Big-purchase tools

Free calculators for the big "can I actually afford this?" — the true cost AND the opportunity cost of a boat, RV, pool, second home, or any splurge. See what that money becomes if you invest it instead.

24 resources

Calculator Appliance Lifetime Cost Calculator The cheaper appliance is not always cheaper. Compare a budget versus premium model over 15 years, including energy use, repairs, and how often each needs replacing. Open → Calculator Big-Purchase Sinking Fund Planner Pay cash for the wedding, vacation, or big-ticket item — no debt. Find the exact monthly amount to save to hit your target by your deadline. Open → Calculator Boat True Cost of Ownership They say the two best days are the day you buy a boat and the day you sell it. See the true cost per day on the water once slip fees, insurance, and upkeep are counted. Open → Calculator Buy vs Lease a Car (Lifetime Cost) Leasing shows a low monthly payment, but over ten years of driving it often costs far more than buying. Compare the true lifetime cost of each path. Open → Calculator Car Affordability: The 20/4/10 Rule The 20/4/10 rule keeps a car from wrecking your budget: at least 20% down, no more than a 4-year loan, and total car costs under 10% of income. See if your car passes. Open → Calculator Cash vs 0% Financing Calculator “Zero percent financing” is not always free — and paying cash is not always smart. Compare investing your cash while you finance against taking the dealer cash discount. Open → Calculator Cost-Per-Use Calculator A big purchase is only expensive if you barely use it. Convert any lump sum into what it truly costs every time you use it — the real lens on value. Open → Calculator Down Payment Size Trade-Off Put more down to save interest, or keep the cash to invest? Compare the interest saved by a larger down payment against the opportunity cost of tying up that money. Open → Calculator Is an Extended Warranty Worth It? Extended warranties are priced to profit the seller. Run the expected-value math to see whether a specific warranty beats self-insuring by banking the premium. Open → Calculator Keep Your Paid-Off Car vs Buy New Your paid-off car needs repairs — is it finally time to replace it? Compare the annual cost of keeping it against the all-in cost of buying new. Open → Calculator New Car Depreciation: The Drive-Off Loss A new car can lose thousands the instant you drive off the lot. See your instant equity loss, how long you stay underwater on the loan, and when you break even. Open → Calculator New vs Used Car True Cost The sticker price is only part of the story. Compare the real total cost of ownership — depreciation, financing, insurance, and maintenance — for a new versus used car. Open → Calculator One Extra Payment Savings Calculator The most powerful loan hack most buyers never hear about: a little extra each month. See the interest and months you save by paying down principal faster. Open → Calculator Quality vs Cheap Furniture Calculator “Buy it nice or buy it twice.” Compare a cheap item replaced repeatedly against a quality one built to last, over 20 years and in true annual cost. Open → Calculator Rent vs Buy Equipment Calculator For tools, trailers, and gear you use only occasionally, renting each time can beat owning. Find the break-even number of uses and the true cost of each path. Open → Calculator Repair vs Replace Calculator Pour money into an aging car or appliance, or replace it? Compare the annualized cost of repairing versus replacing so the cheaper long-run choice is obvious. Open → Calculator RV vs Hotel Vacation Calculator An RV promises cheap travel, but loan, insurance, storage, and fuel add up fast. Find the break-even nights per year and the 10-year cost versus hotels. Open → Calculator Subscription vs Buy Crossover Subscriptions feel cheap monthly but never end. Find the break-even month and 10-year cost of subscribing versus buying once and owning it. Open → Calculator Total Interest Trap Visualizer Financing stretches a price into a much bigger number. See the full interest, the total you actually pay, and the real price of any financed purchase. Open → Calculator Trade-In vs Private Sale Calculator Trading in is easy; selling privately pays more. See the real “convenience fee” of trading in — and your time’s hourly value in the deal. Open → Calculator Wait-and-Save vs Finance-Now Calculator Should you finance a big purchase today or wait, save cash, and pay outright? See the interest you avoid versus the opportunity cost of waiting. Open → Guide Buy vs Lease a Car: The 10-Year Truth Behind the Monthly Payment Leasing wins the monthly-payment battle but usually loses the decade. Here is the real 10-year math on leasing versus buying, with a full worked example. Open → Guide New vs Used Car: Which Is Actually the Smarter Buy? Used cars dodge the steepest depreciation but carry higher rates and repair risk. Here is the true-cost comparison, with a worked example and an affordability check. Open → Guide Should I Wait and Save, or Finance It Now? Financing a big purchase today costs interest; waiting costs time and lost investment growth. Here is how to weigh both sides with a clear worked example. Open →