Blog
Tips, tutorials, and insights on web development, programming, and how to get the most out of our tools.
How Many Bags of Concrete Do I Need?
One cubic yard takes 45 bags of 80 lb concrete, 60 of 60 lb or 90 of 40 lb. Bag counts for slabs, walkways, post holes and footings, with the formula.
How Thick Should a Concrete Slab Be?
Most patios, walkways and shed pads are 4 inches thick; driveways are usually 5 to 6. Thickness, gravel base and rebar or mesh for each type of slab.
Bagged Concrete vs Ready-Mix: Which Is Cheaper?
Bags usually win below about 1 cubic yard (45 bags of 80 lb); ready-mix usually wins above it. How to find your own break-even point, fees included.
How Much Gravel Do I Need for a Driveway or Patio Base?
A 10 x 10 ft patio base at 4 inches needs 1.23 cubic yards, about 1.73 tons. Gravel by depth, tons vs cubic yards, and how much extra for compaction.
How to Build a Paver Patio: Materials List
A 10 x 10 ft patio with 4 x 8 in pavers needs 495 pavers (10% waste), 1.23 cu yd of gravel base and 0.31 cu yd of sand. Full list for 10x10 and 12x12.
How Much Mulch Do I Need?
At 3 inches deep, a cubic yard of mulch covers 108 sq ft and a 2 cu ft bag covers 8 sq ft. Tables by area and depth, plus bags vs bulk.
S Corp Reasonable Salary in 2026: How to Set It
How to set a reasonable S corp salary for 2026: the IRS factors, three ways to price your role, and worked examples showing what each salary level saves.
S Corp vs LLC: When Does the S Corp Election Save Tax?
An S corp election saves tax once profit is well above a reasonable salary. See the 2026 break-even math, payroll costs and a profit-by-profit table.
Self-Employment Tax 2026 Explained (With Examples)
Self-employment tax for 2026 is 15.3% on 92.35% of net profit, with Social Security capped at $184,500. How it works, with worked examples.
Quarterly Estimated Taxes 2026: Due Dates and How Much to Pay
2026 estimated tax due dates, the 90%, 100% and 110% safe harbors, and worked examples showing how much to pay each quarter to avoid a penalty.
Section 179 vs Bonus Depreciation in 2026
Section 179 vs bonus depreciation for 2026: limits, the business income cap, heavy SUVs and vehicles, and worked examples of when each one wins.
1099 Contractor Taxes: What to Set Aside
How much 1099 contractors should set aside for 2026 taxes: worked federal estimates by income, side-gig math, and a simple system for each payment.
Legal Ways to Lower Your Taxes in 2026: A Guide for Individuals
Retirement accounts, deductions, credits, the new tips and overtime deductions, and capital gains moves that legally cut your 2026 federal tax bill.
Tax-Saving Strategies for Small Businesses and the Self-Employed (2026)
Home office, vehicle, retirement plans, QBI, S corp elections, Section 179 and quarterly estimates: legal ways small business owners can cut 2026 taxes.
Tax Planning Strategies for Medium and Large Companies
Entity choice, accelerated depreciation, R&D credits, benefits, state tax and international planning: legal strategies to manage corporate taxes.
JSON Formatting Best Practices for Developers
The JSON syntax rules that matter, the errors that break parsing (and what the messages mean), plus formatting conventions for readable, diff-friendly files.
How to Create Strong Passwords: Complete Security Guide
How long a password should be in 2026, what NIST SP 800-63B now says about complexity and expiry, random passwords vs passphrases, and how to manage them.