Daily Money Guide
Last updated: August 2026.
Per diem & travel allowance
Official 2026 GSA rates and what per diem means for reimbursement and taxes.
Daily cost & living
Convert recurring bills into a daily and annual cost of living you can compare.
Daily growth & compounding
See how small daily amounts grow when compounded every day.
Daily budgeting & savings tools
Reverse-budget and model the long-term effect of everyday spending.
Related reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a per diem rate in 2026?
Per diem is a flat daily travel allowance for lodging, meals, and incidentals. For FY2026 (Oct 1 2025 – Sep 30 2026) the standard federal CONUS rate is $178/day ($110 lodging + $68 M&IE), set by GSA. See the city-by-city table for higher-cost localities.
How do I turn my monthly bills into a daily cost of living?
Add your monthly rent, food, transport, utilities, and other bills, multiply by 12 for the annual total, then divide the monthly total by about 30 for a per-day figure. The Daily Cost of Living Calculator does this instantly and shows the pre-tax hourly wage needed at 40 hours/week.
Does daily compounding beat monthly compounding?
Daily compounding earns interest slightly more often, so it returns a bit more over time, all else equal. At 7% on $10,000 for one year the difference is about $25. The gap widens with larger balances, higher rates, or longer periods.