics
Pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA, FSA, Section 125 premiums) come out before taxes and lower your taxable income; after-tax deductions (Roth, garnishments, union dues) don't. The full list, what each one saves, and the 401k-vs-FICA nuance most people miss.
- How Much of My Paycheck Can Be Garnished?2026-07-20 · Guides
For an ordinary debt, federal law caps a garnishment at the lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or the amount over 30× the federal minimum wage ($217.50/week). Child support runs to 50–60%, student loans 15%, IRS levies use an exemption table. The protected-floor math, a limit-by-debt table, and why some states protect more.
- When Do I Get My Final Paycheck After I Quit or Am Fired?2026-07-20 · Guides
Federal law requires final wages by the next regular payday, but many states require them faster and treat being fired differently from quitting. A state-by-state deadline table, whether unused PTO must be paid out, withholding limits, and California's 30-day waiting-time penalty.
- Salary vs Hourly Pay: Differences, Pros and Cons, and Which Is Better2026-07-16 · Pay
Salary is fixed annual pay split into equal checks; hourly pay is per hour worked with 1.5× overtime over 40 hours. The FLSA exemption tests, why taxes are identical for both, a full pros-and-cons table, and how to convert between them with the 2,080-hour year.
- How to Read a Pay Stub: Every Line Explained2026-07-16 · Guides
A pay stub reads in four blocks — gross pay, pre-tax deductions, taxes, and post-tax deductions — ending in net pay. What OASDI, FICA, YTD, and EE/ER mean, with a line-by-line $75K biweekly example.
- What Is the Difference Between Gross Pay and Net Pay?2026-07-12 · Guides
Gross pay is total earnings before deductions; net pay is take-home after taxes and withholdings. The three layers between them — pre-tax deductions, taxes, and post-tax deductions — the formula, and a gross-to-net table from $40K to $250K.
- How Is a PTO Payout Taxed?2026-07-12 · Taxes
A PTO payout is taxed as supplemental wages — flat 22% federal withholding plus FICA and state tax — not at a higher rate. Why withholding looks steep, a worked $3,250 example, and the state rules on whether unused PTO must be paid out.
- How Much Taxes Are Taken Out of My Paycheck?2026-07-08 · Taxes
A typical US worker keeps 70–85% of gross pay. Exactly what comes out of every paycheck — federal income tax (10–37%), Social Security (6.2% to the $184,500 wage base), Medicare (1.45%), and state tax — with 2026 rates and a take-home table by salary.
- How Is Overtime Pay Calculated?2026-07-08 · Pay
Overtime is 1.5× your regular rate for hours over 40 a week under the FLSA. The formula, the regular-rate rules (bonuses count), salaried non-exempt overtime, state daily-overtime rules, and worked examples at every hourly rate from $15 to $50.
- Biweekly vs Semi-Monthly Pay: Differences, Pros, and Which Is Better2026-07-04 · Guides
Biweekly means 26 paychecks a year (every two weeks); semi-monthly means 24 (twice a month on set dates). Full comparison of paycheck size, budgeting rhythm, overtime alignment, which employers use each, and the pros and cons of both.
- How Many Paychecks Are in a Year? (Weekly, Biweekly, Semi-Monthly, Monthly)2026-07-04 · Guides
Weekly 52, biweekly 26 (sometimes 27), semi-monthly 24, monthly 12 — the full reference table with per-check math, the 27- and 53-paycheck year explained, and how paycheck count affects budgeting and 401(k) benefits.
- Average Take-Home Pay by US State (2026): All 50 States Ranked2026-06-11 · Data
We computed 2026 take-home pay on a $75,000 (and $100,000) single-filer salary for all 50 states + DC using the same federal + state income tax + FICA engine as our calculator. Ranked table, highest take-home first — no-tax states net $7,425/yr more than Oregon.
- Bonus Tax Flat 22 Vs Aggregate Method Irs Publication 15 T 2026 State By State Breakdown2026-05-23 · Guides
- Cost of Living Index Sources Compared: C2ER vs BLS vs Numbeo (2026)2026-05-21 · Guides
Which cost of living index should you actually trust for a 2026 US city comparison? Full methodology comparison of C2ER ACCRA, BLS Regional CPI, Numbeo, and the licensed wrappers (BestPlaces, Bankrate). Basket composition, update frequency, sample sizes, and where each one breaks.
