How this calculator works
The calculator deliberately avoids giving a personalised recommendation. It shows first-order effects using the rates and pension uplift you enter: one-year interest exposure on debt, one-year interest on cash, approximate mortgage interest avoided and gross pension funding.
How to use it
- Choose the amount of spare cash you are comparing.
- Enter your emergency-fund target and current balance.
- Add representative debt, mortgage and savings rates.
- Add the gross pension uplift and employer-match assumption that actually applies to you.
- Use the table to identify which trade-off deserves further investigation.
Assumptions and limitations
One-year interest figures are simplified and do not model changing balances, tax on savings, pension access rules, investment returns or debt repayment penalties. Priority bills and arrears should be dealt with on their consequences, not solely on APR.