Life or Debt? 41 Financial Calculators for Major Life Decisions

The following is a guest post from debt management company MyCESI.org.

Debt happens. But it doesn't always have to... Being prepared for your major life decisions - and the sometimes unexpectedly high costs they bring - can put you a long way towards reducing or even avoiding debt altogether. Making major life changes before you're financially ready can set you back dramatically on other goals you may have, or even make them unreachable. Use the calculators below to check your financial preparedness for major life decisions and events.

Here's what you'll find below:

• 6 Car Calculators: How Much Should You Afford?

• 5 Moving Calculators: Does the Move Make Sense?

• 4 Wedding Calculators: Start Saving Now...

• 6 House Calculators: How Much is Too Much?

• 4 Children Calculators: See What it May Take to Raise Yours

• 4 College Calculators: Get Started Saving Now

• 7 Retirement Calculators: How Much Does it Take, When Will You Get There?

• 5 Death Calculators: Funerals are Expensive - What Will Yours Cost?

6 Car Calculators: How Much *Should* You Afford?

How much you CAN afford vs. how much you SHOULD afford are two different things. These calculators will help you to make that big decision on a new (to you) car... and whether or not you should look for alternative means of transportation that won't slow down your savings.

1) Which is better: a new or used vehicle? "Math can't lie - run the numbers and make sure you're making the right decision on a new car..."

2) How much will my vehicle payments be? "Don't let that fresh coat of paint lure you into payments you can't afford - run the numbers!"

3) The Real Costs of Car Ownership Calculator "Cars have an ongoing cost that's rarely mentioned on the dealership lot. This calculator helps you look more closely at total costs."

4) Car Cost Comparison Calculator "Conduct a simple side-by-side comparison of cars to gauge prices."

5) Auto Loan Calculator "Select from their database of cars and they will estimate your payments for you."

6) Auto Loan Calculator "This simple calculator gives you a rough gauge on your monthly payments."

5 Moving Calculators: Does the Move Make Sense?

Moving can have significant hidden costs - not the least of which is different costs of living in different cities. These calculators will help you gauge whether that extra $10k in salary is really enough to warrant a move to a whole new city... even if your new company is paying for it!

1) The Moving Cost Estimate "Use this calculator to estimate interstate moving cost in the continental United States."

2) How will moving affect your disposable income? "Quickly estimate how much less you'll really make in another city..."

3) Cost of living comparison calculator "A very thorough cost of living comparison calculator."

4) Remodel or Move Calculator "Login required, and they may call you to try and remodel your kitchen. Still, it's a calculator..."

5) How Much Will My Move Cost? "An excessively thorough moving calculator that helps you see approximate savings if you do it yourself."

4 Wedding Calculators: Start Saving Now...

Many people go into debt for weddings. Calculate the costs and start saving now so that you and your new spouse can begin saving for what really matters to you. These calculators will help you keep costs under control for your big day.

1) Wedding Budget Calculator "See what your dream wedding costs with this simple calculator."

2) Wedding Cost Estimator "This thorough calculator has thought of everything - perfect for helping you think of everything."

3) Wedding Cost Calculator "See how much other couples in your state are spending on weddings. See if you can get by on half..."

4) Wedding Budget Work Sheet "An excellent calculator that first forces you to set a budget, then shows what percentage of your budget goes to each item on the list."

6 House Calculators: How Much is Too Much?

How much home can you afford? No, seriously - how much can you afford? We found five different calculators for determining how much you can afford and we recommend you check on each of them to get a well rounded opinion. Finally, we suggest you use the Rent-or-Buy calculator to see if it makes financial sense to buy based on the rent you pay and the amount you'll be paying to own a home.

1) How much house can you afford? "Very simple, just the facts."

2) Home Affordability Calculator "This calculator provides an estimate of the home price you can afford. Includes closing costs and more..."

3) How much house can I afford? "This calculator goes a bit deeper into the financial arrangements you may have negotiated for..."

4) How Much House Can You Afford? "How much you can afford is a function of two things: How much you can borrow and how much down payment can you muster. Includes input for an existing home."