- How Much Salary Do I Need to Move to NYC in 2026? (Real Math by Income, Neighborhood, Family Size)2026-05-20 · Guides
The honest salary you need to move to NYC in 2026 — by neighborhood, household size, and source city. Rent thresholds, the 40× landlord rule, the NY state + NYC local income tax stack, and breakeven calculations from Austin, SF, Chicago, and more.
- Cost of Living Comparison 2026: 30 US Cities Ranked (Real Methodology)2026-05-19 · Guides
30 US metros ranked by 2026 cost of living index with full housing, groceries, transport, healthcare, and utilities decomposition. C2ER ACCRA methodology, sub-index breakdowns, and direct comparisons between every major pair of cities.
- Stock Bonus vs Cash Bonus Tax 2026: Full Side-by-Side With Real Math2026-05-18 · Guides
Stock bonuses (RSUs) and cash bonuses are both supplemental wages — same 22% federal withholding rate. The differences hide in sell-to-cover mechanics, the holding-period phantom-income trap, and multi-state RSU allocation. With $50K, $100K, and $250K worked examples in CA, NY, and TX.
- Minimum Wage Hourly by State 2026: Full 50-State Table2026-05-16 · Guides
Complete 50-state minimum wage table for 2026 — federal $7.25 floor, state minimums, tipped wages, scheduled increases, and how each compares to MIT's living wage benchmark.
- Freelance Hourly Rate by Industry 2026: 14 Fields Compared2026-05-16 · Guides
Median freelance hourly rates by industry for 2026 — software, design, writing, consulting, ML/AI, and more. Data from Payoneer, Upwork, Hectic, and Working Not Working with the formula to set your own rate.
- Cost of Living Comparison Between 2 Cities (2026): The Real Math2026-05-14 · Guides
How to compare cost of living between any two US cities accurately — beyond a single index number. Worked examples for SF vs Austin, NYC vs Charlotte, Chicago vs Nashville with housing, taxes, transport, and goods broken out.
- Spot Bonus vs Annual Bonus Tax (2026): Same Rules, Different Paystub Drama2026-05-14 · Guides
Spot bonuses and annual bonuses follow identical IRS supplemental wage rules — but the paystub math feels wildly different on $500 vs $20,000. Real withholding numbers, the $1M threshold, and how to budget the net.
- Bonus Tax: Aggregate vs Percentage Method (2026) — Which One Hits Harder2026-05-13 · Guides
The two IRS-approved bonus withholding methods compared: the flat 22% percentage method vs the aggregate method that projects your combined paycheck through the full tax tables. Real math, paystub examples, and when employers must use each.
- Bonus Tax 22% vs 37% (2026): When the Federal Withholding Switch Hits2026-05-12 · Guides
The IRS rule that flips bonus withholding from 22% to 37% once cumulative supplemental wages cross $1M in a calendar year — full math, FICA stacking, and timing strategies.
- Freelance Day Rate vs Hourly Rate 2026: When to Use Each (with Math)2026-05-11 · Guides
Day rate vs hourly rate for freelancers — when to convert, industry benchmarks, the bundle premium math, and how taxes and retainers fit into the calculation.
- Supplemental Wages Tax 2026: How Bonuses, Commissions, RSUs, and Severance Are Withheld2026-05-10 · Guides
Complete guide to the 22% supplemental wage withholding rate in 2026 — what counts, how it differs from regular pay, the $1M rule, and exact take-home math by state.
- Bonus Tax Calculator Step-by-Step (2026): Walk Through Every Line2026-05-09 · Guides
Six clear steps from gross bonus to net deposit — federal 22% supplemental, FICA, state rates, 401(k) ordering, and the Additional Medicare surtax. Worked examples for $5K, $20K, and $250K bonuses across Texas, New York, and California.
- Freelance Hourly Rate Math: Why $50/hr Equals $25/hr After Taxes + Downtime2026-05-09 · Guides
The real math behind a freelance hourly rate — self-employment tax, billable utilization (50–65%), health insurance, and the salary × 1.5 ÷ billable_hours formula with per-state worked examples.
