If have to repeatedly have to make a calculation and I can’t find it elsewhere to my liking, I usually try and make my own calculator to save time in the future. Below are links to ones that I still use regularly, I wanted to point them out because they tend to get lost in my archives. Hopefully, they can be useful to you as well.
Ultimate Interest Rate Chaser Calculator
A “rate chaser” is someone who move their money to whichever bank offers the highest interest rates. For example, due to various promotions I have over 10 accounts open at various online banks. This calculator helps you figure out how much money you’ll earn by switching.
True Cost of Impulse Buying Calculator
Being smart with money is all about choices and priorities. Would you rather have another $300 iPod, or realize that with compound interest you could have an $2,000 more (inflation-adjusted!) later on. You’re not just saving $300, you’re shaving weeks off your retirement date!
Your Portfolio’s Rate of Return – Estimation Calculator
When trying to figure out your portfolio’s performance, don’t just trust the performance stats of your mutual fund or that number on your statement. Calculate it independently using this simple calculator. It gives surprisingly good estimates.
Your Portfolio’s Rate of Return – Exact Calculator
Slightly more complicated to use, but more accurate. You must know the dates and corresponding amounts of cash inflows and outflows.
Asset Allocation Guide: Percentage Of Your Portfolio In Stocks?
The calculator at the bottom shows you how your stocks/bonds ratio might look if you use popular Target Date mutual funds as a reference.
0% Balance Transfer Profit Calculator Tool
My series of articles on How To Make “Free” Money From 0% APR Balance Transfers has been very popular and many readers have also jumped in. Despite the risks, I’m still happily earning some money from the credit card companies for a change, and haven’t missed any payments.
This calculator is for the analytical types that want to have a better idea of profit potentials. The calculator takes into account minimum payments required by credit card issuers. Use in conjunction with my list of best 0% APR balance transfer offers.
MMB,
thanks for sharing this list… I prefer to use something like this rather than having to build an excel sheet myself!! Thanks
Thanks for this list. It will be useful many times.
Good set of tools – thanks. This is very useful when you need to make quick check. For analysis, however Excel is the key …
Im an excel junkie personally – but these are nice tools for getting ideas on how to set up my spreadsheets, etc.
What im really interested in now is calculating my prior mortgage rate, which was flexible, versus my locked in fixed rate, over the next few years, to see when i have hit the break even point – that is, taking the higher fixed rate is a better deal than sticking with the flex rate that hopefully will be more than the rate i chose to lock in at. Anyone have a spreadsheet for that?
I would like to mention the (shareware) software application I’ve written over the last 3 years. It lets you plug in up to 25 competing financial goals/responsibilities/items/etc. and project the entire plan up to 50 years. I’m proud of it, and it has a free trial at the website my signature link goes to.
I believe even the free trial offers enough functionality to help many people. Thanks.
ing acct