How this calculator works
The tool calculates a protected emergency reserve from essential monthly outgoings and your chosen number of months. Savings above that reserve are treated as available cash. It then adds the monthly disposable income you could save until the purchase date and compares the total with the purchase price.
If a shortfall remains, the calculator models a standard fixed-rate loan for that shortfall using the APR and term you enter.
How to use it
- Enter the full purchase cost, including extras.
- Add accessible savings and essential monthly outgoings.
- Choose the emergency reserve you want to protect.
- Enter how much monthly disposable income could realistically be directed to the purchase and when you want to buy.
- Add a borrowing APR and term to see the cost of bringing the purchase forward.
Assumptions and limitations
This tool does not decide whether a purchase is worthwhile. It assumes monthly disposable income is available consistently until the target date and models simple fixed-rate borrowing. It does not include investment returns, inflation, promotional finance quirks or the value of alternative uses for the money.