- How Bonuses Are Actually Taxed: Federal + State Breakdown (2026)2026-05-08 · Guides
Federal 22% supplemental withholding plus a state-by-state table for all 50 states + DC. Real take-home math on $10K bonuses in CA, NY, TX, FL, IN, and beyond.
- Overtime Pay Rules 2026 — FLSA Federal & State Guide2026-05-02 · Guides
Federal and state overtime rules for 2026: who qualifies, the new $58,656 exempt threshold, daily overtime states, and how the regular-rate math actually works.
- Bonus Tax 2026: Why Your Bonus Check Is Smaller Than Expected2026-04-28 · Guides
Why bonuses get withheld at a flat 22% in 2026, the percentage vs aggregate method, and exact take-home math for $5K, $10K, and $25K bonuses with citations to IRS Pub 15.
- Florida Take-Home Pay 2026: $100K Becomes $79,180 (Zero State Tax)2026-04-28 · Guides
Exact 2026 Florida take-home math on $100K — federal + FICA only, no state income tax. Comparison vs CA and NY plus full income-level table.
- Side-Hustle Quarterly Estimated Taxes 2026: Deadlines, Safe Harbor, and How Much to Pay2026-04-20 · Guides
Everything side hustlers need for 2026 quarterly estimated taxes: the four deadlines, 15.3% SE tax, safe harbor rule, and exactly how much to set aside.
- Paycheck Withholding: When to Update Your W-4 in 2026 (The Complete Trigger List)2026-04-20 · Guides
When to update your W-4 in 2026 and how to fill out the five-step form correctly. Life events, income changes, and the safe harbor rule explained.
- HSA vs FSA for Dual-Income Families 2026: The Coordination Playbook2026-04-20 · Guides
The 2026 playbook for two-earner households juggling HSA, FSA, and dependent care FSA. Includes limits, disqualifying rules, and optimal contribution splits.
- Roth vs Traditional 401(k) in 2026: Contribution Limits, Tax Math, and When Each Wins2026-04-20 · Guides
2026 Roth vs Traditional 401(k): $24,500 limit, age 60-63 catch-up of $11,250, and the math that tells you which bucket wins.
- How to Read a W-2 in 2026: Every Box Explained with Real Examples2026-04-20 · Guides
Every W-2 box decoded for 2026, plus how pre-tax 401(k), HSA, and health benefits make Box 1 differ from Box 3 and Box 16.
- How Biweekly Pay Works (And Why 2026 Delivers 27 Paychecks for Some)2026-04-18 · Guides
Biweekly pay explained with 2026 calendar math: why a 27th paycheck happens, how employers handle it, the tax impact, and how it compares to semi-monthly.
- W-2 vs 1099 Take-Home on $75K: The Exact 2026 Side-by-Side Math2026-04-18 · Guides
Line-by-line comparison of a $75K W-2 employee vs. a $75K 1099 contractor in 2026. Self-employment tax, QBI deduction, and the break-even point on expenses.
- FICA vs Federal Income Tax: What Actually Comes Out of Your Paycheck in 20262026-04-18 · Guides
The difference between FICA and federal income tax, with 2026 rates, real paycheck examples, and the bracket-by-bracket math that determines your net pay.
- Texas Take-Home Pay 2026: Why $100K Keeps $79,180 Here2026-04-18 · State Guides
Exact 2026 breakdown of Texas take-home pay on $100K. No state income tax, but real property and sales tax costs. See the full picture for every income level.
- California Take-Home Pay 2026: What $100K Actually Becomes After Taxes2026-04-18 · State Guides
Exact 2026 breakdown of California take-home pay on $100K. Federal brackets, CA's 9 brackets, FICA, and SDI computed in full. See why California takes $27,620 from a $100K salary.
- State-by-State Take-Home Pay: How a $100K Salary Ranges from $71,446 to $78,3462026-03-27 · Guides
We calculated take-home pay for all 50 states plus DC on a $100K salary using 2026 federal and state tax brackets. See the complete ranking, hidden local taxes, and how the gap changes at different income levels.