5) Is it Better to Rent or Buy Your Home? "You may be surprised by how long it takes for your home purchase to actually become a better deal than renting..."

6) Rent Vs. Buy Calculator "Since there are all kinds of forces at work behind the scenes (interest, property taxes, tax savings, appreciation, opportunity costs, closing costs, selling costs, etc.), comparing the cost of renting to the cost of buying is a lot more complicated than just comparing the monthly mortgage payment to the monthly rent payment."

4 Children Calculators: See What it May Take to Raise Yours

Raising kids is expensive, no matter how you look at it. Use these calculators to get a rough idea of what yours may cost.

1) What is the cost of raising a child? "Children are worth their weight in gold -- that is, when you add up all the costs. Use this calculator to figure out Junior's bottom line."

2) Cost of Raising Your Child "Simple calculator for quick calculations of child rearing costs..."

3) Cost of Raising a Child Calculator: USDA "It's from the USDA. Expect a thorough, lengthy calculation experience..."

4) Child Cost Calculator "Calculate child rearing costs based on average monthly expenses."

4 College Calculators: Get Started Saving Now

College is one of the biggest expenses you may face for your child. Find out how much you'll need to put away using the following calculators.

1) College Cost Calculator "Use this calculator to see how much college will cost by the time you enroll."

2) College Cost Projector "Project costs of tuition for the time when your child is 18 years old..."

3) College Cost Planner "Answers these questions: how much will college cost?, how much do I need to save?, what are my investing options?"

4) College Funding Calculator "This calculator will help you to determine how much money you need to invest on a monthly basis now, in order to be able to pay for your child's college education by the time they are ready to start college."

7 Retirement Calculators: How Much Does it Take, When Will You Get There?

Though there's a growing contingent of folks who don't plan to retire at 65, it's always good to know you have the option available to you if you want it. These retirement calculators will help you determine if you're saving enough to live the life you want to live when you retire.

1) Retirement Planner "This retirement planner helps you estimate how well your savings program is preparing you for retirement."

2) Estimate Your Social Security Retirement Benefits "This calculator allows you to estimate your Social Security benefit."

3) Retirement Calculator "Use this calculator to plan your investing strategy now so that you will have enough to see you through your retirement years..."

4) Simple Retirement Calculator "Keep retirement planning simple with this calculator from the Chimp."

5) Risky Retirement Planner "So what will last longer - your money or you? This calculator uses historical data to let you check your chances for a comfortable retirement. "

6) FIRECalc: A different kind of retirement calculator "If your retirement strategy would have withstood the worst ravages of inflation, the Great Depression, and every other financial calamity the US has seen since 1871, then it is likely to withstand whatever might happen between now and the day you no longer have any need for your retirement funds."

7) AARP Retirement Calculator "A retirement calculator from AARP that includes considerations for your spouse."

5 Death Calculators: Funerals are Expensive - What Will Yours Cost?

It's the only thing more certain than taxes. Death can cost more than you think, no matter whose it is. Make sure that there's enough set aside for a funeral using these calculators.

1) Life Expectancy Calculator "See How Long You May Have Left"

2) Life Insurance Calculator "This calculator will help you to decide how much life insurance you need if your survivors invest the life insurance benefits they receive."

3) Funeral Cost Calculator "The Funeral Cost Calculator will help you quickly estimate the funds you have available, and your expenses. Excel required."

4) Funeral Cost Calculator "A funeral will be one of the top four most expensive purchases most people can expect to make..."

5) Funeral Expense & Costs Calculator (£) "Use this Funeral Expense calculator to find out the cost of a funeral for a loved one."

Comments

[Mommy Reporter]

Thank you so very much for sharing these calculators. It's interesting to see the real cost of so many major life issues. I'm sure I'll be visiting this site again and again...

Thanks!!

[Kate]

Sweet! It says I ought to live until I'm 86!

Damn! I've got to start saving $16,000 a year to have a $40,000 annual retirement income.

Good thing I'm only 22...

[Gary]

Thanks for the links to the Moving/Housing calculators. We've been looking at Cedar Rapids real estate, and trying to decide if it's the right time to move. What do you think? How is the market in that part of Iowa?

[The Happy Rock]

No debt calculators?